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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ) took birth in 1993. In the early 2000s, it acquired the attention of everyone, gaining fans worldwide. Every weight class here has witnessed the remarkable performance of fighters. Although no one can stay at the top all the time, there have been several individuals who stand above the competition.
Choosing 10 best fighters is tough. However, by closely examining the performances and achievements, we have been able to come up with this list. It is not static, but will keep updating as new faces make their mark. Let's find out the 10 best fighters in the IFC Hall of Fame.
Anderson Silva's accomplishments make him the very first person to be on this list. He has had a 17-fight winning streak along with 10 successful title defenses. During his glory days, he defeated men like Forrest Griffin and James Irvin in the light heavyweight division.
Silva has had one of the longest tenures as a middleweight champion. He spent more than 1000 days as one. Although he experienced injuries that broke his tibia and fibula, he'll always be remembered as one of the UFC legends.
Johnson has proved his worth in the flyweight division, delivering a 16-1-1 record. He won 11 times, each time cementing his title as the champion of this UFC division. Johnson is known for his ground-and-pound style and superfast takedowns of his opponents. Although he lost in 2018, the dominance he showed cannot ever be forgotten.
Pierre stormed onto the UFC scene in 2004. His career is marked by several accomplishments. He enjoyed continuous victories from 2007 to 2013. Then, after a few years of absence, he emerged back in 2017 with full force, defeating Michael Bisping, the middleweight champion of the time. During his entire career, Pierre has only been defeated by Serra and Hughes. He has held the UFC middleweight title twice, with nine successful defenses. Pierre is definitely one of the best men in the UFC middleweight category.
Few can hold the title of a champion in more than one UFC category. Daniel Cormer has been one of those. Beginning with heavyweight, he transitioned to light heavyweight and then again to heavyweight. As part of his last move, he defeated Stipe Miocic and won the gold medal.
Cormier defended the light heavyweight title thrice and heavyweight once. After 2018, he couldn't ever claim the power he had. However, his many achievements across both categories certainly makes him among the best fighters.
Nurmagomedov, or 'The Eagle,' is one of those fighters who can never be considered 'defeated.' During his years-long career, he won almost every fight. Khabib has an impressive 29-0 record, clearly justifying his nickname. This Russian has defeated men like Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor, among others.
The only point not in favor of Khabib is his early retirement. He stopped fighting when his career was at an all-time high due to his father's demise. However, his many wins give him a spot in the list of the best Hall of Fame fighters.
With a 31-8-0 record, Jose Aldo has remained undefeated for almost 10 years till 2015. He is one of those fighters who have spent a long time in the ring, fighting till 2022. From 2006 to 2014, he won 18 fights. He was the winner of the WEC featherweight championship, defending the belt twice. This led him to gain the title of the UFC champion. Aldo was a master of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, using it to his advantage in every game. We will surely miss his thrilling performances in the ring.
Hughes has led an inspiring MMA career. He recorded a whopping 45 victories, establishing himself as a legend. Hughes participated in nine fights over a period of 12 months! Not many can pull that off. He bagged the welterweight title after defeating Carlos Newton. In his peak years, Hughes has defeated fighters like Sean Sherk and B.J Penn. All of these names held the UFC gold medal. This indicates the skill and talent of Hughes as one of the best UFC fighters.
Emelianenko is another UFC star with an inspiring career. From 2001 to 2009, he won 27 fights, grabbing the PRIDE heavyweight title. He has defeated some of the best talent in the UFC, including Mirko Cro Cop. He lost to Fabricio Werdum in 2010. However, no one can deny that Eemelianenko has put his best foot in the heavyweight division, one of UFC's most lethal categories.
The two-time Olympic wrestler Henderson emerged in the UFC field in 1997. He has always fought with opponents that are equal in skill levels. With 25 wins, he certainly deserves a place in the Hall of Fame. Henderson has held two MMA championships in separate weight divisions. At 33, he moved to 206 pounds and defeated Wanderlei Silva, the reigning king of the time. Now, at 41 years of age, he is equally dangerous in the ring.
Usman has risen up to become the strongest pound-for-pound champion of the UFC. He has done this by constantly pushing himself out of his comfort zone, taking on opponents who are two whole weight classes above him. His scariest punch, the right cross, is one of the key reasons that makes him an efficient fighter. Usman is the first Nigerian to have won the UFC Champion title. He did this after defeating Tyron Woodley in UFC 235 for the welterweight title. He has defended this title five times and was only defeated by Leon Edwards. Known for his dangerous southpaw jab, Usman has surely earned his position as one of the best talents in the UFC.
Best Ways to Catch UFC Live at Home
Are you a dedicated UFC fan eager to catch all the action live? You can enjoy UFC live coverage through various free and subscription-based platforms. Most UFC fights are broadcast on cable or satellite TV channels. Depending on your location, channels like ESPN, ESPN+, BT Sport, or UFC Fight Pass might provide live coverage.
You can also watch UFC live on various streaming devices. Platforms like ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass offer live streaming of UFC events, allowing fans to tune in from their streaming sticks like Roku and Apple TV. These streaming services provide convenient access to all the action-packed fights. In the US, you have multiple options to watch UFC live coverage on FireStick without cable. You can get a UFC Fight Pass to watch prelims and follow the UFC YouTube channel to catch all the highlights. For live action, subscribe to ESPN+. Alternatively, you can get a Disney bundle to enable UFC action at home. With access to all the fights, you never have to miss a moment of excitement, no matter where you are.
In the rich tapestry of UFC history, certain fights stand out as timeless classics, embodying the essence of combat sports. We cannot help but remember Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald in 2015, which showcased an epic battle for the welterweight title. Both fighters were left battered but immortalized their grit and determination.
A few years prior to that, Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua's clash in 2011 epitomized the raw power and resilience of two MMA legends. The event culminated in a war of attrition that left fans awestruck. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson in 2013 defied expectations, as the underdog Gustafsson pushed the seemingly invincible Jones to his limits. It cemented their bout as a historic moment in UFC lore.
These fights not only entertained but engraved themselves in the annals of UFC history as unforgettable displays of skill, heart, and courage. We can only hope that the years ahead will bring more such fights, helping us acquire a greater appreciation for the game. In the same line, we invite you to watch UFC events and witness the next generation of legendary battles unfold.
The popularity of MMA has shot up in recent years. This is mainly due to the promotional campaigns. However, UFC's charm cannot be denied. The boxing ring performances have wowed fans with the skill of the fighters. The list here includes 10 of the best talents who were incredibly good in their prime. Many of them have held titles in more than one division. They are past their peak years now. But we can never forget their stellar fights.
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