Who were the most important SEG stars in the early UFC and why????

[Lionheart7167]

I think most can agree Royce changed the game forever. He introduced BJJ to the world and was the most dominant fighter in those early days, never (truly) losing.

After Royce though who do you think was the most important to the game and why?

I'd say Mark Coleman is probably number 2. He brought legit wrestling, and showed how effective it could be. Not to mention, he popularized ground'n'pound and demonstrated its effectiveness.
Ken Shamrock was great, and the most popular of the bunch, but I'm not sure what he really taught us.
Marco Ruas proved that leg kicks were extremely effective, and Oleg introduced us to Sambo.
Don Frye showed that boxing had it's place if you could couple it with effective transitions. Him and Frank Shamrock were really the first two cross-trained athletes in the UFC.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

Tank, Coleman, Frye, both Shammys, and Tito. Tito was far and away the biggest star they had. Why? Bc he always gave 110%, every time.

 

[pankrat]

I think most can agree Royce changed the game forever. He introduced BJJ to the world and was the most dominant fighter in those early days, never (truly) losing.

After Royce though who do you think was the most important to the game and why?

I'd say Mark Coleman is probably number 2. He brought legit wrestling, and showed how effective it could be. Not to mention, he popularized ground'n'pound and demonstrated its effectiveness.
Ken Shamrock was great, and the most popular of the bunch, but I'm not sure what he really taught us.
Marco Ruas proved that leg kicks were extremely effective, and Oleg introduced us to Sambo.
Don Frye showed that boxing had it's place if you could couple it with effective transitions. Him and Frank Shamrock were really the first two cross-trained athletes in the UFC.

Frye and Frank weren the first cross-trained athletes.
You actually mentioned several names who came before them and were already cross-training

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

Ken shamrock and Royce as fighters. Ken probably more so than Royce as his popularity
Art Davie and Bob Meyrowitz were so important too

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

Without Ken shamrock fighting tito ufc would have folded.. ufc owe a lot to ken

 

[Mammothman]

Maybe Tito? I think he was the first superstar im the UFC thanks to his feud with Ken

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

Maybe Tito? I think he was the first superstar im the UFC thanks to his feud with Ken

1. Tito's numbers when champ was shit ,vitor chuck randy was nothing compared to ken at ufc 40 ken trebled the ppv buys

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Without Ken shamrock fighting tito ufc would have folded.. ufc owe a lot to ken

Maybe Tito? I think he was the first superstar im the UFC thanks to his feud with Ken

UFC was bleeding money until UFC 40... Tito vs Ken turned the tide. TUF Forrest vs Bonnar changed the game...

 

[Spam On Rye]

Frank Shamrock. The first actual mixed martial artist imo. Done Frye too because, well, he's Don Frye.

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

Frank Shamrock. The first actual mixed martial artist imo. Done Frye too because, well, he's Don Frye.

Shame he could never beat his brother, he was complete fighter but ken taught him everything .

Ken was the first mixed martial arts fighter imo

 

[DarthChen731]

Joe Son

 

[skylolow]

Not sure why no one said Dan Severn yet. He is the first one to show how pure wrestling was very effective in MMA.

 

[Spam On Rye]

Shame he could never beat his brother, he was complete fighter but ken taught him everything .

Ken was the first mixed martial arts fighter imo

No doubt but I hated Ken and Frank was the first guy I actually got nerves when he fought.