Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has grown immensely in the 21st century, showcasing some of the most incredible fighters in the sport’s history. From explosive knockouts to thrilling submissions, these athletes have captivated fans worldwide with their skill, determination, and athleticism. In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 MMA fighters who have made a significant impact in the 21st century. Each of these fighters has left a lasting mark on the sport, demonstrating what it means to be at the top of the MMA world.
1. Jon Jones
UFC president Dana White considers Jones the greatest mixed martial artist ever. Despite the sport’s narrow margins between win and loss, Jones went 16 years without being defeated (his only “loss” was a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009). After becoming the youngest UFC champion in 2011, Jones dominated many Hall of Fame fighters over the next four years, including Daniel Cormier, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, and Rashad Evans. He not only defeated them but did so by exploiting their strengths and then overpowering them. His record and achievements speak for themselves.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion | Held titles in both weight classes. |
| Youngest Fighter to Win a UFC Championship | Won his first championship at the youngest age. |
| Most Wins in UFC Light Heavyweight History | Achieved 20 victories in this weight class. |
| Most Wins in UFC Title Fights | Recorded 15 wins in title fights. |
| Tied for Most Successful Title Defenses | Defended titles successfully 11 times, tied for the record. |
| Longest Unbeaten Streak in UFC History | Maintained an unbeaten streak for 19 fights. |
| UFC Hall of Famer | Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. |
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2. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre was a key figure in the evolution of UFC from its early days to its modern era. Between 2006 and 2013, he was nearly unbeatable, winning 14 out of 15 fights, including 12 title matches. At one point, he won 33 rounds in a row. His success sparked a huge interest in UFC in Canada and made him a global star. Known for his advanced fighting style that combined many techniques, he also stood out as a strong critic of performance-enhancing drugs during his time.
Key Accomplishments
| Accomplishment | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Hall of Famer | Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame |
| UFC Welterweight Champion | Held the UFC welterweight title |
| UFC Middleweight Champion | Held the UFC middleweight title |
| UFC Welterweight Title Defenses | Defended the UFC welterweight title nine times |
3. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva is considered one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history. His UFC career, which lasted from 2006 to 2020, was marked by exceptional achievements. Silva won the UFC title in just his second fight in the Octagon in 2006 and enjoyed a remarkable career, holding an unbeaten UFC record for seven years. His remarkable performances included:
- Rich Franklin: Defeated with knee strikes
- Forrest Griffin: Knocked out with a jab
- Chael Sonnen: Submitted in the fifth round of a fight he was losing
- Vitor Belfort: Knocked out with a front kick
Silva’s dominance and impressive victories during his long reign as middleweight champion made him a legendary figure in the sport. He is also one of the most cherished figures in MMA.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Middleweight Champion | Won the UFC middleweight title |
| UFC Record Holder for Most Consecutive Wins | Set a record with 16 consecutive victories |
| UFC Hall of Fame | Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame |
4. Demetrious Johnson
Even though Johnson hasn’t fought in the UFC for nearly seven years, his name is still well-known in UFC history. He is considered one of the fastest MMA fighters ever, combining excellent wrestling and striking skills. His dominance as the UFC flyweight champion from 2012 to 2018 was so significant that the UFC thought about ending the flyweight division. They sent him to One Championship, assuming his best years were over, but they were wrong. “Mighty Mouse” is still performing at a high level, and at 37 years old, he remains a top fighter and the current flyweight champion in One Championship.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Current One Championship Flyweight Champion | Johnson is the reigning champion in One Championship. |
| Inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion | He was the first to hold the UFC flyweight title. |
| Most Consecutive Title Defenses in UFC History | Holds the record with 11 consecutive title defenses. |
| Most Wins in UFC Flyweight Title Fights | Achieved 12 victories in UFC flyweight title matches. |
| Most Submissions in UFC Title Fights | Has five submission wins in UFC title bouts. |
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov was a unique fighter who ended his career with a perfect record of 29-0. He retired abruptly in October 2020 at age 32, citing a promise to his mother after the death of his father and coach from COVID-19 complications. Despite the UFC’s efforts to bring him back, Nurmagomedov chose to focus on coaching, including working with current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Nurmagomedov’s fighting style was quite traditional, relying heavily on wrestling. He focused on takedowns, pressuring opponents to the cage, and then taking them down. Once on the ground, he would trap his opponent’s legs to minimize their chance of escape and either finish the fight or control it until the end. Out of his 29 wins, 19 came by submission or knockout. He was a dominant force in the octagon.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| UFC Lightweight Champion | Longest reign in division history (1,077 days) |
| Title Defenses | Tied for most title defenses (three) |
| Submission Wins in Title Fights | Tied for most submission wins in title fights (three) |
| Most Takedowns in a UFC Fight | Most takedowns (21) in a fight against Abel Trujillo in 2013 |
| UFC Hall of Famer | Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame |
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6. Fedor Emelianenko
The Original GOAT
During the early 2000s, when Pride Fighting Championship was at its peak, Emelianenko was considered the best in mixed martial arts. He was known for his unbeatable record, defeating top fighters from around the world in various disciplines. Notable victories included fights against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, and Mark Hunt. Although UFC and Dana White tried to make a deal with him, it never happened. Emelianenko’s legendary status during his peak years remains a significant part of MMA history.
