5 greatest UFC featherweights of all time

#2. Alexander Volkanovski

The reigning UFC featherweight champion is one of the most dominant fighters in the world. After Kamaru Usman's shocking loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, Alexander Volkanovski usurped 'The Nigerian Nightmare' as the #1 P4P fighter in the world.

At 26-1, Volkanovski is undefeated as a featherweight and has undergone considerable evolution as a mixed martial artist. Initially, he was a fighter who overwhelmed his foes with level changes and endless feints.

The threat of takedowns was paired with a high volume of strikes and feints, causing his opponents to retreat into defensive shells. Since his opponents were forced to react to a stream of constant activity, Volkanovski caused them to undergo a defensive overload.

If all one does is react, eventually one's actions will be under an opponent's complete control. However, 'The Great' continued to grow as a fighter, becoming one of the finest kickboxers in MMA.

Given the height disadvantage he often faces, Volkanovski uses a calf kick as a reliable counter to a taller foe's jab. Since a proper jab entails stepping forward while executing it, the extension of the jabber's stance overexposes their lead leg to low kicks.

Thus, Volkanovski counters his foes with calf kicks whenever they step forward to jab. This allows him to destabilize his opponent's stance from a safe distance.

It also creates openings for hard jab-right cross combinations in those seconds when his foe needs to reset their stance. Alternatively, 'The Great' intercepts an opponent's jab with his own, landing at the same time to interrupt their combinations.

This has worked to great effect as Volkanovski has defeated Chad Mendes, Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega, José Aldo, and Max Holloway three times while successfully defending his championship four times.

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#1. José Aldo

The greatest featherweight in UFC history and indeed MMA history is none other than José Aldo. Before his retirement from the sport, the Brazilian great stood the test of time by defeating multiple generations of the world's best fighters.

Aldo's greatness as a fighter earned him a record-setting seven consecutive title defenses as he defied the MMA conventions of every era he competed in. At a time when the 145 lbs weight class was overflowing with high-level wrestlers, Aldo stood tall.

With no formal background in wrestling, the Brazilian became the greatest defensive wrestler in MMA history. If an opponent dove for a double-leg takedown, Aldo immediately secured an overhook on one of their arms before turning sideways to feed them only one hip.

Upon doing so, 'Scarface' shoved their head down to his ankle as he hopped out of their grip to both defend the takedown and break away from the wrestling exchange.

Against a single-leg takedown, he'd do the same as half of his work was already done for him. Without the ability to wrestle him, no matter how much MMA wrestling evolved, opponents had no choice but to strike with him.

Aldo's low kicks were a thing of beauty, as was his defense against calf kicks, which countless fighters struggle with today.

The sheer breadth of Aldo's skills deserves an article of its own, but the foes he turned away are well-known. Urijah Faber, Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes twice, Frankie Edgar twice, Ricardo Lamas, Chan Sung Jung, Jeremy Stephens, and Renato Moicano are all on his list of featherweight conquests.

With wins over multiple generations, a constantly evolving game and seven title defenses, José Aldo stands alone as the greatest featherweight of all time.