Who are the greatest MMA fighters of all time?
Being branded as great in mixed martial arts is a stamped certification of skills. But being called among the greatest of all time is a prelude to the annals of the elite that legions of fighters, critics and fans will look up to forever.
There have been many fantastic MMA fighters during the sport. But only a select few have reached GOAT status. DAZN News limited it to a dozen in no particular order below.
Anderson Silva (34-11, 1 no competition)
How is “The Spider” a GET when he counts 11 losses on his ledger? It’s simple – by creating one of the most unique fighting styles we’ve ever seen looking through the Octagon and being dominant as we do so.
A then record 16 straight wins during a six-year reign in the UFC (June 2006 – October 2012) led the Brazilian to defeat everyone from Chris Leben to Rich Franklin (twice), Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort to name a few. And he did not just beat them. He outclassed them with precision and flair. The reverence a future GET that Israel Adesanya gave Silva was just a selection of a greeting to his influence as a legendary fighter.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0)
“The Eagle” ended his career with mixed martial arts by sending in a killer line of Conor McGregor (fourth round neck crank), Dustin Poirier (third round rear naked choke) and Justin Gaethje (second round triangle choke) and it took him one round less each time.
He left the Octagon with a pristine record of 29-0, after leaving his lightweight championship behind him as the best wrestler / grabber the sport has ever seen. GOAT stamp certified.
Daniel Cormier (22-3, 1 no competition)
Yes, Jon Jones was a puzzle that Daniel Cormier could never really solve. Who could then? In addition, “DC” took heavy back-to-back losses against Stipe Miocic to end his career, but what a legendary time it was.
Cormier gave positive results from his loss to Jones, which was later transformed into a No Contest, by earmarking a big 2018 to defeat Volkan Oezdemir to defend his light heavyweight championship and then blow up Miocic in a round to be crowned the heavyweight title holder and become one of only four doubles champions in UFC history.
Miocic Support (20-4)
Miocic among the MMA GOATs is undeniable thanks to the fact that he defended his heavyweight championship against Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Francis Ngannou all in a row. Then taking two of three matches from Daniel Cormier to win that trilogy only confirmed his legacy so much longer. Do not count him out after his KO loss in the second round against Ngannou in March either. History shows that Miocic roars back with revenge after adversity.
Fedor Emelianenko (40-6, 1 no competition)
“The Last Emperor” had an icy dominance that stretched over almost 10 years and caused him to flatten notoriously robust enemies such as Mark Hunt, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Coleman (twice) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice) just to name a few. That’s part of the reason Emelianenko has solidified her name as perhaps GET among the goats.
Amanda Nunes (21-5)
Nunes, who is a doubles champion who outscored the likes of Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm in one round each and counted two victories over the great Valentina Shevchenko, has already stamped and strengthened his GOAT status during an undefeated six-year reign of destruction. If she recovers from her shocking loss in the second round against Julianna Pena, it will only be cream of the championship and an icy reminder of who GETEN really is.
Demetrious Johnson (30-4-1)
Do you want dominance? “Mighty Mouse” produced 11 straight title defenses of his 2013-2017 flyweight championship and his split decision loss to Henry Cejudo in August 2018 could very well have been decided in Johnson’s favor. Although his name may be overshadowed by stronger personalities, there is no doubt about Johnson’s pace and overall greatness.
Jose Aldo (31-7)
Aldo’s featherweight championship was dominant even though it ended with a 13-second starch in the hands of Conor McGregor. Despite that loss and fall for Max Holloway, was concerned about Aldo’s longevity. The 35-year-old was busy in 2021 with victories over Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font to extend his winning streak to three and remain a viable threat.
Conor McGregor (22-6)
About that 13-second spark of Aldo, McGregor combined it with a drumming by Eddie Alvarez less than a year later to become the very first doubles champion in UFC history. Yes, he has lost three of his last four games against rivals Poirier and Nurmagomedov and he has passed his best age, but it is impossible to dispute McGregor’s pay-per-view traction and the greatness he has already cemented. Not the largest, but definitely the most “infamous”. If he can rebuild enough to take more significant profits, McGregor will add to his legacy.
Max Holloway (23-6)
Do not make that mistake and leave Holloway out of all GOAT conversations. He has the types of victims in Aldo twice, Brian Ortega, Anthony Pettis, Charles Oliveira and Frankie Edgar who strengthened his resume. In addition, he undoubtedly did enough to defeat Alexander Volkanovski in their revenge before suffering the controversial loss by split decision. His masterclass of Calvin Cats and the unanimous decision of Yair Rodriguez this year show how Holloway remains a key threat with his precise, relentless punch. One of the goats for sure.
Georges St-Pierre (26-2)
GSP outlined its MMA career by creating nine straight welterweight title defenses. Then, for good measure, he added a naked choke by Michael Bisping in his middleweight debut. That dominance is already spotless. Then keep in mind that St-Pierre barely loses a round during that reign and that his legend just swells to be the Greatest of all time, maybe period. Definitely the most well-rounded.
Jon Jones (26-1, 1 no competition)
Let’s face the facts – the only person who ever defeated Jon Jones has been himself, repeatedly due to his ongoing entanglement with his own demons, leading to major indiscretions. But in that octagon, “Bones” Jones has remained the most complex puzzle to solve, almost surgically in its approach to downloading information on the go and tactfully finding ways to raise its hand – whether they are power, precision or a combination of both.
Who says Jones can not return and be crowned heavyweight champion?
He has already been a king of the Octagon with 10 light heavyweight title defenses. Achieving a heavyweight championship would only put more jewels in the GET crown and perhaps put it too far out of reach.