They say speed kills, and this certainly rings true in MMA – a sport where the end can come in the blink of an eye. But finishes aren’t the only area where it matters inside the UFC

Octagon.

Fighters with rapid movement can use this to their benefit in wrestling and grappling exchanges, as well as in defense. Some are lightning-fast in a certain area, such as hand speed or reaction time, while others seemingly live on fast-forward across the board.

10

Edson Barboza

Brazilian Striker With Vicious Intent

• Edson Barboza is known for delivering some of the fastest and most devastating kicks ever seen in the UFC.
• His high-speed body mechanics allow him to unleash strikes with incredible precision and power.
• With his exceptional striking ability, he has the potential to end a fight in an instant with a single, well-placed shot.

Edson Barboza makes the list for his incredible repertoire of kicks that he uncorks with ferocity at stunned opponents. While the Brazilian has sharp hands, he also built a career by chopping opponents down with low kicks they had no time to defend.

He has also used this speed to engineer some of the most-watched KOs in UFC history, including his spinning wheel kick finish over Terry Etim and jumping knee stoppage of Beneil Dariush.

9

TJ Dillashaw

Wrestler-Turned-Striker With High Work Rate

• TJ Dillashaw’s lightning-fast footwork played a crucial role in his rise to UFC champion.
• His ability to strike from all angles keeps opponents constantly on the defensive, making him one of the most unpredictable fighters in the Octagon.
• With his speed and precision, he consistently beats his opponents to the punch, overwhelming them with relentless attacks.

TJ Dillashaw’s speed
mostly came from his feet. The American got in and out of range before his rivals could react and bamboozled them with rapid stance switches.

Utilizing his fast movements to control the distance and angles, Dillashaw unleashed quickfire combinations that found their mark before exiting unscathed.

8

Valentina Shevchenko

Rapid Russian Stand-Up Specialist

• Valentina Shevchenko unleashes her punches and kicks with remarkable speed, making it nearly impossible for opponents to react in time.
• Her quickness allows her to control the pace of fights, often striking before her opponents can even attempt a counter.
• This exceptional skill has been a key factor in her dominance over the division, solidifying her status as one of the best fighters in UFC history.

Valentina Shevchenko’s counterstriking
is some of the finest ever seen inside the Octagon, and this largely comes from her ability to react and fire back in the blink of an eye.

The Russian anticipates her opponents’ strikes and is ready to take advantage of this almost telepathic knowledge with crisp punches and kicks that use their momentum against them.

Shevchenko intersperses a wide array of kicks into her game, which come from all angles at a rate of knots, helping her dominant flustered rivals.

7

Conor McGregor

Biggest PPV Draw Of All Time

• Conor McGregor backed up his bold talk with laser-precise punches that left opponents stunned.
• He showcased his striking abilitiy by outclassing some of the most renowned strikers in the UFC.
• With a rare combination of speed and knockout power, he became one of the most dynamic fighters in the sport.

Conor McGregor
makes the list with one of the fastest and most precise left hands in MMA history. Although offensively punishing, McGregor often started his destruction by quickly averting his opponents’ strikes and hitting back before they could react.

His memorable counterpunch KO over Jose Aldo showed this, as did his fast-fisted dismantling of Eddie Alvarez.

6

John Dodson

Pioneering Flyweight Fan Favorite

• John Dodson maintained an incredible tempo at every range, keeping his opponents constantly on edge.
• As a front-running finisher in the flyweight division, he capitalized on his speed to overwhelm rivals before they could mount a response.
• Competing in one of the fastest divisions in the UFC, Dodson stood out as one of the quickest and most explosive fighters.

John Dodson had blazing hand speed that made him stand out in a division where fast was the norm.

To make use of it, he relied on equally rapid defensive wrestling and scrambles, where he’d often work himself free before his adversaries could keep him pinned.

With speed and strength equaling power, Dodson had a rare rate of concussive finishes for the 125-pound ranks.

5

Anderson Silva

MMA Middleweight GOAT

• Anderson Silva always appeared to be steps ahead of his opponents, making their attacks look slow and ineffective.
• His mastery of both offense and defense allowed him to evade strikes effortlessly while delivering precise counters.
• With an incredible ability to read his opponents, he controlled fights with unmatched composure and skill, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history.

There may have never been a faster mind in the UFC than Anderson Silva’s.

The Brazilian legend could make elite rivals look like they were fighting underwater with his reflexes and counters crucial to his game.

This was most apparent with his KO over a flailing Forrest Griffin, where “The Spider’s” speed made it seem like he had eight limbs to the American’s four.

4

Frankie Edgar

Former Lightweight Champ

• Frankie Edgar was known for his blend of boxing and wrestling, allowing him to dictate the pace of a fight at any range.
• Few opponents could keep up with his relentless movement and high-energy style.
• Despite often being undersized, he used his exceptional speed to close the gap, outwork his rivals, and compete at the highest level.

Frankie Edgar’s quickness combined with the ability to maintain it throughout a matchup helped him become the UFC lightweight champion in a division where he was massively outsized.

The New Jersey native moved fast and popped out punching combinations that opponents struggled to react in time to defend.

A wrestler by trade, he could shoot behind his strikes seamlessly and stay a step ahead in every scramble.

3

Cody Garbrandt

Heavy-Hitting Former Bantamweight King

• Cody Garbrandt showcased blistering hand speed and elite boxing skills that made him a nightmare for opponents.
• His ability to slip punches and fire back with rapid, precise counters set him apart in the bantamweight division.
• Combining speed with knockout power, he overwhelmed even the most skilled strikers, capturing UFC gold with a masterful performance.

Cody Garbrandt had hand speed that could be the envy of many a professional pugilist.

The former UFC bantamweight champion took the gold with a typical display of ruthless punching against Dominick Cruz, with his quick punches finding their mark against an opponent who could usually rely on being first.

Fast feet and head movement added to his ability to tag his rivals by making them miss and making them pay.

2

Jose Aldo

Legendary Brazilian With Epic Career

• José Aldo, a Muay Thai-based fighter, built his legacy with precision striking and devastating leg kicks.
• His lightning-fast hands and powerful kicks consistently found their mark, breaking down opponents with surgical efficiency.
• For years, he dominated elite competition, solidifying his place as one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history.

Though his speed remained as he aged, prime Jose Aldo’s output was delivered in lightning-fast fashion that left opponents bewildered – and often looking up at the arena lights.

Aldo had swift hands, but his kicks were the standout tool. Whipping lightning-fast low kicks and switch kicks, the Brazilian could break rivals down in the body and legs before finishing them.

Aldo’s reaction time and speed in transitions helped him stay on his feet to deliver his brutal array of strikes.

1

Demetrious Johnson

American Icon With All-Round Skills

• Demetrious Johnson is often regarded as the fastest fighter in UFC history, using his speed to outmaneuver and outclass his opponents.
• His diverse skill set allowed him to seamlessly blend striking, wrestling, and submissions with unmatched fluidity.
• Combining a high fight IQ with elite athleticism, he consistently capitalized on openings, making him one of the most complete fighters the sport has ever seen.

The true all-rounder, Demetrious Johnson has to go down as the quickest fighter in UFC history in both body and mind.

His striking combinations were lightning-fast and seamless, and he could enter takedowns before a defender even had the chance to contemplate their reaction.

Johnson’s fluidity between the ranges was a nightmare for opponents who had nowhere to hide or stem the flow of his output. Nobody was faster in the transitions between striking, wrestling, and grappling, most beautifully epitomized by his one-of-a-kind submission of Ray Borg.