UFC

314 is set for Saturday night in Miami, and the card features a stacked list of superstars, contenders, and exciting prospects in the promotion. The card’s centerpiece is an incredible matchup between former champion Alexander Vokanovski and top contender Diego Lopes. These two will fight for the

vacant UFC featherweight championship
on Saturday night.

The Tale Of The Tape

How This Championship Bout Measures Up

The physical advantages seem to be firmly in Lopes’ favor. He is the younger fighter and has been more active in the last 365 days. On top of that, Lopes is taller and has a slight advantage in reach. With that being said, Volkanovski hasn’t let his lack of size hold him back at all at 145lbs.

Going into this title fight, the most glaring questions are all about Volkanovski and his age. Is he on the downslope of his career? Or did he just lose to arguably the two best fighters in the world right now? There is no doubt that all those questions will be answered on Saturday night when Volkanovski meets an aggressive Lopes in the octagon.

Alexander Volkanovski

What Does “The Great” Need To Do To Regain The Throne?

• He needs to somehow have the same confidence in the chaos that he did before his last two losses.
• It will depend on how he moves in the octagon at age 36, and how his durability holds up.
• He needs to trust the fighting system he has learned over the years, mixing up attacks and winning every exchange possible, bringing the fight into the later rounds.

Many UFC fans are probably feeling nervous heading into this weekend and getting ready for UFC 314. Volkanovski is arguably the best featherweight champion to ever step foot in the octagon, and his likable personality has made him one of the most beloved fighters on the UFC roster.

Does he have what it takes to become world champion again? There are a lot of questions around his current form going into UFC 314. He has been out of the octagon for about 14 months, coming off of back-to-back KO losses to world champions. Yes, he went against literally two of the best fighters in the world in Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, but father time is undefeated in MMA, and he understands all of this.

To win this weekend, Volkanovski needs to have most, if not all, of the athleticism and durability he had before his two KO losses. At 36 years old, we cannot know if that’s the case until those octagon doors close. Taking a year away from competing at this age, especially in the lower weight classes, has never been a positive in this sport’s history.

Confidence is a massive factor going into this weekend. Think about the difference between Volkanovski and Lopes:

one is coming off two KO losses
and probably has more issues with his body than ever before getting through a training camp, and the other is in his prime with all the momentum in the world. This stuff matters a lot in the cage.

Volkanovski needs to have all his confidence. Remaining calm in the chaos that Lopes brings to the octagon is key. He needs to be able to implement the game plan that his team has set for this title bout, even if he gets caught in the inevitable big shot and flurry of punches coming from Lopes in the early rounds.

The biggest advantage Volkanovski has is his championship experience. He has been in the octagon with some of the best fighters to ever do it, and has competed against the best contenders in the world in every fight since 2018. Lopes seems to have been in just one 5-round fight, a fight he lost in 2021 in another promotion. Taking this fight into the later rounds and being prepared for it is a big advantage for Volkanovski and maybe the key to getting his hand raised on Saturday night.

Diego Lopes

Will There Be A New World Champion?

• He needs to be who he has been on his journey to this title shot. Keep the same confidence and aggression at all times.
• Will the moment be too big? Is he prepared for 25 minutes against one of the best champions in featherweight history?
• The big advantage will be in the grappling exchanges.

There is no doubt that Diego Lopes is one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster right now. He has been exciting ever since making his UFC debut on short notice and almost taking down a top contender like Movsar Evloev. Lopes needs to keep that same fighting style this weekend because that is what got him into this position, fighting for a title.

Lopes has all the physical advantages and all the momentum. He is coming off an impressive win over Brian Ortega last September, a fight that showed his constant improvement and maturity in the cage. He needs to keep that confidence and mindset that allows him to fight anybody, anywhere, at any time. He won’t be able to beat Volkanovski if the fight goes the way the Aussie wants.

To get his hand raised on Saturday night, Lopes needs to take control of the fight and set the pacing. With that being said, his usual pacing will be too much to last over 25 minutes, probably, and fans might be able to notice a change in game plan in the early rounds.

Not many people are talking about this, but the biggest opportunity for Lopes to get the job done on Saturday is in the grappling exchanges. Volkanovski, if he has any confidence issues, will be focused on striking defense and not running onto any big shots. This will open up things on the ground for Lopes.

Volkanovski has proven he is very solid defensively on the ground, but Lopes is unlike any grappler that the former champion has seen. Lopes won’t shoot any fundamental single or double-leg takedowns, he will take chances and look for opportunities to jump on Volkanovski’s back in a scramble or jump a guillotine if Volkanovski tries to mix in a level change. Lopes needs this fight to be very wild and exciting to have the best chance to win.

The Official Betting Prediction

Who Will Get Their Hand Raised On Saturday Night?

Currently, the former world champion Alexander Volkanovski is a -125 betting favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Lopes is coming in at +105, which is plenty of value for a fighter of his caliber going up against a 36-year-old Volkanovski coming off two losses.

Even though this is very difficult to say, Father Time is undefeated in MMA, and Volkanovski has a better chance of not looking like his former self than he does looking like the best featherweight in the world. The smart bet to make is to take Diego Lopes to get his hand raised at +105.

Lopes is a very dangerous fighter with legit power in his hands, aggressive submission skills, and an overall very good understanding of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the ground. He also continues to mature every time he steps foot in the octagon.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to hedge bets and take Volkanovski to win a decision, and Lopes won by submission at +550. There are a lot of options to take, and there is never any way of predicting what will happen in that octagon when two men at this level fight.

The official prediction is that Lopes will overpower Volkanovski in the first three rounds and take advantage of his defensive struggles up against the fence. There will be openings for Lopes to flurry while Volkanovski is squared up against the fence, as well as making the former champion eat heavy shots in the clinch, and even taking his back and choking him out. Lopes has all the momentum and confidence to go out there and get the job done against an older and less dominant Volkanovski.

Summary

• BJ Penn claims his mother and brothers were murdered and replaced with clones, demanding DNA tests.
• Penn accused the government of replacing his family, citing physical differences and warning of violence.
• Fans express concern and urge Penn to seek psychiatric support amidst troubling and erratic behavior.

UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn

has left fans deeply concerned after sharing a disturbing video on Instagram in which he claimed that his mother and brothers were murdered and replaced with clones.

The MMA legend
said he called on the Hilo Police Department to investigate the matter, citing physical differences and demanding DNA tests.

