100 Best UFC Fighters Ever Ranked

The debate over who is the best UFC fighter is one that is always raging no matter what sport is being discussed, but trying to pin down the greatest UFC fighters of all time is a tougher task than most considering how different fighters are and the fact that there are so many different weight classes to consider. However, we’ve done the dirty work and put together a list of the 25 greatest UFC fighters of all time.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, better known as the UFC, is the highest level of mixed martial arts competition. Founded in 1993, it didn’t truly take off until Dana White took the reins in 2001. Since then the UFC has gone from an obscure niche sport to one of the biggest phenomenons in entertainment over the past two decades, supplanting boxing as the most popular combat sport.

With UFC cards taking place all over the globe, it is also one of the only truly worldwide sports there is.

Read about the top 15 best martial arts for self defense

Ranking The 100 Best UFC fighters of all time

Before we get into our list of the best UFC fighters of all time which surely won’t ruffle any feathers on the internet, it would be useful to list the main criteria for our list. What makes someone one of the best UFC fighters to enter that world-famous octagon? Some of the criteria include the athlete’s level of domination in their respective division, how long they dominated for, and what caliber of opponent they were able to dominate.

Things like overall win-loss record, performance bonuses, and manner of victory (were they finishing fights?) are also taken into account on our list of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.

100. Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes

Career Record: 12-4

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 2x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Dominick Reyes came onto the MMA scene hot as could be, winning his first 12 straight fights, including victories over Chris Weidman, Ovince St. Preux, and Jared Cannonier. He then gave Jon Jones arguably the best challenge of his career in a controversial title fight decision loss, which has led to three more losses in a row that find him in a bit of a rut now.

99. Clay “The Carpenter” Guida

Career Record: 38-22

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 6x Fight Of The Night, 3x Submission Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame Fight Wing (Diego Sanchez), 3rd most takedowns in UFC history (76)

Known for his long locks, Clay Guida has been fighting in the UFC since 2006 and despite never earning a title shot in the UFC, he counts impressive victories over Nate Diaz, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Anthony Pettis. He’s also one of the most prolific submission artists in the promotion’s history.

98. Julianna Pena

Career Record: 11-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Amanda Nunes is such a dominant fighter that the only woman to beat and finish her since 2014 simply had to be included on this list. Julianna Pena’s rear-naked choke of the Lioness in 2021 was one of the biggest upsets of all-time, though she did lose the return fixture last year.

97. Dan Severn

Career Record: 101-19-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC 5 Tournament Winner

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st UFC fighter to be awarded a title belt, UFC Hall Of Fame, Triple Crown Champion

They simply don’t make ‘em like Dan Severn anymore. A pioneer of professional mixed martial arts, Severn was the first person to ever have a UFC title belt wrapped around his waist. He was a fixture in the very early days of the UFC, and he beat Ken Shamrock at UFC 9.

96. Alexa Grasso

Career Record: 16-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Alexa Grasso is an exciting prospect in the women’s bantamweight division that could move up a good chunk on this list if she can keep this quality up. She finished Valentina Shevchenko, perhaps the most dominant fighter in UFC history, via face crank, but also dominated in every other aspect of the fight. She’s one to watch.

95. Cub “Killer” Swanson

Career Record: 28-13

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 6x Fight Of The Night, 2x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most featherweight post fight bonuses (9), 2016 Fight Of The Year (Doo Ho Choi), UFC Hall Of Fame Fight Wing (Doo Ho Choi)

One of the most entertaining and exciting fighters to ply his trade in the featherweight division, Cub Swanson has knocked out Charles Oliveira, beaten Dustin Poirier and Jeremy Stephens by decision, and his crazy fight against Doo Ho Choi has been immortalized in the UFC Hall Of Fame.

94. Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza

Career Record: 19-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most women’s strawweight takedowns (44), T-Most women’s strawweight wins (10)

Carla Esparza has had quite an interesting career, as she has taken a winding road from relevancy, to irrelevancy, back to relevancy. She won the inaugural women’s strawweight belt via rear naked choke against Rose Namajunas, and 2,612 days later, she beat Thug Rose again to get her belt back, which represents the longest time between title reigns in UFC history.

93. Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev

Career Record: 12-0

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 4x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Fastest consecutive wins in modern UFC history (10 days), Fastest three fight win streak in UFC history (66 days)

Few have started their career off as impressively as Khamzat Chimaev. We could do without his antics on social media, but his confidence in the octagon is unmatched, winning his first three UFC fights in a span of just 66 days. He now has some more impressive wins over Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland on his resume.

92. Edson Barboza

Career Record: 22-11

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 8x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most Fight Of The Night bonuses (8)

Win or lose, Edson Barboza is coming into the octagon to put on a show, as evidenced by his record eight Fight Of The Night honors. He’s finished Dan Hooker with a body shot, Beneil Dariush with a big knee, and even got a win via leg kicks early on in his career.

91. Marlon “Chito” Vera

Career Record: 20-7-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most bantamweight finishes (10), T-3rd Most bantamweight wins (12)

Marlon Vera hasn’t earned himself a title shot yet, but he’s definitely knocking on the door. He’s won his last four straight bouts, including a nasty front kick finish of Frankie Edgar and a head kick knockout of Dominick Cruz. 

90.  Alex “Poatan” Pereira

Career Record: 7-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Middleweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

He’s only had eight pro mixed martial arts fights in his career, but his background in kickboxing shows you how deadly Alex Pereira can be. The man they call Poatan, meaning hands of stone, has lived up to his name in the UFC, finishing three of his four opponents in the promotion. If he can beat Israel Adesanya again after dominating him to take the belt last year, he will shoot up this list with haste.

89. Holly Holm 

Career Record: 14-6

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2015 Knockout Of The Year (Rhonda Rousey)

You can’t have a list like this without including the woman who ended Rhonda Rousey’s reign of terror in the women’s bantamweight division. Arguably the biggest women’s upset of all time, Holm’s head kick to punches finish of Rousey will live on in UFC lore. Unfortunately, she couldn’t follow that up with much and has faded in recent years.

88. Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon 

Career Record: 28-15

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 7x Fight Of The Night, 6x Submission Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 4th-Most post fight bonuses in UFC history (15), Most submission of the night honors (6), 2012 Fight Of The Year (Jim Miller)

Though he never strung enough wins together to get a title shot, there was no one more exciting to see duke it out in the octagon than the well-rounded Joe Lauzon in his prime. He beat opponents by submission a whopping 17 times, but he also had nine knockout finishes as well, including a first round Knockout Of The Night on Jens Pulver early in his career.

