Under the Microscope: Analyzing Middleweight Greats

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Murilo Bustamante

* Middleweight Record: 9-3
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .670
* Longest Winning Streak: 4
* Record in Major Middleweight Title Fights: 2-1
* Finish Percentage: 67
* Finished Percentage: 33
* Notable Victories: Dave Menne (twice), Masanori Suda, Matt Lindland
* Career Accomplishments: 2005 Pride welterweight grand prix finalist; UFC middleweight champion, with one successful title defense

CASE FOR: Bustamante was one of the first jiu-jitsu world champions to forge a path to UFC gold, becoming the organization’s second middleweight champion. He also went on to defend the title -- he was the first person in the division to do so -- before vacating it for the greener pastures and larger purses of Pride Fighting Championships, where he went on to lose a close split decision to Dan Henderson in the final of the Japanese promotion’s 2005 welterweight grand prix. Despite his grappling accolades, Bustamante boasts more knockout and technical knockout victories than submissions -- a testament to his diverse skill set. Though his career would be plagued by big-game temptations, as he jumped up in weight to fight some of the best light heavyweights the sport had to offer, he cemented his legacy as one of best middleweights of all-time in the most tried-and-true methods: fighting and beating the best possible opponents. 

CASE AGAINST: Compared to the other fighters on this list, there is no shortage of ammunition against him. First, Bustamante’s singular title defense, while laudable, does not separate him from anyone but Dave Menne -- the only Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder who did not secure a successful defense. The larger indictment on his claim as the division’s Greatest of All-Time label is that he failed against crème-de-la-crème fighters as much, if not more, than he beat them. On top of it all, his reign as the best 185-pounder of his day was exceptionally short-lived, making it that much more difficult to name him the best of all-time. He was good, no question, but in a discussion of the greatest, his name is quick to fade into white noise.

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