Best Fighter In History

Who is the best MMA fighter of all time?

Who is the best UFC fighter ever? Read on the find out.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) had become one of the major sports that has won the hearts of many. The MMA came into limelight during the days of “the underground” where there were basically no rules and sanctioned fighters were allowed to do all sorts of moves, including hair pulling and groin strikes.

Fought real-fighter Benny the Jet. Broken every bone in his body, has a plastic plug in his skull. The best fight choreographer of all-time. Did the best stunts of all time, including falling 20 ft without any fall padding, hasn't used wires or special effects in his earlier movies, and even ran through real explosions. A young fighter named Kham must go to Australia to retrieve his stolen elephant. With the help of a Thai-born Australian detective, Kham must take on all comers, including a gang led by an evil woman and her two deadly bodyguards.

To determine who the best fighters are, among the numerous fighters to have graced the MMA, we have considered factors such as their dominance in the game, their skills, and their peaks. Yet, it still boils down to endless debate when trying to determine who the greatest fighters of all-time are.

This article gives insight into the top-20 of the best MMA fighters ever. History will never forget their contributions and how they have been able to gain the hearts of fans in the MMA space.

Here are the Best MMA Fighters of All-Time in UFC History

* Pro MMA record are in Win-Loss-Draw and No Contest formats.

20. Quinton Jackson “Rampage”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 38-14-0

There are different tactics and fighting styles in the MMA, and each fighter is usually known for a particular skill or tactic. For Jackson, (also known as Rampage) his spectacular tactics were to carry his opponent over his head and give them great slams. He was popularly known for his move and it also helped to save him on several occasions. An instance was when he was stuck in Ricardo Arona’s triangle submission. Surprisingly, he delivered himself – using this spectacular move.

19. Amanda Nunes “The Lioness”

  • Country: Brazil
  • Record: 20-4-0

This is one of the greatest female fighters ever to grace the MMA and the UFC. After her great defeat at the UFC 178, she was able to turn things around. Shortly after the loss, she bounced back and became an animal, defeating many of her mates including the notorious Cyborg. Amanda Nunes is gradually becoming one of the biggest names in the industry.

18. Wanderlei Silva “The Axe Murderer”

  • Country: Brazil
  • Record: 35-14-1, 1 NC

Nicknamed ‘The Axe Murderer’, Silva gained his nickname by how he fights. Going back to the days when he was in his prime, only a few other fighters had the courage to face him. How he would stare at his opponent and wring their hands was one of the things the world will never forget about him. What many liked about Silva was how he would chase his opponents, as he moved forward forcing his opponent to move backwards in response to the deadly pressure being mounted.

17. Randy Couture “The Natural”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 19-11-0

To become the UFC champion on two different occasions in one’s career as a fighter in the MMA is not easy to achieve. Randy Couture is one of the few fighters who has been able to achieve this, thus, joining the ranks of the best UFC fighters ever. Randy was popularly known for his “dirty boxing’ tactics, which have earned him victory over his opponents on several occasions.

16. Frankie Edgar “The Answer”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 23-8-1
Boxing

Edgar became popular when he had a remarkable victory over B. J. Penn. Prior to the fight, Penn had smashed Diego Sanchez, and fans were expecting Penn to at least keep the momentum going for a short while. Surprisingly, Edgar had a fantastic victory over him. What surprised fans most was how he was able to prove himself as he did in several consecutive challenges after beating Penn.

15. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira “Minotauro”

  • Country: Brazil
  • Record: 34-10-1, 1 NC

To win the UFC Heavyweight title is no easy feat. However, Antonio Rodrigo is one of the rare fighters to earn this through his fights and victories over many big names in the industry. He was known for not wasting time in going for the submission. Unlike other fighters who will hold their opponent closely and wait for the referee to come to stand them back up, Rodrigo had spectacular moves he used in getting his opponents stuck in his trap.

14. Mauricio Rua “Shogun”

  • Country: Brazil
  • Record: 26-11-1

Nicknamed as Shogun, Rua is popularly known for his superior striking skills. He is also known for not rushing to go for the submission. He would make sure he satisfies his appetite by dishing out some heavy hammer fists on his opponents before going for the submission. Shogun had his training with a few other fighters at the famous Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil. Coming out of such an academy, Rua’s moves came as no surprise to fans.

