The 10 Greatest Pride FC Middleweight Fighters

Knockout artists, Olympic grapplers and fan-favorite showmen who lit up Japan's grandest ring all jostle for the top spot. Who reigns supreme?

1

Wanderlei Silva

The Axe Murderer, Pride's inaugural and longest-reigning middleweight champion known for ferocious knockouts.

1000pts

2

Kazushi Sakuraba

The Gracie Hunter, a beloved Japanese pro-wrestler-turned-MMA legend.

753pts

3

Murilo Bustamante

A technical Brazilian Top Team veteran and former UFC champion who competed in Pride.

726pts

4

Mauricio Rua

Shogun, who won the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix with relentless, dynamic striking.

652pts

5

Kazuo Misaki

A skilled Japanese fighter who won the 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix and faced the elite.

565pts

6

Alistair Overeem

A hard-hitting striker who rose through Pride's middleweight ranks before moving up.

339pts

7

Quinton Jackson

Rampage, a powerful slam artist who waged one of MMA's greatest rivalries with Wanderlei Silva.

339pts

8

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Lil Nog, a slick boxer and judoka who battled the division's best.

339pts

9

Dan Henderson

An Olympic wrestler who knocked out Silva to become Pride's only simultaneous two-division champion.

339pts

10

Hidehiko Yoshida

An Olympic judo gold medalist who became a Japanese MMA star in Pride.

339pts