General

MMA Superstars

READING TIME
4 MIN

There have been many big stars in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) over the years. Here are a few of the most well-known and accomplished fighters. This is a list of stars and not necessarily GOATs of MMA, but fighters that have pushed forward the sport in the Octagon as well as outside the Octagon.

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor holding both the UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Championship titles. Credits to: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Conor McGregor holding both the UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Championship titles. Credits to: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Conor McGregor is an Irish professional mixed martial artist and boxer. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight champion. McGregor is known for his brash personality and striking ability. He has had several high-profile fights, including a rematch against Nate Diaz, a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and a title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor is widely considered one of the biggest stars in the history of MMA.

McGregor has also found success as a business owner. In 2018, McGregor launched Proper No. Twelve, a brand of Irish whiskey. The brand has seen significant success, with its first year of sales surpassing $100 million. McGregor has used his large social media following and personal brand to promote Proper No. Twelve, and the whiskey has become a popular choice at bars and retail stores around the world.

Jon Jones

Jon Jones has started fights by crawling to the center of the Octagon. Credits to: Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones has started fights by crawling to the center of the Octagon. Credits to: Zuffa LLC

Jon Jones is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the UFC's light heavyweight division. He is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and is widely considered one of the best fighters of all time. Jones has an impressive record of 26-1, with his only loss coming via disqualification. He has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier, and Glover Teixeira.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov wearing a papakha at weigh-ins. Credits to: John Locher/Associated Press
Khabib Nurmagomedov wearing a papakha at weigh-ins. Credits to: John Locher/Associated Press

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the UFC's lightweight division. He is a former UFC lightweight champion and is known for his dominant wrestling ability. Nurmagomedov has an undefeated record of 29-0 and has had several high-profile fights, including a title defense against Conor McGregor and a title fight against Justin Gaethje.

Ronda Rousey

Jon Jones has started fights by crawling to the center of the Octagon. Credits to: Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones has started fights by crawling to the center of the Octagon. Credits to: Zuffa LLC

Ronda Rousey is an American mixed martial artist and judoka who was the first female UFC champion. She is known for her strong judo background and her ability to finish fights quickly. Rousey has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, and Holly Holm. She is widely considered one of the pioneers of women's MMA and has had a successful career outside of the octagon as well, appearing in movies and television shows.

Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva wearing his signature yellow trunks. Credits to: Zuffa LLC
Anderson Silva wearing his signature yellow trunks. Credits to: Zuffa LLC

Anderson Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who is widely considered one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. He is a former UFC middleweight champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history. Silva has an impressive record of 34-10 and has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Vitor Belfort.

Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre making his way to the Octagon. Credits to: tephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODA
Georges St-Pierre making his way to the Octagon. Credits to: tephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODA

Georges St-Pierre is a Canadian mixed martial artist who is widely considered one of the best fighters of all time. He is a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion and is known for his well-rounded skill set and dominant ground game. St-Pierre has an impressive record of 26-2 and has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, and Nick Diaz.

Fedor Emelianenko: Fedor Emelianenko is a Russian mixed martial artist who is widely considered one of the best heavyweights in the history of the sport. He is a former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion and has an impressive record of 39-6. Emelianenko has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Mark Coleman.

Brock Lesnar: Brock Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who is known for his size and strength. He is a former UFC heavyweight champion and has a record of 5-3. Lesnar has had several high-profile fights, including title defenses against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin. He is also a former WWE champion and has had a successful career outside of the octagon as well.

Previous
The History of Wrestling
Next
MMA Gloves and Shorts within the UFC
OverUnder
All of your weekly MMA updates in one place.
Keeping up to date with combat sports news can take up a lot of time, so we’re simplifying the process by bringing the most important stories directly to you. We read the internet all week and then summarize what you need to know in 3-4 minutes.
Enter your email to sign up for the OverUnder newsletter. The first email newsletter in MMA.
By subscribing, you will receive a weekly MMA newsletter from Verdict MMA. You can unsubscribe at any time.