The 20 Greatest MMA Fighters You Must Know

Joining the pantheon of the greatest MMA fighters of all time is no mean feat. These warriors have dedicated their lives to mixed martial arts, embarking on individual journeys toward immortality. There has been much blood, sweat, and tears poured – there has also been unquantifiable glory enjoyed.

Today, Evolve Daily has narrowed down the 20 greatest MMA fighters you must know. From legends of the UFC and Pride to the most honorable warriors of ONE Championship and Bellator, studying the stories of these fighters comes highly recommended.

1) Georges St-Pierre

When all is said and done, Georges “Rush” St-Pierre is probably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. The Canadian’s fighting style was ultra-cerebral, with firm foundational wrestling and creative striking skills. St-Pierre was the consummate professional, inspiring legions of young fighters to follow him into the sport.

St-Pierre is a two-time UFC Welterweight Champion as well as a Middleweight title holder in the promotion. Known to fans as “GSP,” the hall-of-fame athlete continues to contribute to combat sports. He has appeared in multiple seminars at Evolve MMA, sharing his skills and combat nous with fans and budding fighters. Put simply, St-Pierre is one of the greatest MMA fighters you must know.

2) Jon Jones

Jon “Bones” Jones changed mixed martial arts when he beat Mauricio Rua to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Title in 2011. A native of Rochester, New York, Jones first learned his striking skills from watching YouTube videos. Lauded as the “Muhammad Ali” of MMA in his early career, Jones cut through every opponent put in his path in ways never before seen.

Jones’ extraordinary athleticism, diverse skillset, and ability to win remain unparalleled in the sport. Although celebrated for his endeavors inside the Octagon, Jones remains a controversial figure outside of the fight game. But few can deny his place in the pantheon of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

3) Anderson Silva

Brazil’s Silva exhibited some of the greatest MMA striking of all time in his storied UFC career. Known to fans as “The Spider,” the former UFC Middleweight champion set a dominant record of 2,457 days as king of the 185-pound division. 

Silva’s Muay Thai striking was a joy to behold. His highlight reel features some of the most eye-catching knockouts and stoppages in the history of the sport, such as his front-kick KO of Victor Belfort at UFC 126. An extraordinary presence inside the cage, Silva is often discussed alongside St-Pierre and Jones as MMA’s greatest of all time.

4) Demetrious Johnson

ONE Championship’s Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is the greatest MMA flyweight of all time and one of the best fighters to have ever taken up the sport. The American holds the record for the most UFC title defenses at 11, which stands alongside a plethora of other impressive records.

Johnson moved to ONE Championship in 2018, testing his mettle against the very best in Asian MMA. He lost his first title shot by knockout to Adriano Moraes in 2021, before stopping his rival in the rematch to add the ONE Flyweight Championship to his trophy cabinet. That trilogy goes down as one of the greatest MMA rivalries in history. 

5) Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov was one of the most dominant fighters in the history of MMA. The Dagestani was relentless in his pursuit of greatness, carving out an impressive career in the UFC that saw him boss the 155-pound division.

The elite wrestling skills and grappling-heavy style of Khabib Nurmagomedov made for some of the most brutal one-sided beatdowns in the sport. Although he lost just two rounds in a 29-0 career, he is mostly remembered for his lightweight rivalry with Conor McGregor. A fight that shattered the Irishman’s aura in the most brutal way possible.

6) Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emilanenko is one of MMA’s greatest fighters of all time. A former Pride heavyweight champion, “The Last Emperor” was a power punching machine with an impressive ground game.  A four-time world combat sambo champion, the Russian is often cited as one of the early pioneers of modern mixed martial arts.

Emilianenko’s career inside the cage spans an incredible 23 years. He has fought in multiple promotions including Strikeforce, Alliction, M-1 Global, and Bellator. A pure legend of MMA, Fedor is widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist to have never appeared in the UFC.

7) Royce Gracie

Without the contributions of the legendary Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family, the UFC would have never taken place. Royce was nominated by his family to prove to the world just how effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be against any other discipline. At UFC 1, Gracie beat every opponent in front of him in what is considered the genesis of the sport.

Royce Gracie also claimed the UFC 2 and UFC 4 tournament titles, becoming the first and last fighter to have achieved this feat. Following an exceptional career in the promotion, Gracie fought under the Pride, K1, and Bellator banners. The UFC Hall of Famer is one of the most important MMA fighters of all time – he is also credited with sparking the BJJ boom of the late 1990s and 2000s.