Penn Alleges Cloning Based on Ears and Freckles

The Former UFC Star Appears To Threaten Violence

In Instagram videos, Penn named his mother Lorraine Shin, his brother Jay Dee Penn, Reagan Penn, and Kalani Mamazuka, claiming all four had been murdered and that the people currently in his home are imposters. As evidence, Penn posted a side-by-side photo of his brother and mother’s ears, insisting they looked different than those of his real family members. He also cited his brother’s freckles as a supposed sign that he had been cloned.

“These guys aren’t my real family,” Penn said in the video. “Look at their ears. Look at the freckles. I want DNA tests.” His message was directed to local authorities, urging them to investigate and remove the alleged imposters from his property. The accusations, lacking any credible evidence, have been widely dismissed by fans as troubling signs of a possible mental health crisis.

He also threatened to use violence against his family members, writing, “If I harm any of these people that are acting like my mom or my brothers, I go to jail and lose everything. If they harm me, nothing will happen to them and I lose everything.. I have many black belts over the years that are police officers. Are you guys gonna help me? Are we going to help Jd and Reagan and my mother and look for them and investigate these fake frauds who are trying to steal everything from my family? #hawaii”

Fans Urge UFC Legend to Seek Help Amid Growing Concerns

Continued Disturbing Behavior Is Troubling His Supporters

Penn’s video quickly gained attention across social media, not for its content, but for the concern it raised among the MMA community. Commenters on the post overwhelmingly expressed worry about his well-being, with many urging the former champion to seek psychiatric support. “Please BJ, get help. This isn’t normal,” wrote one fan. Another added, “This is painful to watch. Someone close to him needs to step in.”

This isn’t the first time Penn has made similar claims. Just last month,

he accused his mother of being replaced
, prompting similar concern. Penn has previously faced a string of legal and personal troubles since his retirement from MMA, including arrests and public altercations. His erratic behavior in recent years has drawn scrutiny, and the latest video has only amplified those fears.

As of now, neither the Hilo Police Department nor members of Penn’s family have publicly responded to his allegations. The video remains active on his Instagram profile, where concerned fans continue to comment and call for intervention.

MMA has existed for decades now. The sport is known for its diversity in hosting fighters from various countries and stylistic backgrounds. For example, some might be knockout artists, others may specialize in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

With the UFC first founded in the 1990s, the next decade of fighters was critical for growing the promotion and MMA to what the sport is today. They’ve displayed a level of dominance and records in the history book that we look back on today, whether that’s for title wins or submission totals. While most of the MMA legends who fought during 2000-2010 have retired, some amazingly still fight today.

17

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

The Power Slam Was His Trademark

Rampage Jackson was one of the most exciting and powerful fighters of the 2000s, with a fighting style that blended knockout power and aggressive wrestling. His signature power slam became a viral highlight, especially during his time in Pride FC. In 2007, he captured the UFC light heavyweight title by knocking out Chuck Liddell and later unified the belt against Dan Henderson. Jackson’s charisma and devastating right hand made him a fan favorite around the world.

16

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Toughness Defined His Career

Nogueira was the face of heavyweight submission grappling in the 2000s. The Pride legend and former interim UFC heavyweight champion was known for his incredible durability and ability to come back from punishment to secure a win. He had legendary wars with the likes of Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop and was one of the few fighters to hold titles in both Pride and the UFC. Minotauro’s heart and skill made him one of the most respected heavyweights in MMA history.

15

Frank Mir

The Arm-Breaker Of The Octagon

Frank Mir was a submission wizard in the heavyweight division, best known for his quick finishes and technical jiu-jitsu. He captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2004 and later won the interim belt in 2008 after a stunning win over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Mir is one of the few heavyweights to win multiple UFC titles and holds the record for most submissions in UFC heavyweight history. His brutal armbars and leg locks were the stuff of nightmares for his opponents.

14

Rich Franklin

The Chuck Liddell Knockout Is In His Highlight Reel

If you’re a fan of stand-up fighters in MMA, not many UFC fighters are more entertaining to watch than Rich Franklin. In the 2000s, the Hall of Famer was known for his highlight reel knockouts, including a big one against Chuck Liddell in 2010. Franklin earned his first UFC title in 2005 after knocking out Evan Tanner. He defended his belt twice after that and never regained gold after that.

13

Dan “Hendo” Henderson

Smothering Wrestling & One Punch KO Power Led To Two PRIDE Championships

Although he was never a champion in the UFC during the 2000s, Dan Henderson was nevertheless one of the most terrifying and dominant fighters of the decade. Henderson’s base may have been in Greco-Roman wrestling (which certainly helped him control the pace of his fights), but he and his opponents discovered that he had show-stopping power in his right hand. It was this KO power that led to the most iconic knockout of the 2000s, that being his knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100.

Henderson did arguably his best work however in PRIDE FC, where he won both their Middleweight (205 lbs) and Welterweight (183 lbs) championships before the promotion closed in 2007. He did that by beating two other legends of the decade, Murilo Bustamante and Wanderlei Silva.

12

Lyoto Machida

Machida’s Style Confounded Opponents In The 2000s

Prior to the arrival of Lyoto Machida in the UFC, Shotokan and points-based karate was seen as a style that just wasn’t viable in MMA compared to the striking arts of boxing and Muay Thai. Machida showed however that his blitzing style of punches and kicks could make minced meat out of even the toughest opponents and make otherwise skilled fighters look like striking amateurs.

Racking up wins over Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans and more in the 2000s, the decade was the beginning of Machida’s MMA odyssey. Unfortunately for Machida, he never managed a long UFC championship reign as he would only make one title defense before losing to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in 2010 at UFC 113.

11

Dominick Cruz

Wins Against Legends Including Faber, Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson

It feels like Dominick Cruz has been fighting forever. While he has lost three out of his last five fights, we can’t forget how dominant he was in his prime. After losing his WEC debut against champion Urijah Faber in 2007, The Dominator did not lose a fight until nearly a decade later. In UFC Bantamweight history, Cruz ranks second all-time in title fight wins with four. In addition, Cruz has beaten UFC legends including Faber, TJ Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson.

During the height of Cruz’s dominance, his bizarre kickboxing style confounded his opponents and if they ever rushed in on him, he would take them down with his incredible wrestling pedigree. Cruz’s varied arsenal and unique striking style made him difficult for opponents to prepare for.

