There have been many great MMA fighters throughout the years but the question everyone makes is the same, who is the greatest MMA fighter of all time? Of course, it's not that simple to answer. But here, we'll try to rank the best 25.

For our ranking we considered different factors, including the fighters' competition, accomplishments, and how good they really were in their prime. Those with titles in multiple divisions and more fights under their belts also have the upper hand on this list.

Some fighters on the list may be well past their prime but we are mostly focused on the skill, wins, and competition when they were at their best. Let's go ahead and take a look at the top 25 greatest MMA fighters of all time!

25. Valentina Shevchenko

It's safe to say Valentina Shevchenko is the greatest female striker in the history of MMA. Shevchenko has a long history of winning world championships in Muay Thai as she has won 8 gold medals and one silver while representing both Kyrgyzstan and Peru.

Shevchenko has defeated the likes of Holly Holm, Julianna Pena, and Jessica Eye. She is intimidating and arguably the best female striker the MMA has ever seen. Unlike other fighters, she prefers to counter attack rathern than go for an aggresive style. When attacking, Shevchenko loves to use two-punch combinations.

24. Antonio Nogueira

Antonio Nogueira or "Big Nog" is one of the few fighters to be the Pride Heavyweight Fighting Champion and the Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC). Nogueira had some of the best grappling skills the division has ever seen and he took down some big names like Dan Henderson, Tim Sylvia, and Fabricio Werdum.

Nogueira came to the UFC from Pride and still managed to win a title which is very impressive.Big Nog retired with a record of 46 total fights, 34 wins, and 21 of those wins by submission which is no surprise to anybody because of how good his grappling skills were. Nogueira got inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame in July 2016.

Though he capitalized on his jiu-jitsu skills to make the difference, Nogueira has strengthened himself with different variations of submissions to beat his opponents. Besides, he also proved to be capable of taking hits without giving up.

23. Max Holloway

Max Holloway made a strong case to be part of this privileged list after putting on a show on countless occasions. One of the best strikers in MMA history, he took down some big-name opponents throughout his career.

Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Anthony Pettis, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar have all lost at least once to Holloway. Besides, he became the first American to win the UFC featherweight championship.

His striking skills earned him the nickname "Blessed," as he forged a reputation for being a ruthless fighter for his opponent. Additionally, his ability as a finisher has also drawn a lot of praise.

22. Robbie Lawler

"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler is one of the most aggressive fighters we have seen. Definitely of the most entertaining fighters to watch on this list Lawler really knew how to put on a show and is the only fighter to have won three "Fight of the Year" awards in a row. 

Lawler had some tough fights against the likes of Carlos Condit and Rory McDonald and his run as champion was excellent. Ruthless really is the perfect nickname for the fighter, whose knockout power made him an intimidating opponent. He stood out for his explosive hits and striking power.

21. Matt Hughes

Matt Hughes had some of the best techniques to knock his opponents and wrestle them into inevitable defeat. Hughes would get his opponents to the ground and it was almost a won fight by then because his ground game was at another level. Matt Hughes also has excellent submission skills and good power behind his punches which made him a man to fear.

Hughes has wins over some top level opponents like Sean Sherk, BJ Penn, and the one and only Georges St-Pierre. Hughes retired with a record of 54 total fights, 45 wins, and 9 losses. He had some next-level ground skills and unmatched sominance in the ring.

20. Eddie Alvarez

Eddie Alvarez won world championships in both the UFC and the Bellator MM, which is why he made the cut. A champion in both welterweight and lightweight divisions, Alvarez proved that he can perform in multiple divisions. In the process, he delighted fans.

"The Underground King" took down high-profile opponents, including the likes of Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos, and Eduard Folayang. A two division champion, Eddie Alvarez always gave the fans an entertaining fight.

19. Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya has earned his spot on this list and can only go up from here as he is still active. He has already defeated the likes of Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker. So we might be in front of a generational talent.

Dubbed the "Last Stylebender" for his style of fighting, Adesanya is considered one of the best strikers in the MM world. He has shown some serious skill from the very beginning, winning his first 20 fights in a row! 

18. Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo had a rough start to life in the UFC, having lost his first two bouts. However, in the rematch against Demetrious Johnson he proved his worth by pulling off an upset. After that fight began one of the most incredible runs ever seen.

