UFC

30 Best UFC Fighters of all time

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Here are the top 30 best UFC fighters of All Time

With the UFC producing some of the best mixed martial artists in the history of the sport, year in year out, here are 30 fighters who have stood out from the rest.

30) Nick Diaz (welterweight)

Nick Diaz stands in the Octagon after five rounds against Anderson Silva in a middleweight bout during UFC 183 (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Nick Diaz is as tough as nails. He is the only one in this entire list to have never won any UFC title. The sheer gangster approach he brought to the fight game was unique.

Who would forget his rivalry against Georges St-Pierre, against whom he went fighting down at UFC 158, losing via. unanimous decision.

Diaz retired with a record of 26-9 in his MMA career.

29) Michael Bisping (middleweight)

Michael Bisping is a former UFC champion (Image credit: Getty)

Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping, arguably the greatest fighter the United Kingdom has ever produced. Bisping is a one time middleweight champion and a UFC hall of famer.

He holds notable victories over Anderson Silva and Luke Rockhold. Bisping in fact beat Rockhold to win the middleweight title at UFC 199.

28) Robbie Lawler (welterweight)

Robbie Lawler (Bleacher Report)

One of the most feared welterweights during his prime. Robbie Lawler was an absolute machine. He won the welterweight title after beating Johnny Hendricks at UFC 181.

He went on to defend it twice, before losing it at the hands of a brutal and powerful Tyron Woodley.

27) Deiveson Figueiredo (Flyweight)

Deiveson Figueiredo has only lost one fight in his MMA career (UFC)

The Brazilian flyweight has been a tough nut to crack. He has a record of 9 wins in the UFC, with just one loss and one draw.

The one loss was against Jussier Formiga, via unanimous decision. He is now the reigning flyweight champion in the UFC.

With an overall record of 20 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, the Brazilian somehow scrapes into the 30th position on this list.

26) Dustin Poirier (Lightweight)

Dustin Poirier is one of the top fighters in the UFC (UFC)

Given his impressive UFC resume, ‘The Diamond’ should probably be ranked higher up in this list. But he doesn’t have a title to his name. The closest he has ever come to a title was, winning the interim lightweight belt against Max Holloway at UFC 236.

However, Poirier has a ton of experience in the UFC and has notable victories over great fighters like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.

His UFC record is an impressive 19 wins and just 5 losses.

25) Tony Ferguson (Lightweight)

Tony Ferguson shared this photo on Instagram (Instagram)

Another great fighter who has not won a title, Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson. He was the interim lightweight champion after beating Kevin Lee at UFC 216. ‘El Cucuy’ held an insane record of 12 straight wins in the UFC, for a period of almost 8 years.

Ferguson fighting the Greatest lightweight of all time, Khabib Nurmagomedov was considered to be one of the greatest modern-day UFC matchups. Unfortunately it never came to fruition.

24) Chris Weidman (middleweight)

October 19, 2019: Fighters Dominick Reyes (red) and Chris Weidman (blue) during UFC Fight Night at UFC Boston at Td Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs Weidman – ZUMAc233 20191019_zsp_c233_009 Copyright: xVanessaxCarvalhox

‘The All American’ famously stopped Anderson Silva at UFC 162 when the Brazilian was at the peak of his powers. Weidman is known for his impeccable ground game, combined with excellent striking.

He went on to defend his middleweight title three times, before losing it to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194.

23) Tyron Woodley (Welterweight)

Tyron Woodley

Woodley was known for his extreme explosive power. He was one of the scariest fighters in the game during his peak. The American beat Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 to win the welterweight belt, before going on to defend it, an impressive 3 times.

Of late he began fading, falling into a four-fight skid. He is now a free agent, after being released by the UFC recently.

22) Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson (light-heavyweight)

Quinton Jackson (via. The Metro)

Every fighter in the UFC feared Rampage Jackson. The goofy American was known for his one-punch knockout power.

He famously beat the legendary Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 to win the light-heavyweight championship. He would then go on to defend it once, before losing to Forrest Griffin.

Rampage challenged for the championship another time unsuccessfully, against the LHW GOAT himself – Jon Jones.

21) Alistair Overeem (heavyweight)

Alistair Overeem (Image credit: Getty)

The Dutch mixed martial artist with a kickboxing background sent shivers down the spines of his opponents during his heydays. Though he has never won a title, the sheer volume of fights he has in his resume is enough to land him a place on this list.

Reem gained fame when he famously knocked out another scary monster – Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. The man has totally 67 fights in his resume.

20) Jose Aldo (featherweight)

Jose Aldo of Brazil punches Marlon Vera of Ecuador in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The Brazilian is one of the OGs in the game. The former featherweight champion defended his title a whopping 7 times, before he was stopped by a high-flying Conor McGregor.

