Ranker

Anime Underground

Button Mash

Graveyard Shift

Total Nerd

Unspeakable Times

Weird History

Weird Nature

Weirdly Interesting

Sports

Music

Entertainment

Living

Culture

Food

Makeup

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Watchworthy

HBO Max

Lists about fighters who compete in mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Combat Sports

Back in the early days of MMA when weight classes didn&rsquo;t exist, it was the big, towering guys that drew the most attention. Now, even with several smaller weight classes, heavyweights are more exciting than ever. It&rsquo;s a common misconception that heavyweights are slow and dopey. Don&rsquo;t let their size fool you - the best heavyweights have&nbsp;as much martial arts skills as they have size.&nbsp;

Some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/quickest-ufc-knockouts-of-all-time/kipp-tribble">quickest knockouts in the UFC</a> were by heavyweights. These colossal athletes have heavy but quick hands, packing well over 200 lbs behind each punch. Their knockout power is unmatched.

And don&rsquo;t underestimate their ground game - you definitely don&rsquo;t want one of these guys trying to submit you. Just imagine arms with biceps the size of your head putting you in a choke hold. Heavyweights use their size to their advantage&nbsp;and have some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/quickest-ufc-submissions-of-all-time/kipp-tribble">quickest submissions in the UFC</a>.&nbsp;

The heavyweight division has its share of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/mma-legends">legendary MMA fighters</a>. From some of the most beloved pioneers to the most reviled villains of the sport, fans love watching these giants go at it, waiting for that next big knockout. Because the bigger they are, the harder they fall (and punch, kick,&nbsp;knee, and elbow). Check out this power rankings list and vote up the best heavyweight mixed martial arts fighters. Then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-retired-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best retired fighters in UFC history</a>.

Georges St-Pierre

The greatest MMA legends of all time are all here on this list. Some of the best MMA fighters have come up from nothing more than street scrappers to become the best fighters in the world. With intense training and tremendous mental and physical focus, these famous men have earned the title of greatest MMA legend.

Some of the men on the list of the top MMA legends are new to the sport and have come up through the UFC organization, while others can be considered MMA pioneers. Some, like Chuck Liddell, have become pop culture icons and UFC legends while a fighter like Royce Gracie is considered to be one the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/toughest-professional-fighters-in-history?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">toughest MMA fighters</a> to have entered the octagon. All these factors- the toughest MMA fighter, the best grappler in the MMA, the best conditioned MMA fighter- come together to determine what makes the best MMA fighter and who can truly be called the greatest MMA legend of all time.

Who are the greatest MMA fighters of all time? Who are the top MMA legends? What MMA fighter is the best of all time? These are the questions we seek to answer with this votable list of the greatest MMA legends ever, ranked by MMA &amp; UFC fans like you. If your favorite MMA fighter isn&#39;t on the list, make sure to add him so he can do battle with other MMA athletes as they slug it out for the top spot and title of best MMA fighter ever.

For fighters who stuck to UFC, head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-retired-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best retired UFC fighters</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oldest-current-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">oldest fighters in UFC</a> right now.

The list of retired MMA fighters features&nbsp;some of the all-time great performers in the sport. Many active fighters are hoping to rise in the all-time great rankings, but we already know the entire story of these careers that ended. This is a look at the top names to leave the mixed martial arts world after having strong careers to see just which names stand out the most.&nbsp;

Top icons like Ronda Rousey, Randy Couture, and Quinton &ldquo;Rampage&rdquo; Jackson have seen the end of their time inside of the octagon. The retired UFC fighters have the best argument, but there are also some relevant names to have international success in other promotions.&nbsp;

Which of these retired MMA fighters deserves to have the most respected legacy in retirement? Vote up&nbsp;the best fighters and check back to see just which retired MMA stars have the most respect for their careers.

The top female MMA fighters are some of the best athletes in the sport who make their living attempting to crush their opponents into submission. While fighting isn&#39;t traditionally considered a woman&#39;s sport, there is no doubt that a female MMA champion could hold her own in the ring - even if she was pitted against a man. This list seeks to determine who <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-voice-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best female</a> MMA fighters are and rank them from best to worst.