Cejudo is a two division champion winning in both flyweight and bantamweight while also being the only person to win a UFC title and an Olympic gold medal. He retired with a record of 18 total fights, 16 wins, and 2 losses, his very first two fights. 

17. Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey made a successful transition from judo to mixed martial arts, getting off to a 12-0 start to her career in the octagon. Before that, she won a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Rousey loved to trash talk, but she backed it up with great results, winning a bantamweight belt. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame for her contribution to promote women's UFC, Rousey's rose to fame let her try her luck in WWE and even in the big screen, as she made an appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise.

16. Randy Couture

Randy Couture is one of the few MMA fighters to become a champion in two different weight classes. A former three-time UFC heavyweight champion and two-time light heavyweight champion, Couture's primed lasted longer than that of other fighters on this list.

"The Natural" has competed in a record 16 title fights, pulling off memorable wins over the likes of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. On top of that, Couture defied Father Time by reclaiming the UFC heavyweight title in his 40s. His experience in wrestling gave him a trademark fighting style, being a master in takedowns and in dominating top positions.

15. Chuck Liddell

The old school will always remember Chuck Liddell, once the most dominating light heavyweight in the league. "The Iceman" had vicious hands and knew how to take punches. He had memorable fights and even took down some of the biggest names like Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, and Randy Couture.

Liddell retired with a record of 30 fights, 21 wins, and 9 losses. Back in the day, he was a crowd favorite as his aggressive style delivered the most entertaining bouts we've ever seen. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2009.

14. Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson had absolutely epic fights at Pride. Remembered for his amazing striking power, Henderson's knockout to Michael Bispin became an instant classic. He built his success with good grappling skills, a monstrous overhand right, and an iron chin that came in handy against his tougher opponents.

Hendo was a Pride Welterweight Champion, Pride middleweight Champion, and strikeforce light heavyweight Champion. Some of his biggest victories came against the likes of Vitor Belfort, Big Nog, Mauricio Rua, and Fedor Emelianenko. Thoughthe UFC title was elusive to him, Henderson still had a remarkable career.

13. B.J. Penn

B.J. Penn may have gone through a rough patch in UFC, but in his prime, he was an absolute machine - especially in the lightweight division. After all, he was a UFC champion in both lightweight and welterweight. Even though he doesn't have the most impressive record, there is no denying that Penn had raw talent and went through four divisions.

"The Prodigy" had 32 fights, with 16 wins, 14 losses, and 2 draws. Throughout his career, Penn beat Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, and Diego Sanchez, among others. Penn's matt work and grappling skills were unmatched. Additionally, he's one of the fastest people ever to receive a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.

12. Dominick Cruz

Dominick Cruz is the only person who was able to defeat Demetrious Johnson in his prime. Cruz had fantastic movements that no one could guess and a signature fighting style. If injuries hadn't caught up to him, he would be even higher up on this list. 

"The Dominator" managed to overcome the likes of TJ Dillashaw, Demetrious Johnson, and Brian Bowles. He retired with a record of 23 wins and 3 losses. Besides his impressive record, Cruz brought a new style of fighting to the UFC, with unprecedented footwork.

11. Daniel Cormier 

Daniel Cormier found success in both light heavyweight and heavyweight. We're talking about the second fighter in UFC history to defend titles in two different weight classes and was the first to ever do it in two divisions.

Cormier retired with a record of 26 fights, 22 wins, 3 losses, and one no contest, winning a world championship in every promotion he fought in. Some of his notable wins came against the likes of Josh Barnett, Alexander Gustafsson, and Dan Henderson. He truly dominated almost every opponent he came up against with explosive punches.

10. Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic was a two-time UFC heavyweight champion with next level boxing ability and advanced wrestling techniques. In 24 fights, he recorded 20 wins - 15  by knockout - and 4 losses. He took some heavy losses but then turned it around and went on to build one of the best streaks the UFC has ever seen.

He has taken out some of the biggest names in UFC history, including Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Daniel Cormier, until he lost to Francis Ngannou.

9. Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes is the first woman to become a two-division champion (Bantamweight and Featherweight) and the third fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes along with Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier. Nunes is widely considered the best female MMA fighter of all time and she can back that up with her results.

