Dan Henderson is not only the modern day equivalent to the Running Man, he’s also as tough as any human being on the face of earth. This man can take a trouncing like no other, and often manages to rebound and snag impressive victories. Given his low-key demeanor, and I’d-share-a-beer-with-you-anytime attitude, Dan has painted himself as one of the coolest men competing in mixed martial arts today.

Dan Henderson’s Career

Who are the best 10 submission fighters?  Here is our list of the MMA fighters who are at the top of the game when it comes to ending a fight with a submission.

1.UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis, Jan. 28. Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and rising challenger Phil Davis will battle it out in the main event to more than likely determine the number-one challenger for Jon Jones’ title. And in a clash to determien who will be the number-one middleweight challenger, Anderson Silva’s nemesis, Chael Sonnen, takes on Mark Munoz. This will be the UFC’s second event on the FOX network.

 2. UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, to be held on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. The main event on the card, between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, holds special significance because the winner will be crowned the UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. Then, once current champion Georges St-Pierre rehabs from knee surgery, the UFC will hold a champion vs. champion bout to determine the true kingpin of the welterweight division.

This is a topic that’s been up for debate since Tito Ortiz was mowing through UFC competition circa 2000. During his MMA reign as champion, Ortiz defended his title five times, dismantling challengers, Yuki Kondo, Evan Tanner, Elvis Sinosic, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ken Shamrock. The run leaves Ortiz in the history books as the 205 pound champion with the most consecutive successful defenses of the title, but one must weigh the level of competition and capabilities of your typical “a level” fighter in 2000. It’s not exactly a stretch to say that the game has evolved in a tremendous way, and fighters today are decisively more refined in their attack and overall fight IQ. However, I’m not aiming to discredit Ortiz’ run as champ either: he faced those assigned to challenge, and he did a fine job of disposing each one, until he ran into Randy Couture.

Couture in contrast was unquestionably one of the finest champions to compete in this sport. The man won multiple titles stretching multiple divisions. Throughout his career he projected a classy persona that led legions of fans to dedicate their time to following “The Natural”; few ever faltered in their fanaticism. While Couture will go down in the history books, it won’t be due to remarkable stretches as champion, it will come as a result of the odds he defied, the upbeat attitude always proffered, and his otherworldly game planning inside the cage.

B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz met in a thrilling affair to topline UFC 137. The action was fast-paced and wildly violent. For fans, it was a monumental collision, as both Penn and Diaz are known for their unbridled aggression, remarkable durability and tendencies to speak long before thinking. Neither of these two are afraid to insult another and neither man would ever contemplate walking away from an altercation. The fact that both individuals have taken part in memorable rivalries that in some cases stretched far beyond the octagon isn’t much of a surprise either. However, the aftershock of one of 2011’s finest welterweight bouts has left MMA pundits a tad perplexed.

For those who missed the fight, Nick Diaz managed to escape a rocky first round to turn things around and batter Penn for the better portion of the following two frames. In the end, the judges awarded the unanimous decision victory to Diaz, who clearly outworked the rugged Hawaiian as the fight progressed. Emotions ran high following the bout, but accounts indicated that both Penn and Diaz exchanged mutual respect backstage after the fight had taken place (there’s even an image floating about of the two posing together, black and blue, seemingly on good terms).

Nate Diaz is one of very few fighters who have successfully honed their craft while competing on the largest stage possible. Refining one’s skills is a daunting task on local circuits, to be forced to learn on the job while tangling with the world’s elite crop of fighters is a borderline crime, but it certainly serves to separate the men from the boys, and in few cases, produces truly spectacular competitors. Nate Diaz is a young man who fits the spectacular bill however, it hasn’t been an easy road to maturation, as I’m certain Nate himself would testify.

Ultimate Fighter 5th Season

UPDATE (1-14-2011): Would these athletes still be the best ‘Other Sport’ athletes in MMA? What Do You Think (Comment Below)?

Original Post: 4-2-2007

Mixed martial arts is a sport that is growing by leaps and bounds across the world. With the global expansion of major promotions such as the UFC, one can expect to see many more individuals take up the gloves to try their hand at the craft.

Today’s MMA fighter is coming from a variety of sports backgrounds. Take Brendan Schaub and NFL All Pro Herschel Walker. Both were former professional athletes in a completely different sport and now they are fighting on two of the biggest stages in MMA. While not a direct correlation when it comes to sports fields, surely the rigors of football training has prepared their minds and bodies for what they go through in MMA.

Is Alistair Overeem The Future of The Heavyweight Division?

There was once a time in which Alistair Overeem was considered little more than a fringe contender flailing about, fighting to survive in a pool of 205 pound sharks. Those days are now half a decade and forty plus pounds distanced, as Overeem has firmly cemented himself as a top heavyweight contender in MMA’s contemporary landscape.

Worthy Foes

Should The UFC Use A Minor League System Like MLB?

The other day a friend of mine and I were talking about the up and coming talent of the UFC and even though there are some good ones coming up there isn’t a lot of them. To fix this issue the UFC could start creating smaller organization throughout the U.S. to help raise, train, and harvest the best MMA fighters for the big show.

Self Sufficient Clubs

Over the last few decades we’ve seen some very polarizing personalities emerge in this sport. Some men choose to express themselves precisely as they would behind closed doors; some men opt to project specific images in the hopes of drawing more fan interest. The protagonist personality surfaces just as often as the antagonistic, but it seems the genuine individuals are the true crowd pleasers; even drunken fans can detect a bogus façade.

So who captivates fanatic followers the most in today’s MMA landscape? Do you see your favorite fighter on this list?  If not let us know below in the comments!