5 best karate fighters in the UFC

#4. Current UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson

UFC Fight Night: Thompson v Neal

One of the most prolific strikers in the history of the UFC, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson started learning Karate at age three. As a teenager, Thompson added kickboxing to his repertoire and began competing at just 15. Prodigiously talented, Thompson mixes the southpaw and side-out stances in the octagon to maximize his striking efficiency.

Despite having a relatively long 75-inch reach, Thompson has frequently used his Karate-based offense to keep opponents at bay with sharp jab kicks. Some have expressed concern at Thompson’s stance failing to adequately guard his head when charging into battle. Thompson himself has confirmed this purported flaw is by design.

For the fighters foolish enough to move in closer for a shot at Thompson’s skull, they get a lesson in footwork. ‘Wonderboy’ has frequently shown cat-like agility in his counterstrikes and turns, leading to devastating kicks for those who come in too close.

Well-regarded by fighters and fans alike, Thompson’s exceptional skills have kept him high in the UFC welterweight rankings for years. A win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 might be his ticket to a title fight with Kamaru Usman.

#3. Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo

UFC 249 Ferguson v Gaethje

When Henry Cejudo first arrived in the UFC, it was his wrestling that set him apart from the rest. Ferocious in his takedowns and masterful in his counter-wrestling, Cejudo’s grappling was enough to keep him on top until he met Demetrious Johnson.

‘Mighty Mouse’ was able to overcome Cejudo’s exceptional wrestling and land a series of match-ending knees and punches. With his flyweight title dreams crushed less than three minutes into round one, it was obvious Cejudo needed to retool. His reckless performance against Joseph Benavidez eight months later further exposed flaws in his limited game.

Cejudo took up Shotokan Karate to diversify his fighting style. Now sporting a wider, side-on stance and considerably more explosive striking, Cejudo demolished Wilson Reis at UFC 215. Cejudo never lost again during his brief but seminal run in the UFC. With Karate in his arsenal, Cejudo eventually won both the UFC flyweight and bantamweight titles before he retired in May 2020.