13. Dan Henderson “Hendo”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 32-15-0
History

Nicknamed Hendo, Dan Henderson was popular for his overhand right tactics. With the power in his right hand, he was able to defeat many of his opponents. Another thing that has helped Henderson survive the heavy impacts of his opponents’ blows was his iron chin. With this chin, he was able to withstand heavy blows that might have finished other fighters.

12. Dominick Cruz “The Dominator”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 22-3-0

Cruz is popularly known for his superb movements, which made it hard for his opponents to predict what his next move would be. The number one item on his priority list was to not get hit. Although he is not one of the best when it comes to submission and knockout, he is able to comfortably evade many of his opponents’ hits.

11. Daniel Cormier “DC”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 22-2-0, 1 NC

This is one of the few fighters to have gained success in both heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. Cormier was able to defeat many of his opponents who would stand on his way of maintaining his position as light heavyweight champion. However, he was stopped by Jon Jones.

10. Conor McGregor “The Notorious”

  • Country: Ireland
  • Record: 22-4-0

Conor McGregor is one of the biggest names in the industry right now who is popularly known for his frequent trash talks. Ranked #4 in the UFC lightweight rankings and #8 in the UFC Men’s pound for pound rankings as of June 2020, McGregor is also one of the rare fighters who have been able to hold the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles two times. His left punch is one of his most favourite weapons and he uses it to have his way with his opponents. He is still young in the game and more is expected from him.

9. B.J. Penn “The Prodigy”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 16-14-2

Penn is one of the few great fighters the MMA can boast of. He is one of the fastest fighters to earn the Jiu-Jitsu and the first American to bag the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship. Penn was able to defeat many of his opponents with his grappling skills. One event that fans will never forget was when he was seen licking the blood on his gloves after his victory over Joe Stevenson. “The Prodigy” deserves to be among the list of the best MMA fighters of all-time.

8. Chuck Liddell “The Iceman”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 21-9-0

Chuck may not have the fancy striking skills, but his vicious hands and granite chin were two of his deadliest weapons. He has been able to deceive his opponents with his deadly striking only to surprised them with his kicks. All these have made him stand out among many of his counterparts.

7. Matt Hughes

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 45-9-0

Matt was known for how he would carry his opponents and smash them down, sending them into a great defeat. He had many skills in his arsenal to defeat his opponents. Matt is one of the scariest and toughest fighters in the industry. He was never satisfied with just taking his opponents down, he would always follow with a great punch, which also contributed to his reputation.

6. Demetrius Johnson “Mighty Mouse”

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 30-3-1
Best fighter ever

Demetrius Johnson is not only the first fighter to earn UFC flyweight championship, but he is also the only fighter to hold the record. He is holding the title and on his mission to break Anderson Silva’s record of defending the title consecutively. What makes him stand out among other fighters is his high IQ, speed, and footwork, which has made it difficult for his opponents to defeat him.

5. Fedor Emelianenko “The Last Emperor”

  • Country: Russia
  • Record: 39-6-0, 1 NC

Before Fedor Emelianenko came to MMA, he was a Combat Sambo champion, and this has helped him blend him succeed in the MMA. At first glance, you may write him off as unfit for a fight. But as the fight goes on, you become convinced that he is one of the best fighters the MMA has been blessed with in UFC history.

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov “The Eagle”

  • Country: Russia
  • Record: 28-0-0

Best Mma Fighter In History

If we are to mention a few fighters who will never be forgotten in the world of MMA, Khabib is one name that will never be left out. He does not only win his fights, he wins most of them hands-down. Fans even regard him as an animal as a result of his great moves and performances.

What makes Nurmagomedov truly remarkable is the fact that his opponents usually know his next moves, yet they still lack what it takes to stop him. You may want to ask why he is not the first on the list? He is not making it to the first position because he hasn’t had the chance perhaps after he has had the time to defend his titles consistently as a few others have.

