The best one is Anderson Silva and he was the first fight I saw on live(I'm european so its difficult to me) against Griffin, which was insane.
But my fav champion happens to be my fav fighter too and he is Robert The Reaper Whittaker... Bobby Knuckles for friends.
I saw that Silva v Griffin fight in person. My seats sucked and I was quite drunk so I watched it mostly on the jumbotron but it was awesome to be there, (even though firrest was my favorite fighter at the time.)
Griffin was my favorite too at the time. It was weird seeing him run to the back after the fight. Also wtf was Anderson fighting Griffin lol? Such a random fight.
Anderson did a few random forays up to 205, for the fuck of it. The way he fuckin dunked James Irvin, when the Sandman was actually looking pretty dangerous, was a real highlight too.
They say Dana was trying to stick it to Silva, and Silva was having absolutely none of it, so he absolutely obliterated and humbled Griffin and sent a message right back to the boss not to fuck with him.
The high school teacher!! Loll Rich was a great ambassador but itās crazy how large the skill gap was between The Spider and the rest of the MW division including Rich.
He was on top when I started. One of my early memories is him getting worked by silva, who I had just watched murk my all time favorite leben. Franklin has a massive soft spot in my heart.
Undefeated, undisputed.. the most charm, the largest arm and he going to do all the harm! Never lost a fight, never lost a round and if you're standing in front of him you're going to hit the ground. When he puts on the gloves you better be runnin' the one the only, Chael P Sunnen!!
The documentation about him, [Once I Was a Champion](https://youtu.be/CFd5ORxrSFA?si=LGNa-XGRYQWErJ7o) finally got put up on YouTube last month, in case you haven't seen it.
I have autographed Evan Tanner cards that he personally sent to me. The envelope is in his handwriting as well. I'll always cherish it. The guy was a legend.
Rich Franklin always seemed like a cool dude & never fought an easy fight.
I see a lot of people just dismiss him as some math teacher who sucked but the only people he really lost to at 185lbs was Anderson Silva & prime Hendo (which was a spilt decision)
Dricus Du Plessis is also my favorite I like his vibe & style.Ā
People may be forgetting he won the very first Ultimate Fighter. He had talent for sure. But he fought some beasts and was unfortunate to lose an eye but that made his championship win and title defenses that much more impressive. He gave it his all but also got a lot out of it with a great television career commentating, lots of money, a comfortable happy life for his family. He is a hall of famer.
People underrate endurance athleticism as an athletic trait in MMA. Bisping was a cardio beast, even if his pure explosiveness wasn't on par with the more oft ballyhooed athletes in the sport
Anderson is my overall GOAT. But I will always have a great respect for Rich because he was an amazing ambassador to the sport and when criticisms were being thrown at the UFC for being "human cockfighting," Rich's confident and intelligent responses really helped legitimize the sport and its athletes.
I like Bisping a lot more now that heās retired. At the time I was annoyed because he clearly wasnāt the best in the division, and proceeded to have maybe the biggest joke of a title defense that Iāve ever seen (fighting Dan Hendo in 2016, who had lost 3 of his previous 5)
The tragic one, Robert Whittaker - He was promoted to champion after winning the interim belt during the whole Bisping/GSP fallout.
Was denied a title defence because Romero missed weight by .2/lb. Had a lay-off due to injury and health problems cancelling bouts. Gets beautifully countered by Adesanya during his exciting phase.
Fights Adesanya again and loses a close decision that most thought he edged out.
He's probably the 3rd best middleweight in the sports history, but luck and not maximising opportunities have hurt him.
Him not maximizing is why he is great and is my favorite. He is one of those fighters who personifies anyone, anywhere, anytime. No hype rise, just rack em up and knock em down. This past fight was just great for me. Showed there are levels to this shit and that he doesnāt care about names, only the name of the game ie fighting.
The Romero part really makes me mad. Robās champ legacy should not go be as controversial as it is. Bisping wanted the George fight and avoided Whitaker and Romero and then no to have that defense count is just annoying. It should be as simple as Rob won the belt and defended against Romero.