These women of MMA fighting are as tough as they are hard-working, and it&#39;s no surprise that female MMA fighters who work out and train for a living would look knock-out gorgeous outside of the ring, so it shouldn&#39;t be any surprise either that some of the top MMA girl fighters are also some of the hottest female athletes in America and the rest of the world. Mixed martial arts is no joke - these women are ripped!

Who are the best female MMA fighters in the world? This list of the top MMA fighters who are women seeks to answer that question and rank the greatest female MMA fighters from best to worst based on the votes of MMA fans like you. Your votes shape the list - and remember, you are voting on the fighting skills of these famous women, not which one you like the best. Don&#39;t see the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-retired-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">MMA fighters names</a> you expected? Well, if your favorite female fighter is missing from the list, make sure to add her so she can vie for the top spot. When you&#39;re done, head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-female-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best current UFC women fighters</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oldest-current-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">oldest fighters in the octagon</a>.

The biggest UFC payday is a goal every MMA fighter hopes to achieve. UFC is clearly the biggest MMA promotion in the world that has continued&nbsp;to grow and find new success in 2019. Names like Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, and Jon Jones have made a huge impact on culture with their impact in the MMA and Bellator&nbsp;world and they have been part of the biggest UFC fight night payouts in history.

Only a select few fighters have earned their way toward the top tier of earnings per fight. Certain fights with bigger drawing appeals have led to fighters making more money. The UFC purses are a combination of the salary for the fight along with potential bonuses from UFC or endorsement brands.&nbsp;

If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered, &ldquo;How much money do UFC fighters make?&rdquo;&nbsp;this is the list for you. The top fighters will be featured here along with the earnings for the show and other relevant information. Find out just who tops the list with the top 20 UFC paydays of all-time.

Wrestling

The UFC has given us some thrilling fights. Whether it's the under card or the main card, you can always settle in for an entertaining battle when two fighters step into the Octagon. These are the fastest submission victories in UFC history.While some fighters are striking specialists, everyone knows that to survive in the UFC, you have to be a well-rounded MMA fighter and handle yourself when the fight is taken to the ground. Submit or be submitted when it comes to UFC ultimate submissions, and those submissions can seemingly come out of nowhere. Everyone has a plan until their arm is about to be yanked out of its socket. We've already shown you <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/quickest-ufc-knockouts-of-all-time/kipp-tribble">the quickest knockouts in UFC history</a>, and there are some equally quick submissions. So we're now counting down the quickest and best submissions in UFC history... the quickest submissions of all time.

Weighing in at 155 pounds, here are the best UFC lightweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally skinny, agile, and deadly strikers. With so many great lightweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in UFC, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for UFC lightweights. Who is the best UFC lightweight fighter now?&nbsp;When it comes to the best current UFC lightweights, fighters like Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, &nbsp;Dustin Poirier, and current UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable UFC lightweights include Sage Northcutt, Clay Guida, and Ross Pearson.&nbsp;Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best lightweights in the UFC. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;UFC lightweights missing from this list and vote down the lightweight fighters who are currently underperforming.&nbsp;

Martial Arts

Weighing in at 155 pounds, here are the best MMA lightweights currently fighting today. With so many great lightweight mixed martial artists, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for MMA lightweights. Who is the best MMA lightweight fighter now?&nbsp;When it comes to the best current MMA lightweights, fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Nate Diaz, Eddie Alvarez&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;current UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor&nbsp;and current Bellator&nbsp;Lightweight Champion Brent Primus&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable MMA lightweights include Benson Henderson, Kevin Lee, and Tony Ferguson.&nbsp;Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best lightweights in the MMA. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;MMA lightweights missing from this list and vote down the lightweight fighters who are currently underperforming.&nbsp;

The best UFC fighters right now all have dreams of being considered the best overall MMA fighter in the world. It is hard to compare fighters of different weight classes and divisions, but some talents just stand out above the rest, top lightweight UFC fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and a light heavyweight like Jon Jones clearly among the best in the sport.