3. Jon Jones “Bones”

Best Fighter Ever

  • Country: United States
  • Record: 26-1-0, 1 NC

In his early career, Jones was able to defeat Mauricio Rua to earn the UFC youngest champion when he was just 23. He had a rapid rise in his career and is not showing any sign of slowing down. He is always remembered for his great victory over Reyes, which was his 14th title defence. Jon Jones is simply a legend. He is often revered by pundits as one of the best fighters ever. All eyes are on Jones for what his performances will be in his next fights.

2. Anderson Silva “The Spider”

  • Country: Brazil
  • Record: 34-10-0, 1 NC

Though he is known for his great performance in the Jiu-Jitsu, what makes Anderson Silva stand out among other fighters in the UFC is his great striking skills. He has been able to deceive his opponents with his smooth and harmless looks, through which he is able to defeat many of his opponents. Silva was able to set his opponents into a trap by mocking them of their actions and moves. When this happens, opponents become frustrated and try to bring him down, and that is when Silva would have his way. Anderson Silva is a major contender of the title of the greatest in the UFC.

1. George St. Pierre “Rush”

  • Country: Canada
  • Record: 26-2-0

Best Fighter Pilot In History

George St. Pierre is the best MMA fighter of all-time. Yes, he was not the best at knockouts, but his strong will was too much for many fighters to break. One thing that surprised all was that he did not have any wrestling background before launching into MMA. Yet, he was always in the best position to put his opponents down. Pierre’s reputation was further heightened when he had a great victory over Michael Bisping at UFC 217.

Final Words

Regardless of the sport, the ‘best-ever’ topic is always a controversial matter. Aside from Wayne Gretzky, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and perhaps Serena Williams who are unarguably the best in their sport, there are rarely a few sports where it might be obvious who the title of the greatest of all time should be bestowed.

What are your thoughts on our top-20 best MMA fighters of all-time? Please feel free to share in the comments section below.

A swordsman is someone practices martial art, or any from of combat involving a sword. Samurai, fencers, and knights are all types of swordsman. The greatest swordsmen are the ones who are so skilled that their names are known even today, by people interested in swordsmanship, but also in movies, and tv shows. Some of the greatest swordsmen had hundreds of students, and never lost a duel, even against multiple people, or when using a wooden sword against a real one.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Minamoto was a general of the Minamoto clan. A clan from the early Kamakura period in Japan. He was a Genius military general, and an expert swordsman. He famously defeated the legendary warrior monk known as Benkei in a duel. Benkei was a 6 foot, 7 inch monk said to have the attributes of a demon, and supposedly defeated 200 people in every battle he fought. After Minamoto defeated Benkei, he took him on as his right hand man. Minamoto won countless battles for his clan, and even toppled the the Ise-Heishi. Even though he accomplised so much for his clan he was eventually betrayed by his brother, but managed to fake his death and escape. What happened after this is widely debated some theories claim he went to live with his lover who was a mysterious non-Japanese women, and a discredited theory claims he went on to become Genghis Khan. One story claims that he committed seppuku while Benkei guarded him. Benkei stood on a bridge blocking the way to him and supposedly defeated 300 enemies, before dying because of an arrow wound. The giant man had died in a standing position, which is known as the “Standing Death of Benkei”.

Jack Churchill

Best

Jack Churchill fought throughout the entire second world war with nothing but a Scottish broadsword, a longbow, and bagpipes. He didn’t use a gun but managed to stand up to people who did, he was the only person during the war to do this, and probably the only one who could. He must have been an exceptional swordsman to be able to fight like that. He was known as Mad Jack, because of his motto, “Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed.” He also has the last recorded longbow, and arrow killing during in action when he shot an enemy German in a French village in 1940.

Sasaki Kojiro

Sasaki Kojiro is a famous Japanese swordsman and considered one of the greatest swordsmen of all time. One time he even defeated three opponents at the same time, using nothing but a steel fan. After this victory he was honoured as the chief weapons master of the Hosokawa fief north of Kyushu. Kojiro defeated countless opponents, and his techniques became famous all throughout Japan. His favourite technique was the swallow cut, which was feared by even the greatest swordsmen at the time. Althoufh he was such a skilled swordsman, he is most famous for his duel against legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi which he lost.