87. Petr “No Mercy” Yan

Career Record: 16-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Bantamweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most bantamweight knockdowns (10), T-2nd Longest bantamweight winning streak (7)

For a second there, it seemed like it was going to be Petr Yan’s division for the foreseeable future before he had a moment of madness when he nailed Aljamain Sterling with an illegal knee during their championship bout. After finishing guys like Jose Aldo and Urijah Faber to get to the mountaintop, he’s lost three straight very tough decisions.

86. Jung “Korean Zombie” Chan-Sung

Career Record: 17-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Submission Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd Most featherweight fight night bonuses (8)

When it comes to nicknames, it doesn’t get much better than Korean Zombie, a name which he goes by almost exclusively in MMA circles. He’s also a trailblazer, putting in the first ever twister submission finish in UFC history against Leonard Garcia. He’s also finished two former champions/interim champions in Dustin Poirier and Frankie Edgar.

85. Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez 

Career Record: 30-8 (2)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 1x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

With an 80 percent finish rate in his wins and a 75 percent finish rate in his fights overall, Eddie Alvarez is the type of fighter fans come to see. He brought major power into the octagon, and used that strength to finish Rafael Dos Anjos to take the lightweight belt. Finishing a Fight Of The Night against Justin Gaethje with a gnarly knee was another of his best moments in the octagon.

84. Cory “The Sandman” Sandhagen 

Career Record: 15-4

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

One of the most exciting guys to come into the bantamweight division, Cory Sandhagen has finished 10 of his 15 wins and has only been finished himself once. Sandhagen’s flying knee finish of legend Frankie Edgar was one of the most jarring finishes you’ll ever see and he’s also had impressive wins over Son Yadong and Marlon Moraes.

83. Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje 

Career Record: 23-4

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): Interim UFC Lightweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 6x Fight Of The Night, 4x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2017 Fight Of The Year (Michael Johnson), 2021 Fight Of The Year (Michael Chandler)

The Highlight won his first 18 pro fights before joining the UFC and losing his first two bouts on the sport’s biggest stage. His dominating performance against Tony Ferguson to claim the interim lightweight belt was his shining moment, and his scrap with Michael Chandler in 2021 was as entertaining as it gets. Gaethje definitely chose the right nickname.

82.  Brian “T-City” Ortega 

Career Record: 15-3 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

When it comes to submission threats, Brian Ortega has to be in the conversation. He put Frankie Edgar’s lights out, beat up on the Korean Zombie, and nearly submitted Alexander Volkanovski multiple times while getting battered by the champ. 

81. Colby “Chaos” Covington

Career Record: 17-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): Interim UFC Welterweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

One of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division right now, Colby Covington fears no man, and has been just as impressive in losses to Kamaru Usman as he was in wins over Jorge Masvidal, Tyron Woodley, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Robbie Lawler.

80. Jan Blachowicz

Career Record: 29-9-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Jan Blachowicz loves coming into the octagon as an underdog as he did when he knocked out Dominick Reyes to take the belt and beat up on Israel Adesanya for his first title defense. He’s also knocked out Luke Rockhold and beaten Jared Cannonier during his UFC career.

79. Jiri “Denisa” Prochazka

Career Record: 29-3-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2022 Fight Of The Year (Glover Teixeira)

The first UFC champ from the Czech Republic has had great success in his career, and it culminated in one of the all-time greatest title fights the promotion has seen. It was back and forth for five rounds of brutality, with Prochazka eventually outlasting Texeira and giving the Brazilian a little bit of his own medicine with a rear-naked choke tap in the final 30 seconds.

78. Cody Garbrandt 

Career Record: 13-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Bantamweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Performance Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Cody Garbrandt burst out of the gates to start his MMA career, winning his first 11 straight fights. That streak culminated with an impressive showing to beat Dominick Cruz via unanimous decision and claim the bantamweight belt. His power is nearly unmatched in the bantamweight division, having earned 10 of his 13 wins via TKO/KO.

77. Rafael Dos Anjos

Career Record: 32-14

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most unanimous decision wins in UFC history (11), 1st and only fighter to spend over eight hours in the octagon (8:01:49), T-5th Most wins in UFC history (21)

Rafael Dos Anjos is a rare fighter who has found real success in two weight classes, winning a championship in the lightweight division and fighting for the interim title in the welterweight division. No one has spent more time in the UFC octagon than Dos Anjos and he’s got the best mustache in the sport to boot. Wins over Robbie Lawler, Nate Diaz, and Anthony Pettis ensure that he will always get respect in the world of MMA.

76. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson

Career Record: 17-6-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 4x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Depending on who you ask, many believe Stephen Thompson should have a UFC championship to his name, having drawn against Tyron Woodley in a welterweight championship bout and then lost in a majority decision. Both fights could’ve gone either way, but neither went Thompson’s, which is unfortunate. His unorthodox and unpredictable style has confounded the likes of Robert Whittaker, who he beat via TKO.

75. Ovince St. Preux

Career Record: 26-17

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 7x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most Von Flue choke submissions in UFC history (4), T-Most light heavyweight bouts in UFC history (24), 2nd Most light heavyweight stoppage wins (11)

His only shot at a title came against Jon Jones, so we know how that went, but Ovince St. Preux has still put together a long and illustrious MMA career even without the hardware. His unique talent with Von Flue or shoulder chokes makes his career even more intriguing, not to mention two statement wins over Shogun Rua, the first of which was a straight KO that was one of the Haitian fighter’s best moments in the octagon.

74. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone 

Career Record: 36-17 (2)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 7x Performance Of The Night, 6x Fight Of The Night, 3x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd Most wins in UFC history (23), T-2nd Most finishes in UFC history (16), T-Most post fight bonuses (18), Most knockdowns in UFC history (20)

Donald Cerrone has not had much luck recently, failing to get a win in his last seven fights, five of which were finishes for his opponent. But you're bound to have some cold streaks when you fight as long as Cowboy has. His 18 post-fight bonuses speak to how entertaining a fighter he is and why the UFC keeps giving him contracts despite the fact that he’s never won a belt. His resume includes impressive wins over Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, and Benson Henderson.

73. Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia 

Career Record: 31-10 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Heavyweight Champion (3)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Big guys need love too, and Tim Sylvia was certainly a massive man. Weighing in at 265, he was always pushing the division’s limits, and he did the same to his opponents. He finished a whopping 22 of his 31 wins by TKO/KO, including in both of his UFC title winning fights. It’s also worth noting that his two stints at the top of the heavyweight division came three years apart, showing an impressive determination to get his belt back.

