Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters of the 2000s

3. Georges St. Pierre

History may remember St. Pierre as the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. St. Pierre holds Ultimate Fighting Championship records for most consecutive welterweight title defenses (nine) and most title fight wins (12). Add to those accomplishments his four “Fight of the Night” awards and there can be no doubt that he ranks at or near the top of any reputable Greatest of All-Time list. St. Pierre avenged the only two defeats -- a submission loss to Matt Hughes and a technical knockout loss to Matt Serra -- on his resume, and his long list of victims includes B.J. Penn (twice), Sean Sherk, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz and Johny Hendricks. “Rush” reclaimed the welterweight championship by stopping Serra with knees to the body at UFC 83 on April 19, 2008 and remained on the 170-pound throne until December 13, 2013, when he vacated the title following a hard-fought and controversial decision over Hendricks at UFC 167. St. Pierre has been absent from the MMA scene for more than three full years now, but talk of a possible return -- he reportedly agreed to terms on a new contract with the UFC on Feb. 15 -- continues to build, with Diaz, current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, reigning middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping, Conor McGregor and Anderson Silva all mentioned as potential opponents.

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