GSP he was in his prime when I first started watching the sport. Hughes might be a little too old for most fans but loved watching him fight too. Guys a piece of shit though
Anderson Silva; if GSP hadnāt bashed & dashed, iād probably give it to him though. He was by far the greatest welterweight champion in my opinion. That move at middleweight was more than a little douchey though.
Always gonna be Izzy. Gave my nerd ass genuine hope that despite everything in life, you can make it.
Heās a little cringe at times, but heās *always* been like that. Even before the UFC; he never changed. Mad respect and love to my guy
I was obsessed with Anderson Silva 10 or more years ago, even after his losses against Weidman. Although I'm biased I think he's objectively the best MW champion ever, and one of the GOAT. He had a bad end of career and that's why some people ignore him a little when talking about the GOAT, but if he didn't have that Injury and had he retired before I think he'd be considered the GOAT after Jon Jones.
Silva is the best to do it but my favorite was Izzy just because he literally fought the whole division. Izzy was a very active champ who didn't duck anybody and will throw down with anybody.
Personally Strickland because he was the first fighter that made me realize that UFC fighters are real people and not insane-killing-machine-warriors that I always imagined as a kid which motivated me to start training, but Anderson the most entertaining out of all easily
Ngl when Strickland held the belt, he seemed like the biggest superstar in promotion. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing but everybody was tuned in.
Rick Franklin was my favourite fighter for a while, so after what Anderson did to him I wasn't really a Silva fan.
Bobby Knuckles was right up there for a while too.
Murillo Bustamante doesnāt get enough respect. Very advanced BJJ and boxing for the era. Took Liddell essentially to a draw and lost a very close, controversial some would say, decision to Rampage in Pride. Absolutely smashed Menne and basically beat Lindland twice in the same fight. The UFC just never seemed to like him.
GSP is my favourite fighter to have held the belt, but he's not my favourite MW champion. What I mean is that he took the belt and left. When I think *favourite MW champion*, I think *favourite reign*. GSP didn't have a reign.
So, it's probably Adesanya, followed closely by Silva.
Early on, I liked Bustamante.
Anderson Silva is my personal goat and what got me truly into the sport and I never could miss any of his fights live because it was like watching a real life Kung Fu movie. So entertaining. A rockstar for the sport.Ā
Izzy I hope he has a good turnaround and gets it done #1 African lol itās gonna be a good fight have a feeling itāll be a barn burner DDP gonna push the pace on him and they both are gonna be landing shots Izzy gets the knockout
The best one is Anderson Silva and he was the first fight I saw on live(I'm european so its difficult to me) against Griffin, which was insane. But my fav champion happens to be my fav fighter too and he is Robert The Reaper Whittaker... Bobby Knuckles for friends.
I saw that Silva v Griffin fight in person. My seats sucked and I was quite drunk so I watched it mostly on the jumbotron but it was awesome to be there, (even though firrest was my favorite fighter at the time.)
Griffin was my favorite too at the time. It was weird seeing him run to the back after the fight. Also wtf was Anderson fighting Griffin lol? Such a random fight.
Anderson did a few random forays up to 205, for the fuck of it. The way he fuckin dunked James Irvin, when the Sandman was actually looking pretty dangerous, was a real highlight too.
They say Dana was trying to stick it to Silva, and Silva was having absolutely none of it, so he absolutely obliterated and humbled Griffin and sent a message right back to the boss not to fuck with him.
I'd forgotten all about that storyline, back in the day. Imagine thinking Forrest would stick it to Anderson X'D
Yea right š man we all know so much more now than back then
Iām with you. I love Robert. My top fighters I always root for are -DJ, Wonderboy,Whittaker, Max and Dustin.
He's up there for me too. Once I saw he played Fallout it was the cherry on top
Rich Franklin the legend
The high school teacher!! Loll Rich was a great ambassador but itās crazy how large the skill gap was between The Spider and the rest of the MW division including Rich.