72. Dustin “Diamond” Poirier

Career Record: 29-7 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): Interim UFC Lightweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 8x Fight Of The Night, 4x Performance Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most Fight Of The Night bonuses (8), T-Most lightweight knockouts (8), T-5th Most wins in UFC history (21)

You can tell Dustin Poirier fights are must see events by his record number of Fight Of The Night bonuses. Poirier has beaten anybody who’s anybody in the lightweight division, except for the two submission artists that have been atop the division for the last few years in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Poirier has taken down Max Holloway, Conor McGregor twice (and somewhat embarrassingly for McGregor), Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez.

71. Jim “A-10” Miller

Career Record: 35-17

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 7x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night, 3x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most wins in UFC history (24), Most bouts in UFC history (41), T-2nd Most finishes in UFC history (16), 2nd Most submissions in UFC history, 2012 Fight Of The Year (Joe Lauzon)

Jim Miller first entered the UFC octagon way back in 2008 and he continues to ply his trade, most recently fighting in February 2023. He’s the benchmark for mixed martial arts longevity and despite never fighting for a UFC belt, he actually has some solid wins on his resume, including a kneebar finish of a young Charles Oliveira, a classic decision win over Joe Lauzon, and a guillotine choke win over Donald Cerrone just last year.

70. Leon “Rocky” Edwards

Career Record: 20-3 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Welterweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 6th-Fastest finish in UFC history (8 seconds)

The first Jamaican-born UFC champion, there aren’t many that have earned their belt in more shocking fashion than Leon Edwards’ fifth round head kick finish of Kamaru Usman last year. He’s also beaten the likes of Nate Diaz (despite a late scare), Cowboy Cerrone, and Rafael Dos Anjos.

69. Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski

Career Record: 34-21 (2)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd Most wins in UFC history (23), 2nd Most fights in UFC history (39), Most heavyweight total fight time (6:11:41), Most heavyweight significant strikes landed (1,336)

When it comes to longevity, there’s no one that can stand up next to Andrei Arlovski other than Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone. The guy just keeps going and going. He’s like a massive Belarussian Energizer bunny. His achilles lock win over Tim Sylvia put him in the pantheon of heavyweight champs, and his staying power has been insane to witness. The guy fought three times in 2022 at age 43 and won two of those bouts. 

68. Anthony “Showtime” Pettis

Career Record: 25-14

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 2x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

You name it, and Anthony Pettis could finish an opponent with it. He’s polished guys off with head kicks, triangle chokes, guillotine chokes, armbars, kicks to the body, and good old fashioned TKOs via punches. Pettis used his excellently varied skill set to take over the lightweight division for a time, earning two straight Knockout Of The Night awards in the leadup to his championship winning armbar against Benson Henderson.

67. Islam Makhachev 

Career Record: 24-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd longest lightweight winning streak (11)

Islam Makhachev’s odyssey to the top of the lightweight division has been a sight to see, taking the mantle from fellow countryman and corner man Khabib Nurmagomedov. The fact that he submitted Charles Oliveira with what seemed a lot like ease means he should be taken seriously. His win over Alexander Volkanovski wasn’t exactly impressive, but the guy hasn’t lost since 2015, so he needs to be respected nonetheless.

66. Brock Lesnar

Career Record: 5-3 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Already well known as a big name pro wrestler, Brock Lesnar took a chance and made the switch to the octagon, which paid off in spades. He put Randy Couture on the mat to claim the belt, defended it via TKO over Frank Mir, and even locked in a submission win over Shane Carwin. There’s no one that’s had a career in combat sports quite like Lesnar.

65. Matt “The Terror” Serra

Career Record: 11-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Welterweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Knockout Of The Year, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2018), 1st fighter to win both a UFC belt and an Ultimate Fighter tournament

Joining the UFC in 2001, Matt Serra really got in on the ground floor here, which is why he’s been honored as a Hall Of Famer. However, he could’ve been on this list due to one single fight: his TKO finish of Georges St-Pierre to claim the belt in 2007. It is widely viewed as the biggest upset win ever in the UFC, and as the only person to ever finish GSP via TKO, he’s got credentials in the octagon that no one else does.

64. “Thug” Rose Namajunas

Career Record: 11-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x Women’s Strawweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most strawweight finishes (5), 1st women to regain a title she previously lost

With one of the best nicknames in the game and a mean scowl to go with it, Thug Rose strikes fear in the hearts of her opponents. And those opponents are usually pretty darn good, as Namajunas can count wins over three former strawweight champs with a decision win over Jessica Andrade in an excellent tussle, a TKO finish of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and a gnarly head kick KO of Zhang Weili. 

63. Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort

Career Record: 26-14 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion 

Performance Bonuses: 5x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2nd-Most knockouts in UFC history (12), Most 1st round finishes in UFC history

Vitor Belfort was a UFC fixture for more than 20 years, starting with the promotion in its infancy and watching as it grew into the phenomenon it is today. No one has finished more opponents in the opening round than Belfort, who was absolutely dominant when he was at his best. He beat Randy Couture to claim the belt, and also fought for the middleweight championship as well.

62. Deiveson “Deus Da Guerra” Figuieredo 

Career Record: 21-3-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Flyweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most flyweight finishes (7), Fastest flyweight submission (1:57), 2020 Fighter Of The Year

Four straight finishes leading up to his legendary quadrilogy with Brandon Moreno cemented Figueiredo’s status as a legend of this young division. He guillotine choked Alex Perez and Tim Elliott for finishes in a combined 5:05 and his back-to-back finishes of Joseph Benavidez really made people take notice. Though he came out on the wrong end of the Moreno series, there’s no arguing his power and perseverance. 

61. Brandon “The Assassin Baby” Moreno

Career Record: 21-6-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Flyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st Mexican UFC Champion

The pride of Tijuana has cemented himself as an all-timer thanks to his quadrilogy against Deiveson Figueiredo, squabbles where Moreno came out on top more often than not, even rear-naked choking Figgy to claim the belt in the second fight. His TKO finish of Kai Kara-France via body kick in between those classics exhibited just how well-rounded the Assassin Baby really is. And talk about a concrete chin, goodness me.

60. Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida

Career Record: 26-12

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Knockout Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2011 Knockout Of The Year (Randy Couture)

Lyoto Machida is perhaps most well known for his battles with Shogun Rua, but he had a lot more signature moments than that. His front kick finish of Randy Couture in 2011 was a masterpiece and his straight KO of Rashad Evans to claim the belt was not too shabby either. Losing seven of his last 11 fights takes a little luster away from his overall record, but not from his legacy.

59. Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum 

Career Record: 24-9-1 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion 

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Fabricio Werdum had the power of any solid heavyweight, but what set him apart was his ability to submit opponents in the highest weight division, which is a bit of a rarity. He submitted 12 opponents over his illustrious career, including a guillotine choke to put Cain Velasquez down and claim the heavyweight belt in 2015.

