There have been some amazing UFC fighters over the years. Some have achieved legendary status, while others are just starting to make a name for themselves. In this blog post, we will take a look at the 17 most famous UFC fighters of all time. We will discuss what makes them so popular and why they are so successful in the octagon.
Who are the 17 most famous fighters in UFC and MMA?
The following list includes the most famous UFC and MMA fighters, who have been ranked based on their popularity in the sport and how well they’ve fared against other competitors.
17. Ronda Rousey
“Rowdy” was one of the most accomplished female fighters to ever compete inside an octagon. She is also known as “The Arm Collector” due to her ability to collect more than one arm during a fight. She was undefeated for six years until Holly Holm knocked her out at UFC 193 in 2015, which triggered Rousey’s retirement from combat sports altogether.
Weight Class: Bantamweight and Featherweight
Style: Judo
Career Record: 12-2-0 (six KO’s, four submissions, and two decision victories)
Awards: 2011 Female Fighter of the Year, 2012 Submission of the Year
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion (2013-2015)
Awards: The first female inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame 2018,
UFC Title Defenses: Six
Quote: “I felt like I had to be the best version of myself in order for it not to be a silly little thing.”
16. Dan Henderson
Regarded as one of the most successful fighters in MMA history, Hendo has held championship titles in two different weight classes. Outside of the UFC, he was frequently the best in his divisions.
Weight Class: Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 32-15-0
Awards: UFC Middleweight Tournament Winner, 4x Fight of the Night, 2x Performance of the Night, Knockout of the Night, 2007 MMA Fighter of the Year, 2011 Fight of the Year, UFC Hall of Fame, PRIDE Welterweight & Middleweight Champion, Strikeforce Lightheavyweight Champion
Belts Achieved: Pride FC Welterweight Champion (2005-2008), Pride FC Middleweight Champion (2007)
Quote: “Heart and mind overcome all.“
15. Wanderlei Silva
This Brazilian fighter is one of the most well-known fighters in MMA history and has been dubbed as “The Axe Murderer” due to his aggressive fighting style inside an octagon. He is a former Pride Middleweight Champion and was voted by most fans as one of the best fighters in MMA history.
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Style: Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Career Record: 35-14-1 (30 KO’s, two submissions)
Awards: Most wins in Pride history (22), most knockout victories in the PRide history (15)
UFC Belts Achieved: Pride Middleweight Champion (2000-2007), Pride Light Heavyweight Champion (2007-2008)
Title defenses: 10
Quote: “I’m not a guy who worries about anything. I just go in there and fight.”
14. Chuck Liddell
Dubbed as “The Iceman”, Chuck was one of the most popular fighters during the early years of UFC. He is known for his devastating knockout power and has won many awards including UFC light heavyweight champion twice. He also holds a record of most wins by KO/TKO (13). Inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame in July 209.
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Style: Boxing and Kickboxing
Career Record: 21-9-0 (13 KO’s, 1 submissions)
Awards: Two-time UFC light heavyweight champion (2005- 2006), Most wins by KO/TKO in UFC history (13), UFC Hall of Fame in
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (2005, 2006)
Title defenses: 2
Quote: “It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down in life. What matters is how many times you get back up.”
13. Randy Couture
This UFC Hall of Fame inductee is a three-time Olympian wrestler and five-time UFC champion. He is the first fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes and also has the most fights (27) and wins (19) in UFC history.
Weight Class: Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 19-11-0 (16 KO’s, one submission, two decision victories)
Awards: UFC Hall of Fame Inductee (2006), 2006 Fighter of the Year, 2007 Submission of the Year
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Heavyweight Champion (1996-1997, 2004-2005), UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (1998-2001)
Title Defenses: Six in the heavyweight division, Five in the light heavyweight division.
Quote: “I’m not a big guy and I don’t have the biggest muscles, but what I do have is I have heart and determination.”
12. Matt Hughes
This former welterweight fighter from Illinois holds an impressive record with 16 consecutive victories during his time in the octagon. He has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame and is also known for holding many records such as most consecutive wins (16) as well being tied with Georges St-Pierre‘s record for most welterweight title defense victories.
Weight Class: Welterweight
Style: Wrestling and Boxing
Career Record: 45-9-0 (32 KO’s, 13 submissions)
Awards: UFC Hall of Fame Inductee (2010), Two-time UFC welterweight champion (2001-2004, 2004-2006) Most wins by submission in the Octagon (eight)
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Welterweight Champion (2001-2004, 2004-2006)
Title defenses: 6
Quote: “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving.”
11. Daniel Cormier
This former Olympic wrestler became a two-division champion after defeating Anthony Johnson at UFC 187. He is also known for being the first fighter to hold multiple belts simultaneously before vacating one due to his contract with Strikeforce expiring in 2013.
Weight Class: Light heavyweight, Heavyweight
Career Record: 22-3-1
Awards: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (2015-present), Two time Olympian, Pan American Games Gold Medalist
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (2015-2019), UFC Heavyweight Champion (2018-2019)
Title defenses: 4
Quote: “I’m not the most skilled fighter in the world.
10. Stipe Miocic
The two-time UFC heavyweight champion has been dubbed as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and is one of the most successful fighters in UFC history. In his two reigns, Miocic has defended his title four times. He has taken out names like Daniel Cormier, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum.
Weight Class: Heavyweight
Style: Wrestling, Boxing
Career Record: 20-4-0
Awards: UFC Heavyweight Champion (2016-present), The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year (2017)
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Heavyweight Champion (2018-2018, 2019-2021)
Title defenses: 4
Quote: “I’m not the best heavyweight fighter in the world, but I am the best heavyweight fighter on the planet.”
