Who is the best Pound for Pound fighter? MMA contributing writers Nick Gerndt and Josh Cushman debate to the each other’s end on which choice they believe it should be.  Who do you agree with? Discuss on the forum.

Cushman: As with the other debates this pick was not so simple. There are three fighters that came to mind, and any one of them is the right answer on any given day. My pick for best pound for pound is Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

Gerndt: Jump right on the Machida bandwagon why don’t ya?  Let preface this article by saying that I am a huge Machida fan, he is probably my favorite fighter to watch right now, but he is not the best pound for pound fighter.  That title belongs to George St. Pierre.

Cushman: I had a hard time choosing between GSP, Anderson Silva, and Machida. It would be easy to assume that I jumped on that bandwagon, because most have. I’ve followed Machida for a while. I was pumped to see him enter the UFC. I’m kind of a fight nerd. I watched him in K-1 and other styles (ask and I’ll elaborate) of fighting tournaments. I had a feeling he’d walk through whatever weight division he decided to fight in. GSP is great and I’m a fan, but we’ve seen him beat. He has a suspect chin. That’s his kryptonite. Machida is undefeated.

Gerndt: While it is true that Machida is undefeated, I follow the saying that “your not a true champion until you defend your belt” GSP has fought hall of famers in their prime.  Not only that he has beaten everyone in his division, he has dominated recently.  Machida is a really good fighter, but he is still relatively new to the UFC and I feel that once he is figured out, he could be suspect to a few losses.  As for GSP’s weak chin, he has only taken big shots that have come from former champions, and Machida’s chin is also a question because no one really knows what will happen when he gets punched in the mouth.

Cushman: Defend his belt is what he will do at UFC 104. He can only fight whom they put in front of him. GSP made Matt Serra a “champion” with his suspect chin. Matt Serra had no right to have that belt. Machida’s chin being a wonder proves my point – nobody can hit him. As far as fighting champions, let me share a few that Machida has beaten. Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, Rashad Evans, and here’s a shocker you may not know- BJ Penn.  Machida has more than a UFC title. He is a 2 time Brazilian sumo champion, and multiple Shotokan karate titles. The dude has been a black belt since he was 13. I’ve seen his chin tested in K1. Mike McDonald rocked him numerous times and Machida still won the fight. I’m a big GSP fan and he is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, just not THE best.

Gerndt: Very good argument there Cushman, but like you said, he still has not defended his belt.  As for beating B.J. Penn, sure that looks great on a resume, but when you weight nearly 55 pounds more than the person you are fighting its not that great of an accomplishment.  If Rua can get Machida on the ground, then look for Rua to be the champion, even though that shouldn’t happen.  For the Matt Serra fight, everyone who knows anything about the UFC and MMA know that one punch can put you one your back.  GSP came back and dominated Serra and has been on a tear since.  And if Mike McDonald is rocking Machida, that doesn’t say much about him.  There have also been lots of K-1 fighters that have tried to come over and failed miserably in the UFC.  While Machida is the exception he still needs to dominate his division a little while longer to be considered the best in the business.

Cushman: Ah that is true if that was the weight difference. BJ Penn was 191lbs and Machida was 205 pounds. My point with that was the same as bringing up McDonald in K1, and 2 sumo belts. It’s about the level of competition he’s had no matter the fighting discipline. I will give you the whole defending the belt thing. He is the only fighter I know of that is not only undefeated, he has never lost a round in any judges scorecard. As far as GSP losing to Serra – you are right anyone can be KO’d with one on the button. I don’t fault GSP for it. Two things about it though are that he was a huge favorite to win and was overconfident. GSP did show the real fighter in the second fight and made it right. That mental lapse GSP had in that fight and Machida’s elusive ability to avoid any damage at all is what made my very close decision to pick Machida over GSP.

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