The most famous fighters in modern history

We’ve seen some fantastic fighters go through the UFC octagon. In fact, we’ve seen the best of the best competing at the highest level of MMA in the world – however, only a few UFC fighters have been able to reach the level of superstardom.

These few fighters are the main reason why UFC is the fastest-rising sports organization in the world and why MMA is becoming the most popular fighting sport in the world.

The fighters on this list rate as the greatest, whose presence on a fight card can drive millions to watch, talk about and bet those fights. UFC and MMA are popular categories on many of the best betting apps.

Randy Couture

Randy Couture was one of the first true UFC stars. He has been a part of the UFC since the beginning, making his first appearance in the octagon on UFC 13 in 1997; Randy became famous for his ability to return after people thought he had been washed away.

In 2002, he was defeated by Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez, but he bounced back to defeat Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, two emerging stars. Then he lost against Vitor Belfort due to a cut, only to defeat him in the next bout.

In 2005 and 2006, Chuck Liddell knocked him out twice, but he then returned to the heavyweight class, where he defeated Tim Sylvia for the title.

He subsequently had to defend it against Gabriel Gonzaga in one of the bloodiest battles ever, but when Brock Lesnar knocked him out to win the title, then Antônio Nogueira beat him in the next match, everyone thought he was done.

But he came back yet again, winning three fights in a row, including one against Mark Coleman, another UFC icon. Couture’s illustrious career earned him widespread adoration.

Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier is widely regarded as one of the top five MMA fighters of all time. His MMA success is made even more remarkable by the fact that he began training and competing late in life. He joined the UFC at the age of 34, around the time when many competitors decide to retire.

Despite this, he had an extraordinarily successful career, losing to only two opponents: Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic – both among the best MMA fighters of all time.

Cormier is one of the few competitors in UFC history to hold belts in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight categories at the same time. He retired with a professional record of 22-3 and went on to become the UFC’s expert analyst and commentator.

Georges St-Pierre

Ask anyone to name the top three MMA fighters of all time and Georges St-Pierre will be on the list. The Canadian superstar has only suffered two losses in his career, both of which he has avenged. He’s one of the most decorated UFC champions, with a 13-fight winning streak at the end of his career.

He dominated the welterweight class for years before retiring, then returned four years later to crush Michael Bisping and win the middleweight championship.

GSP engaged in numerous octagon skirmishes and typically came out on top, even when he was bloodied and bruised. He’s the epitome of a warrior, and his admirers still adore him.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey revitalized the UFC through its darkest hour and was the promotion’s biggest star for years. She dominated her opponents and racked up massive PPV ratings, making her one of the most well-known UFC fighters of all time.

Even after her two catastrophic knockout losses that forced her to retire from MMA, Ronda remained one of the most renowned MMA figures in the world, with over 13 million Instagram followers, WWE appearances, and roles in multiple Hollywood films.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

If you started watching MMA in the mid-2010s, you might even think Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best MMA fighter ever. In his entire career, the Eagle has never lost a fight. Even better, it could be said that Khabib has only lost one round in his 29 professional fights.

Outside of the cage, he was never a trash-talker or a troublemaker, which is why his fans admire him so much. He walked inside, did his job, and always acted respectfully. His 28.5 million Instagram followers demonstrate how well-liked he is.

He embodies the ideal fighter: humble and courteous outside the ring, yet brutal inside.

Conor McGregor

Nobody comes close to Conor McGregor as the most famous UFC fighter in history. Despite fighting rarely in recent months, Notorious has over 40 million social media followers.

He was the highest-paid athlete in 2020, and his PPV events consistently set new records. He brought the UFC back to its former glory days and he pioneered the trash-talking habit among fighters seeking recognition. 

This guy single-handedly brought MMA up to par with boxing, which is incredible, considering boxing has been the most popular worldwide combat sport for decades.

Whether you like him or not, the UFC and MMA can thank him for their current celebrity status, and all fighters can thank him for their increased fame, sponsorship agreements and UFC pay. McGregor is the most well-known UFC fighter of all time.