Since 1993, the UFC has been a breeding ground for the most talented fighters in Mixed Martial Arts. Competitors from across the globe have showcased their skills in the Octagon, with the UFC hosting the sport’s most spectacular events. With so much history behind us, we’ve decided to rank the best UFC fighters of all time. Our aim is to identify the finest martial artists ever to set foot in the Octagon in the biggest MMA promotion in the world.
In researching the archives, we considered each fighter’s legacy, record, cultural impact, and UFC career. Fedor Emelianenko and Gina Carano do not feature on our list, as we’ve only included those who fought under the UFC banner. Even with this restriction, there were still hundreds of fighters to assess. Plenty of these have lived up to their odds in the MMA betting markets. If you believe we’ve overlooked a UFC icon or misjudged a fighter’s legacy, feel free to let us know on social media!
Honourable Mentions
Compiling this list required careful consideration of numerous factors, one of the most significant being title wins and defences. Alistair Overeem is one of the finest heavyweights in MMA history, a former Strikeforce and Dream Heavyweight Champion, and a K-1 World Grand Prix winner. However, “The Demolition Man” never won a UFC title, narrowly missing out on the list of best UFC fighters of all time.
Urijah Faber is among the most influential featherweights in MMA history. A pioneer at 145 and 135 pounds, he captured the WEC Featherweight Championship and defended it five times. Upon the merger of the promotions, Faber entered the UFC and challenged for the bantamweight title on four occasions (including one interim bout). While he never captured UFC gold, his Hall of Fame career and impact on the sport remain immense.
Tony Ferguson may well be the greatest fighter never to win a UFC title. “El Cucuy” held the interim lightweight belt but never had the chance to unify it, as his planned bouts with Khabib Nurmagomedov were repeatedly derailed. Ferguson boasts the second-longest win streak in UFC history with 12 straight victories and has earned six Fight of the Night bonuses. In a different era, Ferguson could easily have been the pound-for-pound king.
15. Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes was a phenomenal athlete long before his MMA career began. A two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, he was later inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. Hughes transitioned to MMA in 1998, debuting on the regional circuit. He first appeared in the UFC in 1999, defeating Valeri Ignatov, though he didn’t earn a contract until 2001.
Returning to the UFC with a seasoned 30-3 record, Hughes surged through the welterweight ranks. He captured the UFC Welterweight Championship with a memorable slam KO over Carlos Newton. He went on to defend his title successfully, defeating Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg, and others. Though he lost the belt to long-time rival BJ Penn, he regained it after overcoming a young Georges St-Pierre.
Hughes made two more successful title defences, including a thrilling win over Penn in one of the greatest fights of all time. A two-time UFC Hall of Famer and former two-time champion, Hughes has the second-most title defences in the UFC welterweight division. Though he didn’t clear the division as GSP did, Hughes was unquestionably the pound-for-pound best in his prime, and one of the best UFC fighters of all time.
14. Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor’s ranking on this list is often hotly debated. He is, without question, the most recognisable star the UFC has ever seen, and at his peak, his talent was undeniable. However, his lack of activity as a champion keeps him outside the top ten. “The Notorious” transcended MMA in a way no fighter had done before, becoming a global superstar.
McGregor’s legendary streak upon entering the UFC secures his place in history. Between 2013 and 2018, he participated in some of the most iconic bouts the promotion has ever hosted.
After making his name in Cage Warriors, McGregor debuted in the UFC against Marcus Brimage, finishing him in the first round. On his way to an interim featherweight title, he picked up notable wins over Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and Dennis Siver. He then faced Chad Mendes at UFC 189 and stopped him in the second round, before delivering the infamous 13-second KO of José Aldo to become UFC Featherweight Champion.
McGregor became the first simultaneous two-division champion when he defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to win the lightweight belt. He entered the bout as the sports betting underdog, but one of the greatest title fight performances ever. However, the latter stages of his career have been rocky. His heated rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov culminated in a dominant loss, followed by defeats to Dustin Poirier. He will return to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
13. Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski left behind a career in rugby league to pursue MMA. The Australian toiled on the regional scene for years, building a 13–1 record before making his UFC debut in Melbourne. He stopped Yusuke Kasuya via second-round TKO and dropped down to featherweight in his next bout.
