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MMA is no longer an infant sport. It has been around for decades, with the UFC being the sport's most visible and successful promotion, such that it has become synonymous with MMA. The sport as a whole has captured the imagination and attention of the combat sports world.
It was first sparked by a question revolving around what the best martial art is. Once fight fans realized that there was no such thing, that a fighting system that combines various arts that cover striking, wrestling, grappling, and ground-fighting is the true key to martial supremacy.
Thereafter, another question arose: who is the greatest fighter of all time? Throughout the years, countless candidates have emerged, with generational talents defining the sport with stylistic innovation, title reigns, and all-out dominance.
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#10. Khabib Nurmagomedov, MMA division: Lightweight
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. He has only ever lost two rounds, has never been cut or bruised in a fight, retired with an undefeated record of 29-0, equaling the UFC all-time lightweight title defense record of three.
Everybody knew what Nurmagomedov intended to do in the cage, but his patented brand of Dagestani wrestling was unstoppable. Moreover, his style changed the game, revolutionizing the use of the fence in cage wrestling, as well as grappling, with the use of wrist ties and leg-triangle.
His low place on the ranking is only because Nurmagomedov spent most of his career fighting lesser foes, with elite competition only being relevant toward the end.
#9. Ronda Rousey, MMA division: Women's bantamweight
Ronda Rousey is a pioneer of women's MMA, responsible for causing UFC CEO Dana White to change his mind about female fighters in the UFC. She became the first-ever women's champion in the promotion, maintaining a stranglehold on the bantamweight title in a manner never seen before.
During her reign, she finished every single foe who stood before her, doing so in a furious fashion reminiscent of Mike Tyson in his prime. She racked up six consecutive title defenses and became synonymous with the armbar, with which she finished her first 8 opponents.
Unbeaten in 12 fights, Rousey's reign came to an end at UFC 193, when she was knocked out by Holly Holm. Following that, she lost again, this time to Amanda Nunes, before retiring.
#8. Kamaru Usman, MMA division: Welterweight
UFC CEO Dana White hails Kamaru Usman as the greatest welterweight of all time. There is a reason for his decision to shower Usman with such acclaim. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' has beaten five different UFC champions, both undisputed and interim, and is also a former champion himself.
Usman authored five title defenses at welterweight, and currently holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the division's history, with 15 straight victories. Moreover, he also owns the record for the second-most consecutive wins at welterweight. He was a physical force in his prime, a juggernaut unlike any other.
#7. Demetrious Johnson, MMA division: Flyweight
According to UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, Demetrious Johnson may very well be the most complete fighter in MMA history. Frankly, it's an easy argument to make. 'Mighty Mouse' is a master at striking, wrestling, and grappling. He can knock out Adriano Moraes with one of the slickest combinations ever seen.
At the same time, he submitted Ray Borg with an inimitable move, suplexing him before switching to an armbar while his foe was in midair. That is to say nothing about his dominance as a fighter, having the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history, with 11, as well as the most flyweight wins in the promotion.
If that wasn't enough, Johnson went on to conquer ONE Championship's flyweight division, where he currently reigns as its champion.
#6. Amanda Nunes, MMA division: Women's bantamweight/featherweight
Amanda Nunes is the greatest women's fighter in MMA history, and it's not even close. She remains the only female two-division champion the UFC has ever seen, having reigned over both bantamweight and featherweight, amassing seven title defenses, with six at bantamweight, and two at featherweight.
The foundation of her greatness though, is in who she beat and how. Nunes was a nuclear force inside the octagon, annihilating everyone who stood in her path, beating as many as eight different UFC champions, including the only other women in GOAT contention: Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko.
#5. Fedor Emelianenko, MMA division: Heavyweight
Unfortunately, Fedor Emelianenko never fought in the UFC, owing to Dana White's disastrous attempt at signing. That, however, did not stop him from making his mark in the annals of history. Emelianenko reigned as heavyweight champion in MMA's then-premier promotion, PRIDE.
Emelianenko put Russian MMA on the map, authoring a 28-fight unbeaten streak. He has also beaten as many as seven UFC champions, undisputed and interim, and has scored victories over legends of the sport in Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, and Frank Mir.
#4. José Aldo, MMA division: Featherweight
To witness José Aldo in his prime was to witness true greatness. The Brazilian is perhaps still the greatest anti-wrestler in MMA history, and revolutionized the low-kicking game, teaching fighters not to telegraph their kicks by stepping in with them, but by turning his hips and kicking at the end of combinations.
Such was his mastery over low kicks that he had developed an airtight defense against calf kicks long before their popularization. His near-supernatural skills took him to UFC featherweight championship success, punctuated by seven consecutive title defenses: a record that remains unmatched in his division.
#3. Anderson Silva, MMA division: Middleweight
Few fighters embodied dominance, while dazzling fans quite like Anderson Silva did. In his prime, he was a magical striker that no one could touch. His performance against Forrest Griffin remains a Magnum Opus of striking as if he were a superhero fighting against lowly henchmen.
Yet, Griffin was one of several UFC champions to fall before Silva as the Brazilian helmed what is still the longest win streak in UFC history, with 16 straight wins and 10 consecutive title defenses. And he did it all while sniping fellow legends like Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson.
#2. Georges St-Pierre, MMA division: Welterweight/middleweight
Despite Dana White's recent claims, Georges St-Pierre is the greatest welterweight of all time. There's an argument for him as the very greatest fighter ever. As the UFC welterweight champion, he had nine consecutive title defenses, impressive win streaks, and more.
St-Pierre avenged every loss he has ever suffered, captured middleweight gold, defeated several generations of the world's best fighters, and defeated eight UFC champions, undisputed and interim, including all-time great fighters in B.J. Penn and Matt Hughes, who was regarded as the welterweight GOAT before him.
#1. Jon Jones, MMA division: Light heavyweight/heavyweight
Not enough can be said about Jon Jones as the GOAT. The only loss on his record was a disqualification in a fight he was dominating. He, like 'GSP,' has beaten several generations of the world's best fighters, and is a multi-division UFC champion, having reigned at both light heavyweight and heavyweight.
Check out Jon Jones' heavyweight triumph:
Jones holds the longest unbeaten streak in UFC history, having gone 19 fights without suffering a loss, has won more UFC title fights than anyone in the promotion's history, is the youngest UFC champion ever, and has beaten eight UFC champions, undisputed and interim, with a potential ninth such win on its way.
