Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a unique platform for fighters worldwide. It has marvelously shaped the combat sports arena into a global phenomenon. UFC fighters showcase their skills in the octagonal ring and are celebrated for some of the greatest fights of all time. Since 1993, UFC has surpassed three decades, introducing top-tier athletes. Let bestsoccertips.com compile a short list of the 10 best UFC players of all time.
Top 10 Best UFC Players of All Time
10. Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem, one of UFC’s most exceptional fighters without a title in the organization, has had a brilliant MMA career. He held the Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight championships before joining UFC, gaining fame through bouts in PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce. Overeem, nicknamed “The Demolition Man,” is known for his devastating power and remarkable technique.
In 2011, Overeem joined UFC and immediately faced his first major challenge in former UFC champion Brock Lesnar. In their first match, Overeem was dominant, quickly knocking out Lesnar in the first round. However, subsequent drug-related issues delayed his following matches.
From 2014 to 2016, Overeem went on a winning streak, defeating top contenders like Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Junior dos Santos, and Andrei Arlovski, before securing his first UFC title shot. His championship bout with Stipe Miocic was one of the most thrilling fights, where he had Miocic in trouble early but eventually lost.
Despite a devastating loss to Francis Ngannou and leaving UFC after a fight with Alexander Volkov in 2021, Overeem remains recognized as one of UFC’s all-time greats. His career is not just about titles but also about adaptability and resilience in the world of MMA.
9. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey, though not the longest-tenured MMA fighter, undeniably made one of the biggest impacts in UFC history. Her rise revolutionized women’s MMA, opening new avenues in a sport previously dominated by men.
A high-level judoka from a young age, Rousey won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before transitioning to MMA in 2011. Her professional debut against Ediane Gomes showcased her grappling superiority, winning via armbar in the first round, a skill she would become renowned for.
Rousey entered the UFC with a perfect 5-0 record and famously defeated Liz Carmouche in her UFC debut in 2013. She defended her UFC title five times, defeating opponents like Sara McMann, Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano, and Bethe Correia. However, in 2015, she suffered a shocking knockout loss to Holly Holm in the second round.
Rousey’s career ended with a loss to Amanda Nunes in 2016. Nevertheless, her legacy in women’s MMA remains indomitable, and she significantly contributed to the sport’s development. Ronda Rousey is not only a superb athlete but also an icon of gender equality in sports.
8. Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is one of the first fighters to transcend UFC and MMA boundaries, building a legendary winning streak and becoming one of the biggest stars in UFC history. From 2013 to 2018, he participated in some of the organization’s most iconic fights.
After finding success in Cage Warriors, McGregor made an impressive UFC debut by knocking out Marcus Brimage in the first round. He continued with notable wins over Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and Dennis Siver on his journey to the interim Featherweight championship.
McGregor’s career peaked with his fights against Chad Mendes at UFC 189 and subsequently Jose Aldo at UFC 194. Facing Mendes, McGregor demonstrated meticulous preparation and professional striking skills, securing victory in the second round. Similarly, in his bout against Aldo, he needed only 13 seconds to knock out his opponent and claim the UFC Featherweight title.
McGregor continued his success by moving up to Lightweight, defeating Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC Lightweight championship in 2016. However, his career faced challenges thereafter. Controversies and conflicts outside the octagon, such as the bus incident and his bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov, where McGregor was defeated, highlighted the complexities of his life.
McGregor continues to compete, earning a victory over Donald Cerrone but then losing to Dustin Poirier in their rematch. He will continue his journey with a bout against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, hoping to reclaim his position in the MMA world.
7. Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier’s dominance in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions has established him as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Cormier has had an incredible wrestling career, laying the groundwork for his future MMA endeavors. “DC” won three NCAA silver medals, two NJCAA gold medals, and two freestyle wrestling gold medals. But Cormier’s lack of interest in running allowed him to win many direct elimination victories in his first matches.
Daniel Cormier went 10-0 through Strikeforce and regional MMA events before debuting in the UFC in 2013. Some of Cormier’s early fights were difficult, defeating Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Patrick Cummins, and Dan Henderson. In 2015, “DC” won his first UFC Light Heavyweight title against Jon Jones. The fight began with hostility as both fighters exchanged verbal jabs. However, Jones raised his hand after 5 dramatic rounds.