8) Jose Aldo

The inaugural UFC Featherweight Champion, Jose Aldo goes down as one of the greatest MMA fighters you must know. The Brazilian compiled a stellar career inside the cage, enjoying a ten-year unbeaten run in the sport before being knocked out by Conor McGregor at UFC 194 in 2015.

Aldo was highly regarded for his incredible Muay Thai striking. The former WEC champion exhibited some of the most devastating knee striking, as well as slick boxing chops. Aldo is a BJJ blackbelt and was regarded as one of the best all-around fighters ever seen inside the cage. He came agonizingly close to adding a UFC Bantamweight title to his collection of belts before eventually retiring in 2022.

9) Amanda Nunes

Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes is one of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history. She held two UFC titles simultaneously, both in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.

Unlike other athletes on this list of the greatest MMA fighters you must know, Amanda Nunes wasn’t an instant success. In fact, the Brazilian legend only found her groove in 2016 when she “upset” Miesha Tate at UFC 200 to win the 135-pound strap. It would be a title Nunes would hold for the best part of seven years.

Nunes holds victories over all of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time – the likes of Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie, Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey, and others have failed to overcome her challenge. However, it was Nunes’ career-defining win over Cris Cyborg in 2018 that earned her the UFC Featherweight Championship – as well as the mantle of the greatest women’s fighter of all time – that most fans remember. 

10) Matt Hughes

Hughes is a bona fide UFC Hall of Fame fighter who has contributed hugely to the sport. A multiple-time UFC Welterweight Champion, Hughes’ battles with the great Georges St-Pierre rank among the greatest fights in MMA history. 

An NCAA Division I Wrestling champion, Hughes’ dominance in close quarters made him one of the most feared athletes of his time. The American was also one of the most popular fighters in the sport in the mid-2000s, although his presence extends far beyond his prime. A fighter in the truest sense, Hughes survived a serious collision with a train in 2017.

11) Daniel Cormier

As the main rival of the once beloved Jon Jones, Cormier had his work cut out winning over the UFC faithful. But despite his achievements in other MMA promotions like Strikeforce, he was something of an outcast, often playing second fiddle to “Bones.” But “DC” would end his career with the last laugh, becoming champion of the promotion’s light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Cormier has beaten some of the biggest names in MMA, such as Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, and Anthony Johnson. He stepped into a broadcaster role with the UFC upon his retirement in 2020, sharing his expert insight and bright personality with new and experienced fans of the sport.

12) Israel Adesanya

Adesanya is one of the greatest MMA strikers of all time. A former kickboxer, “The Last Stylebender” made a seamless transition from the ring to the cage. The Nigerian-born New Zealander took out all before him to win the UFC Middleweight title in 2019. 

Touted as the next Anderson Silva by the mixed martial arts public, Adesanya forged a unique career that separated him from the Brazilian great. A loss to Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title bid – in addition to his iconic battles against Alex Pereira – saw his aura shattered. But his insane skills inside the cage continue to inspire MMA beginners in their journeys in the sport.

13) Adriano Moraes

Moraes is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time to have built their greatness outside of the UFC. Having fought on the regional scene in his home country of Brazil, Moraes made his ONE Championship debut in 2013. A loss to Yusup Saadulaev in a bantamweight fight may have led some to erroneously write off the submission grappling expert.

Less than one year later, the Brazilian beat Geje Eustaquio to win the inaugural ONE Championship Flyweight Title. A belt that would remain around his waist until he lost it to Kairat Akhmetov one year later. Moraes would win the title back in their rematch, before losing it and regaining it once more. However, his iconic trilogy with Demetrious Johnson is what global MMA fans will remember “Mikinho” for.

14) Conor McGregor

Few fighters are as synonymous with MMA as “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. The brash Dubliner arrived in the UFC in 2013, taking out opponent after opponent with incredible power and panache. He became the first ever UFC athlete to hold two titles in separate weight classes and is widely regarded for pushing MMA into the mainstream.

McGregor’s ability to pick the rounds he would end fights earned him the moniker “Mystic Mac,” as well as boatloads of cash. His adoring fans drove an increase in pay-per-view numbers and fight revenue – something that contributed to the former Cage Warriors double champ being marketed into a global icon.

Psychological warfare and legendary wit helped McGregor to dizzying heights. But a drop in form and results following a loss to Floyd Mayweather in a megabucks crossover fight in 2017 saw his star fade.

