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Featured Image Credit: Getty/SPORTbible
Topics: Anderson Silva, Georges St Pierre, Jon Jones, UFC, Spotlight
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Anderson Silva, Georges St Pierre, Jon Jones, UFC, Spotlight
MMA legend Royce Gracie has revealed his UFC Mount Rushmore and he's left out some iconic names.
This weekend's UFC 295 commemorates the 30th anniversary of UFC 1, which Gracie won as he defeated not one but THREE opponents on fight night to be crowned the winner.
He submitted Art Jimmerson in the quarter-final before choking out Ken Shamrock in the semi-final then submitted Gerard Gordeau in the final to win UFC 1.
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The Brazilian, who comes from a historic family linage, is regarded as one of the godfathers of MMA and a bonafide legend following his exploits in the famed Octagon.
Ahead of UFC's 30th anniversary, SPORTbible asked Gracie to pick his UFC Mount Rushmore and he didn't disappoint as he named FOUR absolute greats of the game. Check it out below:
Gracie admitted it's a tough ask to name just four UFC legends, but he persisted as he began with Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva.
'Rush' reigned over the UFC welterweight division, beating the likes of Nick Diaz, Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, among others, during his epic championship streak.
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He also captured the UFC middleweight title after stopping Michael Bisping.
As for 'The Spider', he made an incredible 11 defences of his UFC middleweight crown, cementing his legacy in the MMA world.
"My four UFC greatest fighters... it's a tough question, there's so many good fighters," Gracie told SPORTbible. "I'd say [Georges] St-Pierre is up there. Anderson Silva - he cleaned out the division twice."
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The 56-year-old, who also won UFC 2 and UFC 4, included himself as well as current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who also starred in the UFC light-heavyweight division, racking up 11 successful title defences during his two spells as 205lbs king.
"I will have to put myself up there," Gracie gleefully added. "Jon Jones - he cleaned out the division twice.
"But there's so many good names. Khabib [Nurmagomedov] just retired. Undefeated. It's tough to pick just four."
So, there you have it - Gracie's UFC Mount Rushmore features St-Pierre, Silva, himself and Jones.
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