Volkanovski’s rise was methodical. He beat Darren Elkins, Chad Mendes, and José Aldo en route to a title shot against Max Holloway, whom he outstruck to claim the featherweight crown. He then defended the belt successfully five times, including a rematch win over Holloway.
“There are no excuses in fighting… In a team sport, you can have a great game and still lose. In fighting, if I lose, it’s on me. I like that.” – Alexander Volkanovski
Volkanovski moved up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev in 2023, narrowly missing out on a second title. His featherweight reign remains one of the most dominant in recent memory. It is likely that if his first fight with Makhachev had been 30 seconds longer, he would appear even higher on this list.
12. Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell was one of the UFC’s first bona fide stars. He broke through barriers and became a household name, helping to take MMA into the mainstream. UFC President Dana White built the promotion around ‘The Iceman’ in its early years, with Liddell’s highlight-reel finishes drawing in and keeping fans. He made his MMA debut in the UFC in 1998, defeating Noe Hernandez, and by 2000, he was a full-time roster member, having compiled a 6-1 record.
Liddell’s aggressive brawling style and knockout power captivated audiences. Dana White even sent him to the rival promotion PRIDE in Japan to represent the UFC, where he defeated Guy Mezger and Alistair Overeem. Liddell lost an interim light heavyweight title bout to Randy Couture in 2003 but avenged the loss two years later, knocking Couture out to claim the title. He successfully defended the belt four times, all via KO or TKO.
Liddell’s legendary rivalries with Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei Silva, and Randy Couture are still celebrated over two decades later. A true force inside the Octagon, he may have been the UFC’s first ‘Human Highlight Reel’. The former 205lb champion still holds the record for the longest knockout streak in UFC light heavyweight history with seven consecutive finishes, second only to Anderson Silva overall. Without Chuck Liddell, the UFC might not be what it is today, and he undoubtedly earns his place among the best UFC fighters of all time.
11. Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman was a highly accomplished collegiate wrestler, becoming an NCAA Division II national champion and All-American in 2010. Known as ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, he initially set his sights on the Olympics, serving as the wrestling coach for Team Miller on The Ultimate Fighter season 14. After failing to qualify for the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, he turned to MMA, inspired by his experience on TUF 14. After going 5-1 on the regional circuit, he secured a spot on TUF 21.
Usman won the series, submitting Hayder Hassan in the final and earning a six-figure UFC contract. He then went on an extraordinary run in the welterweight division, defeating future champions Leon Edwards and Sean Strickland, along with veterans like Demian Maia and Rafael dos Anjos. After going 8-0, he earned a UFC title shot and dominated Tyron Woodley to win the championship by unanimous decision. Two judges scored it 50-44.
He defended his belt five times, including four successful rematches against fierce rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. His brutal knockout of Masvidal in their second meeting is among the most memorable in UFC history, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus. Named Fighter of the Year in 2021, Usman holds the record for most consecutive wins in UFC welterweight history (15). He is widely considered the greatest welterweight in UFC history, not named Georges St-Pierre.
10. Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic made his professional MMA debut in February 2010 and was in the UFC just 18 months later. He made an impression early, defeating Joey Beltran in his debut and knocking out Philip De Fries in just 43 seconds to earn a Knockout of the Night bonus. Although he suffered defeats to Stefan Struve and Junior dos Santos, Miocic rebounded and earned a title shot after stopping former champion Andrei Arlovski.
Miocic faced Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight title and stunned the world, knocking him out in the first round. Historically, the UFC’s heavyweight division had seen frequent title changes, 23 reigns (30 including interim titles) before Miocic claimed the belt in 2016. No one had ever defended the title more than twice. Miocic broke that streak, becoming the first heavyweight to defend the title three times in a row.
“He’s the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.” – Dana White
He defeated legends like Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos, and then dominated the fearsome Francis Ngannou in a one-sided decision. All three judges scored it 50-44. Although he briefly lost the title to Daniel Cormier, Miocic reclaimed it in the rematch and defended it again in their trilogy bout. No fighter in UFC history has more consecutive heavyweight title defences, and with nine post-fight bonuses to his name, Miocic is widely regarded, including by Dana White, as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
9. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey may not have had the longest career, but she was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in UFC history. Her meteoric rise helped legitimise women’s MMA and brought it firmly into the mainstream. “Rowdy” Rousey was a top-level judoka from a young age, winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, though she didn’t make her professional MMA debut until 2011.