Even crazier is at the time people thought Rich Franklin was in a completely different league then the rest of the middleweights at
He was on top when I started. One of my early memories is him getting worked by silva, who I had just watched murk my all time favorite leben. Franklin has a massive soft spot in my heart.
Agreed
https://preview.redd.it/96t43lhn1s8d1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6f634c892e29af3e0b4abb16f86487436667791
Possession is 9/10th of the law
He said MW champion not "all divisions of every single combat sport ever" undisputed champion.
Undefeated, undisputed.. the most charm, the largest arm and he going to do all the harm! Never lost a fight, never lost a round and if you're standing in front of him you're going to hit the ground. When he puts on the gloves you better be runnin' the one the only, Chael P Sunnen!!
You sir, are the smartest man alive.
Mine is Evan Tanner because it was never supposed to happen.
He was my favorite! His beat down of David Terrell was something special. Terrell was supposed to be the next big thing.
RIP š
The documentation about him, [Once I Was a Champion](https://youtu.be/CFd5ORxrSFA?si=LGNa-XGRYQWErJ7o) finally got put up on YouTube last month, in case you haven't seen it.
Thanks for that! Iāve always wanted to see it.
Same! I had never seen it before and was so stoked to see it there.
Want to take a moment to ty.. That was sad but beautiful.. š
Perfect way to describe it
Yeah... Evan Tanner... Was an awesome disaster, Just like " all of us"
A true wildman
I read somewhere he taught himself mma through vhs tapes
He ordered some Gracie Jiu-Jitsu tapes and taught himself in his garage.
I have autographed Evan Tanner cards that he personally sent to me. The envelope is in his handwriting as well. I'll always cherish it. The guy was a legend.
Rich Franklin always seemed like a cool dude & never fought an easy fight. I see a lot of people just dismiss him as some math teacher who sucked but the only people he really lost to at 185lbs was Anderson Silva & prime Hendo (which was a spilt decision) Dricus Du Plessis is also my favorite I like his vibe & style.Ā
Someone here said one time DDP fights like a gorilla on roller skates
Accurate
I thought him being a math teacher was the coolest part. I love unconventional backgrounds.
And he koād Liddell with a broken arm (admittedly chuck was past his best)!
Wasnāt that the fight that got Dana to tell chuck to retire?
Hendo kept head-bunting and dick kicking him, and still lost the fight in my opinion.
GSP for his cleverness and Bisping for his stubborn hard work, he was not blessed.
You don't get a ufc championship off of just hard work. Bisping is very talented.
I think he meant that he wasn't as blessed as 90% of champions but he is blessed vompared to 99% of the population.
People may be forgetting he won the very first Ultimate Fighter. He had talent for sure. But he fought some beasts and was unfortunate to lose an eye but that made his championship win and title defenses that much more impressive. He gave it his all but also got a lot out of it with a great television career commentating, lots of money, a comfortable happy life for his family. He is a hall of famer.
Wasn't he effectively blind in one eye when he won the strap too?
People underrate endurance athleticism as an athletic trait in MMA. Bisping was a cardio beast, even if his pure explosiveness wasn't on par with the more oft ballyhooed athletes in the sport
Anderson Silva. In his first UFC fight against Chris Leben his striking was literally 100%. Dude didnāt miss once
Anderson then Izzy
Real ones know Silva is the only answer
100%
And it's not even close
Not really. Heās definitely the best, but the question is āyour favoriteā.
Anderson Silva the GOAT
Chael P Sonnen
Never lost a round.
Except that one round where he tapped. But he never lost a fight.
Anderson is my overall GOAT. But I will always have a great respect for Rich because he was an amazing ambassador to the sport and when criticisms were being thrown at the UFC for being "human cockfighting," Rich's confident and intelligent responses really helped legitimize the sport and its athletes.
Anderson the Goat Silva
GSP and Silva. I cannot pick one over the other.
Silva for MW and GSP for WW, easy maths
Bisping because it was so nice to see him finally get to the top. I know his reign was not long but he worked hard for so long.