58. Cain Velasquez 

Career Record: 14-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Heavyweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd Most heavyweight knockouts (10), Most heavyweight takedowns (34), Most total heavyweight strikes landed (1,464)

Though his career in the octagon ended in a 26 second knockout by Francis Ngannou, Cain Velasquez is one of the most successful UFC heavyweights to ever do it. He finished the enormous Brock Lesnar, beat Junior Dos Santos twice after Dos Santos had taken his belt previously, and also knocked Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera out. Not only was he throwing with wicked intentions, he has the highest heavyweight significant strike percentage at over 57, meaning he was as accurate as they come when throwing bombs.

57. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua 

Career Record: 27-14-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 3x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2018), 2011 Fight Of The Year (Dan Henderson), T-Most light heavyweight bonuses (8)

When you TKO legends like Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell in back to back bouts, you’re a pretty darn good fighter, and that’s exactly what Hall Of Famer Shogun Rua is. He had two straight classic matchups with Lyoto Machida, losing the first and winning the second to claim the belt. Unfortunately he ran into the Jon Jones buzzsaw right after that, but after his loss to Jones he did knock Forrest Griffin out cold and combine with Dan Henderson to put on the fight of the year later in 2011.

56. Luke Rockhold

Career Record: 16-6

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Middleweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

Five straight finishes in 2014 and 2015 all achieved in different ways displayed Luke Rockhold’s well-rounded fighting style and culminated in having the middleweight belt draped around his waist. The run included submissions of Michael Bisping and Lyoto Machida as well as a TKO finish of Chris Weidman. In his final bout, he put on a show in one of the most entertaining fights in recent memory, a decision loss to Paulo Costa during which both men were stumbled and Rockhold hilariously attempted to use his own blood to slow Costa down. He was quite the character.

55. Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade

Career Record: 24-10

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night, 4x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most UFC women’s wins (15), Most post fight bonuses in UFC women’s history (9), Most bouts in UFC women’s history (23)

A UFC women’s legend, no woman has entered the octagon more times than Jessica Andrade, whose well-rounded game has seen her knockout nine opponents, submit eight, and win via decision against another seven. Her KO slam of Rose Namajunas to take the belt was one of the most unique ways the UFC has ever seen a new champion crowned. She also put in the first standing triangle choke finish in UFC history.

54. Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker 

Career Record: 24-6

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Middleweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st Australian UFC champion

Robert Whittaker is still very much in the mix in the middleweight division, sitting at No. 2 on the division’s rankings and 14th in the pound-for-pound charts. After a tough start to his UFC career, Bobby Knuckles found his groove and won nine straight to claim the middleweight belt. That streak included wins over Derek Brunson and twice over Yoel Romero in some classic battles. Recent decisions over Marvin Vettori, Darren Till and Jared Cannonier prove he’s still a force to be reckoned with.

53. Robbie “Ruthless Lawler

Career Record: 29-16-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Welterweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2014 and 2015 Fighter of the year, 2014 Fight Of The Year (Johny Hendricks), 2015 Fight Of The Year (Rory MacDonald)

For a while there, Robbie Lawler was appointment viewing in the UFC, winning back to back Fighter Of The Year awards while also earning Fight Of The Year honors in both years for his slugfests with Johny Hendricks and Rory MacDonald. He had a rough go of it after he lost his belt to Tyron Woodley, but he flashed that warrior mentality again in a win over Nick Diaz in 2021.

52. Frank Mir

Career Record: 19-13

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Submission Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most heavyweight finishes (13), 3rd most heavyweight wins (16), 2nd most heavyweight fights (27), 2011 Submission of the year (Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira)

You might not know Frank Mir, but you should. He submitted a mountain of a man in Brock Lesnar, he’s the only fighter to win via toehold submission in UFC history, he completed the fastest submission in UFC heavyweight history (45 seconds), and he fought five heavyweight champs, beating three of them, including Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

51. Glover Teixeira 

Career Record: 33-9

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion 

Performance Bonuses: 4x Performance Of The Night, 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most light heavyweight finishes (13), Most light heavyweight submissions (7), 2nd most light heavyweight wins (16), 2022 Fight Of The Year (Jiri Prochazka)

At 43 years of age, Glover Teixeira just recently retired from the UFC on the back of three straight title fights. Teixeira shocked the world when he submitted Jan Blachowicz to win his first UFC belt as a massive underdog. He was the second-oldest UFC champ in history, but that didn’t stop him from putting on one of the greatest shows in the promotion’s history in an exhilarating back-and-forth romp in his very next fight against Jiri Prochazka, which he lost in the final 30 seconds. A negative word has never been whispered about this man, and he will certainly end up in the Hall Of Fame.

50. Zhang “Magnum” Weili

Career Record: 23-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st Chinese UFC Champion, 2020 Fight Of The Year (Joanna Jedrzejczyk)

One of the best in the women’s game right now, Zhang Weili is like a bloodhound in the octagon when she smells blood, finishing 19 of her 23 wins. Her two losses to Rose Namajunas mar her otherwise sparkling record a tad, but they’re basically washed out by her performances against the greatest strawweight we have ever seen in Joanna Jedrzejczyk. After arguably the greatest and most brutal battle in UFC history in their first bout, Zhang made no mistake in the return fixture, putting the Polish pugilist down with one of the most beautifully nasty spinning backfist finishes you’ll ever see.

49. Nate Diaz 

Career Record: 21-13

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): N/A

Performance Bonuses: 8x Fight Of The Night, 5x Submission Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most Fight Of The Night bonuses (8), T-2nd most lightweight submissions (7), 3rd most post fight bonuses (16)

If you want to know what mixed martial arts is about, look no further than Nate Diaz. The guy is the absolute epitome of the toughness that MMA requires. He may have never won a belt, but he has entertained the masses to the highest extent and continues to do so with an underrated skill set. He’s hilarious outside of the octagon and is unpredictable inside it. His submission of Conor McGregor will live forever in infamy and at 37 years old, Stockton, California’s finest is still major danger to anyone who takes the chance of a fight with him.

48. Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos

Career Record: 21-10

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Knockout Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Longest heavyweight winning streak (9), T-2nd most heavyweight knockouts (10)

Boasting some absolute cinder blocks for fists, Junior Dos Santos had a predatory instinct in the octagon, knocking his opponent out in 15 of his 21 wins. Dos Santos has conquered the likes of Stipe Miocic, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Tai Tuivasa, and Derrick Lewis, all of which came by TKO or KO apart from Miocic. Cigano has not seen the final bell in seven straight fights, though one has to wonder if he has overstayed his welcome at this point, having been TKO’d in his last five straight outings.

47. Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver 

Career Record: 27-19-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st lightweight to defend his title in UFC history, 1st lightweight to headline a UFC event (UFC 35 vs. B.J. Penn)

Lil Evil indeed. Jens Pulver is aptly named, because he used to absolutely pulverize his opposition at his apex. He made the MMA community take the lightweight division seriously, and went undefeated in his first seven UFC bouts. His reign atop the division might have lasted even longer if he hadn’t been forced to vacate the title due to a contract dispute.

46. Mark “The Hammer” Coleman 

Career Record: 16-10

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2008), UFC 10 and UFC 11 Tournament winner

By the end of his trailblazing career Mark Coleman’s numbers didn’t look gaudy, but he gets respect here for helping to make mixed martial arts a sport to be taken seriously. He was the promotion’s first ever heavyweight champion and also won the UFC 10 tournament during which he fought thrice in one day, and the UFC 11 tournament just two months later, during which he fought twice in one day. All five of those tournament wins came by finish, by the way. Coleman was the definition of tough as nails.

45. Forrest Griffin

Career Record: 19-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame as fighter, UFC Hall Of Fame Fight Wing (Stephen Bonnar in Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale)

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Forrest Griffin was a force to be reckoned with in the octagon, taking two decisions over Tito Ortiz, submitting Shogun Rua, and winning a unanimous decision over Rampage Jackson. His UD victory over Stephen Bonnar to cap the first Light Heavyweight Ultimate Fighter tournament back in 2005 is rightly immortalized in the promotion’s Hall Of Fame.

44. Rashad “Suga” Evans 

Career Record: 20-8-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2019), 2008 Knockout Of The Year (Chuck Liddell)

The man who took Griffin’s title made his presence known in the UFC in the most unmissable fashion by beating fellow Hall of Famer Michael Bisping via decision before knocking out Chuck Liddell cold in one of the most shocking upsets in the sport’s history. That knockout of the year winning performance set him up for a title shot, which he snatched with both hands. After losing his belt he beat Rampage Jackson in a great battle and came back and finished Ortiz in his next bout.

43. Michael “The Count” Bisping 

Career Record: 30-9

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC MIddleweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2019), Retired with most UFC fights (29), Most middleweight wins (16), Most middleweight significant strikes landed (1,384)

Fans who just started following the UFC in the last few years will recognize his voice as one of the top UFC commentators outside the octagon nowadays, but in his day, Michael Bisping was a force inside the octagon. He beat Anderson Silva in a real brawl and followed that up by knocking out champion Luke Rockhold in the first round to claim the title. He had Georges St-Pierre bleeding all over the place in their marquee title fight before arguably the best to ever do it finished Bisping in the third round.

42. Cris Cyborg

Career Record: 26-2-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most wins in women’s featherweight history (4)

One of the early pioneers of women’s MMA, Cyborg not only dominated the UFC, but she held world championships in four different mixed martial arts promotions at the same time, making her the only Grand Slam Champion, male or female, in the sport’s history. She was an absolute knockout artist in the women’s featherweight division the likes of which we’ve never seen before or since, recording 20 wins by knockout during her career. Apart from her very first fight, the only loss she ever suffered was to the greatest female fighter of all-time, Amanda Nunes.

41. Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling

Career Record: 22-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Bantamweight Champion (2)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most bantamweight wins (13), T-Longest bantamweight winning streak (8)

While he did grab his belt under strange circumstances after Petr Yan was DQ’d for an illegal knee in their title fight, Sterling proved his mettle in the rematch, winning a split decision that wasn’t as close as the scorecards would suggest. He’s beaten division legend Renan Barao by decision, he rear-naked choked Cory Sandhagen into oblivion, and he folded T.J. Dillashaw in his most recent fight at UFC 280.

40. Pat “The Croatian Sensation” Miletich

Career Record: 29-7-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Welterweight Champion (4)

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame, UFC 16 welterweight tournament winner

A pioneer of the sport, Miletich held sway over the welterweight division from his win in the inaugural welterweight title fight in 1998 until 2001. He may be called the Croatian Sensation, but his ability to lock in submissions was definitely reminiscent of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu master, submitting a whopping 16 opponents over his illustrious Hall Of Fame career.

39. T.J. Dillashaw 

Career Record: 17-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Bantamweight Champion (3)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most bantamweight knockouts (7), T-Most bantamweight wins (13), Most bantamweight title fight wins (5)

When you’re talking about bantamweight at 135 pounds, you’re not usually talking about a ton of knockout power, but that’s exactly what Dillashaw always brought to the table. He won three straight title fights by finish before a questionable split decision loss to Dominick Cruz, but Dillashaw was unphased and won the belt back by knocking Cody Garbrandt out two times in a row before a failed drug test after knocking out Henry Cejudo stripped him of his belt. He’s also the only fighter to finish two title fights in the fifth and final round.

38. Benson “Smooth” Henderson

Career Record: 30-12

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (3)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Unified UFC and Strikeforce lightweight championships, T-Most lightweight title defenses (3)

Not one of the sexiest picks for this list, Benson Henderson got it done inside the octagon despite his lack of flash. No one, not Penn, not Edgar, not Nurmagomedov had a longer reign atop the lightweight division. Beating Edgar twice and Nate Diaz once in the span of one calendar year in 2012 is about as impressive as it gets.

37. Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson 

Career Record: 25-8

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): Interim UFC Lightweight Champion

Performance Bonuses: 6x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Won Ultimate Fighter 13, T-Longest lightweight winning streak (12)

Tony Ferguson’s career is one of those what could have been stories that feels like a gut punch every time you think about it. He was arguably the biggest star in the sport during his unprecedented 12-fight winning streak where he tormented opponents with his unorthodox and deadly style and entertained viewers to no end with his antics both in and outside the octagon. Unfortunately, he was robbed of a real title shot after no less than five scheduled bouts against Khabib Nurmagomedov fell through. 

36. Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley

Career Record: 19-7-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Welterweight Champion (4)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

The aura around Tyron Woodley died a bit after his two losses in the boxing ring to upjumped boxer Jake Paul, but there’s no denying his dominance in the UFC octagon. A wrestler by trade, Woodley was about as dominant as it got when he was at his apex, putting Robbie Lawler out to take his belt and submitting Darren Till during his reign. His two absolute battles with Stephen Thompson, which resulted in a draw and a majority decision for Woodley, were elite entertainment.

