Best UFC Fighters of All Time - Top 10 Greatest Ever
by Surya | Updated Apr 27, 2023
Best UFC Fighters of All Time
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a relatively new sport, particularly in the Western world. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), founded in 1993, was one of the few organizations that promoted sanctioned cross-combat fights. However, over the years, the UFC has become the biggest MMA brand in the world, attracting the greatest talents from across the globe and exploding in popularity.
In this article, we will be ranking the top 10 UFC fighters of all time, solely based on their UFC resumes. While many fighters have achieved great success in other top promotions, we will be focusing on their performances and results exclusively within the UFC. This means that we will be looking at the fighters' win-loss records, titles won, and their dominance in the octagon under the UFC banner.
Top 10 UFC Fighters Of All Time
1
Jon Jones
2
Anderson Silva
3
Georges St-Pierre
4
Fedor Emelianenko
5
Demetrious Johnson
6
Khabib Nurmagomedov
7
Jose Aldo
8
Daniel Cormier
9
Conor McGregor
10
Matt Hughes
S. No
Top 10 UFC Fighters
Jon Jones
Jon Jones solidified his position as the top fighter on the list with his recent victory over Ciryl Gane to claim the heavyweight championship title. Despite previous controversies involving legal issues and failed drug tests resulting in stripped titles and overturned wins, Jones' undeniable in-cage abilities make him stand out as a true great in the sport of MMA.
One of Jones' greatest strengths is his ability to adapt and make strategic adjustments during a fight. Whether it's through his top-notch wrestling skills or dynamic striking, he is always able to keep his opponents on their toes and dominate in the octagon.
Another factor contributing to Jones' position on the list is his peak not being colored by late-career losses, as seen with other legendary fighters such as Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko. This has allowed Jones to maintain his status as one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history.
Even if Jones never wins another fight, his impressive record and in-cage abilities have solidified his legacy as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. His natural talent and ability to make in-fight calculations and adjustments are unmatched, making him a true force to be reckoned with in the sport.
Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva's impressive 17-fight winning streak and 10 successful title defences make him one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. His striking game was unparalleled, often appearing light years ahead of his opponents no matter how talented they were.
Silva's versatility was also on full display during his peak years, as he ventured into the light heavyweight division three times to knock out James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar. What made Silva truly special was not just his victories, but the way he dominated his opponents, seemingly able to do anything he wanted from bell-to-bell.
However, as with many legendary fighters, the end of Silva's peak came quickly and unexpectedly. Despite this, Silva's reign as the best fighter in the world for several years solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. His unmatched striking skills and ability to control the fight in the octagon make him a true force to be reckoned with.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is widely regarded as the greatest welterweight of all time, having won the UFC welterweight title twice and successfully defended it nine times. He suffered only two losses in his career, to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, both of whom he avenged in rematches. Throughout his career, GSP faced and defeated a who's who of the welterweight division, showing few moments of weakness along the way. After a four-year hiatus from the sport, he returned to action to defeat Michael Bisping and win the middleweight championship, adding to his already impressive resume.
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko was an unstoppable force during PRIDE's heyday, winning 27 consecutive fights from 2001 to 2009, including the PRIDE heavyweight title. He was known for his dominating performances against some of the best heavyweights in the world, including his legendary rivalry with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and a massive win over Mirko Cro Cop. Despite his incredible run in the most dangerous division in the sport, Emelianenko's legacy has been somewhat tarnished by his refusal to set foot in the UFC Octagon and the matchmaking methods of PRIDE.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson has established himself as one of the greatest flyweights of all time, with a remarkable record of 16-1-1 in the division. Johnson was the inaugural UFC flyweight champion and successfully defended the title a record 11 times. Despite not being a big draw for the promotion, Johnson's performances in the octagon were nothing short of spectacular, with his unmatched creativity and athleticism making him a fan favourite. Although he eventually parted ways with the UFC after a controversial split decision loss to Henry Cejudo, Johnson has continued to dominate in ONE Championship, winning their flyweight grand prix tournament and solidifying his status as one of the best in the world.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov had a perfect professional record, going 29-0 and delivering dominant performances in almost every fight. While it's difficult to find much to criticise in "The Eagle's" resume, he lacks a signature win that would cement his status as one of the all-time greats. His victories over Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje are all impressive, but he lacks a marquee performance. Nurmagomedov won the vacant belt with a win over Al Iaquinta, which doesn't enhance his overall legacy. Had his planned fight with Tony Ferguson not fallen through five times, he would have had a second signature win to put alongside his McGregor thrashing.
Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo, a Brazilian fighter, enjoyed an 18-fight winning streak from 2006 to 2014, which cemented his place as the greatest featherweight fighter of all time. Aldo won the WEC featherweight championship with a TKO of Mike Thomas Brown, and he defended the belt twice before the division was absorbed by the UFC. Aldo was then named the UFC champ, and he successfully defended the title seven times before running into Conor McGregor in 2014. He lost more fights in the following years, but only to Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, both champions. In December 2019, Aldo dropped to the bantamweight division and lost a controversial split decision to Marlon Moraes. He now appears to be gearing up to face Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title, and a late-career title win in a new division would add a new dimension to Aldo's already impressive resume.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier's career trajectory resembles that of Conor McGregor, as both fighters held two championships at the same time. Cormier's belts were in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, and he defeated some of the top fighters in both weight classes, earning him a spot among the best fighters in the world. While he defended the light heavyweight title three times and the heavyweight belt once, Cormier could never establish himself as the top light heavyweight fighter, as he lost to Jon Jones twice (although one of those losses was ruled a no contest due to Jones failing a drug test). His title reign at light heavyweight was a product of Jones' shortcomings more than anything else. Cormier ultimately lost the final two fights of his trilogy with Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight crown. Despite these setbacks, Cormier's resume still stands the test of time for its many accomplishments.
Conor McGregor
Although he didn't make it into the top five of CBS Sports' rankings, there is no denying that Conor McGregor is one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. McGregor's charisma and ability to promote himself have made him a global superstar, but it is his dynamic and dangerous fighting style that truly sets him apart. His journey to the featherweight championship was one of the most impressive stretches in UFC history, culminating in a stunning 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo. McGregor then made history by becoming the first fighter to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously, by winning the lightweight title with a knockout of Eddie Alvarez. However, one weakness in McGregor's resume compared to others on the list is his lack of a championship legacy. Although he won both the featherweight and lightweight titles, he made no defences of either championship. This is something that could have further cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.
Matt Hughes
The last spot in the rankings was highly competitive, with many fighters worthy of consideration. However, Matt Hughes deserves recognition for his impressive resume. Hughes won his first UFC welterweight title in 2001 by knocking out Carlos Newton with a slam in his ninth fight of the year. He went on to have two runs as welterweight champion, during which he defended the title seven times. In his prime years, Hughes defeated several accomplished fighters, including Carlos Newton (twice), Sean Sherk, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn, and Matt Serra. All of these fighters at one point held UFC gold. Hughes' accomplishments are often overlooked, but they are undoubtedly remarkable.
Who is the No 1 Greatest UFC Fighter of All Time?
Anderson Silva is widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time and is often referred to as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in the UFC. He is a former UFC middleweight champion and holds numerous records in the promotion. Silva was born on April 14, 1975, in Sao Paulo, Brazil and started his martial arts training in taekwondo at the age of 14. Silva's UFC career began in 2006, and he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, winning his first 16 fights in the promotion, a record that still stands today. During this impressive run, he won the middleweight championship in 2006 and successfully defended the belt ten times, a record that stood until 2019 when Israel Adesanya surpassed it.
Silva's unique style of fighting, which includes fluid and precise striking, coupled with his ability to avoid takedowns, made him a fan favourite and a difficult opponent for anyone. He holds a record of 34 wins, 11 losses, and one no-contest in his professional MMA career, with notable victories over former champions such as Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort, and Forrest Griffin. Despite his dominance in the sport, Silva's career has also had its low points, most notably his two losses to Chris Weidman, which ended his nearly seven-year undefeated streak in the UFC, and a drug suspension in 2015 that kept him out of action for a year. Nevertheless, Silva's contributions to the sport have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters to ever step inside the octagon.
Top 10 UFC Fighters of All Time - FAQs
Jon Jones is a former UFC light heavyweight and current heavyweight champion widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He is known for his natural talent, ability to adapt and make in-fight calculations, and dominance in the octagon.
Anderson Silva is widely regarded as one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history due to his impressive 17-fight winning streak and 10 successful title defenses. His striking game was unparalleled, often appearing light years ahead of his opponents no matter how talented they were.
Georges St-Pierre is widely regarded as the greatest welterweight of all time, having won the UFC welterweight title twice and successfully defended it nine times. He is known for his dominant performances against a who's who of the welterweight division and having avenged his only two losses.
Demetrious Johnson is considered one of the greatest flyweights of all time due to his remarkable record of 16-1-1 in the division. He was the inaugural UFC flyweight champion and successfully defended the title a record 11 times.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a retired Russian mixed martial artist who had a perfect professional record of 29-0. He is widely regarded as one of the best lightweights of all time, having delivered dominant performances in almost every fight.