Quote Originally Posted by VanChilds View Post
I guess we have a different idea of Hall of Fame. Kind of takes the shine off of it if you let every guy who had a "moment" in the sport. The UFC is a little over 20 years old. Only the absolute best should get this honor or you just water down the honor. If in 20 years guys like Bisping's, Griffin's and Serra's accomplishments are still looked upon as amongst the best (which they really aren't now) then let them in. Serra has a pinnacle win against GSP and then got crushed in a rematch which suggests his best win was a bit a fluke. After that for every decent win he has a loss to Karo, Shonie Carter and Din Thomas. The guy is a good fighter but not even one of the top 10 WW ever. Griffin probably has the best chance of these three. If he can put together another good run, regain the belt and get some signature wins he probably could get in. But as it sits today he is as you said inconsistent and just a good fighter in what is a great division. Now Bisping has had a couple of nice wins against Kang and Akiyama but the guy just hasn't shown he can compete at the top 5 level. Unless this guy has some massive step up in ability he will beat middle tier guys and get crushed when he steps up ala Henderson. That is not what a Hall of Fame career looks like. Particularly as MMA grows and gets bigger the talent pool will expand and I think the careers of these three gets overshadowed.
I don't think a fighter needs to be great to be Hall of Fame material.
For example in boxing you've got Gatti, Ward and Hatton who will all surely be HoFamers despite never being "A" level fighters.
The appeal of combat sports, the reason we watch is because of the emotion it inspires.
I think Serra v GSP 1 was one of the most shocking fights of the past decade.
For me it epitomised the underdog's dream. I mean GSP was and continues to be in a league of his own at 170.
I'm not going to comment on Griffin, Bisping et al, but I do believe Serra for his service to the UFC, his fine contribution to MMA Jiu Jitsu and that defining moment will be in there.