Fedor is probably one of the best competition fighters in the world, but I don't know about the best pure fighter period. To be fair, I don't know of anyone who is better.Decessus
Until someone beats him, he's the best fighter alive in MMA and Combat Sambo, two sports that are as close to a real fight as you can get sanctioned.
However, I just find it hard to believe that a fighter who trains for structured fights like those in MMA would be better off than a fighter who trains to simply win no matter what.
Before there was MMA, there was Vale Tudo. It was basically a no rules style of fighting. There is a story of a man who had is eye gouged and was blinded, but continued fighting until he was defeated, and kept the injury a secret for many years to protect the intergrety of his sport. Eventually, Vale Tudo made its way from Brazil to the U.S. and was called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was a tournament designed to determine the best fighting style in the world by pitting masters of different arts against each other.
Keep in mind, the first UFC had no rules (except eye-gouging, I believe) so it was basically a street fight in a cage. Royce Gracie proved the BJJ is the single most effective style by defeating men twice his size and much better athletes. Eventually, strikers learned takedown defense and dominated the sport. Now, fighters must be well rounded on their feet, on the ground, and in the clinch to stand a chance.
Polititians started banning the sport as it was evolving, so regulations were put in place to keep it legal. The only rules exist for the sole purpose of preventing any permanent injury to the fighters, and don't do much to affect how a fight is won or lost. And honestly, is a kick to the balls really a skill that takes years to master? As for Pride, there are less rules than the UFC and Fedor has beaten the best of the best without suffering a real defeat. Modern
MMA fighters are highly trained and conditioned athletes with years of training in the most effective martial arts. Like I said, it's the closest thing to a real fight that you can get sanctioned and make and millions of dollars doing, so the world's best and most well rouned fighters (like the dude in my avatar) are competing in MMA. And Fedor is the King.
Sorry that took so long, but it's not something you can explain in a sentence. You agree now or still have some questions?
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