All of the top current UFC fighters active right now with an impressive record and maybe a belt or two in the bag are featured below.&nbsp;The most popular UFC fighters of 2020 include famous&nbsp;names like Stipe Miocic, Henry Cejudo,&nbsp;and Conor McGregor, who all stand up well against the rising stars of the MMA world.

So check out the list of the best current UFC fighters, and vote up for the best to help decide&nbsp;just which of these famous fighters currently rules the octagon.

Derrick Lewis

Weighing in at 265 pounds, here are the best UFC heavyweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally built like tanks, standing over six feet, and pack immense power in their punches. With so many great heavyweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in UFC, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for UFC heavyweights. Who is the best UFC heavyweight fighter now?&nbsp;

When it comes to the best current UFC heavyweights, fighters like Junior Dos Santos, Frank Mir, Stefan Struve, and current UFC Heavyweight Champion&nbsp;Stipe Miocic&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable UFC heavyweights include Cain Velasquez, Mark Hunt, and Fabricio Werdum.&nbsp;

Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best heavyweights in the UFC. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;UFC heavyweights missing from this list and vote down the heavyweight fighters who are currently underperforming. When you&#39;re done head over and check out some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-left-handed-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best southpaw fighters</a> in UFC history.

Size matters in sports, and the tallest UFC fighters competing right now are evidence of that fact. Every fighter over 6-foot-4 competing in the octagon right now has an advantage over his opponents, with height and reach being major factors in any matchup.

Heavyweight Russian fighter Alexander Volkov has found success with his karate and kickboxing styles while competing at 6-foot-7, as one of the three tallest current UFC fighters. Other fighters like Maurice Greene and Daniel Spitz also clock in at 6-foot-7. But fighters like Alistair Overeem and Cyril Gane are not far behind at 6-foot-5 and are making the most of their size in the octagon.

But who is the best fighter coming in with a major height advantage over his opponents? Who is using his size to the best effect in the octagon? Which tall fighters competing in the UFC in 2019 are having the greatest success?

The battle for the spot as the &nbsp;best female UFC fighter features the&nbsp;women across all divisions hoping to prove their greatness. Ronda Rousey&rsquo;s success helped usher in a new era for girls and women in the sport, but her departure from the mixed martial arts world has seen many new candidates step up for the top spot in the women&rsquo;s division. Incredible talents like Amanda Nunes, Jessica Andrade, and Cris Cyborg are hoping to prove they are each the true best female MMA fighter.&nbsp;

All the top UFC women will be featured here as we look to compare the stars of each weight class and fighting style. The level of competition has as many great female athletes as any time in UFC history.

So&nbsp;which of these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-female-mma-fighters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">female MMA fighters</a> is the best of the bunch? Vote up for your favorite fighters as we aim to find the overall top female fighter in the UFC today!

The most ridiculous UFC fighter nicknames use terms like &quot;Twinkle Toes,&quot; the &quot;Monstah Lobstah&quot; and &quot;The Barn Cat&quot; to describe grown men who make a living from mixed martial arts. These cheesy nicknames for the men of the Ultimate Fighting Championship not only sound incredibly silly but some are the least fierce ways to describe men who could rip your head off before you get done uttering their ridiculous nickname.It's easy to pick a nickname for a UFC fighter using a play on words with their name, but that does not make the nickname especially awesome. Take &quot;Minecraft,&quot; Christian Morecraft, &quot;Pee-Wee,&quot; Dave Herman, &quot;Darth,&quot; Ryan Bader and &quot;H20Man&quot; Ron Waterman for example. Sure the nicknames make sense with the fighters' names, but they are still on the cheesy side.Other UFC nicknames straddle the fence between straight up weird and just plain lame. Kristian Rothaermel, aka &quot;The Weather Underground,&quot; Marcus Davis, aka &quot;The Irish Hand Grenade,&quot; Elvis Sinosic, aka &quot;The King of Rock N Rumble&quot; and even Tito Ortiz, aka &quot;The Huntington Beach Bad Boy&quot; fall into that category.Anyone who watches UFC or other MMA competitions will tell you that these are some of the toughest athletes in all of sports. That however would be the last thing you'd think of simply by hearing their sissy nicknames like &quot;Mr. Wonderful,&quot; &quot;The Janitor&quot; and &quot;JLau.&quot; Go figure.What are the best UFC nicknames? Take a look here and see what are the best of the lot.

