MMA fans are some of the most loyal in all sports and will be eager to support fighters whether through social media, fight-night sports bets or memorabilia purchase.
MMA has uncovered countless fighters with elite talent throughout its short history. MMA fans are asking the question of who the best is the best which is it is hardly answerable.
But still, after trying, here are the top 10 best UFC fighters of all time:
10. Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier is a highly accomplished mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler who began his professional MMA career in 2009.
Known for his exceptional wrestling skills and strategic fighting style, Cormier started strong by defeating Gary Frazier and winning his first eight consecutive matches without suffering a loss.
His tactical prowess and athleticism set him apart in the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
A notable victory came against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192, where Cormier won a closely contested split decision to defend his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
He then faced Anthony Johnson in two memorable bouts, ultimately securing the UFC Light Heavyweight title by submission and solidifying his status among the best MMA fighters of all time.
Cormier’s career includes multiple title defenses in two weight classes and recognition as one of the sport’s greatest champions.
9. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history.
Formerly the UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion and a two-time UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Nunes holds a professional record of 23 wins and 5 losses.
Born on May 30, 1988, in Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil, she built her reputation on powerful striking, elite wrestling, and world-class grappling.
Nunes trained with American Top Team from 2014 to 2022 and stood 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall, weighing 61 kg (134 lb).
Ranked No. 1 in UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings as of June 2023, she announced her retirement after defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023.
However, in mid-2025, Nunes confirmed her intention to end retirement and return to the Octagon to challenge the winner of the bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Julianna Peña at UFC 316. She is also set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2025, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest female fighters of all time.
8. Randy Couture
Randy Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist and Olympic wrestler who holds the record for the most UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts.
He made his professional MMA debut in 1997, quickly establishing himself as a dominant grappler and tactician.
Couture won his first UFC Heavyweight title by defeating then-champion Maurice Smith with superior wrestling and ground control.
Over his career, he captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship multiple times and later moved to the Light Heavyweight division.
There, Couture famously defeated Chuck Liddell to become the first UFC fighter to win championships in two weight classes, securing his legacy as a pioneer in the sport.
He amassed six UFC championship victories before eventually retiring. Post-retirement, Couture has served as a respected UFC commentator and ambassador, embodying his enduring influence on MMA.
7. Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic (born August 19, 1982) is an American professional mixed martial artist.
He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Miocic is widely regarded by critics, commentators, and media as the greatest UFC heavyweight fighter of all time.
He holds the record for most wins in heavyweight title fights, along with the longest title-defending streak in the heavyweight division, at three consecutive defenses.
Miocic also holds the record for fight-night bonus awards, with nine, the most in the UFC heavyweight division’s history.
6. José Aldo
José Aldo da Silva Oliveira Júnior, commonly anglicized as Jose Aldo, is a retired Brazilian professional mixed martial artist.
He last competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Bantamweight division after previously competing at Featherweight and was the fourth and final WEC Featherweight Champion.
He became the first UFC Featherweight Champion following the UFC/WEC merger.
Aldo is widely considered one of the best mixed martial artists of all-time and the greatest featherweight ever after defending his UFC title seven times and his WEC title twice.
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov is an undefeated mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history.
His professional MMA record stands at an unblemished 29 wins and 0 losses, with 8 wins by knockout, 11 by submission, and 10 by decision.
Khabib made his UFC debut in 2012 and quickly rose to dominance, capturing the UFC Lightweight Championship in April 2018 and defending it successfully three times before retiring in October 2020.
His title reign lasted approximately 931 days, the longest in the lightweight division’s history.
Known for his unparalleled wrestling and grappling skills, Khabib holds the UFC record for most takedowns in a single fight (21 takedowns vs. Abel Trujillo).
His fight style and dominance set new standards in MMA, leading to his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Khabib’s legacy extends beyond the Octagon as an icon of discipline, humility, and an undefeated champion who retired at the peak of his career.
4. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson, born August 13, 1986, is an American mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.
He currently competes in ONE Championship, where he is the reigning ONE Flyweight Champion (135 lb) and was the 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion.
Johnson made history in the UFC as the inaugural Flyweight Champion, holding the title through 11 consecutive successful defenses (the most consecutive UFC flyweight title defenses ever), while also setting records for the most takedowns in UFC flyweight history.
Known for his lightning-fast striking, exceptional grappling, and elusive movement, Johnson co-holds the record for the latest finish in UFC history, submitting Kyoji Horiguchi at 4:59 of the fifth round.
Since transitioning to ONE Championship in 2018, Johnson has continued to showcase elite skills by winning the ONE Flyweight Championship with a knockout via flying knee against Adriano Moraes in 2022, followed by a trilogy win over Moraes in May 2023.
Johnson announced his retirement in September 2024 and became the inaugural inductee into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame, reflecting his legendary status. Post-retirement, he has also competed at a high level in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, reinforcing his well-rounded martial arts expertise.
3. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva, born April 14, 1975, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time by UFC president Dana White, commentator Joe Rogan, and fans worldwide.
Silva signed with the UFC in 2006 and quickly rose to prominence by defeating Chris Leben via knockout at UFC Fight Night 5.
He then earned a title shot against Rich Franklin, whom he defeated at UFC 64 to become the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history, dominating the middleweight division for 2,457 days with 10 consecutive title defenses.
During his reign, Silva defeated top contenders like Nate Marquardt, Patrick Côté, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Vitor Belfort, showcasing his elite striking, submission skills, and unparalleled fight IQ.
His reign ended in 2013 when Chris Weidman defeated Silva at UFC 162, in a stunning upset that marked Silva’s first loss in nearly seven years as champion.
Silva’s legendary career includes numerous performance bonuses and iconic fights, solidifying his legacy as an MMA pioneer and one of the sport’s all-time greats.
2. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre (GSP), born May 19, 1981, is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
He began his professional career at 21 and quickly earned a black belt in Kyokushin Karate.
GSP made his UFC debut in 2004 against Karo Parisyan, winning by unanimous decision. He won the UFC Welterweight Championship in 2006, defeating Matt Hughes, avenging a previous loss to Hughes, and went on to defend the title nine consecutive times: a record for the welterweight division.
In a stunning upset at UFC 69, St-Pierre lost his welterweight title to Matt Serra but regained it in a rematch at UFC 83, subsequently unifying the title.
He later captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2017 by defeating Michael Bisping, becoming the fourth UFC fighter to win titles in two weight classes.
GSP retired with a professional record of 26 wins and 2 losses, with victories over seven former UFC champions and holding multiple UFC records, including the third-longest title defense streak (9) and the longest combined days as welterweight champion (2,204 days).
His legacy is marked by dominance, technical prowess, and sportsmanship, cementing his status as a UFC legend.
1. Jon Jones
Jon Jones, born July 19, 1987, is an American mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the greatest UFC fighters ever.
He made his UFC debut in 2008, defeating Andre Gusmão. In 2011, Jones captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via technical knockout, becoming the youngest champion in UFC history at age 23.
Jones dominated the light heavyweight division with 14 title fight wins, defeating top contenders like Vladimir Matyushenko, Brandon Vera, and Daniel Cormier, against whom he staged two legendary bouts. Despite setbacks, including suspensions related to drug tests, Jones reclaimed the light heavyweight title multiple times between 2018-2020.
In 2023, he moved to heavyweight, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship by submitting Ciryl Gane and successfully defending it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.
Jones announced his retirement in June 2025, leaving a record of 28 wins, 1 loss (by disqualification), and 1 no contest. He holds UFC records for most title fight wins and remains a defining figure in MMA history.
change jon jones to number 2 or three and put gsp to 1 and your list is acceptable thewe are arguements that could be made but its acceptable