35. Francis “The Predator” Ngannou

Career Record: 17-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Heavyweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 6x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Word record for hardest punch

You might think that the fact that Francis Ngannou registered the hardest punch ever on a visit to the UFC Performance Institute in 2017 says all you need to know about the first Cameroon-born UFC champ, but you’d be wrong. Yes, his 12 knockouts are impressive, especially that voracious 20 second finish of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, but his performances against strong all-around fighters Stipe Miocic and Ciryl Gane proved that the Predator is a true mixed martial artist and a true UFC legend. We await his return.

34. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Career Record: 16-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion (5)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most title fights in UFC women’s history, T-Most wins in women’s strawweight, 2020 Fight Of The Year (Zhang Weili)

While it may be tough to decipher how to pronounce her last name, it’s not hard to figure out why she’s on this list. Jedrzejczyk is a bonafide legend and arguably the greatest women’s strawweight performer the UFC has ever seen. From her UFC debut in 2014 to 2017 she was unbeatable and untouchable in her division, and her split decision loss to Zhang Weili in 2020 might be the best bout the UFC has ever seen.

33. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar 

Career Record: 24-11-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (3)

Performance Bonuses: 8x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-Most Fight Of The Night bonuses (8), 2nd most total fight time in UFC history (7:57:10)

When you spend nearly eight full hours in the octagon, you’re up there among the best to ever do it period. But even outside of his sheer will power and longevity, Edgar has a very impressive UFC resume. He beat B.J. Penn in back to back fights, took down Charles Oliveira by decision, and for about a decade he was not a guy anyone wanted to see across the octagon, starting his career with a 22-5-1 record.

32. Rhonda “Rowdy” Rousey 

Career Record: 12-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion (6)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Performance Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 1st Female UFC Hall Of Famer, 1st UFC Women’s Champion, Won 1st women’s UFC fight ever, Longest title fight finish streak in UFC history (6)

Whatever you think of her post-UFC career outside of the octagon, you can’t debate Rousey’s credentials. Apart from Nunes and Shevchenko, she is without a doubt the most dominant woman to fight in the UFC, winning her first 12 straight bouts in an average of 128 seconds per fight , including eight in the first minute. She put women’s MMA on the map, and her prime was unlike any other. You really just had to be there.

31. Chris Weidman 

Career Record: 15-6

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Middleweight Champion (3)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 2x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: N/A

There’s no need to explain this one—the guy who ended Anderson Silva’s legendary time at the top of the middleweight division gets a spot on here just on that one fight. But not only did Weidman knock out arguably the GOAT to take his belt, he also defended in the rematch and defended it twice more after that. Losing six of his last eight fights moved him down the list, but that 13-fight winning streak to start his career was something else.

30. Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya 

Career Record: 23-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Middleweight Champion (5)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most knockdowns in a UFC title fight (4), 2nd longest middleweight winning streak (12)

For two and a half years from 2018 to late 2020, there was perhaps no fighter more exciting to watch than the unconventional Stylebender. He started off his career with 20 straight wins and burst onto the UFC scene in 2018 with a Performance Of The Night bonus against Rob Wilkinson. Wars with Anderson Silva and Kevin Gastelum and big-time finishes of Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker in title fights make him a must-have on the list of the all-time greats.

29. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson 

Career Record: 38-14

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (1) 

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 2x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: United UFC and Pride light heavyweight belts

The man they call Rampage is not only one of the greatest for what he did in the octagon, but also for how important he was in growing the popularity of the sport of MMA early on with his aggressive highlight reel fighting style and eccentric personality. Jackson burst onto the UFC scene in 2007 when he knocked Chuck Liddell out cold in the first round to claim the title and also has wins over Wanderlei Silva and Lyoto Machida on his resume.

28. Charles “Du Bronx” Oliveira 

Career Record: 33-9-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Lightweight Champion (1)

Performance Bonuses: 12x Performance Of The Night, 3x Fight Of The Night, 3x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Submission Of The Year (2014), Most finishes in UFC history (19), Most submission wins in UFC history (16), T-Most performance bonuses (18), Most submissions in lightweight and featherweight (10 and 6)

One of the most exciting fighters to watch in the octagon thanks in large part to his unparalleled jiu-jitsu and submission abilities—which are arguably the greatest the sport has ever seen—there is no UFC fighter that has earned more performance bonuses than Du Bronx. Oliveira finally got the belt he coveted after beating Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, and Michael Chandler. He then dominated Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje as the champ before ceding the belt.

27. Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz 

Career Record: 21-12-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (5 Title Defenses)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Fight Of The Year (Forrest Griffin) 

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2012), 2nd most championship fights at light heavyweight (9), 2nd most successful light heavyweight title defenses (5)

As a member of the UFC Hall Of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, Tito Ortiz’s MMA credentials are definitely solidified. He was the man to beat in the light heavyweight division for over 1,200 days and counted Wanderlei Silva and Ken Shamrock among the fighters he vanquished in title fights. He beat Shamrock three times, knocked out Chuck Liddell, and his split decision win over Forrest Griffin 2006 has become the stuff of UFC legend.

26. Alexander (The Great) Volkanovski

Career Record: 25-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC Featherweight Champion (4 Title Defenses)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: T-2nd longest featherweight winning streak (10), T-2nd most title fight wins in featherweight history (5)

Alexander Volkanovski is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC today, and his resume speaks for itself. Volkanovski has finished 15 opponents in the octagon, and counts impressive wins over Brian Ortega and Jung Chan-Sung in title defenses. His trio of wins over arguably the greatest featherweight of all-time, Max Holloway, cement him as one of the greatest.

25. Dan Henderson (Hendo)

Career Record: 32-15

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament Championship

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: 2011 Fight Of The Year with Mauricio Rua, Oldest fighter to compete for a UFC championship (46 y/o)

Daniel Henderson is best known for his all-time battle with Mauricio Rua in 2011, a fight that was inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame’s Fight Wing in 2018. However, Henderson had many other impressive wins including victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, and Michael Bisping. While he never held a traditional UFC belt, he did fight in three championship bouts.

24. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Minotauro)

Career Record: 34-10-1 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2016)

The man they call the Minotaur, Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera was one of the earliest stars of the UFC. Though his base was in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Noguiera was also a great boxer and takedown artist. He is also one of the few proponents of fighting from the bottom, employing an offensive open guard with great skill. His prowess on the ground, highlighted by his many armbar and triangle choke finishes, was way ahead of his time as well.

23. Ken Shamrock 

Career Record: 28-17-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Superfight Championship (2)

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Longest fight in UFC history (36 minutes)

One of the pioneers of the sport, Ken Shamrock has been around since the beginning of the UFC, competing in eight of the UFC’s first nine events. He won the inaugural UFC Superfight belt, which is all the more impressive considering it was an open weight competition, meaning there were no weight classes. His 36-minute draw with Royce Gracie at UFC 5 remains one of the greatest fights in MMA history.

