Top 10 best UFC players in the world
Since 1993, the UFC has been the breeding ground for the most talented mixed martial artists worldwide. Fighters from all corners of the globe have showcased their skills in this octagonal sport, with the UFC hosting some of its biggest matchups. Despite the vast world of MMA, with hundreds of fighters to compare, let’s delve into kingsoccertips exploration of the top 10 best UFC player through the following article!
Top 10 Best UFC Players of All Time
10. Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman makes this list due to his exceptional prowess in the welterweight division, where at his peak, he held the championship title, defeating some of the toughest challengers in his weight class. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ secured numerous victories against fighters like Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington through direct matches with the current champion Leon Edwards, Sean Strickland, who holds the middleweight championship, and Tyron Woodley.
His first UFC loss came in August 2022 in a surprising KO defeat against Edwards, unfortunately leading to a downturn with three consecutive losses, which marked his first losses in the UFC before last year. UFC President Dana White frequently includes him in his lists, and despite his current poor form, he may feel that his time is running out.
9. Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic is considered one of the greatest natural heavyweights to have ever won the championship twice with longevity and determination being the key to his spellbinding success. The American has faced giants throughout different eras, including Daniel Cormier, Francis Ngannou, Alistair Overeem, and Andrei Arlovski, all of whom he has become iconic opponents.
His powerful punching style and aggressive nature have shown an impressive 64% KO rate, undoubtedly pleasing pay-per-view fans and asserting his position in the competition. The 41-year-old UFC legend’s path is nearing its end, but he hopes for a successful final bout as he prepares for a potential match with current champion Jon Jones, who could cement his status as the greatest heavyweight of all time with just his second fight.
8. Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier, a former two-division UFC champion in both light heavyweight and heavyweight, is the second fighter in history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously after Conor McGregor, and the first to successfully defend them. A trendsetter and record-breaker, ‘DC’ forged one of the fiercest rivalries against Jon Jones, often likened to Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield in boxing, with whom he famously fought twice, the latter bout overturned after his opponent failed a drug test.
Cormier retired in 2020 following consecutive heavyweight losses to Miocic, but his legacy remains intact due to his prior accomplishments, which also earned him a frequent commentator role in upcoming UFC events. His charismatic personality and endearing skills inside the cage have made him a staple in debates for the promotion’s ‘Greatest of All Time’ discussion, a claim that’s hard to dispute.
7. Alexander Volkanovski
Currently regarded as the greatest and most dominant featherweight fighter ever honored in the championship, Alexander Volkanovski has become a legendary figure in the rankings with extraordinary skills and a willingness to face anyone in the octagon. He has virtually cleared out all challenges at 145 pounds, including Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes, undefeated in his favored weight class, proving himself capable of leaving an incomparable legacy as his career is far from over.
Volkanovski recently suffered two losses to his UFC record, both valiantly facing lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, but his desire to take on any challenge has never wavered. This is epitomized by his second clash with the Russian within a week through an extraordinary weight change, leaving no doubt he deserves to be considered one of the best ever to accomplish such a feat.
6. Khabib Nurmagomedov
The ‘Eagle,’ Khabib Nurmagomedov, is widely considered the greatest lightweight dominator of all time in a championship where he was the longest-reigning champion in history, holding the title from April 2018 to March 2021. With an undefeated 29-0 record in the UFC, he retired with a perfect record, a feat unlikely to be matched due to his exceptional grappling and lethal submission skills. Nurmagomedov achieved some of his best feats in the later stages of his career and formed the most iconic rivalry in lightweight history against bitter rival Conor McGregor.
His bout with McGregor became the UFC’s top-selling pay-per-view fighter in the top 10, and he fought only twice more after his 2018 victory before deciding to retire following a win over Justin Gaethje. Many believe he could have gone further up the list if his career continued, but he honored his late father’s wishes by deciding to step back earlier. Since then, he has continued to mentor current champion Islam Makhachev, who is surely following in his footsteps.
5. Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo retired from the UFC as a true legend who has dominated the sport since its merger with WEC, after some of the biggest fights in championship history. He first became the featherweight champion before securing the inaugural UFC featherweight title after the UFC/WEC merger. The Brazilian fighter is widely regarded as one of the top ten greatest mixed martial artists of all time, including by ChatGPT, and the greatest featherweight ever to date.
Throughout his career, he had some spectacular bouts ending in both wins and losses, but always delivered thrilling performances, defeating opponents like Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes. His career had a resurgence when he had a three-fight win streak, but it was halted by a final loss to Merab Dvalishvilli before he decided to hang up his gloves as a true pioneer and icon of the sport.
4. Demetrious Johnson
Currently competing in ONE Championship after leaving the UFC, Demetrious Johnson became the first flyweight champion and former UFC flyweight champion, setting the pace for one of the most dominant spells in any UFC weight class the MMA promotion has ever seen. Known for his lightning-fast strikes and elusive movements, Johnson holds the record for most submission finishes in UFC flyweight history.
He also simultaneously holds the record for the latest finish in UFC history with a submission victory just one second before the end of the fifth round against Kyoji Horiguchi. He is the only UFC fighter to have recorded over 10 submissions across three different fights, and his record-breaking accomplishments will forever engrave him in the annals as one of the greatest fighters ever honored in the octagon and certainly the best at flyweight.
3. Anderson Silva
Former UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, ranks third on this list but narrowly misses out on higher placement due to his incredible success in the weight class he contested and defeated some of his greatest opponents with ease. He still holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days from 2006 to 2013, a remarkable feat against challengers who tried to dethrone him during his reign.
This feat includes a stunning 16-fight win streak featuring some big names like Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen among many others before things eventually took a downturn. Despite enduring a significant losing streak towards the end of his career, it was because he always wanted to face the best in the octagon, and it will be extremely difficult for anyone to match the dominance he held as the greatest middleweight fighter in UFC history.
2. Jon Jones
Jon Jones is an incredibly talented superstar who has held titles in two weight classes and is widely regarded by Dana White as the greatest to ever step into the octagon. ‘Bones’ reigned as the former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion in a tenure where he almost never set foot wrong, holding the title from March 2011 to April 2015 and from December 2018 to August 2020. His first title saw him become the youngest champion in UFC history with a victory over Maurício Rua at the age of 23, a feat few at that age could dream of achieving.
He holds numerous UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including most title defenses, most wins, and longest win streaks, but also made a notable impact after a remarkable run to capture the heavyweight title earlier this year. This came after a two-year hiatus, but we might be witnessing the end of Jones’ career by late 2023 as he prepares to face Stipe Miocic, where he believes it could be his final bow.
1. Georges St-Pierre
Hailing from Canada, Georges St-Pierre is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history and is ranked here as the greatest fighter of all time. Georges St-Pierre reigned as a two-division champion in the UFC, capturing titles in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. He won the UFC welterweight crown three times, twice unifying the title along with an interim belt. Fight Matrix even lists him as the greatest middleweight MMA fighter of all time and the most successful fighter in MMA history.
He retired as the reigning UFC middleweight champion in December 2013, holding the record for most wins in championship fights and the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history (2,204 days) while defending his titles 9 times consecutively. He returned to the Octagon in November 2017 at UFC 217, defeating Michael Bisping via submission to claim the middleweight belt, becoming the fourth UFC fighter to become champion in multiple weight classes.
Conclusion
The list of the top UFC players showcases extraordinary talents who have left an indelible mark on the sport. From relentless champions like Georges St-Pierre, who dominated multiple weight classes with finesse and skill, to trailblazers like Jon Jones, who redefined greatness with his versatility and record-breaking achievements, each fighter on this list has contributed uniquely to the legacy of mixed martial arts. Their dedication, resilience, and mastery inside the Octagon have solidified their places as some of the best UFC player of all time, inspiring generations of fighters and fans alike with their awe-inspiring performances and lasting impact on the sport.
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