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The following list documents what I regard as the 7 greatest UFC fighters of all time from the company’s inception in 1993 to the present day.
I have considered the fighters’ UFC records only, not their wider Mixed Martial Arts results, which is why the likes of Wanderlei Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira do not appear on this list as their greatest successes came elsewhere, most notably in Pride Fighting Championships.
#7 Ronda Rousey (UFC record 6-2)
The current WWE superstar took UFC by storm when the company introduced its women’s division in 2012.
In Judo, Rousey won Olympic and World medals before making the jump to MMA and rising to prominence in the Strikeforce promotion before she became the first ever female fighter to be signed to a contract by UFC.
The first ever women’s match under the UFC banner took place on the 23rd February 2013, at UFC 157, in which Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche by submission after impressively escaping a standing neck crank.
Rousey’s next Bantamweight title defense took place at UFC 168 in December 2013 against her long-time rival Miesha Tate. Rousey survived numerous submission attempts by Tate before submitting her with an armbar in the third round.
From there, Rousey decimated her competition in increasingly impressive fashion, crushing Sara McMahon in 66 seconds at UFC 170, Alexis Davis in 16 seconds at UFC 175, Cat Zingano in 14 seconds at UFC 184 and Bethe Correira in 34 seconds at UFC 190. With the exception of Zingano who she submitted by armbar, the other fighters were defeated by devastating knockouts.
Rousey was regarded as unbeatable and after twelve straight MMA victories, it certainly appeared that way. However all good things must come to an end and Rousey was shockingly defeated by former boxer, Holly Holm by knockout. Holm had an answer for Rousey’s offense and displayed superior striking skills. Rousey was distraught by her loss and took a year away from the sport.
Unfortunately for Rousey, her much anticipated comeback on December 30th, 2016 also ended in defeat, versus Amanda Nunes. Rousey’s UFC career was at an end.
Despite the ignominy of her last two fights, Rousey was a pioneer for women in the sport and the first female figurehead for the UFC. She transcended the sport into the mainstream with movie and TV appearances. Rousey’s popular appeal led to her debuting with WWE in January 2018 where she has continued to impress as an athlete.
#6 Michael Bisping (UFC record 20-9)
The recently retired “Count” holds the joint record for most UFC victories with George St. Pierre at 20. Debuting in impressive style at UFC 66, on the 30th December 2006, the UK born Michael Bisping worked his way up the UFC ranks.
His first major disappointment in the Octagon came at UFC 100 when he was stopped by veteran Dan Henderson in a devastating knockout after he continually walked into Henderson’s right hand.
From there Bisping’s fortunes were mixed until he achieved a four-match winning streak in 2010-11 which put him in Championship contention.
After defeating perennial Middleweight contender, Anderson Silva, Bisping earned a Middleweight title fight at UFC 199 versus Champion Luke Rockhold after previous opponents Chris Weidham and Ronaldo Souza were forced to pull out.
Bisping made the most of the opportunity defeating Rockhold by first-round knockout in an upset.
As champion, Bisping avenged his loss to Henderson by unanimous decision, before he lined up to meet the returning George St. Pierre in a much-anticipated bout at UFC 217 where he relinquished his Middleweight Championship in an excellent match.
Three weeks later, Bisping lost again in a huge shock, losing by knockout to young up and comer, Kevin Gastelum.
After talk of a final retirement bout, preferably in England, the 39 year old, Bisping quietly retired on the 28th May 2018, feeling he had nothing left to prove. Bisping was right. His UFC record speaks for itself and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest, most entertaining characters ever in the sport as well as one of its best-ever strikers.
#5 Matt Hughes (UFC record 18-7)
The King of the Welterweight division, Matt Hughes dominated the best UFC had to offer for over a decade.
Debuting for the promotion in 1999, Hughes soon found himself in the Championship picture and he won his first Welterweight Championship versus Carlos Newton at UFC 34 in November 2001. That was Hughes’s first win of a six-fight UFC winning streak which was ended by BJ Penn at UFC 46 in an upset, where Hughes’s overconfidence found himself undone by a rear naked choke.
Hughes atoned for his loss, when he began another six-fight winning streak which encompassed a second Welterweight title win, this time opposite George St. Pierre and also saw him avenge his loss to Penn.
Hughes lost his second Welterweight title to GSP at UFC 65 and failed to recapture the belt in a rematch at UFC 79.
Hughes only fought a handful more times with mixed results, losing his final two matches against Penn and Josh Koscheck.