The striking accuracy and speed of Aldo during his prime was second to none. And after almost 11 years with the promotion he still lurks in the top 5 of the featherweight division, which speaks volumes of his consistency.

19) Dominick Cruz (bantamweight)

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 17: Dominick Cruz looks on during his bantamweight bout against T.J. Dillashaw (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night 81 at TD Banknorth Garden on January 17, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The American bantamweight is a two-time champion and has been a UFC mainstay. He has been a part of the promotion for almost 11 years.

He is a warrior. After fighting off multiple career threatening injuries he has managed to beat all adversities and comeback. A testimony to that was his victory against TJ Dillashaw in January 2016, via split decision. Many consider the fight to be one of the greatest comeback fights in UFC history.

18) B.J Penn (Lightweight & Welterweight)

BJ Penn looks at his opponent Nick Diaz during the start of the welterweight bout at UFC 137 at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diaz would win by unanimous decision. (Credit Imago)

Penn is someone who has plied almost his entire trade in the UFC. Having made his MMA debut at UFC 31, the American went on to win the welterweight championship and the lightweight championship to become the second of 7 fighters to win titles at 2 divisions.

After almost 16 years with the promotion, Penn retired with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses. The 14 losses are the reason why he is largely overlooked.

17) Max Holloway (featherweight)

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway prepares for a title defense against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 245 at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

One of the greatest strikers in the history of the sport. The largely elusive Hawaiian calls himself the greatest boxer in the UFC. He made his UFC debut when he was just 19 years old, and faced an already well-established Dustin Poirier. He lost the match via. submission.

However, he then went on to establish himself as one of the greatest featherweights in the game, with his phenomenal speed and accuracy. He is a one time featherweight champion, a belt which he got after beating Jose Aldo at UFC 212.

16) Francis Ngannou (heavyweight)

Francis Ngannou with his mother

The Cameroonian would get into any list of great fighters just because of the fear he generates in opponents minds.

Having made his UFC debut in December 2015, ‘The Predator’ has steamrolled his opponents. All his wins in the UFC have been either via. knockout or submission. He is now the reigning heavyweight champion in the UFC.

He has a record of 11 wins and just 2 losses in the UFC. Both of which have been via. unanimous decision. Plus, he has never been finished in his entire MMA career.

15) Valentina Shevchenko (women’s flyweight)

UFC flyweight fighter Valentina Shevchenko during the UFC 247 ceremonial weigh-in. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Kyrgyzstani is the first female fighter to feature in the list. Barring 2 losses to Amanda Nunes, she has hardly been troubled by other opponents.

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She is currently the reigning women’s flyweight champion, with 5 consecutive title defenses to her name. Barring a doctor stoppage loss early in her career, Shevchenko has never been finished.

14) Ronda Rousey (women’s bantamweight)

Ronda Rousey celebrates her victory over Cat Zingano in their UFC women’s bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center on February 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Rousey shaped the future of women’s MMA. She was the Conor McGregor of the UFC, before McGregor made his foray into the promotion.

‘Rowdy Ronda’ was a puzzle none of the female fighters could decode, until Holly Holm came up with the solution.

Rousey defended her bantamweight belt a staggering 6 times before being beaten by Holm at UFC 193.

13) Daniel Cormier (light-heavyweight & heavyweight)

Daniel Cormier is one of the greatest to have fought in UFC (Image credit: Getty)

Daniel Cormier, the wrestler was largely unshaken in the UFC. Barring his nemesis Jon Jones and his heavyweight rival Stipe Miocic, DC hasn’t had trouble beating others.

He is a one time light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, having held both the titles simultaneously during his prime.

Cormier’s slams, takedowns and grappling abilities are a treat to watch.

12) Israel Adesanya (middleweight)

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248 at Toyota Center on February 07, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The reigning king of the middleweight division comes in at number 15. The Nigerian made his UFC debut only in 2018, after plying his trade as a kickboxer for a long time. In just over a year he became the middleweight champion, and has already defended it twice.

He is known for his exquisite striking and precision. The Last Stylebender just has one loss in his MMA career, which was his most recent fight, against Jan Blachowicz, albeit in a different weight class.

11) Randy Couture (light-heavyweight & heavyweight)

Randy Couture speaks with the media during the Strikeforce Challengers Main Card bout at Dodge Theater on August 13, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Despite having a ‘not-so-impressive’ resume, Couture has the most championship wins in the history of the UFC’s heavyweight division.

The Hall of Famer has won both light-heavyweight and heavyweight titles multiple times. He was one of the most feared fighters of his generation. He fought until the age of 48.

10) Chuck Liddell (light-heavyweight)

Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Lidell stands at midfield following a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field on December 3, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay defeated Tampa Bay 26-20 in overtime. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

One of the greatest light-heavyweights of all time, Chuck Liddell defended the LHW belt a multiple times during his prime. His rivalry with Randy Couture is one of the greatest rivalries of all time.

