Fight fans who have been watching the UFC

for at least the last year probably know exactly who “The Fighting Nerds” are and what they have done in the company. A handful of Brazilian mixed martial artists have taken the UFC by storm and have created the fastest-growing, most likable, and most impressive collective of fighters the sport has ever seen.

Let’s look closer at who “The Fighting Nerds” are, what they have accomplished, and what they are set up to do in the future.

The Origin Of The Fighting Nerds

How This Group Of Fighters Started

• Founded in 2014 by Caio Borralho and his coach, Pablo Sucupira.
• The two built the gym from the ground up, painting walls, installing a ring, and taking a data and analytic-driven approach to fighting.

In 2014, Caio Borralho, then a grappler, decided he wanted to learn striking and compete in MMA at a high level. He found a former fighter, Pablo Sucupira, who shared an interest in the analytical side of fighting. These two decided to start a gym together and began to build it.

The gym quickly grew with a great group of fighters who were also good human beings. When it was time to expand the team, Demian Maia’s coach, Wagner Mota, and fighter Flavio Alvaro were set to join. Alvaro even decided to take much less money because he loved the people in the gym. He decided to get compensated once fighters became the stars he knew they could be.

“The Fighting Nerds” gym believes in a unique approach to winning fights: fight smarter, not tougher.

The Gym’s Culture

What Do These Brazilian Fighting Nerds Believe In?

• The founders, Borralho and Sucupira, consider themselves “nerds.” Borralho loved school and tutored students in math and chemistry. Sucupira had a job in the corporate marketing world before becoming a full-time coach.
• They used their intelligence and analytical thinking to craft a system to win MMA fights.
• At the gym, they embrace “nerd” culture and set out to inspire “nerdy” people to do whatever they want in life and show them they can protect themselves against bullies.

“The Fighting Nerds” social media accounts will have the tagline “It’s bullying payback time” at the top of the account page. This is the basis of their philosophy at the gym formerly known as Club São Paulo. They want to inspire “nerdy” kids and adults to embrace their passions but also empower them to be able to do whatever they want, including protecting themselves against bullies.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu culture has grown with the “nerdy” population in America over the years, and this collective kind of fits right into that. Learning BJJ and other martial arts skills can give people so much confidence, even if they have never been confident in their own bodies before training.

Along with the empowerment from training, the gym offers English and public speaking courses, along with study sessions analyzing fights to improve their education of the sport. It’s all about empowering people to gain confidence and be part of a team.

On a technical level, Sucupira has developed a fighting system that allows them to use their minds to win fights more than their toughness. They look at each opponent as a “problem to solve” and spend a lot of time forming gameplans to prepare themselves for exactly what they need to do during the chaos of a cage fight.

Nerds And Their Genius Branding

What Makes This Team So Likable And Popular

• The plastic “nerd” glasses are the perfect uniform to grow the brand.
• The members of the gym all seem to be very outgoing and genuine in everything they do, while including everybody who will respect what they stand for.
• The most important part of the gym’s popularity is the performances inside the octagon.

The UFC, a company known for its strict bans on props being used by fighters and coaches in the octagon or at press conferences, gave Fighting Nerds the green light to bring their plastic glasses along with them at UFC events. Sucupira convinced them that the glasses were just the gym’s logo, and they agreed to let it happen.

Now, these glasses have become somewhat of a uniform for these fighters who train together. They are also the perfect prop to give other stars in the sport. The photos of fighters and public figures, like Mark Zuckerberg, wearing the glasses and posing with the team have gone viral over the last several months.

The team has an Instagram account with over 200k followers now, and they post video content regularly, showing off the personalities of these fighters and building the brand.

A Big Year For The Fighting Nerds

The Team’s Best Fighters Are Making Moves In 2025

• The most notable members of the team are currently 18-0 in the UFC, collectively.
• It was revealed that the team is looking to expand to the United States and open a new location in New Hampshire.

The four most notable fighters of The Fighting Nerds gym, Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy, are currently 18-0 in the UFC.

Borralho and Prates are ranked contenders with massive fights coming up. Prates and Silva are set to take on ranked opponents at UFC 314. Ruffy is fresh off a highlight KO over Bobby Green at UFC 313, and Borralho will most likely have a title-eliminator fight in the summer.

These big fights will do so much for the gym and its brand, especially if they continue winning. The biggest news comes from Mauricio Ruffy, as he said the team is planning on expanding in 2025 by opening up a new location in New Hampshire.

Summary

• Dana White confirms Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight is set.
• Aspinall calls out Jones for delaying fight, uses rubber duck.
• Jones requests 6 months to train, fans await confirmation for fight.

England’s Tom Aspinall

was in attendance at UFC London, as the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion is still searching for a fight with Jon Jones.

The world champion has been ducking the interim champion for months, though he cannot do so anymore as UFC President Dana White has once again confirmed that the fight will happen. However, Jones is still attempting to delay the fight as much as possible, which prompted Aspinall to call him out during today’s fight night.

Tom Aspinall Calls Out Jon Jones With Duck Insult

Aspinall Makes Another Fight Attempt In His Home Country At UFC London

When the camera panned to Aspinall during the crowd cam at UFC London, the interim champion had a rubber duck in his hands, playing into the meme that Jones has been ducking him over the past two years.

The fight was originally heavily rumored to be taking place at UFC 317 during International Fight Week, though it seems as if the UFC Heavyweight Champion is not quite ready to defend his title against his toughest challenger. Despite that, the bout has been confirmed, as Dana, Aspinall, and UFC fans are simply waiting for Jones to sign the contract.