The best UFC southpaws have included some of the all-time great fighters in mixed martial arts history. Most sports have a hit list of talented left-handed athletes who prove <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/left-handed-problems-photos/ashley-reign?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">being a lefty</a> is not a disadvantage. Some of the top UFC southpaws include all-time greats like Anderson Silva, Conor McGregor, and Lyota Machida.&nbsp;

All the incredible fighters to develop the reputation as strong southpaws have could be&nbsp;considered among&nbsp;the best in UFC history. The best southpaw UFC fighters will be featured along with their fighting styles and weight classes.&nbsp;

So which UFC southpaw fighters stand out above the others. Which of them deserves to have the rank the highest based on the&nbsp;overall body of work? Vote up the best southpaw UFC fighters when comparing them against each other to figure out who is the top overall choice!

The oldest current UFC fighters are battling more than their opponents every time they step into the octagon. They are battling time and the ravages of aging. They are doing their best to stay fit, stay strong, and stay healthy, all in an effort to stay in the game.

If it feels like fighters such as Anderson Silva and CM Punk have been around forever, that&#39;s because they have been. Silva started his UFC career in 2006, and that was after spending a decade on the kickboxing and MMA circuits. All of these fighters, from Marion Reneau to Nathan Coy, have shown the discipline and reslienece necessary to compete at the highest level well past the time most fighters have stepped out of the octagon for good.

So who are the best fighters over 40, the older fighters who have managed to carry their careers into 2019 and beyond? Vote below for the best current elderstatemen (and women) in the UFC, then head over and check out some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/mma-legends" target="_blank">best MMA competitors of all time</a>.

Weighing in at 125 pounds, here are the best UFC flyweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally short and small, but dangerously quick and agile.&nbsp;With so many great flyweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in UFC, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for UFC flyweights. Who is the best UFC flyweight fighter now?&nbsp;

When it comes to the best current UFC flyweights, fighters like Joseph Benavidez, Sergio Pettis, Jussier Formiga, and current UFC Flyweight Champion&nbsp;Demetrious Johnson&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable UFC flyweights include John Moraga, Dustin Ortiz, and Louis Smolka.&nbsp;

Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best flyweights in the UFC. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;UFC flyweights missing from this list and vote down the flyweight fighters who are currently underperforming. When you&#39;re done, head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-black-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best black fighters in UFC history</a>.

Weighing in at 265 pounds, here are the best Bellator heavyweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally built like tanks, standing over six feet, and pack immense power in their punches. With so many great heavyweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in Bellator, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for Bellator heavyweights. Who is the best Bellator heavyweight fighter now?&nbsp;When it comes to the best current Bellator heavyweights, fighters like Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione, and Ken Shamrock&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable Bellator heavyweights include Fedor Emelianenko, Joey Beltran, and Dan Charles.&nbsp;Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best heavyweights in the Bellator. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;Bellator heavyweights missing from this list and vote down the heavyweight fighters who are currently underperforming.&nbsp;

Weighing in at 185&nbsp;pounds, here are the best UFC middleweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally known to be some of the best all around fighters in UFC.&nbsp;With so many great middleweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in UFC, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for UFC middleweights. Who is the best UFC middleweight fighter now?&nbsp;

When it comes to the best current UFC middleweights, fighters like Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, Anderson Silva, and current UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable UFC middleweights include Rashad Evans, Johny Hendricks, and Luke Rockhold.&nbsp;

Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best middleweights in the UFC. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;UFC middleweights missing from this list and vote down the middleweight fighters who are currently underperforming. When you&#39;re done, head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-left-handed-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best lefty fighters in the UFC</a>.