Nunes is the only fighter in the UFC to defend two titles while actively holding them. She has some very notable wins against some of the top female fighters of all time like Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, Cristiane Justino, and Ronda Rousey. Her knockout power is also outstanding and most of her wins have been by knockout.

8. Jose Aldo

A former three-time UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo became the first ever UFC featherweight champion after the WEC/UFC mergerHe remained undefeated for over a decade, being one of the most dominant featherweights of all time. But Aldo's quick loss against McGregor makes some fans forget just how good he really was.

Aldo was a monster in his WEC days. In 38 bouts, he put up 31 wins with just 7 losses, beating big names like Cub Swanson, Mike Brown, and Urijah Faber. Aldo is considered by many as the greatest featherweight in MMA history. His Muay Thai techniques, leg kicks and defensive wrestling made Aldo stand out from his peers.

7. Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor might be a social media and trash-talking icon. But besides all the showy stuff, no one can't deny that McGregor is a top fighter. In fact, his left hand is one of the best the sport has ever witnessed. There's a reason he's the highest-paid MMA fighter of all time.

McGregor made headlines by knocking out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds, making it the fastest UFC title fight in history. He also took down the likes of Max Holloway, Chad Mendes, Nate Diaz, and Eddie Alvarez. The first fighter to defend UFC titles in two different weight classes, McGregor's skills not only included boxing techniques and a powerful left hand, but also playing mind games with his opponents.

6. Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson is the one of the best flyweight champions the UFC has ever had. Ever since he claimed the throne, he grabbed it with both hands. If you don't take our word for it, the fact that he's tied for the most consecutive title defenses at 11 speaks by itself. In addition, he also produced the most takedowns in UFC flyweight history.

The "Mighty Mouse" beat the likes of Henry Cejudo, Miguel Torres, and Joseph Benavidez. In 36 bouts, Johnson had 31 wins, 4 losses, and one draw. It's fair to wonder if someone will ever come close to what he meant at the flyweight division.

5. Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko never fought in the UFC like most of the fighters on this list. But that doesn't take away the fact that he is an absolute machine and has one of the most impressive undefeated streaks (28 consecutive wins). He is often called the best heavyweight fighter ever. His marquee powerful punches and head movement to defend were crucial for a track record of success.

"The Last Emperor" picked up notable wins against great opponents such as Mark Hunt, Mirko Filipovic, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He has a record of 47 fights, with 40 wins, 6 losses, and 1 no contest. Many consider him the best of all time and his record may be a strong argument for that.

4. Anderson Silva

Back in the day, Anderson Silva would absolutely destroy his opponents. He holds the record for the longest title defense in the UFC at 2,457 days. In that period, he also recorded 16 consecutive wins. Silva is without any question one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

"The Spider" retired with an MMA record of 34 wins, 11 losses, and 1 no contest. He pulled off wins against some the likes of Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin, and Dan Henderson. Silva had one of the best counter attacking games ever seen in the sport and his fights were always mouth-watering for fans.

3. Jon Jones

Jon "Bones" Jones set a record for being the youngest UFC champion at 23 years old. A former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion, he also boasts the most title defenses, longest winning streak, most submission victories, and most wins in that division.

Jones has a record of 26 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest. But his only loss was a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill. Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, and Daniel Cormier were just some of his victims.

2. Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre has the most insane all around skills of any MMA fighter ever. He won UFC championships in both welterweight and middleweight divisions and is considered by many as the greatest fighter in the history of MMA.

St-Pierre took down the likes of Matt Hughes, Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, and BJ Penn to cement his status among the greatest of all times. He was also ranked as the #1 welterweight in the world for many years before retiring in 2013 with a record of 28 fights, 26 wins, and 2 losses.

 

 

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov was the longest reigning UFC lightweight division champion. His superb grappling made the edge in many fights, making a strong case to consider him as the best fighter in MMA history. Not only did he win all his fights, he also did it in dominating fashion.

"The Eagle" retired with a perfect record of 29 total fights and 29 wins, something unheard of in MMA. Throughout his extremely successful career, Nurmagomedov beat the likes of Michael Johnson, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Conor McGregor.