During 2001, The sport of MMA took a step forward with the new ownership in the UFC taking the sport to new heights in North America. With the rebirth of MMA came the rebirth of the fighters. New fighters climbed to new heights and champions fell and started anew. Of the hundreds and hundreds of fights that took place around the world in 2001, only a select few fighters were in a league by themselves. These fighters took their fighting to new levels of excitement and skill. Many fighters around the world impressed us all but I have compiled a short list of who I believe, were the 5 best fighters of the year 2001. Here we go, starting from #5.

#5 Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell shocked everyone, including me, with an incredible year that began with a quick knockout of Kevin Randleman at UFC 31. Since then he has gone on to K.O Guy Mezger at PRIDE 14 and defeat Murilo Bustamante at UFC 33 by Unanimous Decision. Liddell has only had a handful of MMA fights but he has made each one count with his only loss coming against Jeremy Horn by choke. Liddell’s impressive credentials are made more so by the fact that many of his wins have come by way of knockout. His Takedown defense is now legendary and his kickboxing skills are on par with the best in MMA. The only thing that could have gone better is a match with Tito Ortiz, Hopefully that will be rectified in 2002. Chuck Liddell enters the Top 5 at number 5.

# 4 - Vanderlei Silva
One of the most feared light heavyweights in the world right now, Silva is sitting on top of the PRIDE Middleweight Division, having defeated the seemingly invincible Kazushi Sakuraba on two separate occasions and dethroning the Japanese fighter as the top middleweight fighter in Japan. Vanderlei broke the hearts of Japanese fans around the world with consecutive victories over Japanese fighters Kazushi Sakuraba In under 2 minutes, Shungo Oyama in under a minute, Kazushi Sakuraba again, and then the always game but always losing Alexander Otsuka. Is there anyone who can challenge the Brazilian sensation and take his Pride Middleweight belt? It remains to be seen but things are not looking good for our fighting friends in Pride. Only time will tell, but with New/Old blood such as Jeremy Horn, Bas Rutten, and Royce Gracie entering the division in PRIDE it looks to be an interesting division. Vanderlei steps up and takes the forth spot in the top 5 of 2001.

#3 - Tito Ortiz
Say what you will about the weight cutting debate, Tito is the Current UFC light heavyweight Champ and it doesn’t look like that is going to change anytime soon. The only thing that changes is the number of Tito believers out there who seem to grow in number everyday, like the number of people who hate Osama bin laden. Tito has become the poster boy for the "NEW" UFC and until someone dethrones him he looks to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Tito is the most recognizable face in the UFC and there he will stay, the only person who looks to challenge him for his belt is the Iceman and until that fight happens, Tito will stay atop the UFC ladder and rule the division with and iron fist. Tito and his Iron Fist enter the top 5 at the number 3 slot.

#2 - B.J Penn

The man they call Baby Jay was a relative unknown in the world of MMA in the year 2000 and the first half of the year in 2001. With his systematic dismantling of Joey Gilbert, his Pinpoint kneeing to the face of Din Thomas, and his crushing Knockout of Japanese standout Kauru Uno "The Prodigy" is up for a title shot with the current king of the hill Jens Pulver. B.J has risen from "no name" to "name my price" and is now the main event for the next UFC show in January. I can’t think of anyone else who has risen as fast and with as much fanfare as the "The Next one". With the relatively unknown lighter weight classes, the new UFC lightweight division needs B.J Penn, like Osama Bin Laden needs a last will and testament. Right here, Right now, B.J stands as the most exciting fighter in any weight class, and does not look out of place as the current MAIN EVENT of the First UFC of 2002. Look out boys B.J is number two on my list this year and he may very well be number one next year, in more ways than one.

#1 - Rodrigo Nogueira
The next wave of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu artists are here, and if there was any doubt as to whether BJJ was dead, let me just say two words. Antonio Nogueira. He combines a special brand of stand up and ground skills few men on this earth can compete with. He has risen from relative obscurity to lay claim to one of the most prestigious MMA belts in the world. In one year he has gone undefeated going 6 and 0 in RINGS and PRIDE, defeating the likes of Mark Coleman and Heath Herring in convincing fashion. The new PRIDE HEAVYWEIGHT Champion made a bold statement in 2001 taking on all comers and proved himself to be in an elite class that few can lay claim to. In just one year he went from relative unknown to PRIDE HEAVYWEIGHT Champion, but more importantly he has made number one on "The Sushiboy’s" "Best fighter of 2001" list. :)

Honorable Mention Randy Couture
Exterminating the ghosts that whispered "retirement" into the ears of Randy Couture, Couture let his actions speak louder than words, taking the "whispers" from the critics and turning them into cheers from the crowd. Is there any sporting figure in the world, who would make a better role model for the American people, with as much class and dignity as Randy Couture? Couture has ten times the class of most basketball, football and baseball players. He carries himself with the quiet confidence and dignity that Albert Belle, O.J Simpson, and any member of the Carolina Panthers could only dream of. Defying the laws of nature and getting better and better with age, Couture looks to be alone at the top of the UFC ladder. My Hat is off to the UFC Heavyweight champion of the world, and more importantly the People’s champion, Randy Couture.

Dishonorable Discharge
Gilbert Yvel

Gilbert Yvel represents everything that is bad about MMA. He has little or no regard for the rules of the sport and is unsportsmanlike in every sense of the word. He is the antithesis of Randy Couture, he is a cocky and brash underachiever, who is nothing but a burden to the sport of MMA.He seems to posses all the talent to take his game to the next level but his refusal to acknowledge the ground game, makes him a purely one-dimensional fighter. Publicly announcing his hatred for the Brazilian fighters he trash talks and bad mouths fighters he calls cowards, because they won’t stand up with him. Cowards ????? Why doesn’t he consider himself the coward for not going for the takedown or making the fight a submission wrestling match? Absolutely ridiculous, just like his chances of getting another long term contract with a big time promotion.

Parting Thoughts

2001 was an incredible year for the fight fans around the world. It brought new blood and new energy into a sport that we all believe can reach the pinnacle of popularity around the world. In the end, it was the incredible Fighters that made the sport great for the fans. I expect to see a new crop of great fighters spring from the woodwork just as they did this year and make it better and more exciting for the Fight fans around the world.Here is to the fighters of 2001 and new fighters that will rock the world in 2002. For MMA Ring Report this was "The Sushiboy" Arnold Lim