Jon Jones Requests An Additional Six Months To Train For Aspinall

Jones Continues To Find Ways To Delay the Inevitable

In the past week, Jones had added another request for his inevitable fight against Aspinall, asking for another six months to train before the fight. Most fans saw this as simply another excuse to delay this fight, as Jones has already had four months to prepare since his last defense against Stipe Miocic. This comes after Jon recently requested $30 million to step into the cage with Tom, which is a payday that no one has ever seen in the UFC.

Aspinall has been the rightful number one contender ever since he defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in 2023, though Jones has continued to avoid the interim champion on numerous occasions. Unfortunately for him, the time for running is over, as it’s just a matter of time until the UFC gives fans a date and location for what could arguably be the biggest MMA fight ever.

Summary

• McGregor potentially planning to run for President of Ireland in 2025.
• McGregor met with Trump, expressing concerns about Ireland’s future.
• McGregor aims to address illegal immigration issues, which have sparked controversy in Ireland.

Conor McGregor

has been heavily featured in the news, but it’s not because of any potential UFC fights. McGregor has recently gotten involved with Irish politics, and has now even visited the White House to meet with United States President Donald Trump.

Conor McGregor Meets Up With Donald Trump At White House

McGregor Planning To Run As President Of Ireland In 2025

McGregor has been highly critical of how Ireland has been run as of recently, and because of that, visited the White House on St Patrick’s Day to meet with President Trump. Trump and McGregor have been friends for years, with the President publicly being a huge UFC and MMA fan.

This visit confirms that Conor is planning on having a political run, as he has already stated that he is interested in running for President of Ireland, with the Ireland elections happening later in 2025.

This meeting was met with controversy among the Irish people, as Conor has found himself with millions of supporters, but now millions of critics as well. Following this meeting, Conor tweeted that the Trump administration has his full support, which could be a hint of what he wants Ireland’s future to look like as well.

McGregor Expresses Concern With Ireland’s Future

Conor McGregor’s Goal Is To Deport Illegal Immigrants

McGregor’s concern about Ireland revolves mostly around its future with immigration. It’s similar to the situation in the United States, with much of Ireland supporting immigration, but many being against it.

Many have brought up Conor’s 2024 sexual assault case following this White House visit, in which he was found guilty in civil court. A majority of critics have already brought up the idea as to how McGregor is allowed to run following this case, though supporters backed him up by saying that Conor was not criminally prosecuted due to lack of evidence.

Conor’s plan is to deport illegal immigrants and lower immigration rates, claiming that the Irish government does not care about its people. Ireland’s Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, has already spoken against McGregor’s statements, denying that he has shifted away from the Irish people as his main focus.

Every bout in mixed martial arts starts with contestants standing. Within the UFC, proficiency in boxing stands out as a crucial skill possessed by numerous champions. Among the elite boxers who have showcased their talents in the octagon, there exists a diverse range, from those lacking any professional experience, to those with amateur backgrounds, to former world boxing champions.

The substantial pay gap between UFC fighters and their counterparts in boxing has prompted many of the top MMA talents to contemplate transitioning to the boxing realm in pursuit of a more lucrative payday. Jake Paul has achieved success enticing seasoned MMA stars into the boxing arena, such as Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. It is anticipated that fans will witness an increasing number of athletes making this transition during the peak of their careers. With that in mind, here are the best boxers to have passed through the UFC — some of whom will be boxing again soon.

UPDATE: 2025/03/19 18:03 EST BY FRANK YEMI

Ilia Topuria Moves To No.1

Ilia Topuria has emerged as the best boxer in the UFC, showcasing elite precision, knockout power, and defensive mastery. His clean technique, head movement, and ability to counter effectively set him apart. His ability to seamlessly mix power, speed, and footwork makes him the most dangerous boxer in the UFC today. Jose Also makes his debut on the list along with Cody Garbrandt.

16

José Aldo

Aldo’s Boxing Was Key To His Long Featherweight Reign

The former UFC featherweight champion is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in MMA history. While his devastating leg kicks were a major weapon, Aldo’s boxing was equally crucial to his success. His crisp jab, powerful left hook, and excellent head movement helped him dominate top-tier competition for years.

Aldo displayed his boxing skills in wars against Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes, and Pedro Munhoz, where he landed precise counterpunches and punished opponents with body shots. Even in the latter stages of his career, Aldo continued to rely on his sharp boxing, notably battering Rob Font in a five-round clinic. He eventually transitioned to professional boxing in 2023, proving that his hands were just as dangerous outside the Octagon.

15

Cody Garbrandt

‘No Love’ Showed Championship-Level Boxing In His Prime

Cody Garbrandt burst onto the UFC scene with blistering hand speed, knockout power, and a boxing pedigree honed from his amateur background. A former Golden Gloves champion, Garbrandt used his quick reflexes and pinpoint accuracy to dismantle opponents in the bantamweight division.

His finest boxing performance came in 2016 when he outclassed Dominick Cruz to win the UFC bantamweight title, showcasing elite head movement, counterpunching, and flashy combinations. Throughout his career, ‘No Love’ has secured highlight-reel knockouts over Thomas Almeida, Takeya Mizugaki, and Raphael Assunção, proving that his boxing skills remain among the best in UFC history.

14

Petr Yan

No Mercy Transitioned To MMA

The former Bantamweight Champion is celebrated for his powerful punches and adaptability, switching stances seamlessly and focusing on technical boxing skills.

13

Conor McGregor

The Irish Star Boxed Floyd Mayweather

Known for his striking ability and precise boxing technique, McGregor’s left-hand knockout power and footwork have made him a standout in the UFC. His skills were on display not only in the Octagon but also during his high-profile boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017​.

12

Junior dos Santos

His Boxing Stance Left Him Vulnerable To Leg Kicks

A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, dos Santos is known for his knockout power, speed, and technical precision, notably knocking out Cain Velasquez to capture the title. His ability to set up shots with a solid jab and footwork stands out.