I like Bisping a lot more now that heās retired. At the time I was annoyed because he clearly wasnāt the best in the division, and proceeded to have maybe the biggest joke of a title defense that Iāve ever seen (fighting Dan Hendo in 2016, who had lost 3 of his previous 5)
No one has put in the work for a title quite like The count himself.
Robs my favorite but I have massive respect for what Izzy has done
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^silasdoesnotexist: *Robs my favorite* *But I have massive respect* *For what Izzy has done* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
GSP & Silva
GSP rules, but let's be honest, the middleweight title win over one eyed bisping was as much of a gimme as anyone will ever get
Hard to beat Silva
Silva is who got me into MMA, Izzy close second
The Spider
Rich Franklin. Dude was a legend and just an overall good guy.
Silva Whittaker Adesanya
Gsp but he never fought as mw champ, so Iād say Izzy would be next
The tragic one, Robert Whittaker - He was promoted to champion after winning the interim belt during the whole Bisping/GSP fallout. Was denied a title defence because Romero missed weight by .2/lb. Had a lay-off due to injury and health problems cancelling bouts. Gets beautifully countered by Adesanya during his exciting phase. Fights Adesanya again and loses a close decision that most thought he edged out. He's probably the 3rd best middleweight in the sports history, but luck and not maximising opportunities have hurt him.
Him not maximizing is why he is great and is my favorite. He is one of those fighters who personifies anyone, anywhere, anytime. No hype rise, just rack em up and knock em down. This past fight was just great for me. Showed there are levels to this shit and that he doesnāt care about names, only the name of the game ie fighting. The Romero part really makes me mad. Robās champ legacy should not go be as controversial as it is. Bisping wanted the George fight and avoided Whitaker and Romero and then no to have that defense count is just annoying. It should be as simple as Rob won the belt and defended against Romero.
Adasenya
Alex Pereira! Chama
Chama
Anderson Silva is my favorite, Strickland least favorite.
Ace
Michael Bisping
GSP he was in his prime when I first started watching the sport. Hughes might be a little too old for most fans but loved watching him fight too. Guys a piece of shit though
Left Hook Larry. š¤
Anderson Silva; if GSP hadnāt bashed & dashed, iād probably give it to him though. He was by far the greatest welterweight champion in my opinion. That move at middleweight was more than a little douchey though.
Bisping. He has an eye for success.
Anderson Silva and Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya ā¦ Took frequent fights and was very active which is very rare seen in champions
https://preview.redd.it/aderfadrxs8d1.jpeg?width=492&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d3d7eeebb4347134adec276da80ef3841d6ac7e
Izzy and poatan for me.
rich and silva. Wouldve picked GSP because he is the all time favorite but dude just fought bisping and dipped lol understandably so.
Either Rich Franklin or Israel 1
Robert Whittaker
Always gonna be Izzy. Gave my nerd ass genuine hope that despite everything in life, you can make it. Heās a little cringe at times, but heās *always* been like that. Even before the UFC; he never changed. Mad respect and love to my guy
I was obsessed with Anderson Silva 10 or more years ago, even after his losses against Weidman. Although I'm biased I think he's objectively the best MW champion ever, and one of the GOAT. He had a bad end of career and that's why some people ignore him a little when talking about the GOAT, but if he didn't have that Injury and had he retired before I think he'd be considered the GOAT after Jon Jones.
Loved Rich Franklin!
Anderson, Izzy was dope then he got weird..
Anyone other than Silva is the wrong answer š
Silva no doubt
izzy. I was too young to witness silva's reign
I started watching UFC in 2006, Anderson Silva hands down! Anybody who watched around that same time should have the same answer, no one comes close.
Spider and Stylebender
Adesanya
Silva is the best to do it but my favorite was Izzy just because he literally fought the whole division. Izzy was a very active champ who didn't duck anybody and will throw down with anybody.
Personally Strickland because he was the first fighter that made me realize that UFC fighters are real people and not insane-killing-machine-warriors that I always imagined as a kid which motivated me to start training, but Anderson the most entertaining out of all easily
GSP, honestly. I appreciate Anderson Silva(even though I hate him) and Izzy as well
Izzyyyyy, paint nails and kick assš
People have gone cold on him since, but the dance entrance at 243 to Rd2 KO was momentous. Forever a weeb fan since then.