10

BJ Penn

After Losing in 2009, He Won The Lightweight Belt Following A Win Against Florian

Sure, BJ Penn didn’t have a great end to his UFC career, losing nine out of his last 11 fights – but his versatility as a mixed martial artist allowed him to have multiple reigns as a UFC world champion. The first one began in 2008 after submitting Joe Stevenson and defended his belt once. After losing his belt to Georges St-Pierre in 2009, he regained glory later that year with a win after moving down in weight to Kenny Florian and defended it once against Diego Sanchez.

9

Jon Jones

Even Early In His Career, Jon Jones Was Special

Today, many consider Jon Jones to be the greatest UFC fighter of all time. From when he made his debut in 2008 until now, nobody even belonged in the same octagon as him. It was a matter of when, not if Jones would take his opponents to the ground and start pummeling them. If they were lucky enough, the Rochester, New York native would submit them early in the fight. His only loss to date was controversy over his Matt Hamill 12–6 elbows, which were deemed illegal.

8

Wanderlei Silva

Silva Made A Name For Himself In The PRIDE Fighting Championships

Wanderlei Silva is known mostly for his success in the PRIDE Fighting Championships. Nicknamed the “The Axe Murderer,” the Brazilian had devastating knockout power. The fight that stands out the most with Silva was his repeated knees to the head on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson that knocked him out cold in 2002 in a PRIDE match. The two would start a rivalry and would face each other a couple more times in MMA, where Silva went 2-1 against Jackson. In PRIDE, Silva won seven championships. Additionally, Silva went unbeaten for 17 straight fights, which included a draw and a no-contest, from 2000-2004.

7

Tito Ortiz

Ortiz Won His First Title At Just 25 Years Old

UFC President Dana White may not like this next pick (given his feud with Tito Ortiz that almost led to a fight between the two) – but the California-born fighter’s accomplishments deserve some respect. At just 25 years old, Ortiz won his first title and would then defend his belt for a record five times at the time from 2000 to 2002. He would not get a shot at a championship again until he faced off against Chuck Liddell at UFC 66. There, he was dominated in the fight, and lost by TKO in the third round.

6

Matt Hughes

Hughes Loved Attacking The Arms And Going For Submissions

In the early 2000s, the UFC was Matt Hughes’ show. While Hughes wasn’t a flashy striker, his domination in the grappling department and explosive takedowns made him fun to watch regardless. The Welterweight was also a major threat for submissions. When opponents were on their back, they needed to make sure they weren’t putting themselves in vulnerable positions, because Hughes loved attacking the arm for submissions. To Hughes’ credit, he has five straight title defenses, with his first championship win occurring in 2001. In total, he is a nine-time Welterweight champion. Hughes even gave Georges St-Pierre one of his only two losses in the UFC.

5

Randy Couture

Couture Fought In A Record Of 16 Title Fights

In the early days of the UFC, Randy Couture was one of the first stars, beating Vitor Belfort by TKO to win his first title in 1997. In the 2000s, the orthodox fighter was very much still in his prime. “The Natural” fought in a record of 16 title fights. Additionally, Couture became the first person in UFC history to win championships in two different weight classes. He did this by beating Maurice Smith for the Heavyweight belt, and Liddell for the Light Heavyweight belt in 2003.

4

Chuck Liddell

The Iceman Holds The Record For Most Consecutive Knockouts

In UFC history, Chuck Liddell might be the most feared fighter in the sport. “The Iceman” stuffed takedowns at an elite level, which forced fighters to have to strike with him. Of his 21 wins, 13 of them were by knockout. Liddell holds the record for the most consecutive knockouts in a row with seven. At Light Heavyweight, he defended his belt successfully four times.

3

Georges St-Pierre

The Canadian Is Third All-Time In Belt Defenses With Nine

There are a lot of great Welterweights – but it’s hard to dominate the division like St-Pierre did. The Canadian was a master of the ground and pound. While St-Pierre had a lot of success early in his career, his title loss to Hughes at UFC 50 set him back. He would get his revenge back in 2006, knocking out Hughes in the second round. St-Pierre beat him again a year later – the beginning of the most dominant stretch by a champion maybe the UFC has ever seen. Also, he is third all-time in title defenses, with nine. St-Pierre also won a belt at Middleweight.

2

Fedor Emelianenko

The Last Emperor Is Probably The Most Talented Fighter To Never Appear In The UFC

Like Wanderlei Silva, Fedor Emelianenko made a name for himself in PRIDE. Known as “The Last Emperor,” he had a 27-fight winning streak at Heavyweight. In the division, after winning the title, he defended it three times from 2003 to 2007. In his 40-win career, he had a finish in 31 of his matchups (15 knockouts, 16 submissions). He’s probably the most talented fighter to never to fight in the UFC.

1

Anderson Silva

Silva Won A Record 16 Straight Fights In The UFC

In MMA, there was never a dull moment with Anderson Silva. No matter how important the fight was, Silva would showboat and have fun. But make no mistake, Silva was one of the most talented artists in the history of the sport. He could win a fight in many different ways, whether that’s a knockout from the stand-up position or a submission from his back. Silva’s most impressive victory was when Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 dominated him on the ground the entire fight. But with about two minutes left, Silva came up clutch with a Hail Mary triangle choke to submit him and keep his long winning streak alive. Silva won a record of 16 straight fights in the UFC, which started in 2006. Additionally, Silva is second all-time in title defenses.

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.

The comeback is arguably the most exciting part of sports. In the UFC

, when a fighter is getting beaten up, and it’s clear they will either get finished or lose a decision, seeing that same fighter pull off a submission or knockout to steal the win is undoubtedly electric to watch.

Let’s go through the ten largest comeback victories in UFC history, ranked by the size of the striking deficit a fighter faced before securing a finish.

10

Brian Ortega Vs. Renato Moicano

Ortega Wins By Submission R3 2:59

At the hyped-up UFC 214 event in 2017, the prelims showcased an incredible fight between two up-and-coming featherweights. After Renato Moicano dominated and beat up Ortega for 2.5 rounds, the momentum shifted briefly and caused Moicano to shoot a lazy takedown.

Ortega was able to lock up his signature guillotine choke, and Moicano tapped in seconds. The striking deficit that Ortega faced was -44 significant strikes.

9

Glover Teixeira Vs. Ion Cutelaba

Teixeira Wins By Submission R2 3:37

At a UFC Fight Night event in 2019, the main card featured a light heavyweight showdown between a veteran and a young rising contender. The future champion, Teixeira, started slowly and was beaten up by the powerful Cutelaba. After being hurt multiple times in the first round, Teixeira was able to close the distance and mix in his grappling.