22. Rich Franklin (Ace)

Career Record: 29-7 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Middleweight Championship (2)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2019), Most significant strikes in UFC Middleweight championship bout (127)

Known for his concrete hands and knockout power, Rich Franklin was part of the UFC’s early success under new president Dana White in the early 2000s. Franklin was able to finish Ken Shamrock and knock Chuck Lidell out cold, so his credentials as one of the best UFC fighters are quite valid.

21. Frank Shamrock

Career Record: 23-10-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (4)

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Headlined first UFC event in Brazil, Fastest submission in UFC Light Heavyweight history (16 seconds)

The adopted younger brother of Ken Shamrock, Frank was one of the first fighters to really embrace the “mixed” part of mixed martial arts. He combined a strong wrestling, ground-focused background with what became a deadly orthodox kickboxing game, also studying Jeet Kune Do before his UFC debut. 

20. Dominick Cruz (The Dominator)

Career Record: 24-4

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Bantamweight Championship (3)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most wins in UFC/WEC Bantamweight history (14)

One of the most highly regarded mixed martial artists at the Bantamweight level, Dominick Cruz was the UFC’s first champion in that division. Cruz is known for his strong wrestling and quick striking ability, but most of all for the unorthodox angles at which he attacks his opponents. His 13-fight winning streak included triumphs over T.J. Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson.

19. BJ Penn (The Prodigy)

Career Record: 16-14-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Lightweight Championship (3), 1x UFC Welterweight Championship (0)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2015), Second multi-division UFC champion 

The only fighter to win both the Lightweight and Welterweight titles, BJ Penn’s record might seem mediocre, but that’s only because of a falloff during the latter half of his career. Considered one of the greatest boxers in UFC history by legendary trainer Freddie Roach, Penn knocked out Matt Hughes and put up some tough performances in losing efforts against Georges St-Pierre.

18. Henry Cejudo (The Messenger)

Career Record: 16-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Bantamweight Championship (1), 1x Flyweight Championship (1)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Seventh multi-divisional UFC champion, Fourth simultaneous multi-division champion

While he finished eight of his 16 wins via TKO, Henry Cejudo is also known for his prowess in freestyle wrestling, a discipline in which he won an Olympic Gold Medal, becoming the only athlete ever to win both a UFC belt and Olympic gold. Cejudo finished his career on a six-fight winning streak during which he claimed two UFC belts and defended each of them once while also securing wins over Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz in the process.

17. Matt Hughes

Career Record: 45-9

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Welterweight Championship (7)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2010), Most finishes in Welterweight division history (11)

During his reign as the UFC Welterweight champ, Matt Hughes was considered by many to be the #1 pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world. Hughes, whose MMA style stems from a wrestling background, has two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC to his name, and counts a submission win via armbar over Georges St-Pierre and a TKO win over BJ Penn as some of his biggest triumphs.

16. Conor McGregor (Notorious)

Career Record: 22-6

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Featherweight Championship (0), 1x UFC Lightweight Championship

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 7x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: First simultaneous multi-division UFC champion, Most consecutive UFC post-fight bonuses (8)

Conor McGregor is one of the greatest UFC fighters we’ve seen, but his prowess inside the ring has somewhat been overshadowed by his polarizing figure outside of the octagon. Nonetheless, the power he possessed for his weight class was immense, and his 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo to claim the Featherweight title was a sight to behold. His wars with Nate Diaz were also two of the greatest fights the UFC has ever seen.

15. Valentina Shevchenko (Bullet)

Career Record: 23-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship (7)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most title defenses by a woman in UFC history (7), Most knockouts in UFC Women’s Flyweight history (4)

One of the most dominant mixed martial artists we’ve ever seen, Valentina Shevchenko has not lost to anyone not named Amanda Nunes since 2010. She has barely been challenged during her reign at the top of the Women’s Flyweight division and has beaten four former UFC champions including Holly Holm, Jessica Andrade, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk along the way.

14. Max Holloway (Blessed)

Career Record: 23-7

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Featherweight Championship (3)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 4x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most UFC Featherweight wins (18), Most UFC Featherweight finishes (10), Most significant strikes landed in UFC history (2,848), Most total strikes landed in UFC history (3,056)

One of the best boxing technicians the octagon has ever seen, Max Holloway has mastered the sweet science like few others in the sport of MMA. He knocked Jose Aldo out twice during his reign atop the UFC Featherweight division and also bested Frankie Edgar. His beatdown of Calvin Kattar in 2021 was one of, if not the, greatest boxing display in UFC history, setting 8 different UFC records that night including most significant head strikes landed in a fight (274), most significant body strikes landed in a fight (117), and most significant strikes landed in a round (141). 

13. Kamaru Usman (The Nigerian Nightmare)

Career Record: 20-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Welterweight Championship (5)

Performance Bonuses: 1x Fight Of The Night, 4x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Latest knockout in UFC title fight history (Colby Covington), Most consecutive wins in UFC Welterweight history, 2021 UFC Fighter Of The Year, 2021 Knockout Of The Year (Jorge Masvidal)

Though he was recently dethroned in perhaps the most shocking moment in UFC history, Kamaru Usman remains the greatest welterweight we’ve ever seen this side of Georges St-Pierre. He was criticized early in his career for a boring brand of fighting that involved extended clinches and playing for points, but recent knockouts of Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns show that he can bring the fireworks when it’s super necessary.

12. Randy Couture (The Natural)

Career Record: 19-11

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 3x UFC Heavyweight Championship (3), 2x Light Heavyweight Championship (0)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2006), First multi-divisional UFC champion, Most UFC championship fights (15), Most UFC championship reigns (6), Oldest to win a UFC championship (43 y/o), Oldest fighter to win a UFC bout (47 y/o)

One could say that Randy Couture was the first UFC superstar, with a mid-career streak of 14 out of 15 fights with a belt on the line. He is the only fighter to reclaim a belt he had previously lost three separate times and his late-career success into his 40s remains unparalleled. Couture was known for his skills in the clinch and his ability to get opponents on the mat and overwhelm them with ground-and-pound power. 

11. Daniel Cormier (DC)

Career Record: 22-3 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Heavyweight Championship (1), 1x UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (3)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2022), 1st UFC fighter to successfully defend belts in 2 weight classes

As just the second simultaneous two-division champ in UFC history, Daniel Cormier is in very elite company. He has also created an impressive life for himself just outside the octagon as one of the premier UFC commentators today. One of the greatest wrestlers the UFC has seen, especially at his size, Cormier has taken down the likes of Stipe Miocic, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis.