11

Max Holloway

‘Blessed’ Cracks Skulls Without Having Any Professional Boxing Experience

Max Holloway has never boxed professionally. But he is one of the best strikers in the UFC. Fans remember him most for confidently turning away from his opponent, Calvin Kattar, in 2021, asserting to the broadcast team ringside that he was the best boxer around. ‘Blessed’ battered Kattar brutally and left fans, commentators and his opponent stunned.

It’s no surprise, though. Holloway is one of the UFC’s best featherweight champions. H put on exceptional displays of offensive boxing. Mind you, his defensive boxing needs work, but he knows how to vary head and body shots. As a result, Holloway claimed victims such as Yair Rodríguez, Frankie Edgar, and Arnold Allen along the way. He also slept the ‘Korean Zombie’ and TKO’d José Aldo twice due to punches. Even in losses versus Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway has shown his slim hands are precise, quick and powerful. Holloway claimed the BMF title at lightweight with a buzz beater knockout of Justin Gaethje, displaying his elite boxing in the pocket.

10

Dustin Poirier

‘El Diamante’ Is a Defensive & Offensive Boxing Genius

Despite lacking any formal boxing background, Poirier impressively aces the eye test with his outstanding skills. His prowess in boxing has garnered widespread acclaim, evident in notable triumphs over elite strikers like Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway, Dan Hooker, Bobby Green, and the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor.

Louisiana’s ‘Diamond’ is particularly recognized for his dynamic shifting punching style, adept use of the shoulder roll, and his ability to exploit the high guard. Once he pulls the shorts up, expect heavy hands, as seen with his win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. It pays off he is training with Mike Brown and American Top Team in Florida — a stable that put out other boxing-driven MMA fighters like Jorge Masvidal.

9

Alex Pereira

‘Poatan’ Finishes Most Of His Fights By Knockout

Throughout his illustrious kickboxing tenure at Glory, Pereira gained a reputation for his startling boxing abilities. He beat Israel Adesanya twice there, including one vicious KO in 2017. He had one professional boxing bout that same year, securing a TKO finish over Marcelo de Souza Cruz.

‘Poatan’ hasn’t boxed professionally since, but he has brought those “Hands of Stone” to the UFC. He slept Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, winning the UFC middleweight belt along the way. Pereira then went up to become the light heavyweight champ by beating Jiří Procházka via TKO in 2023. He loves to stand and trade, coming in for praise from top heavyweight boxer Zhilei Zhang. Additionally, Pereira left a lasting impression on fans when footage surfaced of his sparring session with Olympian boxer Khalil Coe, showcasing his impressive boxing acumen.

8

Tom Aspinall

Aspinall Is An Absolute Sniper

Aspinall relied on his boxing skills when he took on noted knockout artist, Sergei Pavlovich, on short notice at UFC 295. The British heavyweight knocked out his opponent in a little over 60 seconds to win the interim UFC heavyweight championship. Aspinall has a total in-cage average time of 2:10, often getting opponents out of the way early. If he isn’t submitting or grounding and pounding, he is throwing hands and sending people to the shadow realm.

Apart from Pavlovich, he has TKO’d the likes of Marcin Tybura, Serghei Spivac and Alan Baudot with elbows and punches. His hands count for a lot. In his only professional boxing fight, he won by knockout in the first round against Tamas Bajzath in 2017. Aspinall has trained with Tyson Fury, reminding fans he has a very hard-hitting boxing base and partners to elevate him.

7

Holly Holm

Holm Has The Best Boxing Credentials In UFC History

Before Katie Taylor, Holm ruled the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions in boxing. She was a multiple-time world champion in boxing, defending her titles 18 times in three weight classes. Holm was also a two-time Ring magazine fighter of the year.

It may shock many who know her for that kick that slept Ronda Rousey. Or for those who think she is just good at grappling and submissions. Holm is well-rounded. Near the end of her boxing career, Holm avenged her loss to knockout artist Anne Sophie Mathis and defeated Diana Prazak and Mary McGee in her last two bouts. Holm has a 33-2-3 boxing record, confirming she is one of the greatest crossover athletes ever after joining the UFC two years later in 2015.

6

Alexander Volkanovski

‘Volk’ Knows How to Clinch And Bust Chins

Alexander Volkanovski is another former UFC featherweight champ. He is a diverse fighter, known for takedown defense, sprawls, ground and pound, as well as sharp boxing. ‘Volk’ can shell up and dish it out, as Islam Makhachev found out in their first fight. Other fighters like Holloway, ‘Korean Zombie’ and Aldo learned this the hard way, too.

Interestingly, ‘Volk’ won his lone boxing scrap in 2015 against Dillon Bargero, setting the basis for his MMA reign. A year later, the former rugby player would debut in the UFC and show how to handle taller and rangier opponents; a testament to his adept use of distance control and angles. Volkanovski might have lost the belt, but he has a chance to reclaim the featherweight title after Ilia Topuria vacated the belt.

5

Anderson Silva

The ‘Spider’ Has Chinned Opponent In MMA And Boxing

At age 46, Silva defeated Julio César Chávez Jr., the son of a boxing legend and a former world champion. The former UFC middleweight champion utilized his boxing skills to parry, slip, and counter effectively there — which MMA fans have seen him do for years.

Silva drubbed the likes of Forrest Griffin and Yushin Okami with his fists in the UFC to reiterate that he was as deadly with his hands as he was with his feet. When he retired, ‘Spider’ knocked out Tito Ortiz in 2021 and lost a unanimous decision boxing fight to Jake Paul a year later. Win or lose, fans won’t mind seeing the veteran in Silva continue boxing as he is a formidable, durable opponent. Hopefully, he can extend his 3-2 record.

