Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida brought something to MMA that nobody had quite seen: a true Shotokan karate counter-striker whose elusive movement and precise timing made him look, for a stretch, almost impossible to hit. The Dragon's run to the light heavyweight title peaked with a knockout of Rashad Evans that won Knockout of the Year.

He lost the belt to Mauricio Rua and never reclaimed it, but he aged into one of the sport's great stylists, dropping to middleweight and adding signature wins over Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort. His front-kick knockout of Randy Couture remains one of the most iconic finishes in UFC history.

For fans, Machida is pure artistry. Few fighters have ever moved or timed counters the way he did at his peak.