A long line of combatants and superstars have left blood, sweat and tears in the Octagon at UFC events over the past three decades, thrilling fight fans across the globe with their skills and spirit.
Several of those warriors have earned legendary status for their exploits and their dazzling performances under the lights have helped to turn MMA and the UFC, in particular, into mainstream sports and household names.
The rapid rise in the sport’s popularity seems to accelerate year-on-year and major bookmakers like Bet Victor now offer extensive markets for every UFC event.
That explosion in popularity can only be attributed to the fighters landing the blows and locking in those submissions and the UFC’s apex predators deserve special recognition. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 greatest UFC fighters of all time. Check it out below.
Weight Class: Bantamweight, Featherweight, & Lightweight
Years: 2004 – present
José “Junior” Aldo hit the professional MMA scene for the first time at the tender age of 17 back in 2003 and he signed his first contract with the UFC in 210. Aldo won his first 15 fights with the organisation and successfully defended his Featherweight title seven times between 2011 and 2014. He lost for the first time in a grudge match against Conor McGregor, however, his place as an all-time great had been secured before his famous KO against the Irishman.
- Dan Henderson
Weight Class: Welterweight, Middleweight, Lightheavyweight, & Heavyweight
Years: 1997 – 2016
Dan Henderson was an accomplished wrestler during his high school and college days and the hard-hitting California native enjoyed three sparkling spells in the UFC. Henderson also had stints with other MMA organisations, though he left his mark whenever and wherever he pulled on his gloves. Henderson was in the UFC Middleweight Championship twice during his career and he was the oldest fighter on the roster when he retired in 2016.
Weight Class: Weight Class: Women’s Bantamweight & Women’s Featherweight
Years: 2008 – present
Widely accepted to be the best female UFC fighter that’s ever been, Amanda “Lioness” Nunes made her UFC debut in 2013 and after a somewhat ropey start (2-1) she quickly rose to prominence as a dominant champion. The Brazilian has successfully defended her Bantamweight title five times and the Featherweight belt twice. Moreover, Nunes is the third fighter after Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier to hold two UFC titles in two weight classes at the same time.
- Daniel Cormier
Weight Class: Lightheavyweight & Heavyweight
Years: 2009 – 2020
A six-time US World or Olympic wrestling team member, Daniel Cormier made his UFC debut in 2013, four years after his first professional MMA bout. The expert grappler with notoriously heavy hands won and held both the Lightheavyweight and Heavyweight titles at the same time, and Cormier was the first UFC fighter in history to defend two championships in two divisions.
Weight Class: Heavyweight
Years: 2010 – present
Stipe Miocic was so good at baseball in college that he was on the radar of several MLB teams, though the Ohio-born slugger instead opted for a career in the fight game. Miocic made his UFC bow in 2011 and he is considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight of all time. Miocic holds the longest title defence in the history of the heavyweight division.
- Demetrious Johnson
Weight Class: Bantamweight, Flyweight
Years: 2007 – present
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson was a standout athlete in a number of disciplines in his youth, though he decided to put his genetics to the test in the world of MMA, making his UFC debut in 2011. Johnson won 13 fights in a row during an incredible spell that ended in 2018, and the diminutive start is the only UFC fighter on record to have recorded ten or more takedowns in three different bouts.
Weight Class: Lightweight & Welterweight
Years: 2008 – 2020
Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov wasted no time getting to grips with the lightweight division in the UFC following his debut in 2012. Nurmagomedov won his first nine fights before earning a title shot. Following his victory over Al Iaquinta, Nurmagomedov enjoyed three successful title defences and ended his professional career with a perfect 29-0 record. Nurmagomedov was the first Muslim fighter to win a UFC title.
Weight Class: Lightheavyweight & Heavyweight
Years: 2008 – present
John “Bones” Jones quickly forged a reputation for vicious knockouts and unorthodox striking when he debuted in the UFC in 2008, just months after he had completed his first professional bout. After losing for the first time at the end of 2009, Jones embarked on a stunning 13-fight winning streak. Jones currently holds the record for the most wins, successful title defences and victories by submission in the light heavyweight division.
- Anderson Silva
Weight Class: Lightweight & Welterweight
Years: 2008 – 2020
Mixing jiu-jitsu with capoeira and muay Thai, Anderson Silva wowed UFC fans throughout his headline-spinning career between 1997 and 2020. “The Spider” won 16 fights in a row following his UFC debut in 2006 and Silva dominated the middleweight division, where he defended the title a record 10 times. Nobody moved like the wonderfully unique Silva before his arrival or even after his retirement.
- George St. Pierre
Weight Class: Welterweight & Middleweight
Years: 2002-2017
Georges St-Pierre is an era-defining figure for UFC and the sport of MMA and “GSP” is considered by many to be the greatest pound-for-pound fighter to have ever entered the Octagon. St. Pierre made his UFC bow way back in 2004 and the Canadian was a two-division champion during his time in the sport. When he retired in 2013, St. Pierre was the Welterweight Champions and held the record for most victories in title matches. He returned to fight in 2017 in a one-off battle against Michael Bisping, which he won by submission.