Her first fight saw her submit Ediane Gomes with a trademark armbar, the same submission she used to finish all of her pre-UFC opponents. Rousey entered the UFC in 2013 with a perfect 5-0 record and submitted Liz Carmouche in the first round in what was the UFC’s first-ever women’s bout and title fight.
“I didn’t want to just be given the title, I wanted to earn it. But that’s what Dana wanted.” – Ronda Rousey
Rousey went on an incredible winning streak. Her first real test came against rival Miesha Tate, whom she had previously beaten in Strikeforce. Tate took Rousey to the third round but ultimately succumbed to another armbar. “Rowdy” defended her title four more times, dispatching Sara McMann, Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano, and Bethe Correia, often in seconds.
Her reign ended in 2015 when Holly Holm shocked the world with a devastating head-kick knockout. Most MMA predictions backed Rousey overwhelmingly, and the loss essentially marked the end of her career. She returned in 2016 but was finished by Amanda Nunes, after which she retired from MMA. Despite the abrupt end to her career, Ronda Rousey’s impact on women’s MMA is immeasurable, and she remains one of the most important fighters in UFC history.
8. José Aldo
José Aldo began his professional MMA journey in 2005 but made his mark in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) in the late 2000s. ‘Junior’ tore through the featherweight division, earning a title shot after five straight KO/TKO victories, including a flying knee KO of Cub Swanson in just eight seconds. He won the WEC featherweight title with another TKO, this time over Mike Brown.
Aldo defended the belt against Urijah Faber and Manny Gamburyan before being promoted to UFC champion following the WEC-UFC merger. He went on to dominate the UFC featherweight division, defending his title seven times (nine if WEC defences are included), defeating top fighters such as Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, and Chan Sung Jung.
His legendary reign ended abruptly in 2015, with a stunning 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor. Still, Aldo’s legacy is unquestionable, and even McGregor has praised his contribution to the sport. Aldo dominated featherweights across two promotions and proved himself at the very top. He is regarded by many as the greatest featherweight of all time and remains one of the finest fighters in MMA history.
7. Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier’s dominance in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions cements his place among the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Cormier had a phenomenal wrestling career, which laid the groundwork for his future in MMA. “DC” won three NCAA silver medals, two NJCAA gold medals, and two gold medals in freestyle wrestling. However, his comfort on the ground didn’t stop him from scoring numerous knockouts early in his career.
Cormier compiled a perfect 10-0 record in Strikeforce and other regional promotions before making his UFC debut in 2013. His early UFC run saw him notch up tough victories over the likes of Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Patrick Cummins, and Dan Henderson. In 2015, Cormier earned his first shot at the UFC light heavyweight title against Jon Jones. The build-up was fiery, with both men engaging in an intense war of words. However, after five action-packed rounds, it was Jones who emerged victorious.
After Jones was stripped of the title due to a hit-and-run incident involving a pregnant woman, Cormier was given another shot, this time against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. Although he was dropped in the opening round, “DC” came back to submit Johnson in the third, becoming the UFC light heavyweight champion. After multiple title defences, Cormier moved up to face Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight belt. In one of the most iconic moments of his career, Cormier knocked out Miocic in the first round, becoming only the second fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously. His achievements have firmly secured his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
6. Amanda Nunes
No list of the greatest UFC fighters is complete without Amanda Nunes. She is, without doubt, the most accomplished female fighter in the history of mixed martial arts. “The Lioness” dismantled the best of her era and reigned supreme in two divisions. Interestingly, if it weren’t for her mother encouraging her to focus on her studies, Nunes may have pursued a football career. She even had a trial offer from Vitória Football Club. In hindsight, turning it down was a stroke of genius.
Amanda Nunes stands out not only for her talent but for her unrivalled résumé. She holds wins over legendary fighters such as Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Raquel Pennington, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Julianna Peña, all of whom have held championship belts.
Amanda Nunes was not shy after rocking Ronda Rousey in just 48 seconds at #UFC207. pic.twitter.com/0dOLjJ5fz0
— ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2016
Her record was not flawless. She retired with 23 wins and five losses. She lost her professional debut to Ana Maria and suffered two more defeats before joining the UFC. Her first major loss in the promotion came at the hands of Cat Zingano via ground-and-pound at UFC 178.
