6 Greatest UFC Legendary Fighters of All-Time

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is yet to gain the right popularity compared to other known combat sports. For starters, they are newcomers to most individuals, and it could take a while for the sport to be recognized for participation in every region. The major league or most renowned body in charge of their activities is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Although the UFC was established in 1993, it was not until 2001 that the league started thriving due to a change of power in the leadership.

It is worth noting that before this time, there were a lot of sanctions on the organization of fights, especially in western countries. The conflict was based on the nature of participation; pure combat, hand-to-hand face-offs, and lack of proper protective gear. However, the sport has gained its respect and exploded, even in the number of active fans, particularly those following the events of the UFC. The organization brands itself as the top league in the business of MMA, and there's no doubt about that. Hence, participants of the sport from all over the world compete to win and do all it takes to be among the greatest fighters mentioned in the championship.

According to Michelle H. Thomas, a Canadian iGaming expert, UFC has also found a way to get the attention of punters, and most of them now wager on the results of the games. Apart from playing their favorite casino games such as slots, poker, and blackjack on the best no deposit bonus canada casinos, they also wager on UFC fights. The fact that many casinos now offer players the chance to wager on these fights on their platforms has even made things better.

In that case, online casinos and fighting in the UFC now have a standing relationship. This article will give a brief insight into six of the best legendary fighters in the history of MMA.

6 Legendary UFC Fighters of All-Time

From the heavyweight to the middleweight and lightweight classes, some names have performed outstandingly well in MMA over time and earned the legendary title. They include:

1. Jon Jones

Many MMA followers consider Jones, who will be 36 next July, to be the most naturally gifted fighter among UFC legends and a competitor with practically unmatched ring IQ. He previously held the UFC light heavyweight championship twice, from 2018 to 2020 and 2011 to 2015.

At 23, Jones defeated Mauricio Rua for the UFC championship, making him the organization's youngest champion ever. In the light heavyweight class, he holds numerous UFC records for victories, several titles defended, and winning streaks.

2. Anderson Silva

Second on this list is a former middleweight champion of the UFC. He held the title for 2,457 days, from 2006 to 2013, making it the longest active reign in UFC history. This run of success included a UFC-record 16 victories straight. He didn't begin taking part in UFC fights till age 31.

After that, he established a progressive run in the industry, winning 16 fights, finishing 14, and earning multiple awards. When he ultimately relinquished his belt to Chris Weidman, he was 38 years old. Hence, he was still reverenced as the best worldwide during the season when most fighters could hardly compete at the top.

3. Jose Aldo

Aldo is presently engaged in bantamweight competition. He was the fourth and last World Extreme Cage fighting (WEC) featherweight champion and competed at featherweight. After the UFC and WEC merged, he was named the first featherweight champion of the UFC. Aldo is a legend among the featherweight fighters of all history and one of the greatest MMA fighters ever to walk the earth.

4. Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson is one of the fighters on this list who carved out their success stories. He dominated the UFC's flyweight class for more than six years, and we didn't start to see any serious competition until Henry Cejudo defeated him in their rematch.

He had been superior to his opponents until that point, but he rarely made a show of it; instead, he was usually too cautious and risk-averse. Although it was a key and contributing element to his domination, it undoubtedly delayed his quest to be hailed as the toughest competitor of all time by the enthusiastic fans.

5. George St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre had a reputation for dominating fights by staying true to his strategy. A more impressive act was that St-Pierre frequently capitalized on his adversary's advantages and outperformed them at their own game.

He did leave the sport with two defeats under his belt— one to Matt Hughes on his eighth matchup (when Hughes had already competed in 40 fights) and the other to Matt Serra in what is considered the biggest surprise in MMA history. However, he remains on the UFC's all-time legendary fighters list.

6. Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic, still competing in the UFC, is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight title holders. Due to successfully defending his heavyweight title against Overeem, Junior Santos, and Francis Ngannou in quick succession, Miocic's place among the MMA legend fighters is unquestionable. Then, he further cemented his legend by defeating Daniel Cormier in two of the three fights to win the trilogy.

Conclusion

Mixed Martial Arts is gradually taking its name to the shores of the world, and it wouldn't be possible without the exploits of these legendary fighters. Some of the amazing combat venues in different cities have witnessed these champions; even online, their tales are well spoken of. Their legacies will forever live on, and in the hearts of many, they will remain the greatest