#25 – #15: The Most Underrated MMA Fighters of All-Time: Part 1
#14 – #10: The Most Underrated MMA Fighters of All-Time: Part 2
If you missed the first parts, you can visit w/ the links above.
#9 – #5
#9 – Mamoru Yamaguchi (Rep Avg: #120 | Fight Matrix: #70)
Small man bias in full effect here — Yamaguchi is a part of the three-headed Japanese dragon that has ruled the All-Time MMA Rankings at Flyweight, here on Fight Matrix. For us, DJ is set to high jump over this tandem in the near future, but he apparently already had sometime ago for mostly everyone else. The “pick and choose” process is very strange when it comes to acknowledging MMA success in the early years.
#8 – Hatsu Hioki (Rep Avg: #88.7 | Fight Matrix: #49)
Although he’s failed to impress since coming to the UFC, he’s now fought almost 40 times and probably came over to the US about a dozen fights too late. Certainly, his pre-UFC career saw him as a Top 10 fighter for over a half-decade.
#7 – B.J. Penn (Rep Avg: #16.3 | Fight Matrix: #8)
This is a name I didn’t expect to see. Although his multi-divisional conquests have been profound, even I at times have questioned the #8 ranking that he holds. Nevertheless, the software-based systems outside of Fight Matrix have not given him as much credit as most fans do. As for the fans, Tapology sees him at #5.
#6 – Yasuhiro Urushitani (Rep Avg: #119.7 | Fight Matrix: #59)
Like Yamaguchi at #10, Urushitani suffers from the small man bias that most mathematical systems and almost all fans cultivate. What you can’t doubt, is that he is one of the greatest Flyweights in the history of the sport.
#5 – Frankie Edgar (Rep Avg: #29.3 | Fight Matrix: #12)
Probably one of the very best fighters to ever fight below Welterweight. Three victories over B.J. Penn, Lightweight championship, Top Featherweight contender and still seems to be in his prime. What more can you say?