Key Accomplishments
| Accomplishment | Details |
|---|---|
| Pride Heavyweight Champion | Emelianenko was the Pride heavyweight champion. |
| Unbeaten in 28 Fights | He remained unbeaten in 28 consecutive fights. |
7. Randy Couture
Randy Couture might not be as familiar to newer fans, but he is undeniably one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. Known as “The Natural,” he had a remarkable 14-year career, mostly in title fights. He was the first standout heavyweight in MMA, famous for his strong Greco-Roman wrestling skills which allowed him to control opponents and deliver powerful strikes. Couture’s most notable achievements came between 2000 and 2004, when he won both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles. His epic battles with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell were key moments during a pivotal time for the UFC in the U.S.
Key Accomplishments
| Accomplishment | Detail |
|---|---|
| UFC Heavyweight Titles | Three-time champion |
| UFC Light Heavyweight Titles | Two-time champion |
| First Multi-Division Champion | In UFC history |
| Most Championship Reigns | Six reigns |
| Oldest UFC Champion | 45 years and 60 days old |
| Oldest Fighter to Win a UFC Bout | 47 years and 68 days old |
| UFC Hall of Famer | Yes |
8. Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell stood out not just because of his distinctive mohawk and Fu Manchu, but also due to his aggressive fighting style. His nonstop punches often left opponents dazed and ended in dramatic celebrations. Beyond his fighting skills, Liddell played a key role in the UFC’s history. He coached alongside Randy Couture on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a show that helped save the UFC from financial trouble.
Liddell’s television appearances also contributed to his rise as MMA’s first crossover star. He made a memorable guest appearance on HBO’s “Entourage” and did surprisingly well on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” showing a different side from his fierce Octagon persona.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Light Heavyweight Champion | Won the title in the UFC light heavyweight division. |
| Most Knockouts in Division History | Recorded 10 knockouts, the highest in this division. |
| Longest Knockout Streak in UFC History | Achieved a record seven consecutive knockouts. |
| Most Knockdowns in UFC Light Heavyweight History | Tied with 14 knockdowns. |
| Most Consecutive Fights with a Knockdown | Tied with seven consecutive fights featuring a knockdown. |
| UFC Hall of Fame Inductee (2009) | Honored with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009. |
9. BJ Penn
Penn’s legacy has two major parts. He was once widely regarded as the best lightweight fighter ever, until Khabib Nurmagomedov’s 29-0 record came along. More than that, Penn was a pioneer in fighting outside his usual weight class. With his natural fighting skills and Hawaiian spirit, he often faced larger opponents early in his career. A notable match was in 2005 in Japan, where he fought against Lyoto Machida, who weighed 225 pounds and later became a UFC light heavyweight champion. By the peak of his career in 2009, Penn was considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Description |
|---|---|
| UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion | Became champion in two different weight classes in the UFC. |
| Second UFC Fighter to Win Titles in Multiple Weight Classes | Only the second fighter to achieve titles in more than one weight class. |
10. Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman had a remarkable run from 2018 to 2021, coming close to surpassing Georges St-Pierre as the best welterweight in UFC history. During this period, Usman evolved from a wrestler into a top mixed martial artist. He won the welterweight title by beating Tyron Woodley and remained dominant in his reign with impressive wins over Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and Gilbert Burns. Usman reached the top spot as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC rankings and still has a chance to further enhance his legacy.
Key Accomplishments
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Welterweight Champion | Held the title in the UFC welterweight division. |
| The Ultimate Fighter 21 Tournament Winner | Won the 21st season of The Ultimate Fighter. |
| Most Consecutive Wins in UFC Welterweight History | Achieved 15 consecutive wins in UFC welterweight. |
| First Nigerian-Born UFC Champion | Became the first UFC champion from Nigeria. |
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