After taking Cutelaba’s back in the middle of the second round, Teixeira did what he does best and took his back to lock in a rear-naked choke after flattening out the young prospect on the canvas. Teixeira successfully played gatekeeper to the rankings, and this win sparked his incredible run to the UFC light heavyweight title in his forties.

8

Phil Rowe Vs. Niko Price

Rowe Wins By KO/TKO R3 3:26

On a UFC Fight Night card in 2022, Phil Rowe and Niko Price battled and put on a show for the fans in Orlando. After Price hurt Rowe multiple times with punches and elbows, the fight turned into an absolute brawl. With both men seemingly exhausted at the start of the third round, it was a test of who had more left in the tank to end the fight.

Rowe was able to outwork the tired Price and landed some key punches to spark the finishing sequence. After hurting Price with multiple right hands, Rowe finished the fight with knees up the middle and a couple shots up against the fence before Marc Goddard stepped in to stop it.

7

Ed Herman Vs. Mike Rodriguez

Herman Wins By Submission R3 2:41

This result is one of the more unfortunate ones on the list because Mike Rodriguez was cheated out of a big win. After hurting Herman multiple times with knees to the body, Herman dropped, and the referee called time due to an illegal low blow. It turns out that was the wrong call, and it should have been a TKO win for Rodriguez.

After being dominated for the entire fight, while Rodriguez was in the dominant top position on the ground, Herman came out of nowhere by locking up a nasty kimura submission in the third round. Dana White had some choice words about the referee and also paid Rodriguez his “win” money that night.

6

Claudio Puelles Vs. Felipe Silva

Puelles Wins By Submission R3 2:23

Puelles showed a glimpse of what was to come in his UFC career during this fight, but he was able to make up for it and buy himself some time in the company with an incredible heel hook submission win to come back after two brutal rounds.

Silva, the UFC veteran, was showing the 22-year-old Puelles how it was done in the octagon through the first two rounds. He hurt Puelles multiple times to the head and body, causing Puelles to stay on his back to catch his breath and recover. After looking defeated in the corner after round 2, Puelles pulled off a massive comeback submission win out of nowhere due to Silva not being careful while beating him up on the ground.

5

Stipe Miocic Vs. Daniel Cormier

Miocic Wins By KO/TKO R4 4:09

In arguably the biggest fight in UFC heavyweight history, Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier met in a rematch for the heavyweight title at UFC 241 in 2019. Cormier was looking as good as he did in the first fight, getting the better of Miocic in almost every exchange on the feet.

After being seemingly outclassed by the champion, Miocic hurt Cormier with a body shot late in round 4 and then landed multiple follow-up punches to win by KO and win back his heavyweight belt. This set up a legendary trilogy fight that ultimately ended Cormier’s career and put both of these guys on top as the best UFC heavyweights of all time.

4

Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen

Silva Wins By Submission R5 3:10

This is probably the most famous comeback victory in UFC history. The cocky and brash Chael Sonnen talked the talk, and walked the walk for 4.5 rounds against the legendary Anderson Silva. En route to what would have been his first world championship, Sonnen hurt Silva on the feet early and then went on to accumulate almost 20 minutes of control time on the ground.

While bullying Silva on the ground for over 4 rounds, Sonnen was slowly getting too confident in the guard of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Silva seemed to be calmly manipulating the body of Sonnen minute after minute until he was able to lock up a nasty triangle armbar from his back in the 5th round.

3

Kennedy Nzechukwu Vs. Carlos Ulberg

Nzechukwu Wins By KO/TKO R2 3:19

On the prelims of a big UFC 259 event, Israel Adesanya’s teammate,

Carlos Ulberg
, made his UFC debut. Ulberg was a hyped-up kickboxing prospect who made a switch to MMA. They matched him with a raw, but dangerous, Nzechukwu and the fight was playing out as most thought it would.

Ulberg dominated on the outside for 7 minutes, landing heavy shots to the body and head, picking apart the less-skilled Nzechukwu. But after getting a little too confident and not being defensively responsible, Ulberg was caught up against the fence and finished with a KO. This was a stunning victory for the +200 underdog fighter.

2

Iuri Alcantara Vs. Luke Sanders

Alcantara Wins By Submission R2 3:13

In the best comeback win most UFC fans never saw, #15-ranked bantamweight Iuri Alcantara was beaten down by the impressive Luke Sanders. After taking multiple shots on the ground and the referee almost stopping the fight multiple times, Alcantara rolled to his back and secured Sanders’ leg. The leg lock submission came out of nowhere and stunned just about everybody in the arena that night.

1

Derrick Lewis Vs. Alexander Volkov

Lewis Wins By KO R3 4:49

To round out this list, the

UFC KO King Derrick Lewis
beating the great Alexander Volkov in the final seconds is easily the best comeback in UFC history. Two contenders in the UFC heavyweight division were facing off on the biggest card in UFC history in front of millions of people watching.

Volkov dominated the fight from the start, outclassing Lewis on the feet and mixing in all aspects of mixed martial arts. In the final seconds of what looked to be an easy win for Volkov, a seemingly given-up Lewis landed a Hail Mary of a punch to knock out the 6’7″ Russian heavyweight.

On this big of a stage, Lewis became a superstar after this viral finish and performance on the mic afterward.

If trained and applied correctly, strength is one of the most underrated yet useful advantages in the mixed martial arts arena. A fighter’s ability to transfer strength into both their striking and grappling allows them to physically dominate their opponents and control where the fight takes place.

Over the years, the UFC has featured some of the most physically-imposing combatants in all combat sports. These competitors have been able to use their strength to trample their competition, capture world championships in intimidating fashion, and provide fans with some of the most memorable, entertaining performances in UFC history.

19

Igor Vovchanchyn

The Ukrainian Powerhouse Was Ahead Of His Time

Igor Vovchanchyn was one of the most powerful strikers in MMA history during the early days of the sport. Competing as an undersized heavyweight, he relied on incredible punching power and toughness to overwhelm opponents. His legendary run in PRIDE Fighting Championships solidified his reputation as one of the strongest fighters of his era.

18

Fabricio Werdum

Werdum Combined Strength With Submission Mastery

Fabricio Werdum was a heavyweight powerhouse who combined grappling strength with elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. His submission victory over Fedor Emelianenko shocked the MMA world and highlighted his ability to overpower even the most feared fighters. Werdum also defeated Cain Velasquez to claim the UFC heavyweight title in a dominant performance. He was not known for his striking abilitiy but his raw strength made his opponents tap with quickness.

