Best UFC Fighters Per Each Style
MMA is widely considered the most complex combat sport as it allows fighters from all martial art backgrounds to come in and test their skills as long as the techniques they are using are in line with the official rules.
Since the sport includes striking with all limbs, clinch fighting, wrestling, and ground fighting, it gives freedom to each fighter to develop their own signature style. However, they usually have a strong foundation in one martial art which represents their “MMA base” on top of which they add more techniques. And the following 4 different styles proved as the most common ones:
- Kickboxing/Muay Thai (striking; clinch fighting)
- Boxing (striking)
- Wrestling (takedowns, ground fighting)
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu (standup grappling; ground fighting)
In this article, we are going to take a closer look at the best UFC fighters in each of these martial arts.
Boxing
Boxing plays a big role in modern MMA. At first glance, it might look limited as it focuses on punches only. But other elements of boxing such as footwork and head movement work really well in MMA. Athletes with a strong boxing base are masters in firing quick and precise punching combos, utilizing fast footwork to create angles, and head movement to slip/dodge strikes and create openings for counterattacks.
Who is the best boxer in the UFC?
Max Holloway is widely regarded as the best active boxer in the UFC, and it is really hard to argue against that. From incredibly fast footwork and insane output of strikes to the way he protects his range and set up attacks, Holloway is by far the best boxer in the UFC. Although he doesn’t have KO power in his hands, Holloway banks on technique, pressure, and volume to overwhelm his opponents and drag them into deep waters.
The famous boxing coach, Robert Garcia, once said that in his opinion, Holloway is probably the only MMA fighter who can successfully transition to boxing, and that’s a big compliment. The best example of how insane his boxing skills are was his fight against another great boxer, Calvin Kattar, whom he absolutely destroyed by landing 445 significant strikes out of which the majority were punches.
Notable mentions:
- Adrian Yanez
- Dustin Poirier
- Calvin Kattar
Submission Wrestling
Wrestling is often considered the best martial art for MMA. Throughout UFC history, for instance, wrestling has produced most UFC champions which is why so many experts believe this is the best base one can have for any type of freestyle combat.
First, wrestling matches well against other styles, especially striking because you choose where the fight takes place. And second, the learning curve is much shorter as wrestlers can transition faster than athletes from any other combat system. Strikers need to spend at least 5 years wrestling to develop all-around skills, while wrestlers need a year of boxing training to achieve the same.
Who is the best wrestler in the UFC?
With 90% takedown defense and 62% takedown accuracy, Islam Makhachev is, perhaps, the most skilled wrestler in the UFC. He is landing around 3 takedowns per 15-minute match or 1 takedown per each round, and if you combine this with his strong top control and submission skills, you get why Makhachev is so dominant. Interestingly, he doesn’t have a pure wrestling background because he is coming from Combat Sambo, which is a mix of different wrestling styles, Judo and submission grappling.
Although his striking is getting better with every fight, he primarily relies on his grappling skills. Like most fighters from Russia and Dagestan, he is very aggressive inside the cage, always moving forward, and is timing entries on a single/double leg perfectly. In the clinch, he is positioning himself well, has a very strong balance, and is physically strong which enables him to take his opponents down without much effort.
But what really stands out in his game is his strong top control as you will rarely see him losing a position on the ground. Like Khabib Nurmagomedov, he is 5 levels above everybody when it comes to grappling.
Notable mentions:
- Kamaru Usman — former UFC welterweight champion
- Colby Covington — UFC title challenger
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
BJJ has been a key element of MMA since the early days and the Gracie family dominating the sport. It is so important that you can’t expect to succeed or do well in cage fighting without having solid grappling skills. While an elite grappler can get away with below-average striking, you can’t say the same for wrestling and BJJ. Ground fighting represents the most important segment of the sport where you must be well-versed in all positions, escapes, maneuvers, and know how to deal with chokes and joint locks.
As for wrestling, the learning curve in BJJ is quite long, much longer than in other arts. It takes around 10–15 years for an athlete to earn a black belt rank. Once these athletes decide to transition to MMA, they enjoy a big advantage over athletes who do not have a martial art background or are coming from striking arts.
Who is the best BJJ fighter in the UFC?
With the most submissions in UFC history, Charles Oliveira is a man who has built his career on utilizing high-level BJJ skills in his fights. The former UFC lightweight champion has become synonymous with BJJ in MMA and is probably the best representation of the new era of grapplers in MMA, the ones who have all-around skills.
Oliveira has above-average Muay Thai skills which he uses to hurt his opponents or close the distance. Once he gets a hold of his opponent and secures a strong grip, it would be just a matter of time before he gets a takedown and places a submission, no matter how good the opponent’s defense is.
Notable mentions:
- Mackenzie Dern
- Brian Ortega
Muay Thai
Also known as the “art of eight limbs”, Muay Thai is a national sport in Thailand that also plays a big role in modern MMA. In fact, Thai boxing is the only striking system that covers all the striking elements because it teaches you how to fight with your hands, legs, as well as knees, and elbows. Unlike other striking arts, it also covers all the ranges, including the clinch which is a very important segment in cage fighting.
Apart from striking, it also includes the basics of grappling such as positioning in the clinch, trips, throws, and sweeps which is a huge plus. All of this makes Muay Thai a total package when it comes to MMA and must have skills if you want to succeed.
Who has the best Muay Thai in the UFC?
Many fans and experts consider Jon Jones to be the best Muay Thai fighter in the UFC. Although he comes from a wrestling background, Jones primarily relies on his exceptional Muay Thai skills to pick his opponents apart from the distance.
He is a master in getting the most out of his long legs and arms to land long-range shots, and even if the opponent decides to step in and get a clinch, he would destroy them with knees to the stomach and elbows to the face. He continues to use these weapons when the fight advanced to the ground too. Jones is known for having one of the best ground-and-pound skills and he prefers to destroy his opponents with hard elbows from the top position.
