These men are as skilled as they are fierce!
The modest beginnings of mixed martial arts (MMA) have given way to a global phenomenon that embodies the spirit of unadulterated conflict. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other well-known mixed martial arts (MMA) outfits have propelled the sport into the public eye, upending even professional boxing's hegemony. These are the best mixed martial artists of all time as we go through the history of MMA.
His unblemished record strengthened Khabib Nurmagomedov's reputation as one of the best lightweight fighters in MMA history and devastating ground game. Prominent triumphs against highly skilled opponents like McGregor, Gaethje, Poirier, and Dos Anjos affirmed Khabib's place in the lightweight hierarchy. Khabib's legacy, which includes retiring unbeaten in his prime, has an eternal impact on the sport and MMA history.
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(Khabib vs. McGregor, one of the biggest fights in UFC history)
Conor McGregor is a real MMA legend thanks to his flashy appearance and brutal fighting style. The trash-talking skills and knockout power of McGregor, the first concurrent two-division champion in UFC history, have made a lasting impression. Outside of the ring, his boxing debut versus Floyd Mayweather demonstrated his attractiveness to a worldwide audience and established his place among the world's highest-paid sportsmen in 2021.
Jose Aldo's ascent to the position of UFC featherweight champion from World Extreme Cagefighting is evidence of his deadly Brazilian jiu-jitsu abilities. Aldo's supremacy, which included eight title defences and an 18-fight winning streak, helped to define a period. Even though Aldo lost to McGregor in 2015, his legend endured, and in 2022 he retired following a storied career.
Daniel Cormier was an imposing presence in Strikeforce and the UFC, where his grappling skills propelled him to the title of two-weight class champion. After losing back-to-back to Stipe Miocic, Cormier—the second fighter in UFC history to hold belts simultaneously. Cormier is a successful UFC analyst now, and his octagonal strategy is still relevant.
Athleticism is embodied by former Division I wrestler, baseball player, and Golden Gloves boxing champion Stipe Miocic. With four title defences under his belt and two UFC heavyweight championships under his belt, Miocic's triumphs against top opponents highlight his varied skill set. The way he balanced his combat career with his work as a firefighter paramedic shows his unshakeable commitment.
Although never appearing in the UFC, Fedor Emelianenko is still revered as a heavyweight. Emelianenko, a strong puncher with unrestrained ground-and-pound abilities, demonstrated his flexibility in Bellator, Strikeforce, and Pride. His absence from the UFC only serves to heighten the legend of this MMA legend.
There has never been a middleweight championship run as long as Anderson Silva's 2,457 days in the UFC. Silva is a master of striking, and his incredible 16-fight winning run and 10 triumphant middleweight championship defences cement his status as the greatest fighter in his class. Even if Silva had difficulties later in his career, the history of mixed martial arts will always honour his tenacity and unrelenting resolve.
Standing at just 5-foot-3 and weighing 125 pounds, Demetrious Johnson defies expectations with his exceptional wrestling skills and lightning-fast takedowns. As the UFC's inaugural flyweight champion, Johnson's unprecedented 11 title defences underline his dominance in the flyweight division. Now competing in the ONE Championship, Johnson's legacy remains on an upward trajectory, captivating fans with his remarkable talents.
While boxing and other sparring sports have an element of technique, MMA adds a thrill to that technique. That’s partly the reason the UFC became a global phenomenon pretty quickly.