10. Chuck Liddell (The Ice Man)

Career Record: 21-9

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (4)

Performance Bonuses: 2x Fight Of The Night, 2x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2009), Most knockouts in UFC Lightweight history (10)

Credited for popularizing UFC and bringing into the mainstream along with his rival Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell was the author of some of the most brutal knockouts the octagon has seen, knocking his opponents out cold on nine different occasions. His trilogy against Couture is the stuff of UFC legend, and the Ice Man got the best of that series, winning twice by straight knockout.

9. Royce Gracie

Career Record: 15-2-3

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 3x UFC Tournament Champion (Openweight)

Performance Bonuses: N/A

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: First champion in UFC history, Longest fight in UFC history (36 minutes), Most fights in a single night in UFC history (4), Highest submissions per win percentage in UFC history (90.9%) 

The very first UFC superstar and a true MMA pioneer, Royce Gracie won three of the first four UFC events when there were no weight classes and nearly no rules. At UFC 1 he fought thrice in one night, at UFC 2 he fought a record four times in one night, and at UFC 4 he fought three more times in one night. Gracie is also credited with popularizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu and bringing grappling and ground fighting into the forefront of MMA.

8. José Aldo (Junior)

Career Record: 31-8

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Featherweight Championship (7)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 2x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most successful UFC Featherweight title defenses (7)

Jose Aldo was the first UFC Featherweight champion, and after claiming the title, he didn’t relinquish it again for over five years, a span during which he took down the Korean Zombie, Frankie Edgar, and Chad Mendes twice. Aldo is arguably the greatest mixed martial artist to fight in his weight class, relying on excellent Muay Thai striking and frustratingly (for his opponents) solid defensive wrestling. He also earned black belts in Luta Livre wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, making him one of the most well-rounded fighters out there.

7. Stipe Miocic

Career Record: 20-4

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Heavyweight Championship (4)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 5x Performance Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most UFC Heavyweight Championship defenses (4), Most head strikes in a single fight (330 vs. Mark Hunt

Considered by many in the sport and even a few of his former opponents as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all-time, Stipe Miocic is one of the few fighters on our list of the best UFC fighters that’s still competing. Miocic has relied on his precise striking and heavy hands to dominate the top division in the UFC, with wins over heavyweight champs Daniel Cormier, Francis Ngannou, and Junior Dos Santos on his resume.

6. Amanda Nunes (The Lioness)

Career Record: 22-5

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship (5), 1x UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship (2)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: First and only fighter in UFC history to defend titles in two divisions while holding both simultaneously, Longest combined UFC title reign of all time (3,460), most UFC wins by a woman (15), most consecutive UFC wins by a woman (12)

We could fill up a whole page with the records and achievements Amanda Nunes has racked up over her illustrious MMA career. The Brazilian is without a doubt the greatest female mixed martial artist the sport has ever seen and has proven it time and time again against the best competition the sport has to offer: she has beaten a whopping seven current or former UFC champions during her run, including Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko twice.

5. Demetrious Johnson (Mighty Mouse)

Career Record: 31-4-1

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Flyweight Championship (11)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night, 4x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most consecutive wins in UFC flyweight division (13), Most successful and consecutive title defenses in UFC history (11), Only UFC fighter to record 10 takedowns in 3 different fights

The greatest flyweight to ever lace ‘em up, Demetrious Johnson was the inaugural champ of the UFC’s flyweight division. Thanks to his elite wrestling, lightning speed, and overall elusiveness, Mighty Mouse reigned supreme at 125 pounds for a ridiculous 2,142 days, which included his UFC record 11 straight successful title defenses. 

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Career Record: 29-0

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Lightweight Championship (3)

Performance Bonuses: 3x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2022), Longest Lightweight title reign in UFC history (1,077 days), Most consecutive wins in UFC Lightweight division history (13), Tied-Most title defenses in UFC Lightweight history (3)

Khabib Nurmagomedov is the only fighter on this list to have never suffered a defeat. He used a deadly and relentless combination of sambo, wrestling, and judo to aggressively overwhelm his opponents, a technique many have referred to as ‘mauling.’ He finished his MMA career with dominant finishes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje that left many believing he could be pound-for-pound the greatest to ever enter the UFC octagon.

3. Georges St-Pierre (Rush)

Career Record: 26-2

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Middleweight Championship (0), 2x Welterweight Championship (9)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 1x Submission Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: UFC Hall Of Fame (2020), Fourth multi-divisional UFC champion, Most takedowns in UFC history (90), Most consecutive UFC Welterweight title defenses (9), Most wins in UFC Welterweight title fights (12)

One of the few fighters on our list who was still at his best when he called it quits, Georges St-Pierre went undefeated from 2007 to 2017 before retiring for good. St-Pierre was a decision expert, winning 12 of his 26 bouts by the scorecards. He is the greatest Welterweight fighter in history, but he will be remembered most for coming out of a four-year retirement to beat and finish Michael Bisping in shocking comeback fashion for the Middleweight belt in 2017.

2. Anderson Silva (The Spider)

Career Record: 34-11 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 1x UFC Middleweight Championship (10)

Performance Bonuses: 5x Fight Of The Night, 7x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Submission Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements/Achievements: Longest title reign in UFC history (2,457 days), Longest win streak in UFC history (16), Most finishes in UFC Middleweight history (11), Most finishes in UFC title fights (9)

An expert in several disciplines including Muay Thai and Taekwondo, Silva was mainly a standup fighter and is widely regarded as the greatest striker in UFC history. Nonetheless, he was still able to secure several notable submission victories over Olympic wrestlers Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen. The Brazilian is a southpaw but could fight orthodox with great success as well.

1. Jon Jones (Bones)

Career Record: 26-1 (1)

UFC Belts (Title Defenses): 2x UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (11)

Performance Bonuses: 4x Fight Of The Night, 1x Knockout Of The Night, 2x Submission Of The Night, 1x Performance Of The Night

Notable UFC Records/Achievements: Most UFC title fight wins (14), Longest unbeaten streak in UFC history (18), Longest UFC Light Heavyweight championship reign (1,501 days), Most UFC Light Heavyweight wins (20).

Our number one best UFC fighter of all time, Jon Jones could easily have an unblemished record if it wasn’t for a questionable DQ which even his opponent disputed. Jones has run through the Light Heavyweight division, beating opponents by way of everything from guillotine choke, to a unanimous decision, to TKO via elbows and punches, to keylock, to a rear-naked choke. His 1,463 significant strikes are a UFC Light Heavyweight record, as is his 95 percent takedown defense percentage.