Top 5 most important people in MMA History

[jfree2065]

Would like to hear peoples thoughts on who they think are the Top 5 most important/infleuntial people in MMA History? Unsure if anyone has discussed this in the past, but i thought it would be a fun thread considering all the hype surrounding this weekends fight.

Love them or hate them, my top 5 in no specific order:

Royce Gracie- revolutionized MMA in general

Chuck Liddell- Almost single handedly brought MMA into the US "mainstream" (along with Tito Ortiz)

Dana White- UFC was essentially dead until Zuffa bought them out. Dana brought it back from the dead. Love him or hate him, I feel he has brought credibility to MMA competition, giving the fans what they want, and contenders the title shots they deserve. (although some of his business antics are debateable)

Fedor Emilianenko- Brought much needed credibility to the Heavyweight class. Still maintains his "mystique" status.

GSP-I am trying to predict the future, but I feel he is the "second evolution" of MMA. I feel that he is a prototype fighter who exhibits all the skills we will grow accustomed to seeing 5-10 years in the future. Almost perfectly well rounded in every aspect of his game. As the competition and talent grows year after year, fighters will need to aproach the sport with GSP's discipline and diverse skill set in order to become champions of their respective weight classes. 10 years from now, we will realize GSP was the first of his kind.

If Alves beats him this weekend, then I am a complete asshole.

Feel free to be critical. I want to hear everyones thoughts!

[D-Train]

As good as Fedor is, I do't know that he's all that important. I would probably add Randy Couture in Fedor's place. 5 years from now, we may put Lesnar on this list.

[milessmalls]

not fedor,how about dana white and dont forget the great ground specialist tank abbott the 4 time world BJJ champ

[theskza]

The Fertitas, the people behind PRIDE, the Gracies. If it were limited to 5 I'd pick the people behind the scenes first.

[po_thead]

SAKURABA please

[mikahsteele]

Dana
Liddell
Couture
Fedor
Royce Gracie

[deadcl]

ho hummm sexyama x5

[lowdown1]

if it wasn't for Rorion Gracie there would be no ufc. if helio didn't create the gracie challenge there would be no ufc. no one mentioned either of them...sad

[kabukiy]

I would have to disagree with Fedor being in any top 5. He is definately the most dominant fighter right now, but as far as the history of mma goes - what has he really done to help advance the sport?
gracies
fertittas/dana
chuck
randy
original pride owners

[jfree2065]

Your right kabukiy. But the reason I put fedor in there is because many people inside and outside the fight community look to heavyweights almost like "main attractions". Even to casual fans, it seems that the Heavyweights have always been more recognizable than fighters in the other weightclasses.

I was trying to think of fighters that had the ability to bring even casual viewers to watch and/or follow their careers. I thought Fedor was a name and face that most people around the world would recongize instantly and associate with MMA. But has he done enough to advance the sport just like Randy Couture has (at least in the US)? Maybe I should replace Fedor with Randy.