4

Stipe Miocic

The Ohio Native Has Slept Some Big Guns

Stipe Miocic is a firefighter, a gentle giant, and someone many consider the most polite UFC fighter ever. However, he isn’t a gentleman in the cage or boxing ring. Miocic is a former UFC heavyweight champ, boasting TKO wins over Daniel Cormier, Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski and Junior dos Santos.

He also has KOs over Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Phil De Fries. Simply put, Miocic has explosive hands. It stems back to before the UFC. He won the regional Golden Gloves championship in amateur boxing and reached the national quarter-finals, losing on points to future WBA interim heavyweight titleholder, Bryant Jennings. Impressively, he achieved this with only eight months of training. Miocic preferred the diversity of MMA over boxing and ended up becoming a two-time UFC champ with 15 knockouts.

3

Francis Ngannou

‘The Predator’ Got Ranked As A WBC Top 10 Heavyweight In 2023

Francis Ngannou made his boxing debut against reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. It was a dream come true for him and he over-delivered. The former UFC heavyweight champ knocked down Fury and took him into deep waters in all 10 rounds. Fury narrowly won by split decision; however, many felt Ngannou deserved the victory.

It didn’t surprise many who saw Ngannou send Overeem, Miocic, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Cain Velasquez, dos Santos, Arlovski and Curtis Blaydes to the shadow realm in his UFC tenure. This left fans hoping Ngannou would do well boxing against Anthony Joshua. Unfortunately, Ngannou got brutally slept in the first round, but as Joshua himself said, Ngannou still has boxing tread on the wheels. Ngannou returned to MMA and made his PFL debut in impressive fashion by knocking out Renan Ferreira in the first round.

2

Israel Adesanya

‘Stylebender’ Has An Underrated 5-1 Record As A Pro Boxer

Few may know this, but Israel Adesanya wasn’t just a kickboxing legend with Glory. He boxed in 2014 and 2015, racking up a 5-1 record. He lost his first fight in a controversial match against the two-time Australian champion Daniel Ammann. Despite this setback, Adesanya rebounded, securing four victories in the remainder of his boxing career and earning the prestigious title of two-time Super 8 Boxing Tournament winner in New Zealand.

He even had one KO against Asher Derbyshire. It explains why he got so slick at counterpunching in MMA, and why he could stand, bang and sleep someone like ‘Poatan.’ His unique defensive style involves using his feet and hips adeptly to evade punches, often keeping his hands down to enhance his strategic movement.

1

Ilia Topuria

El Matador KO’ed Two Legends With His Boxing

Ilia Topuria is one of the most dangerous rising stars in the UFC, blending technical boxing with knockout power. Despite his grappling background, Topuria has developed a striking arsenal centered around sharp combinations, crisp counters, and devastating body shots. His ability to slip punches and return fire has made him a nightmare for opponents inside the Octagon.

At UFC 298 on February 17, 2024, Topuria captured the featherweight title by delivering a stunning second-round knockout against long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. A precise right hook at 3:32 into the round secured his championship status. Topuria’s first title defense came on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308, where he faced former champion Max Holloway. Demonstrating his striking superiority, Topuria knocked out Holloway in the third round, marking the first time Holloway had been finished in such a manner.

The debate rages on as to who the greatest UFC fighter in history is. The likes of Randy Couture, Georges St-Pierre, and Jon Jones are possible contenders, while Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey deserve credit for increasing UFC’s mainstream prominence.

A major criterion that is often considered is the dominance of the said fighter and nothing can be a more accurate representation of fighter dominance than winning streaks. Conor’s arch-nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be a better fighter due to his 29-0 MMA record, which also includes a victory over the Irishman. This list exclusively deals with UFC bouts and highlights the fighters with the most consecutive wins in the company.

17

Movsar Evloev

He Is Unstoppable So Far

Movsar Evloev has established himself as a formidable contender in the UFC’s Featherweight division, maintaining an unblemished professional record of 19-0, with 9 of those victories achieved under the UFC banner. Evloev’s fighting style is characterized by technical striking and exceptional grappling skills, which have consistently posed challenges for his opponents.​ His UFC journey began on April 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 149, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Seung Woo Choi. Since then, Evloev has continued his ascent in the division, earning notable wins against fighters such as Dan Ige and Arnold Allen. His most recent victory came on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310, where he defeated former Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision.

16

Dricus Du Plessis

The South African Is Tearing Through The Middleweight Division

Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis has achieved an impressive 9-fight winning streak in the UFC’s Middleweight division. This streak includes notable victories over top contenders such as Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, and former champion Israel Adesanya. Du Plessis’ awkward fighting style, characterized by blitz attacks, diverse striking and proficient grappling, has solidified his status as a dominant force in the division.

His most recent victory came on February 8, 2025, at UFC 312, where he successfully defended his Middleweight title in a rematch against Sean Strickland, winning by unanimous decision. Du Plessis’ undefeated UFC record and championship reign have established him as one of the premier fighters in the Middleweight division.

15

Arnold Allen

The Brit Went On An Impressive Run

Arnold Allen emerged as one of the most promising Featherweights in the UFC, boasting an impressive 10-fight winning streak before suffering his first promotional loss. His rise through the ranks saw him defeat notable names, including Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Hooker, and Calvin Kattar, displaying a well-rounded skill set with sharp striking and strong grappling.

Allen’s streak came to an end in a five-round main event against former champion Max Holloway. While he put up a valiant effort, he was outworked over 25 minutes and lost via unanimous decision. Despite the setback, Allen remains one of the top contenders in the division, with many expecting him to bounce back and continue his pursuit of UFC gold.