9. Amanda Nunes
This Brazilian fighter is the current women’s bantamweight champion and one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Nunes has won her last five fights by KO/TKO, with four of them taking place in the first round. She has also been the champion in Featherweight. She is the third UFC fighter in history to have two belts in two separate weight classes.
Weight Class: Bantamweight and Featherweight
Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
Career Record: 21-5-0
UFC Belts Achieved: Bantamweight Champion (2016-2021) Featherweight Champion (2018-)
UFC Title Defenses: 6
Quote: “I started my career with a loss, getting ‘slapped’ by life.”
8. Jose Aldo
Known for his aggressive and entertaining style, Aldois three timess a former UFC featherweight champion who has been ranked as the #14 pound-for-pound best fighter in the world by Sherdog. Jose Aldo remained undefeated for over a decade and is one of the most dominant featherweights of all time. Some people tend to forget that after his loss against Conor Mcgregor.
Weight Class: Featherweight
Style: Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Career Record: 26-Three-One (14 KO’s, six submissions)
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Featherweight Champion (2010-2015)
UFC Title Defenses: Six
Quote: “There is no easy fight in the UFC.”
7. Demetrious Johnson
This “Mighty Mouse” fighter is currently the longest-reigning UFC champion and has set a record for most consecutive title defenses in his weight class. He is also widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time due to his size, speed, and technique inside an octagon.
Weight Class: Flyweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 30-4-1
Awards: Best Fighter ESPY Award
UFC Belts Achieved: Flyweight champion (2012-2017)
UFC Title Defenses: 11
Quote: “MMA has the rudest, most negative, dumbest, ignorant fans in the world – but it also has the most passionate fans in the world.”
6. Fedor Emelianenko
Widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in MMA history, Fedor has an impressive record of 36-and-six. He is also the only man to have ever held championships in both PRIDE and Strikeforce. He is one of the most famous MMA fighters who haven’t been in the UFC. He actually turned UFC down.
Weight Class: Heavyweight
Style: Sambo and Judo
Career Record: 40-6-0 (16 TKO’s, 15 submissions, 9 decision)
Awards: 2009 Knockout of the Year, 2000 Fighter of the Decade (Bleacher Report)
UFC/MMA Belts Achieved: Pride Heavyweight Champion (2003-2007)
Quote: “I don’t really have time for training and all that. I’m too busy with my work so I can only do what’s necessary.”
5. Anderson Silva
“The Spider” was one of the most dominant middleweights ever to compete in UFC history. He holds many records including the most consecutive wins (16), longest winning streak at any weight class (13), and longest title reigns as champion (1708 days).
Weight Class: Middleweight
Style: Muay Thai, Taekwondo
Career Record: 34-11-0 – 23 wins by KO, 3 submissions, and 8 decision
Awards: 2006 Fighter Of The Year, 2007 Knockout Of The Year, 2009 Submission of the Year
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Middleweight Champion (2006-2013), The Ultimate Fighter Brazil middleweight tournament winner
UFC Title Defenses: 10
Quote: “I’m not the best, but I want to be remembered as one of those who helped change MMA. That’s what I’m fighting for.”
4. Khabib Nurmagomedov
This Russian-born fighter has won all of his bouts since joining UFC and is currently undefeated with a record of 24-and-0. Known for being a dominant grappler, Khabib is also the first Muslim to ever hold a UFC championship title which he achieved after defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223.
Weight Class: Lightweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 29, 0, 0
Awards: Most consecutive wins in the UFC, Longest reigning lightweight champion
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Lightweight Champion (2018–2021 when he retired undefeated)
Title defenses: 3
Quote: “I don’t fight for the money. I fight for my legacy. I fight for history. I fight for my people.”
3. Georges St-Pierre
Often considered to be one of the greatest and famous fighters ever, GSP held the welterweight title for nearly five years before stepping away from the MMA competition. He returned in 2017 and won his first fight back at UFC 217 against Michael Bisping via submission (rear-naked choke).
Weight Class: Welterweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 26-2-0 (19 KO’s, one submission, and six decision victories)
Awards: 2006 Fighter Of The Year, 2007 Submission of the Year
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Welterweight Champion (2007-2013), Interim UFC Middleweight Champion (2017)
UFC Title Defenses: 9
Quote: “I’m not a martial artist. I’m a fighter.”
2. Jon Jones
“Bones” is known for his aggressive style of fighting which earned him an impressive record of 22-and-one, making him the youngest champion in UFC history. He has competed in some of the most high-profile bouts in the promotion’s history.
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Style: Wrestling
Career Record: 26-1-0 (1 NC) (10 KO’s, 6 submissions, and 10 by decision)
Awards: 2011 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year, 2012 Knockout of the Year
UFC Belts Achieved: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (2011-2015) (2018-2020)
UFC Title Defenses: 11
Quote: “When you have a goal in life, you just can’t stop until you achieve it. You find a way.”
1. Conor McGregor
“The Notorious One” has risen to become one of the most popular UFC fighters of all time. He is a former two-division champion, having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles from Jose Aldo Jr. at UFC 194 on December 12th, 2015 via knockout in just 13 seconds! You can’t get much more famous than that!
Weight Class: Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight
Style: Boxing
Career Record: 22-6-0 (19 KO’s) – 12 wins by KO, one submission, and two decision
Awards: 2015 Fighter Of The Year, 2016 Fight Of The Year (vs Nate Diaz)
UFC Belts Achieved: Featherweight Champion (2015-2016), Lightweight Champion (2016-2018)
UFC Title Defenses: 0
Quote: “Life is about growing and improving and getting better.”