Toward the end of her career, she engaged in a high-profile rivalry with Julianna Peña. Peña shocked the MMA world by submitting Nunes at UFC 269, but the Brazilian responded emphatically in their rematch, dominating en route to a unanimous decision victory. Nunes retired after defeating Irene Aldana in 2023, though she is yet to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Regardless, her place among the all-time greats is assured. She is the greatest women’s fighter ever and one of the best UFC fighters of all time.
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov hails from the rugged mountains of Dagestan, Russia. Across a 12-year career, no one was able to neutralise his grappling, and his dominance helped reshape the UFC’s landscape. Before Khabib, most top-tier MMA fighters were strikers. “The Eagle” revolutionised the game with his relentless, wrestling-first style that overwhelmed even elite grapplers.
Most of Khabib’s first 15 fights took place on the regional circuit in Russia, where he tore through opponents in M-1 Global, ProFC, and Atrium Pankration. It wasn’t until he joined the UFC that fans worldwide began to take notice. His upbringing, including stories of childhood bear-wrestling, caught the media’s attention and earned him cult-hero status among fans.
Unlike many others on this list, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated, with a perfect 29-0 record. Remarkably, he only lost two rounds in his entire career. That is the same number of full fights that the legendary Georges St-Pierre lost. Despite only three title defences, Khabib’s dominance and consistency were unparalleled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rvIV_DGT1M&pp=ygUTa2hhYmliIG51cm1hZ29tZWRvdg%3D%3D
He is perhaps most remembered for his bitter rivalry with Conor McGregor. The build-up to UFC 229 was one of the most controversial in MMA history, filled with animosity and headline-grabbing moments. The bout became the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history, racking up 2.4 million buys.
When they finally met in the Octagon, Khabib dominated McGregor and submitted him in the fourth round. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022, alongside close friend Daniel Cormier. Though his career was shorter than most, had he continued, Khabib might well have been number one on the list of best UFC fighters of all time.
4. Anderson Silva
The twilight of Anderson Silva’s career was indeed difficult. He won just once in his final nine UFC appearances, defeating Derek Brunson in 2017, and suffered defeats to Chris Weidman (twice), Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier, Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier, and Uriah Hall before retiring in 2020. But the Brazilian’s prime years were so dominant that he remains one of the most iconic UFC fighters in history.
Silva entered the UFC in 2006 against Chris Leben, and many experts expected a close fight. They were wrong. Silva dismantled Leben in under a minute, earning a title shot in only his second bout. He went on to face Rich Franklin, a respected champion, and dismantled him with clinical precision to win the middleweight title later that year.
Anderson Silva’s reign as middleweight champion lasted a staggering seven years. He won 16 consecutive UFC fights, a record to this day. During that legendary run, Silva faced brash American Chael Sonnen twice. Although Sonnen won the trash-talking battle, he nearly won the fight as well, dominating the first four rounds of their initial encounter. However, Silva snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a late submission. In the rematch at UFC 148, Silva silenced Sonnen with a second-round knockout.
Chris Weidman finally ended Silva’s reign in 2013. While the final years of Silva’s career may have dulled his record, they did not tarnish his legacy. At his peak, Anderson Silva was practically unbeatable and remains, to this day, one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
3. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson never received the recognition he truly deserved from the UFC, which ultimately led to his trade to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren. However, this decision had little to do with Johnson’s fighting calibre. “Mighty Mouse” remains the greatest flyweight in MMA history and one of the finest UFC fighters ever. The trade largely stemmed from pay disputes and Johnson’s complete domination of the flyweight division, which limited opportunities for new stars to emerge.
Once Johnson claimed the UFC Flyweight Championship, he refused to let go, holding it until his final UFC bout. He became the inaugural flyweight titleholder after defeating Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152: Jones vs Belfort. “Mighty Mouse” went on to defend his title an astonishing eleven times. Though the flyweight division was still in its infancy, it boasted some notable talent. During his reign, Johnson secured victories over John Dodson, Henry Cejudo, and Ray Borg.