17

Randy Couture

The Natural Was A Physical Force Across Divisions

Randy Couture was a pioneer in MMA who showcased incredible strength and versatility across both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. Known for his Greco-Roman wrestling background, Couture used his clinch work and physical power to dominate opponents much larger than himself. His victory over Tim Sylvia to reclaim the heavyweight title at age 43 remains one of the most iconic moments in UFC history.

16

Mark Hunt

Hunt Was Small For Heavyweight By Packed A Big Punch

Mark Hunt was a heavyweight knockout artist known for his granite chin and one-punch KO power. Despite often being outsized by his opponents, Hunt’s sheer strength and technique made him one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. His walk-off knockouts against Roy Nelson and Frank Mir remain some of the most iconic moments in UFC history.

15

Alistair Overeem

The Dutch Kickboxer Had Technique And Strength

Overeem possessed unparalleled strength that translated to both his striking and grappling. Known for his devastating knees in the clinch, Overeem used his immense physical power to finish elite heavyweights like Brock Lesnar with brutal body shots. His K-1 Kickboxing and MMA crossover success highlight his talent in combat sports and raw physicality.

14

Derrick Lewis

The Black Beast Has Raw Power

Thanks to his explosive power, Derrick Lewis is the UFC’s all-time knockout leader. Lewis’s ability to finish fights with a single punch makes him a force to be reckoned with. Even when outmatched in technique or cardio, his explosive power allows him to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His knockout of Alexander Volkov in the final seconds of a losing fight perfectly encapsulates the threat he brings into the octagon.

13

Anthony Johnson

The Late MMA Star Was The Hardest Hitter In The Division

One of the most powerful strikers in MMA history, Johnson’s knockouts were feared across the light heavyweight division. His punching power was so significant that many of his opponents were finished with a single blow.

12

Jon Jones

Jones’ Heavyweight Jump Makes Him Scarier

America’s Jon ‘Bones’ Jones isn’t someone often associated with pure strength. However, upon retrospection of his UFC lightweight run, while there may have been hiccups in the road, Jones used his strength to smartly complement his wresting, stamina and striking techniques. He mastered the art of ground and pound, which surprised many given his lean frame.

Victories against the likes of Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, that epic choke-out of Lyoto Machida, and the pummeling of Chael Sonnen are prime examples. From the moment he beat Stephan Bonnar from pillar to post, fans knew he would be something special. Jones captured light heavyweight gold, cleared out the division and then left for the next step in his evolution: heavyweight. There, Jones — bigger, bulkier, and scarier — rag-dolled the powerful Cyril Gane and submitted him within a round to show his rivals he was the true alpha. This stronger Jones has many eager to see if he will fight Stipe Miocic, or if injuries will force him to retire.

11

Cain Velasquez

Velasquez’s Strength Earned Him UFC Heavyweight Gold

Cain Velasquez is a deceptively powerful heavyweight competitor whose cardio, strength, and training regime was considered legendary. The former UFC heavyweight champion defeated the much bigger Brock Lesnar to claim the title back in 2010. Velasquez was known for dominating much larger opponents on the ground using his prolific wrestling and never-ending cardio.

He even recorded a whopping 2300+ pounds of force behind his punch in a sports science episode. He was one of the hardest hitters during his reign in the UFC, holding victories over Ben Rothwell, Junior dos Santos, Travis Browne and Antônio Silva. Velasquez would retire from MMA in 2019, but he did transfer his talents to wrestling for a while, including a stint in WWE.

10

Yoel Romeo

Romero Has Been Called Inhuman By Many Fighters

Yoel Romero’s physical attributes are as close as you can get to a real-world Marvel super-soldier. His chiseled physique isn’t just for show; he has monumental power and agility due to those muscles. As such, ‘Soldier of God’ boasted some of the rarest and most impressive athletic feats ever seen in the octagon. Romero’s ability to swiftly transition his power into parts of his body led to devastating knockout victories over Lyoto Machida, Chris Weidman, and Luke Rockhold.

The Cuban is also a profound wrestler, capable of taking down anyone with utter force in the clinch. He won Olympic Gold in 2002 and a World Championship in 1999. This is why strikers like Israel Adesanya opted to keep him at a distance. Notably, Romero faced former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, twice during his time in the UFC and absorbed many of Whittaker’s most powerful kicks without flinching. Romero left UFC in 2020 and is now showcasing his might at Bellator.

9

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson

‘Rampage’s’ Feats Left An Indelible Mark In MMA

Besides being one of the more entertaining personalities in combat sports, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson was widely known for his power punching and boxing skills. Jackson recorded a whopping 1800 pounds of force behind his punch in a sports science episode, and is considered one of the most terrifying knockout artists in MMA history.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion has slept the likes of Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. His highlight reel began with that iconic KO slam of Ricardo Arona in 2004 at PRIDE. Since then, many opponents have exercised caution against Jackson, who also busted a door up with his fist in The Ultimate Fighter, reminding viewers he can crush anything. Coincidentally, Jackson has come out of retirement to box in 2024, leaving fans eager to see if he still has it.

8

Georges St. Pierre Was Deceptively Strong

GSP Still Remains Fit And In Fine Form Today

Canada’s Georges St. Pierre was not necessarily known for his powerful striking capability. However, his incredible strength and conditioning made him one of the most dominant, versatile wrestlers in UFC welterweight history. The former UFC welterweight king would use his strength advantage to constantly pressure and take his opponents down with ruthless aggression.

Once on top, GSP was unstoppable. His opponents would do anything possible to merely survive the round. He defended his title nine times between 2008 and 2013 and relinquished it, before returning from a hiatus to claim the UFC middleweight championship in 2017 against Michael Bisping. GSP’s title run included victories over Carlos Condit, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes, and Jake Shields, proving that he could TKO or submit guys at will. To this day, ‘Rush’ speaks a lot about fitness, exercise and looks even younger and more muscular than when he competed in MMA.

7

Chael Sonnen

Sonnen Almost Took Out UFC’s Middleweight GOAT With His Might

Like St. Pierre, Sonnen’s MMA potency was measured by how easily he could take his opponents to the ground and inflict as much damage as possible. He became a seasoned NCAA Division 1 wrestling standout, going on to the UFC where he once won four straight rounds against Anderson Silva before being submitted in the fifth.