Liddell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Despite being 51 years old, the man still looks in phenomenal shape.

9) Stipe Miocic (heavyweight)

Stipe Miocic (R) punches Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 252 event at UFC APEX on August 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Considered by many as the greatest heavyweight of all time, Stipe Miocic has been a UFC mainstay. He joined the promotion, way back in October 2011 at UFC 136. He has a record of 14 wins and just 4 losses in his UFC career.

‘The Cleveland’s finest’, as he is known, has also been a two-time heavyweight champion in the promotion. He still is the number 1 ranked heavyweight contender, despite being almost 39.

8) Conor McGregor (featherweight & lightweight)

Conor McGregor reacts before taking on Donald Cerrone in their welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena on January 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

The face of the fight game stands number 9 in the list. He is the reason why the UFC has become successful. In 2016 he became the first male fighter to hold two championship belts simultaneously.

His famous 13 second knockout of Jose Aldo in a title fight is one of the most memorable moments in the history of the promotion.

Having made his debut against Marcus Brimage, McGregor never tasted defeat until he faced Nate Diaz in a welterweight bout, after being a featherweight in his entire UFC career.

The Irishman has a record of 22-5 in his professional MMA career.

7) Kamaru Usman (welterweight)

Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261 (Twitter)

The reigning welterweight champion has never tasted defeat in his UFC career. He has notched up 14 consecutive victories in the promotion, and already has four title defenses to his name.

No one in the current MMA world, would be able to match the ground-game the Nigerian Nightmare possesses.

6) Henry Cejudo (flyweight & bantamweight)

Henry Cejudo celebrates after defeating Dominick Cruz in their bantamweight title fight during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 09, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Triple C features in the top 10 because he was a two-division champion. He retired as a two-division champion as well.

He famously stopped Demetrious Johnson’s 11 consecutive title-defenses at UFC 227, winning via. split decision.

At UFC 249 last year, he knocked out Dominick Cruz and bowed out of the sport as a champion.

5) Demetrious Johnson (flyweight)

Demetrious Johnson of the USA and Ian McCall of the USA fight during the UFC On FX flyweight bout between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Mighty Mouse, as he is called, is the first ever flyweight champion in the history of the UFC. Having won the belt against Joseph Benavidez, he went on to defend it an unbelievable 11 times, before falling to Henry Cejudo.

He is known for his extra fast hands, an attribute largely due to his short stature. It is worth noting that he is one of the shortest fighters in the history of the sport – 160 cm.

4) Anderson Silva (middleweight)

Anderson Silva

Silva would have made it to the top 3 had he not bowed out with a streak of winless fights. The Brazilian holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the history of the UFC, with 16.

Silva defended his middleweight belt a whopping 10 times, before falling to Chris Weidman at UFC 162. He is often referred to as the MMA GOAT.

3) Amanda Nunes (women’s Bantamweight and Featherweight)

The Brazilian is considered to be the greatest women’s fighter of all time. Nunes defends her title for fun. She is a two-division champion, currently holding both the bantamweight and featherweight titles.

Nunes has managed to see off each and every opponent she has been matched up against, as though they are piece of cake.

3) Georges St-Pierre (welterweight & middleweight)

Georges St-Pierre addresses members of the media during the UFC Media Day at Tristar Gym on October 25, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre is one of the greatest welterweights the world has ever seen. The Canadian has ten title defenses to his name. He once went on a 12 fight unbeaten streak in the UFC’s welterweight division.

In 2017, GSP made a comeback after four years and just like that won the middleweight title. However, that was his last ever fight in the UFC. He is widely considered by many as the greatest, the UFC has ever produced.

2) Jon Jones (light-heavyweight)

Jon Jones (Credits: MMA News)

Undoubtedly the greatest light-heavyweight of all time. Jones took the world by storm when he became the youngest UFC champion at the age of 23. Since then he has put on some staggering title-defense displays.

He has thirteen successful title defenses to his name. And, what’s more? He just has one loss in the UFC, which came via. DQ. He somehow finds a way out to beat his opponent, due to his immensely superior fight IQ.

1) Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a legend of the sport. (imago Images)

‘The Eagle of Dagestan’ is undoubtedly the greatest lightweight in the history of the UFC. The Russian who recently announced his retirement never lost a fight in his entire MMA career (28-0). With a record of 13 wins and 0 losses in the UFC, Khabib was hardly troubled by any of his opponents.

Khabib, in fact, barely lost a single round. Of the 60 rounds he has been in the UFC, the Dagestani lost just 2. He also defended his lightweight title 3 times against some of the greatest modern lightweights – Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

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Gerard Crispin

Not your average keyboard warrior. Can definitely pack a punch!