“LOOK AT THE UFC’S STANDPOINT. WHEN I WAS THERE, I OBVIOUSLY WASN’T THE HIGHEST-SELLING PAY-PER-VIEW GUY, AND I WAS ALSO VERY DOMINANT. SO THERE WASN’T AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES.” – DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON
Surprisingly, Johnson is yet to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, despite dominating the flyweight division for over half a decade. He later won the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix and captured the ONE Bantamweight Championship by defeating Adriano Moraes in 2022, before recently announcing his retirement. While he may not have received official accolades from the UFC, there’s no question Demetrious Johnson is the greatest flyweight the sport has ever seen.
2. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre’s road to greatness was far from smooth. Bullied at school and struggling financially, “GSP” turned to karate as a means of self-defence, a decision that laid the foundation for his legendary MMA career. Even as a young adult, St-Pierre faced challenges, working as a nightclub bouncer and binman to fund his education. He made his professional MMA debut in 2002 against Ivan Menjivar at UCC 7: Bad Boyz, winning by first-round knockout. He soon built a name for himself on the Canadian circuit before joining the UFC in 2004.
From the outset, St-Pierre appeared ahead of his time. While today’s fighters are generally well-rounded, GSP was one of the first to combine elite grappling and striking seamlessly. He rose quickly through the ranks, defeating Karo Parisyan and Jay Hieron before earning a shot at Matt Hughes for the welterweight title. However, St-Pierre wasn’t yet ready for championship gold, and Hughes submitted him in the opening round.
That defeat was a humbling experience, but St-Pierre used it as motivation. After a brief return to the Canadian circuit, he re-entered the UFC and began a dominant run. He defeated Jason Miller, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, and BJ Penn before getting a second shot at Hughes. At just 25 years old, “GSP” claimed the UFC welterweight title with a stunning head kick followed by ground-and-pound to finish the bout.
His first title defence ended in disaster, as Matt Serra shocked the world with a first-round knockout. But once again, St-Pierre responded with resilience. He reclaimed the belt at UFC 83 and went on to clear out the division with wins over top contenders. His final UFC appearance came against Britain’s Michael Bisping, who dominated the build-up but was submitted in the third round. St-Pierre retired after the bout and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2020. Few fighters have cleared an entire division. GSP did just that, earning his place near the very top of this list.
1. Jon Jones
Jon Jones was born to fight. While his career has been marred by numerous controversies outside the cage, “Bones” remains one of the most naturally gifted fighters the sport has ever seen. Jones began training in MMA in 2008 and, after just four months, joined the UFC with a 5-0 record. He made his promotional debut against Andre Gusmao and impressed with a unanimous decision win.
In his second UFC outing, Jones faced veteran Stephan Bonnar, a considerable step up in competition. Yet “Bones” cruised to victory, showcasing his creativity and athleticism. His only career loss came controversially via disqualification against Matt Hamill for the use of illegal 12-to-6 elbows, a fight he was clearly dominating. To this day, it remains the sole blemish on his record.
“A YEAR AGO, I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO THROW A PROPER KICK OR A PUNCH, AND NOW I’M FIGHTING ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE SPORT.” – JON JONES BEFORE FACING STEPHAN BONNAR
The Hamill incident did little to slow his momentum. Just three fights later, Jones earned a title shot against Maurício “Shogun” Rua. At UFC 128, Jones delivered a clinical performance, stopping Rua in the third round to become the youngest champion in UFC history at just 23 years old.
Jones went on to dominate the light heavyweight division for nearly a decade. His rivalries with Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, and Chael Sonnen became some of the most talked-about in MMA history. In 2023, Jones made his long-awaited move to heavyweight, submitting Ciryl Gane to win the vacant title and become a two-division world champion.
Despite his off-the-cage troubles, Jon Jones is widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. He has cleared out arguably the deepest division in UFC history and continues to compete at the highest level. A future bout with Stipe Miocic may mark the final chapter in an already historic career. Like it or not, Bones stands alone at the top of the list of the best UFC fighters of all time.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed revisiting the UFC’s storied history and some of the sport’s greatest legends. At Novibet, we’re constantly updating our MMA content, including predictions, betting tips, and fighter breakdowns. Be sure to check back regularly to keep up with the latest insights from the world of combat sports.