Johannes Liechtenauer

Johannes Liechtenauer was a German fencing master. Liechtenauer travelled to many different lands and learnt from many different people. This way he learnt the art in a way that was thorough and rightful. Liechtenauer was a true master of the art and had a big influence on the German fencing tradition. He tought his students orally and didn’t write down his lessons, but his students took it upon themselves to write down his lesson. They did so however in a coded way to make sure that the “uninitiated” would not be able to understand his teachings.

Fiore dei Liberi

Greatest Fighter Ever

Fiore dei Liberi was knight, diplomat and master swordsman from the 1300’s. Out of all of histories greatest swordsmen, very few leave any written instructions on swordplay, that have lasted until now. Liberi is unique in this respect as he left an entire martial arts manual which still survives today, called Flower of Battle. Flower of battle is one of the oldest fencing manuals in existence. Liberi started training from a young age, and learnt the art from some of the greatest swordsmen in the Holy Roman Empire. He felt that many of the masters he met weren’t really masters as they claimed and said they didn’t even have the skill of a good student. He would end up duelling these fakes as a matter of honour, and always won without injury. Some of his best students went on to become famous mercenary leaders, and master swordsmen themselves.

Best sword fighter in history

William Marshall

William Marshall was the first Earl of Pembroke and known to be one of the greatest knights of all time. Before Marshall was knighted in 1166 he was a successful tournament fighter, and knight errant. Marshall’s life is well documented because soon after his death his son, commissioned a record of his life to be made.

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Best Sword Fighter In History

Georges was a master fencer from the 1700’s. He was born in 1745, his father was a wealthy painter and his mother, was his father’s slave. Georges eventually became colonel of the first all black regiment in Europe during the French revolution, fighting on the side of the rebellion. Georges began to learn fencing at 13, and he improved so quickly that he was beating the best students at 15 and he developed the greatest speed imaginable. He hadn’t even graduated when he defeated one of the greatest swordsmen around, who had been mocking him publicly. After Georges graduated he became an officer of the Kings bodyguard.

Sigmund Ringeck

Sigmund Ringeck is a 14 to 15 century fencing master shrouded in mystery. He was included in a memorial to deceased masters of the Society of Liechtenauer. The fact that Ringeck was includedd in the memorial means he was among the greatest swordsmen of his time. It’s possible he was even a student of the Grandmaster Liechtenauer himself.

Who Is The Best Fighter In History

Kamiizumi Nobutsuna

Copyright Nguyen Thanh Thien / (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Greatest Fighter In History

Kamiizumi Nobutsuna was a famous samurai from the Japan’s Sengoku period, and created the well known Shinkage-Ryu school of combat. Nobutsuna learnt three different schools of combat, before adapting them to make Shinkage-Ryu. Nobutsuna was also a general for much of his life, and served under multiple lords, he became known as one of the “Sixteen Spears of Nagano House”, and eventually became known as the strongest spearsmen of Kozuke. Nobutsuna taught Shinkage-Ryu to many people and eventually had hundreds of students. He demonstrated his art to the Shogun (military dictator), and the Shogun announced his school of combat to be unparalleled. Some of Nobutsuna’s students went on to become famous samurai, who spread shinkage-ryu and some started their own schools.

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto musasji is one of the greatest swordsmen of all time, and widely considered to be the greatest, and without an equal. Musashi fought 60 duels and never lost a single one, even taking on legendary swordsmen like, Sasaki Kojiro. Musashi was impressive not only for his skill with the blade, but also for fighting with strategy and intellect, and fighting in a way that nobody had fought like before. He learnt swordplay from his father, from a young age and fought his first duel at the age of 13. He fought more and more duels throughout his life, and never lost a single one. Musashi defeated many masters and was granted the title “Unrivalled Under Heaven”. Musashi fought his last duel against Sasaki Kojiro, who was known as “The Demon of the Western Provinces”. The duel was arranged to be on an island. Musashi arrived late, and only fought with a wooden sword he had carved out of an oar on the boat he used to get there. He killed Kojiro with the wooden sword and then quickly fled from his vengeful allies.