Europe has a rich and storied combat sports heritage, but despite some successful early adopters like the Dutchman Bas Rutten – who won heavyweight gold in 1999 – the continent didn’t have consistent success in the UFC

until much later.

However, countries like Russia, the UK, Ireland, and Poland now regularly produce elite talent to compete in the Octagon, able to compete with the longstanding powerhouses of the USA and Brazil in the top tier. Though there are many skilled and exciting European athletes who have done incredible things in the UFC, here are our top fighters from the region ranked by their skills and achievements.

10

Andrei Arlovski

Groundbreaking Heavyweight Legend From Belarus

• Arlovski’s UFC career spanned 24 years.
• He broke records for wins and appearances.
• A complete heavyweight package ahead of the pack.

Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski’s incredible longevity means he is both a pioneer and contemporary for European fighters in the UFC.

He won the UFC heavyweight title in 2005 and 19 years later he was still active in the Octagon, earning the most wins in the division’s history and second-most in the promotion’s history with 23.

Noted for moving like a man much smaller than his 245lbs, Arlovski was a feared boxer and kickboxer with a well-rounded skill set that also drew from his experience in sambo and judo.

9

Petr Yan

Russian Star Who Won Bantamweight Gold

• Yan won the UFC bantamweight title by defeating Jose Aldo in 2020.
• He’s still one of the division’s biggest names.
• Yan is a fan-favorite for his thrilling fighting style.

Petr Yan burst onto the UFC scene with some scintillating striking displays in 2018.

His crisp boxing, relentless pressure, and impeccable footwork helped him blast his way to a shot at the vacant title in 2020, where he outfoxed the legendary Brazilian stand-up specialist Jose Aldo to claim the gold.

Yan’s precision and high-output offense have marked him out as one of the frontrunners in modern MMA striking, with his mental fortitude also endearing him to the fans.

8

Tom Aspinall

Reigning UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion From England

• Aspinall is a powerful and well-rounded monster.
• He is faster and more accurate than most of his peers.
• The Brit could be a dominant force for years.

One of the most well-rounded heavyweights today,

Tom Aspinall’s explosive run to the interim UFC gold
has seen him dispatch his opponents in all eight of his promotional victories.

Although it’s been his speed and powerful boxing that have mostly done the job, Aspinall is also a slick BJJ black belt with elite submission skills. The Englishman has athleticism rarely seen among men of his size, as well as good fighting IQ and innate knockout ability.

7

Leon Edwards

Jamaica-Born Welterweight Raised In England

• He is the former UFC welterweight champion.
• He won the title with one of the most memorable KOs of recent years.
• A seven-year unbeaten streak took him to the top.

Leon Edwards elevated himself to the elite level with very little fanfare. The softly spoken Birmingham man won 10 straight fights to earn a rematch with Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title – but that’s when he made his biggest statement.

Down on the scorecards, Edwards knocked Usman out with an inch-perfect high kick to take the belt, but it was the culmination of years of hard work. With precise striking and strong grappling, “Rocky” dominated his rivals with superior game-planning and intelligent defense.

6

Conor McGregor

Irish Superstar And Biggest Draw In MMA History

• The first fighter to hold two UFC belts at the same time.
• McGregor single-handedly elevated MMA to a new level.
• His KO power and exciting striking took him to the top.

While his activities outside the cage have seen Conor McGregor fall out of favor with the MMA fan base, it’s undeniable that the Irishman was in a league of his own in his prime.

He talked the talk but then diligently walked the walk with a string of savage finishes en route to becoming the first-ever simultaneous UFC champion at featherweight and lightweight.

Of his 10 UFC wins, McGregor finished nine by knockout, with his laser-guided straight left his most devastating tool. But the Irishman’s footwork, awareness, and accuracy were all key components in his arsenal.

5

Joanna Jędrzejczyk

Polish MMA Great Who Dominated Strawweight Ranks

• Jędrzejczyk had five straight world title defenses.
• She was one of the most feared strikers of her era.
• She is the first Polish-born UFC champion.

Joanna Jędrzejczyk blitzed her way through the UFC strawweight ranks with her ruthless brand of striking, winning the belt in 2015.

She defended the belt five times in a two-year stretch to extend her record to 14-0 until she finally came unstuck at the hands of Rose Namajunas.

Jędrzejczyk’s dynamic and high-volume output often overwhelmed her rivals, but her technical prowess and tenacity kept her ahead of the ones who could weather the storm.

4

Ilia Topuria

Georgian UFC Featherweight Champion

• Topuria was born in Germany to Georgian parents.
• He was raised in Germany, Georgia, and Spain.
• He is a well-rounded fighter with concussive power.

Ilia Topuria has won and defended the UFC featherweight title with victories over Alex Volkanovski

and Max Holloway
; two of the division’s greatest of all time.

The Georgian star has been a concussive wrecking machine inside the Octagon, but it was built off the back of a solid grappling foundation.

Starting with wrestling and earning a BJJ black belt at 21, undefeated Topuria has consistently evolved his skill set to become one of the most dangerous boxers in MMA, boasting great footwork and blistering power.

3

Islam Makhachev

UFC Lightweight Champion And Pound-For-Pound King

• Makhachev was inspired by former teammate and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov.
• He went on to dominate the lightweight ranks when his mentor retired.
• Looks set to go down at one of the greatest of all time.

Islam Makhachev is already the most dominant UFC lightweight champion in history with four consecutive world title defenses, but the Dagestani phenom hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

He has finished eight of his last nine victories against elite opposition, showcasing his unrivaled grappling prowess alongside his improving stand-up game.

Apart from a KO loss early in his UFC career, Makhachev has smashed his way through the lightweight ranks with his immense wrestling and submission capabilities, which are constantly being bolstered by his all-around improvements.

2

Michael Bisping

UK and European MMA Trailblazer

• He is a legendary British athlete who won The Ultimate Fighter.
• He earned the middleweight crown after years as a top contender.
• Bisping retired and is now a well-liked pundit.

Michael Bisping
was one of the fighters at the spearhead of a European charge in the UFC.

After winning The Ultimate Fighter 3 in 2006 as a light heavyweight, he eventually dropped to middleweight where he finally captured the crown in 2016 – becoming the UK’s first UFC champion.

Known as “The Count”, Bisping was a leading proponent of the “sprawl and brawl” style, working hard on his defensive wrestling so he could utilize his striking game. He used his intense work ethic and volume striking to beat some of the sport’s biggest names.

1

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Russian Legend Who Retired On Top

• Khabib retired from MMA as UFC champion in his prime.
• The Russian left the sport with a perfect 29-0 record.
• He popularized a uniquely aggressive style of wrestling.

Khabib Nurmagomedov tops the list as Europe’s greatest MMA export, partly because of his incredible resume, but also because of the precedent he set in the sport of MMA.

“The Eagle” was the first dominant Dagestani champion, showcasing the now-famous dominant wrestling game that many from his region are using with great success now.

Nurmagomedov’s takedowns, rides, submissions, and ground-and-pound blended seamlessly and he barely lost a round, let alone a fight. He smothered and punished every opponent, most famously submitting the likes of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

Although his friend and student,

Islam Makhachev
, has amassed more world championship wins, Khabib’s skill, strategy, and fight IQ paved the way and he’ll always be remembered as a great.