14

Royce Gracie

Won Three Tournaments At This Time

The way the UFC began is nothing like it is now. Fights did not have time limits, rounds, or even weight classes, and the most dominant fighter of that era would be none other than Royce Gracie. He would compete in the first four UFC tournaments and would win three of them. UFC 3 would see him withdraw from the tournament after a fight with Kimo Leopoldo.

Gracie beat everyone he stepped in the octagon with until a rematch with Ken Shamrock for the UFC Superfight Championship at UFC 5. The match was panned as both fighters didn’t do much of anything for a whole 36 minutes and ended in a draw.

13

Merab Dvalishvili

A Championship Run That Keeps Getting Better

Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili has dominated the Bantamweight division, securing wins over top names like Marlon Moraes, José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. His relentless pace and wrestling-heavy style led to a ten-fight win streak, with only his TKO victory over Moraes breaking the pattern of unanimous decisions. On September 14, 2024, at UFC 306, he claimed the Bantamweight title by defeating Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision, marking the biggest achievement of his career.

Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January 2025, winning by unanimous decision in a Fight of the Night showdown. Now, a highly anticipated rematch against O’Malley is set for UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, where fans eagerly await to see if Dvalishvili can maintain his reign or if O’Malley will reclaim the gold.

12

Charles Oliveria

Captured The Lightweight Title And Broke Records

Charles Oliveira returning to the Lightweight division after a tenure as a Featherweight might have been the best decision for his career. Charles has always been a great fighter, but he only scored a few wins here and there and often missed weight in the Featherweight division.

Returning to Lightweight saw him beat Will Brooks before suffering a loss to Paul Felder, but after that loss, Charles would go on the best run of his career. He beat fighter after fighter, broke the UFC record for most submission wins, broke the record for most finishes, and captured the Lightweight title. This reign would last until Charles missed weight and was stripped of the belt, and a fight for the vacant belt against Islam Makhachev saw Charles finally lose after five years of winning.

11

Tony Ferguson

Found Interim Gold In The Lightweight Division

Tony Ferguson has had some bad luck during his UFC career. He hasn’t been able to capture any true UFC gold as he did win the Interim Lightweight title but was stuck in a messed up division due to Conor McGregor’s inactivity, and had to vacate his Interim title before getting a chance to fight the champ. That didn’t hold him down as that Interim win came ten wins into a lengthy win streak that started years prior.

The streak would end with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 via a fifth-round TKO. Ferguson now struggles in the promotion as he is currently sitting on a eight-fight losing streak, a record.

10

Alexander Volkanovski

Beat Some Of The Best In The Featherweight Scene

Alexander Volkanovski started his UFC career off strong as he burst onto the Featherweight scene, beating names like Jose Aldo, Max Holloway, and Brian Ortega just a couple of years in. He would capture the Featherweight title from Holloway before attempting to become a double champion and targeting Islam Makhachev and the Lightweight title.

That fight would end an impressive streak that could have continued as Alexander earned a win over Yair Rodriguez a few months later. The Featherweight champ would try again against Islam before taking another loss and eventually losing his own title against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.

9

Amanda Nunes

Controlled The Women’s Featherweight & Bantamweight Divisions

Amanda Nunes had a 5-1 record in the UFC when she went toe to toe with, at the time, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Miesha Tate. That fight would last only one round with Nunes securing a rear-naked choke and her first UFC Championship at UFC 200. It would take an outstanding five years for anyone to be able to topple the UFC legend when Julianna Pena was able to perform the same submission that won Nunes her first title.

Nunes would get her revenge and title back adding another defense at UFC 289 against Irene Aldana before stepping away from the octagon and announcing her retirement.

8

Max Holloway

Dominated The Featherweight Division

Featherweight ace Max Holloway joined the UFC as a 21-year-old and enjoyed a mediocre early record, going 3-3 from 2012 to 2013. However, Holloway came out re-energized in 2014 and finished 4 opponents by either knock-out or submission that single year. Holloway continued his fine form, beating the likes of former Lightweight champion Charles Oliviera, Cub Swanson, and Jeremy Stephens to earn an interim featherweight title fight against Anthony Pettis. Another TKO win followed, bringing up his record from 2014 to 10-0.

Holloway would then compete in the most important match of his career, a title unification bout against the champion Jose Aldo in Aldo’s native Brazil. Another TKO in the third round and ‘Blessed’ had unified the featherweight titles. Holloway would TKO Aldo once again six months later and bloodied Brian Ortega to extend his winning streak to 13. His streak would end at the hands of his very first UFC opponent, Dustin Poirier in 2019 when Holloway bumped up one weight class to challenge for the Interim Lightweight title at UFC 236.

7

Demetrious Johnson

Helped Create The Flyweight Division

Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever grace the Octagon. For over 5 years, he was the face of the UFC Flyweight division and carved out a 13-fight winning streak in the company. What makes DJ’s feat even more impressive is the fact that 12 out of his 13 wins were in Flyweight title matches and the other one was in the semifinals of the inaugural flyweight title tournament semifinals. Johnson started his winning run by defeating Ian McCall in a rematch to earn a Flyweight title shot against Joseph Benavidez, whom he would edge out with a split decision victory. Now champion, Mighty Mouse would run through the division, defeating challenger after challenger. Henry Cejudo would be stopped by TKO, John Dodson would fall twice and Kyoji Horiguchi would be submitted with one second remaining in the fifth round as DJ became firmly established as the No:1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.

DJ’s victory over Ray Borg at UFC 216 extended his streak to 13 and set a UFC record for 11 consecutive title defenses. That would be his final victory in the UFC, as Cejudo would narrowly defeat Johnson in a rematch at UFC 227 via split decision to take the title and break his streak. DJ would leave for ONE Championship shortly thereafter and proceeded to win the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix tournament.