15) Randy Couture

Randy “The Natural” Couture held titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions of the UFC. In total, his three heavyweight and two light heavyweight title wins – in addition to an interim light heavyweight title victory – speak volumes for his abilities. While the American may not have been the flashiest fighter of all time, his hard work and adaptability made him a force to be reckoned with. 

Couture, a UFC Hall of Famer, was an accomplished wrestler with excellent striking. Both helped the former US Army Sergeant and former Olympic alternative to title wins despite being aged over 40. A true legend of the sport, Couture has one of the greatest MMA careers of all time.

16) Cris Cyborg

Cyborg is one of the most feared fighters in MMA history. The Brazilian has been one of the most consistent battering rams in the history of the sport, holding titles in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and Invicta. As of the time of writing, the only major promotion she has yet to win a title in is ONE Championship.

Frequently styled as the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time before her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232, Cyborg is still a major force. The featherweight icon may have avenged that defeat if not for a feud with UFC President Dana White. But with a record as rich with great fighters as hers, Cyborg’s legendary status is secured without it.

17) Shinya Aoki

Japan’s Shinya Aoki is one of the true legends of MMA. A former two-time ONE Championship Lightweight Champion, “Tobikan Judan” has a unique style blending multiple disciplines including BJJ, Shootfighting, Muay Thai, Judo, and BJJ (in which he holds a black belt).

At the time of writing, Aoki holds a staggering 30 submission wins from 47 victories. A ONE Championship legend, this warrior has also appeared in promotions like Pride, Bellator, and DREAM. As perhaps the greatest Japanese mixed martial artist of all time, Aoki’s place in the pantheon of greats is secured.

18) Henry Cejudo

A former UFC and WEC standout, Cejudo is one of the best MMA fighters you should know about. A former Olympic gold medalist, the Mexican-American is also one of a few fighters to have won titles in separate UFC weight classes. Those flyweight and bantamweight titles prove just how merciless he was when the cage door closed.

Naturally, Cejudo’s world-class wrestling made him a nightmare opponent for most. But toward the latter stages of his career, his boxing and overall striking nous improved immeasurably. Stoppage wins over T.J. Dillashaw, Marlon Moraes, and Dominic Cruz cemented “The Messenger” as a true legend of the cage. 

19) Wanderlei Silva

Few fighters in the history of MMA could muster up the brutality of Wanderlei Silva. The “Axe Murderer” enjoyed a career spanning 24 years, stretching from promotions like Pride and Strikeforce to the UFC and Bellator. He retired with multiple titles and one of the most fascinating resumes of all time.

Silva’s vicious Muay Thai elbows and knees became a trademark of his game. A black prajiad of the sport, he also held a BJJ blackbelt. However, his 27 knockouts compared to just one submission prove that Wanderlei’s true love was striking. His heart and relentless nature ensure he will long be remembered among the greatest MMA fighters to learn about.

20) Angela Lee

“Unstoppable” Angela Lee is one of the most inspirational MMA fighters of all time. Born in Canada, the Singaporean fighter caught the attention of the world in 2015 at ONE: Warrior’s Quest, beating Aya Saber aged just 18. In May 2016, she overcame Mei Yamaguchi to become the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Champion – this made her the youngest champion of any major promotion in history.

In truth, Angela Lee became one of the biggest stars of mixed martial arts before turning 20. She went 9-0 before losing to Xiong Jing Nan in 2019, which was the first of two back-to-back losses. Lee’s drive and determination saw her put two wins together before losing to Xiong again in the final fight of their trilogy.

Angela is the sister of ONE Championship lightweight and welterweight champion, Christian. Victoria, her younger sister, tragically passed away in 2022 aged just 18. Deciding to retire in 2023, Angela now focuses on her nonprofit, Fightstory, in honor of Victoria.   

Greatest MMA Fighters You Must Know – Honorable Mentions

Studying the greatness achieved by other mixed martial artists can help with becoming a more well-rounded warrior. While the following names just missed out in making our list of the greatest MMA fighters you should know about, they are deserving of a mention.

• Max Holloway
• Stipe Miocic
• Dan Henderson
• Kazushi Sakuraba
• Mirko Cro Cop
• Ronda Rousey
• Dominic Cruz
• Rafael Dos Anjos
• Donald Cerrone
• Lyoto Machida
• Rich Franklin

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