This Is Who AI Says Are the 10 Greatest Fighters in UFC History
Deciding who ranks as the greatest UFC fighter is a conversation that rarely ends in agreement. Fans either look at titles or weigh influence. When AI took a swing at naming the best of the best, it considered records, skills, dominance, and legacy. Here are 15 all-time greats who helped shape the UFC.
Jon Jones
Credit: Instagram
Only one man in UFC history made elite fighters look like mid-carders across two weight divisions, and did it while barely losing a round. Jon Jones’ lone loss was a disqualification, yet he beat Glover Teixeira, Daniel Cormier, and Shogun Rua with frightening ease. His reach, IQ, and timing gave him an edge most couldn’t solve. Despite controversies, few question his place at the top of the sport.
Amanda Nunes
Credit: Instagram
Amanda Nunes rewrote the rules for what dominance looked like. She knocked out Cris Cyborg in under a minute, sent Ronda Rousey into retirement, and held two titles at the same time. Her 16-2 UFC record includes the best win résumé in women’s MMA history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Credit: Instagram
Opponents knew what was coming and still couldn’t stop it. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ground control, pressure, and chin combined into a blueprint for frustration. His 29-0 record includes wins over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, all while barely losing a round. Retirement came early, but everything before that was spotless.
Georges St-Pierre
Credit: Instagram
GSP beat a whole lot of opponents, including Matt Hughes and Nick Diaz. His 26-2 record includes wins across two divisions and zero losses he didn’t later avenge. Even his comeback, after four years off, ended in a middleweight title win.
Demetrious Johnson
Credit: Instagram
Demetrious Johnson holds the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses at 11, more than any champion in company history. As the inaugural flyweight titleholder, he defended the belt from 2012 to 2018 without interruption. His fighting style combined elite-level wrestling, precise striking, and fast transitions. He’s the only fighter to win a UFC bout with a suplex-to-armbar submission.
Anderson Silva
Credit: Instagram
Every highlight reel from 2006 to 2012 includes Anderson Silva. He turned fighting into an art exhibit by embarrassing top contenders with head movement and counterstrikes. He defended his title 10 times and won 16 straight UFC fights, often by knockout. Sure, he stayed too long, but his reign turned casual fans into believers.
Daniel Cormier
Credit: Instagram
Daniel Cormier is one of only a few fighters to hold UFC titles in two weight classes: light heavyweight and heavyweight. Being a former Olympic wrestler, he translated that pedigree into wins over top names like Josh Barnett, Anderson Silva, and Derrick Lewis. Across 26 pro fights, his only losses came against Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
Stipe Miocic
Credit: Instagram
No heavyweight in UFC history has defended the belt more than Stipe Miocic. He did it with clean boxing, strong cardio, and a chin that only cracked after endless wars. His wins over Francis Ngannou, Daniel Cormier, and Junior dos Santos marked his legacy. And he managed it all while working as a full-time firefighter.
Conor McGregor
Credit: Instagram
Conor McGregor made history in 2016 by becoming the first UFC fighter to hold two titles at once, featherweight and lightweight. His 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo remains the fastest finish in a UFC title fight. Beyond the numbers, he brought global attention to MMA by headlining the sport’s highest-selling pay-per-views.
Jose Aldo
Credit: Instagram
Jose Aldo ran the featherweight division like a monarchy. Before Conor McGregor ended it with a flash KO, Jose went undefeated for a decade and defended his belt seven times. Brutal leg kicks, counterpunches, and next-level timing made him a nightmare matchup. His transition to bantamweight late in his career added more respect to an already stacked resume.
Max Holloway
Credit: Instagram
Max Holloway holds the UFC record for the most significant strikes that have landed, with over 3,000 and counting. He captured the featherweight title in 2017 and defended it three times, including two decisive wins over Jose Aldo. Max turned pressure fighting into a weapon as seen in his bouts with Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski.
Randy Couture
Credit: Instagram
One of the oldest fighters to win a UFC title, Randy Couture captured gold at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. He beat legends well into his 40s and helped carry the UFC through the pre-boom era with a 19-11 record.
Henry Cejudo
Credit: Instagram
Triple C walked the walk after talking the talk. Olympic gold medalist? Check. Two-division UFC champ? Check. Cringe-worthy interviews? Also check. But behind the antics was serious skill: he dethroned Demetrious Johnson and stopped T.J. Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz. His record stands at 16-5, and though he retired (twice), his impact in flyweight and bantamweight circles remains permanent.
Valentina Shevchenko
Credit: Instagram
Valentina Shevchenko’s reign at flyweight was almost surgical. She rarely made mistakes and often punished those who did. Her multiple title defenses and razor-thin losses to Amanda Nunes belong among the greats.
B.J. Penn
Credit: IMDb
At his peak, B.J. Penn had it all: jiu-jitsu mastery, knockout power, and freakish flexibility. He held titles in two divisions and took on anyone at any weight. His career later spiraled, but in his prime, B.J.’s balance and fearlessness made him a phenom. He even won a lightweight title fight by licking his gloves mid-bout—because he could.