It proved ‘The Bad Guy’ could back his talk up. Sonnen’s strength and conditioning taxed many in the UFC, as well as when he moved to Bellator, making him one of the most difficult grapplers to prepare for. He had notable wins over Mauricio Rua, Michael Bisping, ‘Rampage,’ and Wanderlei Silva, crafting iconic trash-talking feuds along the way across the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

6

Daniel Cormier

Cormier’s Wrestling Background Made Him A True Behemoth

Daniel Cormier was an extremely unique fighter capable of wrestling or knocking his opponent out. At first glance, Cormier seemed to be an undersized heavyweight who gave up a significant reach to his bigger and taller opponents. Despite this disadvantage, the prodigy would effectively utilize both this wrestling and knockout power to dominate the bigger and bolder competition for years.

Cormier burst onto the MMA scene by winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as a late replacement in 2012. He went on to compete in the UFC and successfully capture both the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight championships. He had iconic slams of Josh Barnett and Dan Handerson, as well as a Miocic KO in his highlight reel, to perfectly illustrate why his strength should not have been overlooked. To sum it up, if you can submit Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson twice, you are a beast! And that is just the tip of the iceberg on a very decorated MMA résumé.

5

Matt Hughes

Hughes’ Physique and Raw Prowess Terrified Many

In his prime, there was nobody quite like Matt Hughes. The two-time former UFC welterweight champion was a powerful wrestler who lifted his opponents with relative ease on many occasions inside the octagon. Hughes used his strength primarily in his offensive grappling to take his opponents down and secure favorable positions.

He defended his belt a total of six times during his championship run and defeated the likes of Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, and GSP. Fans will always remember him carrying Trigg across the cage and then battering him, as well as that slam that knocked Carlos Newton out cold. No matter what, win or lose, Hughes would let his opponents know they weren’t stronger.

4

Khabib Nurmagomedov

‘The Eagle’ Dominated UFC’s Lightweight Division Like A Boss

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s incredible grappling ability is precisely why the former UFC lightweight champion — who retired undefeated — makes the list. Once ‘The Eagle’ took his opponent to the ground, it was only a matter of time before he would secure a dominant position, choke his opponent unconscious or find a limb to mangle. His strength made it look like a game between men and boys.

The Dagestani native tapped out Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje in his short but immaculate title run. Other scalps included Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson. The most impressive thing is that he would tell his opponents exactly what he was going to do, yet they could not stop him. While Nurmagomedov retired after his father’s death, this legacy continues with fighters such as Islam Makhachev, who constantly tout sambo as a stronger, meaner jiu-jitsu.

3

Shane Carwin

Knockout Power and Physical Force

Known for his extraordinary knockout power, Carwin started his MMA career with 12 consecutive first-round finishes. His strength and brute force were legendary in the heavyweight division, and even in his loss to Brock Lesnar, he displayed terrifying power, nearly finishing the fight in the first round.

2

Brock Lesnar

The Beast Incarnate of MMA

Lesnar is an imposing figure in the MMA world, known for his incredible size, speed, and raw strength. A former WWE star and NFL player, Lesnar transitioned into MMA and won the UFC heavyweight title. His combination of wrestling, power, and athleticism made him one of the most dominant physical forces in the sport.

1

Francis Ngannou

‘The Predator’ Devoured In MMA And Now, In Boxing

When it comes to pure strength and power, it is impossible not to recognize the most devastating heavyweight knockout artist in UFC history. Francis Ngannou has been tough to take down as years passed, which led to him stunning Gane with some grappling of his own. Injured or not, Ngannou can overpower anyone.

He has insane knockouts over Alistair Overeem, Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes and Miocic, among the many. Now, Ngannou is over at PFL waiting to continue his MMA career after leaving the UFC heavyweight title behind. The thing is, Ngannou has shown his strength as he goes back to his first passion — boxing, out-muscling Tyson Fury, knocking him down, and losing a decision many thought he won. The Predator suffered a quick knockout to Anthony Joshua who is another powerhouse in boxing. Clearly, the Ngannou who had trouble with technical wrestlers and bigger bodies, is a thing of the past, reiterating that the Cameroonian is aging like fine wine.

Summary

• Spanish broadcast leaked Topuria vs. Oliveira matchup at lightweight. No official confirmation from UFC yet.
• Topuria aims to become two-division champion but faces skepticism from Oliveira about moving up too soon.
• Makhachev considering move to welterweight, leaving Topuria’s lightweight title hopes in limbo with no official fight confirmation.

A surprising on-air blunder during the UFC

Vegas 105 broadcast has ignited speculation about Ilia Topuria’s future. A Spanish-language ticker seemingly leaked plans for Topuria to move up in weight and

face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira
.

While UFC officials have not confirmed the matchup is official, the rumor has caused a stir among fans eager to see what’s next for the undefeated Spanish-Georgian fighter. Meanwhile, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s strategic patience could further complicate Topuria’s title hopes.

Broadcast Blunder Suggests Topuria vs. Oliveira at Lightweight

Ilia Previously Named Oliveira As An Opponent He Would Consider

During the UFC Vegas 105 coverage on the Spanish broadcast, a ticker unexpectedly announced, “Ilia Topuria moves up a weight class and faces Charles Oliveira. The Spaniard will make his Lightweight debut.” The message quickly spread across social media, with fans and media outlets questioning whether the information had been released prematurely. According to a report by Alex Buhunin, UFC insiders have downplayed the leak, claiming that no official agreement has been made for the proposed fight.

Topuria recently captured the UFC featherweight title with a d

ominant performance over Alexander Volkanovski
at UFC 298. Since then, he has made it clear that his ambition lies in becoming a two-division champion. However, Charles Oliveira has cast doubt on the legitimacy of such a matchup. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Oliveira questioned the value of facing Topuria, saying the featherweight champion needs to earn his place at 155 pounds before challenging elite contenders. Topuria didn’t back down, replying, “I haven’t come here to ask anything. Here, I am the one in charge.”

Islam Makhachev Reportedly Waiting on Welterweight Title Picture

Adding another twist to the lightweight title race, reigning champion Islam Makhachev is reportedly waiting to see how the UFC 315 welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena unfolds. According to MMA Mania, if Della Maddalena wins, Makhachev is open to moving up in weight to challenge for a second belt.