6

Jon Jones

Destroyed The Light Heavyweight Division

Jon Jones is undoubtedly the best-ever fighter in the UFC Light Heavyweight division and could have topped this list if it weren’t for some unfortunate circumstances, most of which were of his own making. After a controversial disqualification loss in 2009 against Matt Hamill for using illegal 12-6 elbows, Jones would go on a tear, winning his next 13 fights. He would capture the Light Heavyweight title and, later, the interim title, but each belt would be stripped off Jones on separate occasions, the latter due to a doping violation.

Jones returned from his one-year suspension and defeated Daniel Cormier to recapture the belt, seemingly going 14-0. However, Jones was once again flagged for a doping violation by USADA and the belt was returned to Cormier. The match was reclassified as a no-contest, which officially ended Jones’ winning streak at 13. If that no contest never happened, Jones would be on a 20-fight winning streak after his win over Stipe Miocic.

5

Georges St-Pierre

Ran The Welterweight Division

Considered to be one of the greatest MMA fighters in history, Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre dominated the UFC Welterweight division for close to a decade. It took a while for the Canadian to reign over the division, with defeats against Matt Hughes and Matt Serra halting his momentum. Undeterred, GSP bounced back and started his legendary 13-fight winning streak with a victory over Josh Koscheck four months later. Both Hughes and Serra would be TKO’d in rematches and GSP retook his crown.

Subsequently, he would beat the likes of B.J Penn, Thiago Alves, Jake Shields, Carlos Condit, and Nick Diaz to become universally regarded as the best Welterweight of all time. After a controversial split-decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre vacated his belt and stepped away from the sport. He would make a comeback four years later, moving up a division and challenging Middleweight champion Michael Bisping for the title at UFC 217. At the event that set a Canadian PPV record, St-Pierre defeated Bisping via rear-naked choke to become a two-division champion, extending his winning run to 13.

4

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Became The Biggest Name In The Lightweight Division

One of the very few fighters to retire with an unbeaten record, Khabib Nurmagomedov went 29-0 in his career, with 13 of those victories coming in the UFC. Making his promotional debut on the preliminary card of UFC on FX 1 in 2012, Khabib scored victories over the likes of Abel Trujillo and former Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, and a Lightweight title shot seemed a virtual certainty. But champion Eddie Alvarez opted for a money match against ultra-popular Featherweight champion Conor McGregor instead. This lit a fire in Khabib, who proceeded to pummel Michael Johnson and Edson Barboza to go 9-0 in the company.

While interesting match-ups against the likes of Gilbert Melendez, Nate Diaz, and particularly Tony Ferguson fell through during different stages of his UFC run, Khabib finally captured Lightweight gold at UFC 223 after a victory over Al Iaquinta. He then consolidated his grip on the division with a particularly satisfying submission victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 which broke all UFC PPV records. Further victories over top contenders Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje followed and Nurmagomedov decided to call it a day on his MMA career with a 13-0 UFC record.

3

Islam Makhachev

Dominates The Lightweight Division

At the time of writing this, Islam Makhachev is still active with his undefeated streak untouched as he earned back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski and a Performance of the Night against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. He would capture the Lightweight title when he beat Charles Oliveria at UFC 280, after earning numerous wins over names such as Thiago Moises, Davi Ramos, and Bobby Green.

Islam has only been on the losing end of one fight in his UFC career when Adriano Martins secured a KO victory back at UFC 192 in 2015, that being Islam’s second UFC fight.

2

Kamaru Usman

Smashed The Welterweight Scene

One of the more recent streaks in UFC history ended when Leon Edwards beat Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight title in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ever since he captured the title from Tyron Woodley at UFC 235, Usman dispatched top contenders in style – including two victories each over Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal as well as a TKO win over Gilbert Burns.

He would also beat top-tier talent like Sean Strickland, Damian Maia, and Rafael dos Anjos prior to his ascent as the Welterweight king. Usman is the current pound-for-pound #1 in the company and looks a good bet to surpass George St-Pierre’s Welterweight title defense record. Since his loss, Usman fought Edwards once more and a match against Khamzat Chimaev, both ending in a majority decision against Usman.

1

Anderson Silva

Reigned Over The Middleweight Division

Having held the UFC Middleweight title for nearly 2500 consecutive days, Anderson Silva won 16 straight bouts in the company from 2006-2012. This included the absolute destruction of Middleweight champ Rich Franklin, who was outclassed by Silva’s legendary striking defense. Silva’s win kicked off the golden age in the UFC’s middleweight division as he defeated contender after contender, including the likes of Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Vitor Belfort.

Silva displayed amazing confidence in the ring and would often resort to showboating, which eventually backfired against Chris Weidman during his 17th UFC bout. Silva was taunting Weidman, leaving his chin unprotected and Weidman knocked him out to take the title and end Silva’s unbeaten streak. A leg break in a rematch against Weidman ended Silva’s dominance and the Spider went on to win just one of his next seven UFC bouts, leaving the company in 2020.

Summary

• UFC fighters have showcased their skills and bravery by holding titles in two different weight divisions, solidifying their legacy as elite athletes.
• Randy Couture, Conor McGregor, and other legends have left their mark by becoming double champions, inspiring future generations of fighters.
• From B.J. Penn to Amanda Nunes, these UFC greats have displayed unmatched talent and determination in achieving the impressive feat of holding two division titles in their career.

The UFC stands as the pinnacle of combat sports, not only because of the top-notch fighters but also for their awe-inspiring victories. Over the years, many fighters have risen to the occasion, proving their worth by holding two titles in different weight divisions. Each fighter’s unique style and unparalleled achievements place them among the UFC elite.

The UFC has seen many champions with the tenacity and indomitable spirit to hold the titles and inspire future generations. Their valuable accomplishments proved their skill level and bravery in jumping into multiple weight divisions to test themselves.