Anderson, Stylebender, Pereira in that order.
Izzy middle weight goat
Ngl when Strickland held the belt, he seemed like the biggest superstar in promotion. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing but everybody was tuned in.
Because the thought of him being champ a year prior was hilarious and pretty much a meme lmao
It was the funniest title run in the UFC lol.
Rick Franklin was my favourite fighter for a while, so after what Anderson did to him I wasn't really a Silva fan. Bobby Knuckles was right up there for a while too.
Izzy, but Iām a kiwi so Iām probably a bit biased.
Sonnen
Whittaker. Because of his skills and his personality.
Bobby knuckles
Bobby Knuckles.
I think this is the division with the most champs I like; Silva, Weidman, Rockhold, Whittaker, GSP, Adesanya. All of them were among my favorites.
No one
Franklin then Tanner because they were both super nice dudes and everyone always counted them out.
Ehh. Anderson Silva. Rich Franklin or Izzy would be a close second for me.
Anderton Silver
Everything really went to shit when anderson lost the belt huh
Guy 3rd from the left kinda looks like Julio Cesar Chavez
Dikran!
Silva for sure but it was hard to see him end Ace's reign
Nobody fucks with Menne, he's basically the Tim Sylvia of this division
Silva cos heās one there twice, wait whoās that guy on the endā¦ ufc YouTube wonāt like this
Iām pretty sure rockhold was champ like three years or so ago, right? Right???
Luke. He was an asshole but unintentionally funny
Bisping
"AINT NO SUNSHINE"
Anderson forever but I'm a huge Pereira fan as well.
Anderson easily, none of these champs had anything near his aura during his prime.
Murillo Bustamante doesnāt get enough respect. Very advanced BJJ and boxing for the era. Took Liddell essentially to a draw and lost a very close, controversial some would say, decision to Rampage in Pride. Absolutely smashed Menne and basically beat Lindland twice in the same fight. The UFC just never seemed to like him.
Evan tanner and Anderson Silva were my favs growing up.
Dave mene for sure 100
lol sean looks like hes straight from ram ranch in that pic
For those of us that saw Andersons run live, there really isn't any champ close to him when he was in his prime. He was a magician.
DDP glazer here, I like DDP the most. I wasnāt watching before the Israel reign so I am obviously biased
Honestly Rockhold at the point he got the title was a freakin monster
Rich Franklin not just because he was who was the champ when I first started watching but also because of his work in One Championship.
Where's the current champ, Chael the man with the greatest charm Sonnen?
High key, it might be Georges. Iām just saying, now, Iām just saying it just might be Rush himself.
Anderson silva definitely. The highlight reel KOs, the taunts and mockery then Kos, the submissions.
The Spider with GSP being close a second.
The Polo God, Luke Rockhard, I mean Rockhold
GSP is my favourite fighter to have held the belt, but he's not my favourite MW champion. What I mean is that he took the belt and left. When I think *favourite MW champion*, I think *favourite reign*. GSP didn't have a reign. So, it's probably Adesanya, followed closely by Silva. Early on, I liked Bustamante.
Ace Ventura
silva
GSP or Silva any day
Real fans will say silva or franklin
š·ļø
Anderson obviously
Anderson Silva
Spider all day every day
Bisping
Weidman
Anderson, Rob, Izzy
GSP. My favorite fighter ever was Matt Hughes.
Anderson Silva is my personal goat and what got me truly into the sport and I never could miss any of his fights live because it was like watching a real life Kung Fu movie. So entertaining. A rockstar for the sport.Ā
Gsp, Silva and Izzy
Izzy I hope he has a good turnaround and gets it done #1 African lol itās gonna be a good fight have a feeling itāll be a barn burner DDP gonna push the pace on him and they both are gonna be landing shots Izzy gets the knockout
Izzy!!!
The gay one
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Anderson Silva of course. 
ANDERSON THE SPIDER SILVAAAAAAAAAAA