UFC is known for pitting the best MMA fighters in the world against each other in the octagon, but just who is the best of all time? While there's always room for discussion, let's take a look at the names that are often considered the top 10 competitors to step into the octagon.
With the capture of the UFC Lightweight Championship, Khabib Nurmagomedov became the first Russian to claim a UFC title belt. A balance of strength and a unique grappling style that mixes sambo, judo and classic wrestling makes him a force to be reckoned with in the octagon.
Nurmagomedov's UFC career is off to an incredible start with a 28 undefeated streak with no losses. At the time this article was published, Nurmagomedov holds the longest active win streak in the UFC.
B.J. Penn is one of the most accomplished MMA fighters inside or outside of the UFC. He was the first American to capture the world Jiu-Jitsu title and was the second UFC fighter to win world titles in multiple weight classes by taking the UFC Lightweight and Welterweight belts at different points in his career.
Penn is often credited with bringing world-wide attention to the lower weight classes and helping bring mixed-martial arts into the main stream. In 2015, B.J. Penn was an inaugural choice for the Modern-Era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Had Gracie competed in the UFC longer he may have made his way higher up the list, but as it is Royce Gracie is considered one of the pioneers of mainstream MMA and one of UFC's founding champions.
Gracie won nearly 90 percent of his fights and was the winner of tournaments at UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4. His mixture of Jiu-Jitsu and ground grappling is said to have been a major influence on the future of the UFC and MMA fighting styles in general.
With forays into film, Randy Couture is recognized both inside and outside of the MMA world. In the octagon, Couture is known for insisting on only fighting the toughest competitors and participating the biggest fights. In fact, Couture has participated in a UFC record 16 title bouts.
Couture left MMA in 2011. He walked away with a UFC record six wins in UFC Heavyweight Title fights, became the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame and holds the prestige of winning a UFC title after being elected to the Hall of Fame. Randy Couture also holds the distinction of being the oldest competitor to hold a major MMA championship.
Brock Lesnar has had an impressive athletic career. He won the NCAA Division I heavyweight wrestling championship, was part of the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad and became a massive WWE success. Beyond all of these things, Lesnar is known for being a dominant heavyweight in UFC.
Lesnar won the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2008 by defeating Randy Couture only to step away after his only defense due to diverticulitis. Upon his return, Lesnar reclaimed the UFC Heavyweight Title in his first match back and holds the distinction of being the only athlete to hold a UFC and WWE title at the same time.
Conor McGregor is one of the most brash and confident fighters in UFC history, fortunately his performance in the ring backs him up.
McGregor is a dominant lightweight fighter and has won the UFC Featherweight and the UFC Lightweight Title. The fact that he is the only competitor to ever hold both titles simultaneously is proof of his dominance in these two classes. Since entering the UFC in 2013, McGregor has been involved in some of the most memorable fights in the history of the sport and has always been a top draw headlining some of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in UFC history.
Chuck Liddell is one of the most instantly recognizable UFC competitors. His trademark head tattoos and Mohawk made it clear who was in the octagon.
Liddell was one of the early innovators in MMA's infancy and, with fighters such as Randy Couture, helped bring the UFC to the attention of the fighting and sports world. Liddell was inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009 and holds a 72-percent win rate. Liddell captured five major titles in kickboxing and the UFC over the course of his long career.
Georges St. Pierre is known for his lightning quick speed and ring savvy. While never having any formal wrestling training before MMA, St. Pierre quickly developed a reputation for his grappling skills.
GSP is a three time UFC Welterweight Champion and was the Canadian Athlete of the Year three years running between 2008 and 2010. In 2013, St. Pierre retired from the UFC as the reigning welterweight champion and held the record for the longest UFC Welterweight reign at 2,204 days.
Jon Jones is considered one of the best MMA fighters of all time, some even consider him as the number one pound-for-pound fighter not only in the UFC but in the entire industry.
Jones held the UFC Light Heavyweight Title from March 2011 to April 2015. He regained the same title belt in December 2018 and held it until vacating the spot in August 2020. Jones holds nearly every record in UFC's Light-Heavyweight division including most title defenses, longest win streak and most submission victories.
Many experts and polls rank Anderson Silva as the top UFC fighter of all time. With 12 titles and a career winning percentage just shy of 90, it's no wonder to see why Silva may not only be the best middleweight fighter in the UFC, he may be the best fighter in the history of MMA.
Silva's holds the record for longest title defense at any weight class at 2,457; a span covering 16 consecutive victorious title defenses between 2006 and 2013. Anderson Silva historically competes in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions and at the time of writing is currently still on the UFC roster of fighters.
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