9

Henry Cejudo

Captured The Flyweight And Bantamweight Championships

• Henry Cejudo is known as Triple C due to his achievements in wrestling and MMA.
• Cejudo also won a gold medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

With a background in wrestling, Cejudo’s transition to MMA was spectacular. He became the flyweight champion by dethroning dominant champion Demetrious Johnson, who was considered one of the biggest upsets in the UFC. Cejudo’s relentless work ethic and determination propelled him to further success in the bantamweight division.

He beat Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 to win the UFC Bantamweight Championship. His ability to adapt his wrestling skills in MMA and his striking made him one of the dominant forces in the UFC. However, since coming back from retirement in 2023, Cejudo has gone 0-3, losing to Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong.

8

B.J. Penn

Captured The Welterweight And Lightweight Championships

• B.J. Penn was the first cross-promotional champion in UFC history.
• He was the first inductee into the modern wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.

B.J. Penn has been equipped with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and well-rounded fighting abilities. BJ Penn beat Matt Huges for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 46 in 2004. However, he was later stripped of the title due to a contract dispute. Penn became the lightweight champion in 2008 by beating Joe Stevenson. He successfully defended it three times against Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, and Diego Sanchez, a record at that time. Ending his career with an overall record of 16-14, 7KO.

Although he was considered a UFC legend, he remains in the history books as one of the fighters with the longest losing streak. Penn’s life after his fighting career has

left fans concerned about his wellbeing.
He has moved to a political career, as in 2021, he attempted to run for governor of Hawaii and in 2024 made a run for the Hawaii County council. Fans can also keep up with his website, bjpenn.com, where he has become a news hub for all things going on in the UFC.

7

Randy Couture

Captured The Heavyweight And Light Heavyweight Championships

• Randy Couture was the first double champion in UFC history.
• He won three UFC heavyweight titles, two light heavyweight titles, and one interim light heavyweight title.

Randy Couture cemented his legacy by becoming the eldest fighter to win a championship at 43. His ability to mix striking and wrestling was a trademark of his fighting style, earning him the nickname ‘The Natural.’ Couture beat Maurice Smith, Kevin Randleman, and Tim Sylvia in the heavyweight division for his three title reigns. On the other hand, he won against Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort for his two championship reigns in the light heavyweight division.

Couture has a career record of 19-11, 7KO, and holds the record for most main event fights (18) in the history of the UFC. Since retiring, Couture has done his fair share of acting, including several appearances on television shows and a few starring roles in movies such as The Expendables series and The Scorpion King 2. Couture still has his toes in the MMA pool as he does commentary and works as an analyst for the PFL.

6

Conor McGregor

Captured The Featherweight And Lightweight Championships

• Conor McGregor has the most Pay-Per-View Buys (13 million) in UFC history.
• McGregor holds the record for the first UFC fighter to hold two titles simultaneously.

Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the most iconic figure in UFC history. McGregor’s best UFC performances against Jose Aldo, Eddie Alvarez, and Nate Diaz cemented his place at the top of the table. McGregor won the Featherweight and Lightweight championships and an interim Featherweight title. His larger-than-life persona and exceptional fighting skills propelled him to global stardom. McGregor did not defend any of his titles and was stripped of both due to inactivity. His counterstriking and knockout power drove him to many quick knockouts, earning him a career record of 22-6, 19KO.

McGregor’s ability to generate immense hype and sell out arenas made him a true superstar, transcending the sport itself. That personality and hype behind his name has seen McGregor throw himself at any and everything that comes along. He owns multiple pubs in his home country, has taken up acting, considered running for office, and just recently became a part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. There have been plans in place to get McGregor back in the octagon with Michael Chandler being the first pick, but those plans fell through after Conor suffered a broken toe and had to pull out.

5

Daniel Cormier

Captured The Heavyweight And Light Heavyweight Championships

• Daniel Cormier was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
• He was the first fighter to successfully defend both titles after winning them.

Daniel Cormier beat Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 226 with a shocking first round knockout. He faced some of the greatest fighters in the UFC, such as Anderson Silva, Anthony Johnson, and Jon Jones. Cormier successfully defended the light heavyweight championship thrice and the heavyweight title once. Cormier’s trilogy with Stipe Miocic and rivalry with Jon Jones will always be remembered among the most iconic rivalries in the history of the UFC.

Cormier’s wrestling, pressure fighting and title fights ceritfied his plance among the UFC legends. Similar to other legends of the sport, Cormier hasn’t fully left the business behind as he does commentary for the UFC and manages a YouTube channel where he analyzes fights and the sport as a whole. You can also hear Cormier’s takes on the business by checking out the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast that he runs with fellow UFC legend, Chael Sonnen.

4

Alex Pereira

Captured The Light Heavyweight And Middleweight Championships

• Alex Pereira is the first and only UFC fighter to win the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Championships.
• He was ranked No. 1 in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in 2021.

Pereira’s elite striking and knockout power made him a fighter to watch in the UFC. In 2024, he clocked in three title defenses, winning all three by knockout. Pereira holds the record for the shortest time in between holding the championships. He also became one of the biggest active stars of the UFC.

The rivalry between him and Israel Adesanya was among the best in UFC history. Alex reign over the UFC Light Heavyweight division has come to an end at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev. He will likely get an immediate rematch sometime in 2025.

3

Jon Jones

Captured The Light Heavyweight And Heavyweight Championships

• Jones has the longest championship reign in UFC history.
• Jones has the longest unbeaten streak in UFC history, having 20 straight victories.
• He has the most title defenses, most wins, and the longest unbeaten streak in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Jon Jones’ unique blend of striking, wrestling, and unorthodox techniques has made him a force to reckon with. Jones’ controversial loss to Matt Hamil has been the only dark mark on his perfect record. He defeated many contenders, including Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, and Rashad Evans.

