Top Strikers of MMA Today

Honorable mention: Melvin Manhoef, Rob McCullough, Mark Hunt, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

5. Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski
The Pitbull! Though Arlovski last few bouts can’t exactly be considered stellar, I still consider him as one of the greatest strikers in MMA today.

Arlovski is quite the physical specimen, I mean he is absolutely shredded; he has muscles on top of his muscles. Arlovski’s immense power is complemented by his crisp and accurate strikes.

Arlovski is no slouch on the ground. He's an avid practitioner of Sambo. Sambo is a combat spot and self defense system developed in the Soviet Union and greatly resembles mixed martial arts with its blend of judo, jiu-jitsu, and striking techniques. Arlovski has won a European Youth Sambo Championship and the World Youth Championship. He also took a silver medal at the Sambo World Cup and another silver medal at the World Sambo Championship.

Arlovski holds a notable submission victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and a stunning knockout victory of Vladimir Matsyushenko. Arlovski showed his dominant striking skills against Matsyushenko, who he knocked out with a beautifully landed uppercut.

4. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva has been an absolute animal, from his earliest bare-knuckle showdowns in the IVC’s to his PRIDE FC career. Silva is best known for his incredible speed, power, and aggressiveness in the ring.

Wanderlei Silva specializes in Muay-Thai and trains under Rudimar Fedrigo at the Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil. With 21 of his 31 wins ending by some form of knockout, it’s no surprise that Silva is considered by many to be one of the best strikers in MMA today. Silva’s arsenal consists of knees from the Muay-Thai clinch, soccer kicks, stomping downed opponents and his “wild looping punches.”

Wanderlei Silva has also earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but prefers having his fights ending by way of knockout.

In my opinion, Silva’s greatest fights are his two knockout wins over current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and his first fight with Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. I would choose Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson II as one of the greatest fights in all of MMA history to date.

3. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

Is a description even necessary for The Iceman? Chuck Liddell has to be one of the most accomplished fighters in MMA today. Being MMA’s top celebrity, Chuck Liddell has brought in tons of positive attention towards the UFC.

Liddell’s background began in karate and collegiate wrestling but has grown into almost pure striking. Chuck seems to only utilize his wrestling abilities to avoid being taken down by his opponents. After graduating from college, Chuck began training with current trainer John Hackleman of The Pit in Arroyo Grande, California.

Liddell is most known for his unorthodox style of fighting. Chuck possesses a very wide stance and keeps his hands low most of the time. He's considered to be a counter-puncher and delivers his punches from virtually all angles.

Chuck Liddell possesses deadly punches, kicks, and knees but his most powerful weapon is his ferocious overhand right, which usually gains him his knockout wins. Liddell currently has 13 out of his 20 wins coming by way of knockout. Chuck Liddell holds outstanding wins over some of the best mixed martial artists of today. Tito Ortiz, Renato Sobral, current HW champion Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, and Alistair Overeem are just a few of the countless top contenders Liddell has defeated.

2. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Cro Cop can is seen as the top striker in the MMA business today. He's well known for being in the majority of MMA highlight reels played around the world today. Cro Cop is not only a world class fighter but a Croatian Anti-Terrorist officer and a former member of the Croatian parliament!

Cro Cop is easily known for his most deadly attack, the signature left high kick. Everyone knows it’s coming, but no one can stop it. Cro Cop best describes his kicking prowess as “Right leg, hospital, left leg cemetery,” I couldn’t have summed it up better myself.

Cro Cop’s outstanding striking abilities have given him much success throughout K-1 and PRIDE FC. On September 10, 2006, Cro Cop was the winner of PRIDE FC’s 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix in which he had to face two opponents on the same night. Cro Cop faced feared striker Wanderlei Silva and topped the night off with a submission (due to strikes) win over Josh Barnett. Barnett is considered to be one of MMA’s top heavyweights. Cro Cop currently fights for the UFC.

Before entering professional kickboxing and mixed martial arts, the Croatian Sensation held an amateur boxing record of 40-5 (31 KOs).

Cro Cop’s most renowned wins are over Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ikuhisa Minowa, Hidehiko Yoshida in MMA and Remy Bonjasky, Peter Aerts, Jerome LeBanner and Mark Hunt in kickboxing.

1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva

And we finally reach the number one spot for strikers in my book, Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Anderson Silva is like a sniper, and his hands and feet are his bullets. Corny? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

Silva is UFC’s current middleweight champion and has been Cage Rage’s longest reigning middleweight champion. Anderson Silva has been successful in PRIDE FC, Shooto, Cage Rage, and Rumble on the Rock and has currently been tearing through the UFC.

Anderson Silva trained in the famous Chute Boxe Academy and left to create the Muay Thai Dream Team and most recently created a new team called Black House with fighters Assuerio Silva, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida and Carlos Barreto.

Anderson Silva is hands down the best Muay Thai practitioner in ALL of MMA. Silva utilizes Muay Thai techniques to the fullest extent with his virtually unstoppable clinch, flying knees, flying elbows, spinning back fists and his dead on kicks and punches. On top of Silva’s deadly arsenal of Muay Thai skills, he possesses an iron chin, best displayed in his bout against Jorge Rivera. Anderson Silva purposely ate numerous punches of Rivera’s on the chin and was not fazed one bit. Silva’s best display of his dominating Muay Thai in the UFC was his fight against Rich Franklin. Fighting for the middleweight belt, Silva completely picked apart Rich Franklin, with his clinch and lethal knees, one of which broke Franklin’s nose. Silva of course walked away victorious and still holds the UFC middleweight belt to this day.

All in all, Anderson Silva has sniper scopes on his hands and feet and is dead on with all his strikes. His deadly precision and top notch striking makes every fight of his a blast to watch. For this reason, I give Silva the number one spot for top strikers in MMA today.