Sherdog’s Top 10: Brazilian Mixed Martial Artists

6. Royce Gracie

The man credited with putting the UFC on the map also helped spread the Brazilian jiu-jitsu gospel across America. As such, his importance to MMA cannot be denied.

With submissions of Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Kimo Leopoldo, Keith Hackney and many others, Gracie won tournaments at UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4. He likely would have won UFC 3, too, had it not been for an injury that necessitated his withdrawal. Gracie faced rival Shamrock in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first-ever super fight at UFC 5. Because there were no judges, the fight was declared a draw after 36 minutes. It remains the longest bout in UFC history.

Gracie moved over to Pride in 2000 and fought Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba in what some consider the greatest fight in MMA history. The Brazilian’s corner threw in the towel after six grueling 15-minute rounds. Gracie fought sporadically after the historic encounter, cementing his place on MMA’s Mount Rushmore long before his ill-conceived battle with Matt Hughes in 2006. He was flagged for anabolic steroids after defeating Sakuraba in their rematch on June 2, 2007.

Number 5 » Wanderlei Silva