The very first UFC fight dates back to 1993.
The first UFC tournament ever was won by Royce Gracie against Gerard Gordeau, and the rest is history.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has produced some of the finest fighters (peleadores grandes) on planet Earth – Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor, and more.
There has always been a heavy debate about these fighters being on the list of the greatest. Is Anderson Silva the greatest or Jon Jones? Well, my list of the greatest UFC fighters is following. You have full liberty to agree or disagree with what I had in my mind.
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Anyhow, let me walk you through that and throw some light on their achievements as UFC athletes.
Key Points
- Anderson Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history
- Khabib retired undefeated after defending his title four times
- George St-Pierre won titles in two divisions and defended his belt nine times
- Jon Jones became the youngest UFC champion and later won the heavyweight belt
- Legacy, fight styles, and dominance define the place of each fighter
- UFC remains a global force due to its legendary athletes and fierce rivalries
Anderson Silva
Source: nypost.com
The former Middleweight Champion of the world and one of the best fighters in UFC history, Anderson Silva was born in Brazil. He had one of the most dominant careers in the UFC.
The guy was scary (aterrador) in his prime and a knockout specialist. With crazy force coming through his firsts, with great movements in defense, he gave his opponents a run for their money.
His all-time record of 34 – 11 – 0 might not look all glittery but most of these losses came at the very end of his career. He had the longest title reign in UFC history with 2,457 days. He defended his middleweight title 10 times.
Since he has a background in boxing, he is considered one of the best strikers in UFC history. He is the best South American UFC fighter and certainly one of the best in UFC history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Source: bbc.com
People might disagree or even bash me for including Khabib in the list of greatest UFC fighters but barely losing even some rounds is a great feat only accomplished by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The story started in 2012 when the Russian fighter defeated Kamal Shalorus through submission in the 3rd round of the match and went on to defeat 28 others. He clinched the title of World Lightweight Champion and defended it four times before retiring after the death of his father and mentor, Abdul Manap Nurmagomedov.
His wrestling, grappling, and ground game were literally otherworldly (otro mundano). Nobody could stand a chance the moment he jumped on their lower bodies.
Although he had a great career, I still regret that we didn’t get to see Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib. Tony was a guy with great cardio and might have absorbed the pressure from Khabib because striking wasn’t his thing.
All in all, what Khabib did at UFC was fantastic and earned his spot.
George St-Pierre
Source: espn.in
The list would likely be incomplete if I skip including GSP. Not one of the greatest but arguably the greatest UFC fighters of all time was born in Canada and made his UFC debut in January of 2004.
He recorded 26 wins and two controversial defeats against Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. Later he got his revenge by defeating both in a redemption fight. He got his Welterweight Champion belt twice and Middleweight once. He defended his welterweight title nine times.
He retired but after four years, he returned to the Octagon and got that Middleweight Champion belt to be deemed the GOAT of the sport.
As for the game plan, the guy was different. Although it wasn’t the most pleasing to watch, he got the job done. He used to play to the strengths of his opponents and won the fights in his opponents’ style (that was courageous, I would say).
I think the only reason Jon Jones is majorly considered the greatest of all time is that he was pleasing to watch and the guy was a crowd-pleaser. Anyway, on to the next.
Jon Jones
Let us talk about him and how he defeated everyone he faced in that ring.
His story unfolded in 2008, and he became the youngest title champ (campeón del título más joven) in the history of UFC when he won the light heavyweight belt at the age of 23. Then he went on to defend his belt a crazy 12 times.
When there was nothing left for him in the light heavyweight category, Jon the Bonny Jones jumped up to the heavyweight division and clinched the heavyweight belt.
Recently, I watched his fight against another great fighter Stipe Miocic. Jon Jones dominated Stipe – he landed a spinning kick on Stipe’s ribs which made him unable to continue the game.
That was the legacy of Jon Jones. He has the most votes for the GOAT from the majority of MMA fans and it makes sense.
UFC is arguably the best fighting championship in the world. Dana White has done a great job of collecting talent from across the globe. I love it, and it deserves to be where it is now.
Head-to-head Comparison Table
| Fighter | Titles Won | Defenses | Style | Retired Undefeated |
| Anderson Silva | Middleweight | 10 | Striking, countering | No |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | Lightweight | 4 | Grappling, control | Yes |
| George St-Pierre | Welterweight, MW | 9 | Balanced, tactical | No |
| Jon Jones | Light HW, HW | 12 | Versatile, unorthodox | No |
The Ones Who Almost Made It
Some fighters nearly broke into GOAT territory but fell just short. They deserve mention.
- Daniel Cormier – Double champ with class, skill, and incredible IQ
- Jose Aldo – Featherweight king with dominant WEC and UFC run
- Stipe Miocic – Greatest UFC heavyweight champion with the most title defenses
- Israel Adesanya – Modern striker with a unique, unorthodox standup game
- Demetrious Johnson – Dominated flyweight with unreal grappling transitions
They missed top-tier spots due to timing, consistency, or the strength of division.
Final Takeaways for New Fans
Source: mmamania.com
MMA newcomers get overwhelmed by stats and records. Focus on three things.
- Who dominated their era? – Not just titles, but how they won
- What skills did they master? – Were they one-dimensional or well-rounded?
- Who beat top competition consistently? – Look beyond win streaks
Titles alone won’t tell the full story. Some fighters never won belts but gave champs hell.
FAQ – UFC GOATs and Greats
Q1: What does GOAT mean in UFC?
A: GOAT stands for “Greatest of All Time,” referring to the most dominant and impactful fighter.
Q2: Why didn’t Conor McGregor make this list?
A: Conor had major moments but lacked consistent title defenses and longevity in one division.
Q3: Can a fighter be the GOAT without multiple belts?
A: Yes, if they dominate their division with elite skill and long title reigns.
Q4: Is UFC the only MMA organization?
A: No, there are others like Bellator, ONE Championship, and PFL, but UFC has the largest platform.
Q5: Why do fans argue about GOAT rankings?
A: Because MMA mixes styles, eras, and rules, making greatness subjective based on what fans value.