Weighing in at 145 pounds, here are the best UFC featherweights currently fighting today. Fighters in this weight class are generally small, lean, and deadly quick.&nbsp;With so many great featherweight mixed martial artists&nbsp;in UFC, MMA fans have the chance to vote on current rankings for UFC featherweights. Who is the best UFC featherweight fighter now?&nbsp;

When it comes to the best current UFC featherweights, fighters like Frankie Edgar, BJ&nbsp;Penn, Jose Aldo, and current UFC featherweight Champion Max Holloway&nbsp;are ranked high. Other notable UFC featherweights include Chad Mendes, Cub Swanson, and Renan Barao.&nbsp;

Vote for the fighters you think are currently the best featherweights in the UFC. Feel free to add any top&nbsp;UFC featherweights missing from this list and vote down the featherweight fighters who are currently underperforming. When you&#39;re done, head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-female-ufc-fighters/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best women fighters in UFC</a> right now.

The fastest knockout in UFC history is a record every MMA fighter would love to have on their resume. Even the submission specialists sometimes prefer going for a knockout victory. There is no other result that can provide that level of dominance from a fast win.&nbsp;

UFC&rsquo;s record for the fastest knockout is currently 5 seconds by Jorge Masvidal against Ben Askren, a fight that went down in 2019. There are quite a few fights to have finished via knockout in under 14 seconds, from flurries of punches to a flying knee. These stand out as the most decisive victories in UFC history. No amount of training or excuses can get past the memory of defeat in such a fast time.

All the best UFC knockouts to end a match in the blink of an eye will be featured here. They all have different levels of importance. Vote up for the ones that impress you the most. Only the fastest knockouts are shown, so choose the best of the best in UFC history.

Inside the Cage

pageType

dietAds_a

edit_update_annually

tier_1

tier_2

pushable

cb_inside-the-cage

srch

The greatest Russian MMA fighters have found success all over the world. Some fighters born in Russia achieved the ultimate goal of becoming top stars in the UFC, where the biggest platform is for MMA fighters. Others would make their name in other promotions like Bellator or Pride to have respected careers.&nbsp;

The legendary Fedor Emelianenko became a top tier name among mixed martial artists&nbsp;thanks to a strong career full of memorable moments. UFC fans have witnessed&nbsp;the dominance of&nbsp;Khabib Nurmagomedov after he destroyed Conor McGregor . Other fighters from Russia have a claim to the top spot as well all the top fighters&nbsp;listed.&nbsp;

So&nbsp;which of the best Russians in mixed martial arts&nbsp;deserve to have the top spot on the list? Vote up for your favorites to help decide the rankings. Only the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-brazilian-mma-fighters-of-all-time/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top MMA fighters</a> from Russia should rise to the top above the rest!

The Best Russian UFC Fighters Of All Time, Ranked By Fans

The Best UFC Fighters From Russia

Athlete

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

sports

Ranker Sports

Gender

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov is an Avar-Russian mixed martial artist. He is a multiple Combat Sambo World Champion and a Judo black belt who is currently fighting in the lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He currently holds one of the longest undefeated streaks in MMA with 22 straight wins. He is currently the No. 2 contender in the UFC Lightweight division and the #2 Lightweight in the world according to Sherdog and numerous other publications.

Alexey Oleinik

Oleg Taktarov

Oleg Nikolaevich Taktarov (Russian: Оле́г Никола́евич Такта́ров; born 26 August 1967) is a Russian actor and a  retired mixed martial artist of Mari origin. He is a practitioner of sambo and judo and has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships. He was the UFC 6 tournament winner and holds notable wins over Marco Ruas, Tank Abbott, Mark Kerr, and Anthony Macias.

Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski (Belarusian: Андрэй Валер'евіч Арлоўскі, Belarusian pronunciation: [anˈdrɛj vaˈlʲɛrɛvitʃ arˈlɔwski], born 4 February 1979) is a Belarusian mixed martial artist, actor and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has also competed for Strikeforce, WSOF, Affliction, EliteXC, ONE FC and M-1 Challenge. He currently fights in the UFC Heavyweight division.

The greatest Russian MMA fighters have found success all over the world. Some fighters born in Russia achieved the ultimate goal of becoming top stars in the ...