This development leaves Topuria in limbo, especially after he claimed the UFC promised him a lightweight title shot. But Makhachev appears reluctant to face another featherweight-turned-lightweight so soon after his dominant win over Volkanovski. With Oliveira hesitant, Makhachev possibly eyeing welterweight gold, and no official announcement yet, Topuria’s next move remains uncertain, despite the brief glimpse fans may have caught on live television.

The UFC

is what it is today because of the exciting style of fights that mixed martial arts brings to fight fans. About half of UFC fights are finished before going the distance, but the other half are decided by what three judges sitting cageside think. These decisions have caused plenty of drama and outrage from fighters and fans throughout the years, but it’s a nuance accepted in the fight business.

Let’s take a look at four UFC fighters who have a lot of experience losing decisions based on what those judges believe happened during the fight.

4

Jim Miller

12 Total Decision Losses In His UFC Career

Jim Miller can easily be considered an “Iron Man” type athlete in mixed martial arts. At 41 years old, he has competed in the UFC octagon 45 times and is still doing well against the highest level of talent, in arguably the most impressive division. This career has turned out to be great for him and his family, making lots of money and providing him with a great life when he decides to retire.

When Miller looks back on his career, he will remember the hard work and consistency it took to get there and to achieve all he has in the sport. Even with 27 wins and great memories, he still suffered heartbreaking defeat 12 different times by the decision not going his way. The three judges decided he didn’t do enough to win, along with keeping him from earning half of his paycheck 12 times.

His first UFC loss after signing with the company alongside his brother, Dan, was a decision. Then, his seven-fight winning streak from 2009 to 2011 was ended by another unanimous decision. Miller lost three fights in 2017; two via unanimous decision and one by majority decision. These are all close, heartbreaking losses in a time when he was still in his prime.

The amount of decision losses for Miller doesn’t portray him as a loser, because he is one of the biggest winners in UFC history. These losses show how longevity can lead to ups and downs in a mixed martial artist’s career, and how he overcame all these losses to provide himself a great, fruitful career.

3

Jeremy Stephens

12 Total Decision Losses In His UFC Career

Jeremy Stephens is a fighting man through and through. Coming from a rough childhood, he found mixed martial arts after excelling at wrestling as a teenager. By age 16, Stephens was competing and then started training full-time at 18 years old.

Now, at 38 years old, Stephens is experiencing a slight career resurgence since being let go by the UFC in 2021. He has competed in Bare Knuckle Boxing and even has a potential bare knuckle fight with Conor McGregor in his future. He is making his return to the UFC to fight in his hometown, Des Moines, on May 2, 2025.

His skills might not be improving at this stage of his career, but Stephens has loads of experience in the cage, and that can carry him to some good wins in the future. Anybody with 18 losses in the best fight promotion, but still has opportunities, is a legendary fighter in their own right.

The judges decided his fate in the octagon 12 different times, including three split-decisions. This is heartbreaking for any fighter, but it takes a special kind of athlete to continue doing this brutal sport after all the bumps in the road.

2

Clay Guida

10 Decision Losses In His UFC Career

Anybody who steps into the octagon 40 total times in their life belongs in the UFC Hall of Fame. Guida is already in the Hall of Fame for a legendary fight against Diego Sanchez, but will he be named to the fighter wing as well? The only thing holding him back is the number of losses he took, including 10 by decision.

The quirky, hippy-like wrestler was a fan favorite for the two decades he competed in mixed martial arts. After being released by the UFC in January 2025, there is no doubt he will continue to compete for another organization.

His love for “The Big Lebowski” and all the philosophy from that film has surely helped him navigate the hard times as a UFC fighter, especially after coming up short on the judges’ scorecards on 10 different occasions.

Even with his fighting style, which can be considered “boring” by many new fans of the UFC today, and his UFC record for most losses in the organization (19), Guida is still a fan-favorite and a legend in his own right.

1

Rafael Dos Anjos

10 Decision Losses In His UFC Career

Rafael dos Anjos is a future UFC Hall of Fame inductee with one of the most impressive resumes in mixed martial arts history. He has the most fight time in UFC history, while also being the first fighter to ever reach 8 hours of total time in the octagon.

The number of decision losses can be traced back to two things: Dos Anjos’ incredible toughness and the number of world-class fighters he has shared the octagon with. Looking back at his resume, Dos Anjos has fought almost 20 different men who are respected as some of the greatest to do it in the last 15 years. Even in his forties, he is still considered one of the best in the world.

He is the only one from this short list to achieve the pinnacle of the sport. Dos Anjos was the UFC lightweight world champion after beating Anthony Pettis by decision in 2015. He defended that belt once with a TKO win over Donald Cerrone, and then lost it to the great Eddie Alvarez in his next title defense attempt.

The common denominator of these four that made the list is longevity. Longevity in mixed martial arts can look ugly, but these four have handled it with grace and continued to fight at the top of the game for many years, even after unfortunately taking many decision losses at the hands of the judges.

The Olympics are seen as the pinnacle of sporting competition, with the four-yearly event holding more prestige globally than any other athletic endeavor. While success on that grand stage is a clear indicator of skill, discipline, and commitment, it doesn’t automatically denote success for its alumni when they move into other realms of their careers.

Mixed martial arts has proven to be a tough next step for even elite Olympians, but some have successfully made the transition into the all-encompassing world of combat, including the UFC

. These Olympic athletes have switched to MMA and won silverware in leading promotions.

10

Mark Coleman

Olympic Wrestler And Pioneering UFC Champion

• Coleman competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
• He finished in seventh place overall in freestyle wrestling.
• He went on to win world titles in both the UFC and Pride.

Mark “The Hammer” Coleman was one of the first world-class wrestlers who truly made an impact on the MMA landscape. The NCAA Division I champion went to the Barcelona Summer Olympics in 1992 but lost his spark for the 1996 trials and switched his focus.

He had immediate success with one-night tournament wins at UFC 10 and UFC 11, before becoming the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion with a win over Dan Severn at UFC 12. Coleman went on to win the Pride FC 2000 Openweight Grand Prix Tournament and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.

9

Kevin Jackson

Olympic Champion With Short In-Cage Career

• Kevin Johnson won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
• He had a brief MMA career that lasted just 14 months.
• He later went on to become an elite wrestling coach.

Kevin Jackson was a top-tier wrestler who saw a brief but exciting opportunity to put his skills to the test in a new sport. After winning gold in the 82kg division at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, the American added a second world championship to his resume in 1995, before his foray into fighting.

