There is no sport more physically and mentally demanding than MMA, which combines brutal intensity, endurance and immense skills in one stirring contest.
To be labeled great in the world of MMA is to receive certification not just of your skills but of your mental fortitude and durability. And to be in the conversation as potentially one of the greatest of all time is a rare honor.
There have been so many memorable MMA fighters in the history of the sport. However, only a select few have reached the status of being considered worthy of the GOAT label.
We’re talking about the caliber of fighter who can fill an arena, draw a global audience of tens of millions, and attract millions of dollars to the MMA betting markets ahead of a big fight.
Discussions of this nature are always controversial but are also hard to resist. So here is a suggested top five of all-time greatest MMA fighters to spark another debate among fight fans.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov was the UFC lightweight division champion for the longest time in the history of the organization. His exceptional grappling skills have helped him win numerous fights and establish his reputation as the best fighter in MMA history.
He not only had a history of winning all of his fights but of doing so in an utterly dominant manner. “The Eagle” retired with a perfect 29-fight win-loss record, which is a remarkable achievement in the ultra-competitive world of MMA. Along the way, he defeated Michael Johnson, Rafael dos Anjos and Conor McGregor, three of the sport’s most powerful powers.
Jon Jones
Jon “Bones” Jones holds the record for being the youngest UFC champion, claiming his first light heavyweight title at the age of just 23.
In fact, Jones is a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion who holds numerous records in the category, including the most title defenses, the longest winning streak, the most submission victories and the most victories.
Jones has 28 career fights under his belt, with 26 victories, one defeat and one no contest, with his lone loss being a contentious disqualification against Matt Hamill. Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort and Daniel Cormier are among his most notable opponents.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson was the inaugural UFC flyweight champion and will go down as one of the greats of MMA. Known for his quick striking and elusive movement, Johnson has landed the most takedowns in UFC flyweight history and co-holds the record for the latest finish in UFC history, with a submission win at 4:59 in the fifth round against Kyoji Horiguchi.
He is also the only UFC fighter to record over 10 takedowns in three different fights, and holds the record for most finishes in UFC flyweight history. Currently ranked number one in the ONE Championship flyweight rankings, he is also the ONE flyweight Grand Prix Champion.
Anderson Silva
Few fighters in MMA history have been as dominant as Anderson Silva. When Silva fought, he would totally crush his opponents. With a reign of 2,457 days, he held a title for the longest period in the UFC, during which time he registered an incredible 16 consecutive victories.
“The Spider” finished his MMA career with a total of 46 fights, 34 wins, 11 defeats and one no contest. He defeated some of the top fighters in the world, including Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson, thanks to some of the strongest counter-attacking skills ever seen in the sport. His fights were always compelling to watch and he will undoubtedly go down as one of the very best.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is known for displaying some of the most amazing all-round abilities of any MMA fighter in the history of the sport. He has a strong case for being considered the best fighter ever to participate in MMA, and has claimed UFC championships in the welterweight and the middleweight categories.
Matt Hughes, Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and BJ Penn have all fallen to St-Pierre over the years, and for much of his career, he was ranked as the world’s number one welterweight.
He retired from the sport in 2013 with an impressive record that included the most title wins and the second-longest cumulative title streak in the UFC. Overall, he has 28 fights under his belt, with 26 victories and two losses, and many fans have argued that he is the greatest of all time.