Since capturing the UFC Heavyweight Championship, Jones defended the belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. He is expected to return in a unification bout against Tom Aspinall in 2025.

2

Georges St-Pierre

Captured The Welterweight And Middleweight Championships

• Georges St-Pierre was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2020.
• He holds the record for most championship fights in the UFC welterweight division.

Georges St-Pierre, often called GSP, is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever. His well-rounded skill set, and exceptional athleticism made him a formidable opponent in the welterweight division. He defended his welterweight title against many challengers, including Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, and Josh Koscheck. His career record is 26-2, 8KO. GSP is among the few fighters who retired as champions as he announced his retirement after winning the UFC middleweight championship. Georges St-Pierre remains among the highest-paid UFC fighters.

The red carpet was thrown out for GSP after retiring, as he has since received a massive bronze statue of himself, been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, and inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Back in the summer of 2024, GSP shut down any idea that he would make a return to MMA when he told The Anik & Florian Podcast,

“When I train for a fight, everything needs to be perfect and I don’t cut corners,I go crazy. I put everything I can to be the best that I can. I think that’s the reason I got hurt…my body can’t keep up anymore!

1

Amanda Nunes

Captured The Women’s Featherweight And Bantamweight Championships

• Amanda Nunes holds the record for the most wins in title fights in the women’s division.
• Nunes is the first and only female fighter who became a double UFC champion.

Amanda Nunes dominated the women’s division with her devastating knockout power and exceptional grappling skills. She rose to stardom in UFC 200 by beating Miesha Tate for the Bantamweight title. She successfully defended her title against the likes of Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and Valentina Shevchenko, solidifying her status as the queen of the bantamweight division. She became a double champion by beating Cris Cyborg in just 51 seconds for the featherweight title.

With a career record of 23-5, 13KO, she cemented her legacy by becoming the only female fighter to retire as a double champion. She also holds the record for achieving the dual champion status twice in her career. Nunes gave a little tease about a possible return when she tagged Dana White in an Instagram video with her singing lyrics that hinted at Dana calling her to come back. Julianna Pena has been calling Nunes out for a third match in their feud, which has gotten the champion into some heated debates as people feel she has been hiding behind the call-out for a match that most believe will never happen.

Summary

• UFC London on 3/22/25 features Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady for a welterweight showdown.
• Start times vary across time zones, main card at 8:00 PM London time.
• Main event also includes Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg in the co-main event.

The UFC

returns to London on Saturday, March 22, 2025, with a thrilling fight card at The O2 Arena. This highly anticipated event is headlined by a welterweight showdown between former champion Leon Edwards

and rising contender Sean Brady and the winner may be in line for a

title shot against Belal Muhammad
.

UFC London: Start Time In Different Time Zones

To ensure fans worldwide don’t miss a second of the action, here are the global start times:

Preliminary Card Start Times

• London (GMT): 5:00 PM
• New York (ET): 1:00 PM
• Los Angeles (PT): 10:00 AM
• Dubai (GST): 9:00 PM
• Sydney (AEDT): 4:00 AM (Sunday)
• Tokyo (JST): 2:00 AM (Sunday)

Main Card Start Times

• London (GMT): 8:00 PM
• New York (ET): 4:00 PM
• Los Angeles (PT): 1:00 PM
• Dubai (GST): midnight (Sunday)
• Sydney (AEDT): 7:00 AM (Sunday)
• Tokyo (JST): 5:00 AM (Sunday)

Main Event: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady

Edwards Is Hoping To Get Back To Title Contention

Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (22-4) returns to home soil f

ollowing his title loss to Belal Muhammad last July.
The Birmingham native, who won the UFC welterweight title in 2022 with a shocking head-kick knockout over Kamaru Usman, seeks to reassert his dominance. Edwards was scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena who pulled out of the event.

Facing him is Philadelphia’s Sean Brady (17-1), a powerful grappler looking to climb the ranks after recent victories over Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns. Brady is known for his suffocating wrestling, setting up a classic striker vs. grappler showdown.

Co-Main Event: Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg

In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion

Jan Blachowicz
(29-10-1) takes on Carlos Ulberg (10-1), a striking specialist from New Zealand. Ulberg, on a seven-fight win streak, faces his toughest test yet in the Polish powerhouse. Błachowicz has been inactive since his controversial loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.

He also had a controversial draw against the current champion Magomed Ankalaev. With a win over the surging Ulberg, the Polish star will certainly want a chance to fight the winner of Pereira vs. Ankalaev rematch, which is expected to take place later in the year.

Full UFC London Fight Card

Main Card

UFC Brings Another Stacked Card To London

• Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady (Welterweight – Main Event)
• Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg (Light Heavyweight – Co-Main Event)
• Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland (Welterweight)
• Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara (Women’s Flyweight)
• Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan (Lightweight)
• Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere (Featherweight)

Preliminary Card

• Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla (Lightweight)
• Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos (Flyweight)
• Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin (Heavyweight)
• Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar (Women’s Strawweight)

How to Watch UFC London

UFC London will be broadcast worldwide via multiple platforms:

• UK: TNT Sports
• USA: ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass
• Brazil: Combate
• Germany & Europe: DAZN
• Australia: Main Event, UFC Fight Pass

​​​​​​​Fans in the UK can catch the event live on TNT Sports, while viewers in the US can stream it on ESPN+. UFC London 2025 features a mix of rising stars and established veterans, with homegrown talents like Leon Edwards, Molly McCann, and Nathaniel Wood looking to impress. The main and co-main events could have title shot implications later in the year, so fans shouldn’t miss out on the action.