Although the UFC has a pound-for-pound best athlete list, it does not have a Greatest of All Time List. It simply means that the GOAT List is quite subjective and up for debate. A topic of such nature can invite lengthy discussions within the MMA community. And Conor McGregor did exactly that.
The Irishman recently started a ‘GOAT Thread’ on Twitter, in which he listed the greatest fighters of all time. He placed Anderson Silva at the top, followed by himself, Georges St-Pierre, and Jon Jones. This move of McGregor invoked a mixed reaction from fans and fighters around the world.
GOAT THREAD.
The array of finishes, across 2 divisions, with champion status in 1, Anderson Silva is No.1 MMA GOAT.
My array of finishes, across 3 divisions, with champion status in 2, I’m No.2. If not tied 1.
However still active, No.1 is fully secured by career end. And easily.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 23, 2020
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GSP is in at 3. Much less array of finishes but champion status in 2. He is far behind though. Reasons = Left 170 after much damage taken+questionable decision. Never re-engaged 170lb successors. Bottled Anderson fight. Only moved when one eyed fighter presented. Played safe.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 23, 2020
Jon is 4. Maybe tied 3. More array of finishes than 3 and still active, but champion status in just 1. Reasons = Multiple lacklustre decision performances + questionable decision win. Attempting to safe play HW entry/avoiding its champion.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 23, 2020
While some fighters blatantly ignored the list, others mocked McGregor. It became a hot topic of discussion and drove many analysts and fighters to comment on the subject.
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Ben Askren excludes Conor McGregor from the GOAT List
Retired mixed martial artist, Ben Askren dropped his own GOAT list on Twitter. Unlike McGregor, he did not rank the athletes in any particular order.
7 People in discussion for MMA GOAT. Some have much better cases than others, but all have cases. Fedor and BJ would have had cases had they retired earlier.
GSP
Anderson
DJ
Khabib
Jon Jones
DC
Henry— Hyzerbomb Ben (@Benaskren) May 25, 2020
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Ben Askren made several changes to the list. Firstly, he removed Conor McGregor from the GOAT debate. He then placed GSP at the top followed by Silva. “Funky” even included Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Henry Cejudo on the list.
What do you think of both lists? And who’s on your GOAT List? Let us know in the comments section below.
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