Top 10 Greatest UFC Fighters of All Time
Who are the 10 greatest UFC fighters of all time?
First, an important distinction.
This is not necessarily a ranking of the greatest mixed martial artists ever.
It is a ranking of the greatest fighters in UFC history.
That means what a fighter accomplished inside the UFC Octagon matters most.
Championship reigns, quality of competition, title defenses, dominance and longevity all belong in the discussion.
Jon Jones Has an Extraordinary Résumé
From a purely competitive standpoint, Jon Jones has one of the strongest cases for No. 1.
Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history and dominated the light heavyweight division for years.
His list of defeated opponents reads like a history of the division: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier.
He later moved to heavyweight and won a championship there as well.
Jones's career has included significant controversy outside the cage and questions surrounding failed drug tests, and voters have every right to decide how much those issues should affect an all-time ranking.
But judging skill and accomplishments alone, his résumé is difficult to match.
Georges St-Pierre Did Almost Everything Right
Georges St-Pierre may have the cleanest GOAT argument.
GSP dominated the UFC welterweight division, avenged both of his career defeats and developed into one of the most complete fighters MMA has seen.
He could strike.
He could wrestle.
He could control opponents on the ground.
And his preparation was legendary.
After walking away from the sport for several years, St-Pierre returned and captured the UFC middleweight championship.
That second-division title strengthened an already remarkable legacy.
Anderson Silva's Peak Was Something Different
At his best, Anderson Silva made elite professional fighters look ordinary.
Silva held the UFC middleweight championship for years and established a then-record winning streak inside the promotion.
His striking was creative, accurate and sometimes almost disrespectfully effortless.
The front kick that knocked out Vitor Belfort remains one of the most memorable finishes in UFC history.
Silva's later losses hurt his overall record, but they shouldn't erase how dominant he was during his prime.
Demetrious Johnson Deserves More Respect
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is sometimes underrated because he competed in the lighter flyweight division.
That makes little sense.
Johnson's speed, wrestling, submissions, transitions and fight intelligence made him one of the most technically complete fighters the UFC has ever seen.
His championship-defense record was extraordinary, and his flying armbar finish against Ray Borg remains one of MMA's most creative submissions.
The Other GOAT Candidates
José Aldo dominated featherweight for years and carried his championship reign from the WEC into the UFC.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated at 29-0 and rarely appeared to be in serious trouble. His victories over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje completed one of MMA's most dominant careers.
The biggest question with Khabib is longevity. His UFC championship run was relatively short compared with Jones, St-Pierre, Silva or Johnson.
Amanda Nunes also has a legitimate Top 10 argument regardless of gender. She defeated many of the greatest women in MMA history and became a UFC champion in two weight divisions.
Daniel Cormier, Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Stipe Miocic and others also deserve consideration.
How Should UFC Greatness Be Measured?
Our voters should consider:
- UFC championships
- Successful title defenses
- Quality of opponents
- Dominance
- Longevity
- Multiple-division success
- Finishing ability
- Skill level
- Performance in major fights
- Overall impact on the UFC
Popularity alone should not decide greatness.
Conor McGregor may be the biggest star UFC has ever produced, but being the most famous fighter is not the same thing as being the greatest fighter.
That's what makes this ranking interesting.
Jones has the résumé.
St-Pierre has the completeness and consistency.
Silva has the spectacular peak.
Johnson has the technical brilliance.
Khabib has the dominance.
Who deserves No. 1?