Some fighters might object to having their entire professional career condensed into a three-minute clip, but it makes for great watching. Here are JOE’s five top MMA highlight reels.
By Robert Carry
Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira
This inspiring clip tells the story of the Minator, who as a nine-year-old was run over by a truck (an actual truck, like). With most of his major organs burst and every second bone in his body broken, he was given scant chance of survival. The tenaciousness that saw him survive became a hallmark of his fighting career, as he repeatedly snatched victory when all seemed lost.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson
His capacity for sheer, unabashed, instinctive brutality meant Rampage in his prime was literally the last person you would want to find yourself locked into the cage with. We are told rugby is a real man’s sport – but there would be a lifetime ban for executing any one of the half dozen neck-breaker spear tackles shown in Rampage’s highlight reel.
Mirko ‘Cro-Cop’
There is something genuinely scary about Cro-Cop – not least the fact that he has been grilled over possible involvement in war crimes during the Balkans conflict. Anyway, with steely coolness in the ring and a wrecking ball of a left leg, his highlight reel is undoubtedly one of the most impressive.
Jose Aldo
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting fighters in any combat sport, Jose Aldo has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. You would never know that, however, because the Brazilian is so good at Muay Thai that he tends to demolish his opponents where they stand without ever being put on his back. Chopping leg-kicks and flying knees all the way. The scariest part is that he’s just getting better.
Fedor Emelianenko
This highlight reel does some justice to Fedor’s almost magical capacity to fearlessly take on and somehow defeat other heavyweight fighters who often towered over him. A worthy tribute to the former Russian soldier who the world’s best fighters hail as the best of all time – the man known as the Last Emperor.
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