No one inspired fear quite like Wanderlei Silva. | Photo: D. Herbertson/Sherdog.com
1. Wanderlei Silva
Silva is the unanimous choice of the Sherdog.com staff as the most aggressive fighter in the history of the sport. From the thousand-yard stare and the picture-perfect “Axe Murderer” nickname to the volleys of brutal hooks and potent knees in the clinch, no fighter has ever embodied aggressiveness in MMA quite like Silva.
By the time he reached the UFC, Silva’s prime was clearly over, and his chin could no longer absorb the kinds of shots he had once eaten without trouble. Even then, however, Silva’s aggressiveness hardly dampened. Chris Leben knocked him out in less than 30 seconds. What was Silva doing when he was finished? He was charging forward, trying to land punches of his own. He showed unusual patience in fights with Michael Bisping and Cung Le but turned up the aggression at the proper moments. His final fight with Brian Stann was a war of epic proportions and showcased even a faded Silva’s longstanding violent streak.
Now effectively retired in semi-disgrace, Silva’s legendary aggressiveness still stands as the ideal to which all future fighters will aspire.
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