After Jon Jones was involved in an altercation with a pregnant woman, the UFC stripped him of his title. This gave Daniel Cormier another chance to win the UFC title against Anthony Johnson in the next fight. Johnson defeated Cormier in the first round, but “DC” recovered, ensuring a third-round submission to win the UFC Lightweight World Championship. After defending the Lightweight title multiple times, Cormier won the Heavyweight title with Stipe Miocic. With the best performance of his career, “DC” knocked out Miocic in the opening round. Becoming the second fighter in history to hold two UFC championships at the same time and ensuring his legacy as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
6. Amanda Nunes
You can’t make a list of the greatest UFC fighters of all time without Amanda Nunes. There’s no question, she’s the greatest female fighter in history, defeating some of her generation’s toughest opponents and dominating women’s tournaments. However, if Nunes’ mother didn’t want her to concentrate on education, she might have been a football player. The “Lioness” received a trial invitation from Vitoria Football Club, but she declined. It was a great step because Nunes is now one of the greatest UFC fighters ever.
Amanda Nunes isn’t just a standout female fighter because of her skills but she’s also unbeatable. Nunes defeated legends like Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Raquel Pennington, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Julianna Pena. These women were all MMA champions and held multiple titles in the UFC.
“The Lioness” didn’t have a perfect record when she won 23 matches and lost five. Amanda Nunes lost her first professional MMA match to Ana Maria, adding two more losses before joining the UFC. Cat Zingano was the first high-level opponent to defeat her. Zingano won by ground and pound in the third round at UFC 178. At the end of her career, Nunes had a personal feud with Julianna Pena. When two women met at UFC 269, Pena shocked the world with a victory due to submission in the second round. However, the Brazilian player dominated Pena in a rematch, leading to a unanimous decision. “The Lioness” retired after defeating Irene Aldana by decision in 2023, but she still wasn’t in the UFC Hall of Fame.
5. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva’s later career phase undeniably posed significant challenges, marked by rare victories under professional MMA rules. Silva secured a lone win in his most recent nine UFC bouts, defeating Derek Brunson in 2017. “The Spider” suffered defeats against Chris Weidman twice, Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier, Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier, and Uriah Hall before retiring in 2020. Nonetheless, Silva had a dominant 7-year winning streak during his peak and stands as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
Chris Leben welcomed Anderson Silva to the UFC in 2006, with many MMA experts predicting a close fight. However, experts were proven wrong as Silva dismantled Leben in less than a minute. This initial performance made a strong impression in the UFC, helping the Brazilian fighter claim a title in just his second bout. Rich Franklin, a respected champion who had spent years climbing the ranks, fell victim to Silva’s skill as “The Spider” secured the UFC Middleweight championship in his debut year.
As mentioned, Anderson Silva’s legendary middleweight reign lasted 7 years, with 16 consecutive UFC victories. During his winning streak, the Brazilian athlete had two iconic bouts against the outspoken Chael Sonnen. Silva faced verbal taunting from Sonnen and narrowly avoided defeat in their first fight. Heading into the final round, most fans believed the American fighter was winning every round. However, Silva forced Sonnen to submit in the remaining moments of the fight, silencing “Uncle Chael’s” bravado. Silva claimed victory in their rematch two years later, knocking out Sonnen in the second round at UFC 148. Chris Weidman ended Silva’s dominance in 2013. However, Anderson Silva’s reign was unparalleled, cementing his deserved place among the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
4. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson never received the love he deserved from the UFC, and the company ultimately traded him to ONE Championship for Ben Askren. However, this trade had nothing to do with Johnson’s fighting abilities, as “Mighty Mouse” is the greatest flyweight in MMA history and one of the best UFC fighters of all time. The trade of Johnson was due to a payment dispute, despite “Mighty Mouse” dominating the flyweight division.