However, Hughes’s impact in his heyday can never be dismissed. He was a submission machine at his peak and the most dominant Welterweight of his era until his crown was taken by GSP.
#4 Royce Gracie (UFC record 11-1-1)
Royce Gracie began his UFC career way back at UFC 1 in November 1993. He defeated Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gourdeau en route to victory in the inaugural UFC tournament. Further victories followed in the tournaments at UFC 2 and UFC 4 as the Brazilian clocked up 11 consecutive victories in the promotion, becoming the first and only three-time UFC tournament winner.
At UFC 5, Gracie finally had his much-anticipated rematch with Shamrock. Although the contest was officially ruled a draw after 36 minutes of action, due to the lack of judges at the time, Gracie’s face told the story about who really won that fight.
Shamrock’s superior strength and striking skills had finally overcome the near impenetrable guard and Ju-Jitsu skills of Gracie.
That was Gracie’s final MMA fight for five years until he resurfaced in Pride FC in 2000. Gracie did not return to the UFC however, until the 27th May 2006 at UFC 60 in a non-title match with Welterweight Champion, Matt Hughes.
Gracie lost. It was his first and only defeat in the promotion. Gracie never returned to the UFC but his mark on the promotion was unmistakable. Gracie had defined what a martial artist should be and how important ground skills and submissions are. Which is why today all successful MMA fighters have a well-rounded striking and ground game.
Gracie’s influence will always be felt.
#3 Chuck Liddell (UFC record 16-7)
The “Iceman” left an indelible mark on the UFC and on many of his opponent’s faces.
Despite a background in collegiate wrestling and Ju-Jitsu, Liddell rarely puts those skills to the test in the UFC, preferring to stay on his feet and dominate opponents with his incredible striking ability.
It was Liddell’s fists of fire which led him to an incredible 14 knockout wins in the Light-Heavyweight division – a UFC record.
His list of KO victims reads like a who’s who of MMA legends such as Jeremy Horn, Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), Kevin Randleman and Renato Sobral.
Liddell’s star was such that he along with Couture and Ortiz re-popularised the sport of MMA to American audiences and worldwide, setting pay-per-view records in the process.
The most devastating striker to ever enter the Octagon will never be forgotten.
#2 Randy Couture (UFC record 16-8)
If Chuck Liddell is the greatest striker to ever enter the Octagon then “The Natural” Randy Couture has to be the greatest wrestler.
Atypically, Couture is one of the only martial artists to get better with age, winning three UFC titles after he turned 40 years old, continually developing and expanding his skills despite his advancing age.
Couture was the first man to win UFC Championships at two different weight classes and remains the only three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion in company history.
“Captain America” remains the most popular martial artist in UFC history as well as one of the most successful. Boasting an impressive sixteen victories over a who’s who of UFC Hall of Famers, such as Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman, Tito Ortiz and Maurice Smith, Couture’s mark on the company is unmistakeable. Only one man can claim to have surpassed Couture’s Octagon achievements.
#1 George St. Pierre (UFC record 20-2)
The greatest Welterweight in company history, Canadian, George St. Pierre or GSP, is also the greatest fighter in UFC history.
Debuting in the Octagon, at UFC 46, back in January 2004, GSP quickly worked his way up the ranks, earning a Welterweight Championship shot at Matt Hughes at UFC 50 on October 22nd that same year. Although GSP came up short on that occasion, he put Hughes on notice that he was a serious contender for that crown.
On the 18th November 2006, GSP finally defeated Hughes to take the Welterweight crown. From there, he shockingly lost the belt during his first defense to Matt Serra before reclaiming it in another bout with Hughes at UFC 79 in December 2007. GSP then defended that title an incredible 10 times, building up a winning streak of 12 consecutive victories before he announced an extended leave from the sport citing burnout, following victory over Johnny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013.
In February 2017, it was announced that GSP had signed a new multi-year deal with the UFC. His comeback began with a bang. In his first MMA fight in four years, he defeated Michael Bisping for the Middleweight Championship in a stunning bout which concluded when GSP submitted the Champion with a rear naked choke.
In doing so, he became only the fourth UFC fighter in history to win titles in different weight classes and also equaled Bisping’s UFC record of 20 victories in the promotion.
GSP vacated the belt soon afterward due to ulcerative colitis. However, when GSP returns, there is no telling what the greatest ever can further achieve when adding to his already considerable legacy.