He debuted in Extreme Fighting in 1997 and then won the UFC 14 Light Heavyweight Tournament in July of that year. In May of 1998, Jackson had his final fight – a win over Sam Adkins – and left the sport with a 4-2 record.

8

Dan Henderson

One Of The Most Decorated MMA Fighters Of All Time

• Henderson competed in both the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.
• He won significant titles across multiple organizations throughout his career.
• He remains the only double champion in Pride history.

Though he was known for his laid-back demeanor outside the cage, inside of it, Dan Henderson was a generational force. “Hendo” placed 10th and 12th respectively for Team USA at the Summer Olympics of 1992 and 1996, and by 1997 he was competing in the UFC.

Henderson won the Brazil Open 1997 Tournament that year and followed it up with the UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament in 1998. He went on to become a favorite in Japan by defeating stern opposition to win back-to-back Rings tournaments, which led to a shot in Pride FC.

In 2005, the Greco-Roman specialist won the Pride Welterweight Grand Prix and the Pride Welterweight Championship, and then won the Pride Middleweight Championship in 2007 with a KO over Wanderlei Silva. Henderson challenged twice for UFC gold before taking the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title in 2011.

7

Hector Lombard

Cuban Judo Stylist And Globetrotting Champion

• Hector Lombard moved to Australia after competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
• He went on to compete in major promotions including Bellator, UFC, and Strikeforce.
• He became known as a feared knockout artist with 23 KOs in 35 wins.

Originally forging his skills in Cuba, Hector Lombard represented his home country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He met his wife there and stayed in Australia, where he started his MMA career in 2004.

Lombard dominated locally and had brief forays in Japan, but his career really took off when he signed for Bellator in 2009. He blasted his way through the competition to win the Bellator Season 1 Middleweight Tournament and the inaugural Bellator Middleweight World Championship.

With a stunning record of 32-2-1, Lombard signed for the UFC, where he had an entertaining but turbulent time in the Octagon.

6

Rick Hawn

Olympic Judoka And Early Bellator Icon

• Rick Hawn competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• He transitioned to MMA in 2009.
• He went on to win multiple tournaments in Bellator.

Taking up judo at the age of 12, Rick Hawn was a prodigious talent who also showed his athleticism by also competing in both wrestling and football. He committed full-time to judo when he left high school in 1996, joining the Olympic Training Center. He headed to the 2004 games in Athens, where he placed 9th.

After failing to qualify for 2008, Hawn took his skill set to MMA. He was extremely successful on the regional circuit and signed with a then-burgeoning Bellator promotion. Hawn won the season six lightweight tournament in 2012 and the season 9 welterweight tournament in 2013, though he never managed to convert that success into undisputed gold.

5

Daniel Cormier

Elite Wrestler, Fighter, And Now Pundit

• Daniel Cormier was considered world-class in the amateur wrestling ranks.
• He narrowly missed winning a medal at the Olympics.
• He later became a two-division UFC champion and also held a title in Strikeforce.

Daniel Cormier is another one of wrestling’s biggest crossover success stories. The AKA man had a huge amount of success nationally and internationally, which culminated in fourth place at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He wanted to improve on that in 2008 but was forced to withdraw due to health issues.

This saw Cormier move into MMA, where he raced to a 15-0 start that included winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament in 2012. He moved to the UFC in 2013,

where he became a household name
, winning and defending the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles.

4

Ben Askren

Collegiate Great With Memorable MMA Career

• Ben Askren was regarded as a great in folkstyle wrestling.
• He transitioned to freestyle wrestling for his Olympic run.
• He brought a unique and unorthodox style to the cage.

“Funky” Ben Askren earned his moniker for his inimitable style on the mats, where he held a stunning college resume. The Iowa-born star was one of a rare few to win the coveted Dan Hodge Trophy multiple times as he took a pair of NCAA championships.

His game was heavily based on the folkstyle rule set, though he managed to adapt enough to get to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

“Funky” debuted in MMA the following year, winning the Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament and Bellator Welterweight Title in 2010. He switched to ONE Championship in 2014, where he dominated as the promotion’s champion until he signed to the UFC.

3

Ronda Rousey

Women’s MMA Superstar From High-Level Judo Background

• Ronda Rousey won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.
• She went on to become a dominant UFC champion.
• She played a pivotal role in changing the game for women’s mixed martial arts.

“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey started her judo training with her mother, a former world champion. The young California native went on to record similar feats in the sport, with a world silver medal and an Olympic bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. Leaving the sport at 21, Rousey moved into MMA and was an absolute phenom. She went undefeated as an amateur between 2010-2011 and kickstarted her pro career with 12 straight wins en route to the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

Notably, Rousey finished her first 11 amateur and pro bouts via armbar before finding some success with her striking. Rousey was the first female UFC champion and a huge PPV draw that paved the way for the next generation of elite women in the organization.

2

Henry Cejudo

Known As “Triple C” For Olympic And MMA Championship Success

• Henry Cejudo won an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
• He later became a two-division UFC champion.
• He is widely regarded as one of the greats in combat sports.

Henry Cejudo will go down as one of the greatest combat athletes in modern history. The self-titled “Triple C” opted to pursue freestyle wrestling over the popular collegiate variant, and it paid off with success.

At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Cejudo became the youngest American to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal at the age of 21, though he failed to qualify for a second shot in 2012. That’s when he moved to MMA in 2013, racing to a perfect 10-0 start. Though he lost in his first shot at the

UFC flyweight title against Demetrious Johnson
in 2016, he defeated “Mighty Mouse” in 2018 to get the strap.

Cejudo followed that up with a win for the UFC bantamweight title in 2018, which he vacated with a retirement win over Dominick Cruz in 2020.

1

Kayla Harrison

Two-Time Olympic Champion And MMA Standout

• Kayla Harrison won Olympic gold in judo in both 2012 and 2016.
• She made the move to MMA in 2018.
• She went on to win two tournament titles in the PFL.

As the only American judoka to ever win an Olympic gold – and she’s done it twice – Kayla Harrison is one of the best judo players to ever come out of the USA. The Ohio-born athlete won the judo world championships in 2010 and added London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic golds to her heaving trophy cabinet.

Immediately a huge draw when she decided to move into MMA, Harrison debuted with PFL in 2018, where she won the 2019 and 2021 women’s lightweight tournaments.

Now riding high in the UFC
, the grappling specialist could be on course to add more huge accolades in the future.