After Demetrious Johnson won the UFC flyweight championship belt, he did not let go until his last fight. Johnson was the first Flyweight champion, defeating Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort. “Mighty Mouse” defended his title in 11 consecutive matches. The flyweight division was in its early stages of development but still had some big names. Johnson recorded victories over John Dodson, Henry Cejudo, and Ray Borg during his UFC career.
Demetrious Johnson is not in the UFC Hall of Fame, which seems almost impossible given his initial domination of the flyweight division. However, Johnson’s career is still thriving, and he remains a force in ONE Championship. In 2019, he became the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion and won the ONE Bantamweight Championship against Adriano Moraes in 2022. “Mighty Mouse” may not be officially recognized, but there is no doubt that he is the best flyweight fighter in UFC history.
3. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre, or GSP, is one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, and his tumultuous life has contributed to his image and success in the ring.
GSP was born and raised in Canada under challenging circumstances, facing many bullying issues during his childhood. He learned karate for self-defense, which sparked his passion for martial arts. This became the foundation for his later MMA career.
He began his professional MMA career in 2002 and quickly made a name for himself in UCC before joining the UFC in 2004. From the moment he joined, GSP stood out with his complete, well-rounded style, combining diverse grappling and striking skills. He quickly climbed the ranks, and in 2006, after defeating Matt Hughes, he won the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Despite setbacks, such as his fight with Matt Serra, GSP always learned and came back stronger. He regained the championship belt from Serra and successfully defended it multiple times, defeating top fighters like BJ Penn and Carlos Condit.
GSP’s final fight was against Michael Bisping in 2017, where he won the middleweight championship and then retired. This marked a great career, and he was honored by being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2020.
Overall, Georges St-Pierre is not only an outstanding fighter in the ring but also an icon in the MMA world, with an incredible career and immeasurable contributions to the sport’s development.
2. Jon Jones
Jon Jones, one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, has had a career marked by both incredible highs and significant off-ring issues. In 2008, he began his professional MMA career and quickly joined the UFC after just nine months of training. Jones’ debut fight against Andre Gusmao showcased his excellence, winning by unanimous decision in three rounds.
Early in his career, Jones overcame many challenges, but his fight with Matt Hamill was a notable negative point. He was disqualified after delivering an illegal downward elbow strike, which remains the only loss in his professional MMA career.
However, off-ring issues have continually impacted Jones’ career. He has been arrested for driving under the influence, hit-and-run incidents, and domestic violence. Despite these troubles, Jones continued to compete and demonstrate his talent in the ring.
Jon Jones is known for his impressive performances, such as winning the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Maurício Rua at UFC 128 and later dominating the light heavyweight division. He then successfully moved up to the heavyweight division, defeating Ciryl Gane to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2023.
Although his off-ring issues have somewhat tarnished his reputation, Jon Jones remains one of the biggest names in MMA, with an indelible mark on UFC history.
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov, the most outstanding UFC fighter, hailing from the humble mountains of Dagestan, Russia, has left a profound impact on MMA history. With a career spanning 12 years, Nurmagomedov became an unstoppable force in the ring and forever changed the approach to fighting in the UFC. His wrestling style, unlike any seen before, made him a nightmare for opponents, even the best grapplers in the UFC.
Khabib Nurmagomedov had most of his early professional fights in Russia, gaining fame with victories in M1-Global, ProFC, and Atrium Pankration before joining the UFC. Media attention surrounded him due to stories of his childhood and wrestling matches with bears, adding to his allure for MMA fans.
Unlike many other fighters, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career was perfect in every detail. He maintained his cultural roots and lost only two rounds in his professional MMA career. This made Nurmagomedov one of the few UFC fighters with a perfect 29-0 record, a nearly insurmountable feat. However, what most fans remember about Khabib is his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229, an iconic showdown in MMA history.
This fight was not just a sporting event but a cultural phenomenon, surrounded by much controversy. The climax was when Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor in a dominant fashion, cementing his championship status. In 2022, UFC honored Nurmagomedov by inducting him into the Hall of Fame, alongside his close compatriot, Daniel Cormier.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed exploring the long history of the UFC with us, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on the best UFC player of all time. Here, we continuously update and create predictions, content, and guides about MMA. Visit our website regularly to see what’s new and check out our latest updates.
