Soul Calibur, then Dead or Alive, then Tekken.

soul calibur & street fighter

Dead or Alive is my favorite fighting series.

Tekken, I'd whop the lot of ya.

Street Fighter

I'll rate all of them-
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Virtua Fighter
Tekken
Soul Calibur
Dead of Alive

P.S. I think Brawl, Tobal, and Bushindo are all better than everything you mentioned so your list is extremely limiting. You also left out the SNK fighters.

I'd have to say Street Fighter. I've been a fan since way back, and I know a couple of guys who participate - and vacation for - Street Fighter tournaments, so it's something we size each other up on all the time.

Next, Tekken. The older ones were much better IMO, but the game is still unique and (correct me if I'm wrong - cuz I might be) I think it was the first fighter where you could move in 3 dimensions.

In terms of balance, I don't think any games come close to those 2.

However, I think Dead or Alive is awesome too. Not only is the gameplay addictingly fun, it's great to start on top of a huge building and keep knocking someone down a level over and over again.

Soul Caliber does nothing for me..I've tried to play it, and a few of my friends do so I still play it from time to time, but I just don't enjoy it. I don't know.

Virtua Fighter just seems like a Tekken replica to me as well. I had VF5, but I traded it in.

Tekken and Street fighter.

Out of those on your list its a tie for me with Street fighter and Soul Calibur.
Soul Calibur is my favorite 3-d fighting game and Street fighter is my second favorite 2-d fighter.

Tekken then Mortal Kombat....

Mortal Kombat