20 Best Wrestlers in UFC History

In modern mixed martial arts, wrestling is king. It is widely considered the most important martial arts base for competing in MMA. The best wrestlers in MMA usually go on to become the best fighters in the UFC – just check out a list of UFC champions, past and present. The majority of them have been wrestlers!

I’ve been watching MMA for almost 20 years and covering it as a journalist for 5, so I’ve been able to witness the evolution of the sport over time. Way back at UFC 1, BJJ was the dominant force in MMA. Nowadays, wrestlers have taken over the sport.

In this list, I’m going to share my picks for the 20 best wrestlers in UFC history. There have been many wrestlers throughout the organization’s history, so I won’t be able to get to them all – but these are the standouts in my opinion.

20. Mark Coleman

Country: USA

Date of Birth: December 20, 1964

Weight Division(s): Heavyweight/Light Heavyweight

MMA Record: 16-10-0

Years Active: 1996-2010

Accolades: First UFC Heavyweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer

You can’t make a list of the best UFC wrestlers without including pioneer Mark Coleman. An OG in the sport of MMA, Coleman goes way back – having won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments. To put that in perspective, UFC 300 will happen sometime in 2024.

While Coleman might not match up to some of the other fighters on this list talent-wise, his career helped shape how MMA wrestling is approached today. He is widely considered the pioneer of “ground-and-pound,” in which a fighter takes their opponent down and then pummels with strikes from a dominant position.

“Ground-and-pound” is an essential part of MMA today, so the UFC Hall of Famer deserves a spot on this list.

19. Curtis Blaydes

Country: USA

Date of Birth: February 18, 1991

Weight Division(s): Heavyweight

MMA Record: 17-3-0 (1 NC) as of date of publication

Years Active: 2014-Present

Accolades: Top 5 UFC Heavyweight, NJCAA Wrestling Champion

Heavyweight isn’t a division known for amazing wrestlers. When most people think of UFC heavyweights, devastating knockout power comes to mind. While Blaydes also has heavy hands, he is one of the few current UFC heavyweights who is an excellent wrestler.

The former New Jersey State Wrestling champion uses his blast double legs to drag his opponent to the Octagon canvas, neutralizing their ability to throw heavy strikes. Like many wrestlers in MMA, the threat of Blayde’s takedown also helps set up his punches. Because of that, he is also a guy who can knock his opponents out.

18. Colby Covington

Country: USA

Date of Birth: February 22, 1988

Weight Division(s): Welterweight

MMA Record: 17-3-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2012-Present

Accolades: UFC Interim Welterweight Champion, NCAA Division I Wrestler

Love him or hate him, Colby Covington is one of the best wrestlers in the UFC. A controversial figure who brings disrespectful trash talk and politics into his on-screen persona, Covington is known for his never-ending gas tank and relentless wrestling approach.

The combination of his grappling and cardio creates a whirlwind of pressure that overwhelms most opponents. In fact, many believe Covington would have been UFC welterweight champion already, if not for another all-time great UFC wrestler on this list…

17. Merab Dvalishvili 

Country: Georgia

Date of Birth: August 10, 1991

Weight Division(s): Bantamweight

MMA Record: 16-4-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2013-Present

Accolades: Top Ranked UFC Bantamweight, Division I Wrestler, Most Takedown Attempts in a Single UFC fight (49), 4th Most Takedowns Landed in UFC History (74)

Merab is called “The Machine” – and for good reason. He puts on a smothering, relentless pace centered around his wrestling. His gameplan in the Octagon is simple – he’s going to attempt to take you down, tire you out, and drown you in deep waters.

He is quickly on pace to become the UFC’s all-time leader in takedowns, currently standing at 4th tied with Demetrious Johnson. He only needs 16 more to tie the record held by Georges St. Pierre. That may seem like a lot, but for Merab it really isn’t.

For context, in his last fight against former bantamweight champion Petr Yan, he attempted an unfathomable 49 takedowns en route to a dominant decision victory. Before it’s said and done, you may see Merab in the top 5 in future editions of this list.

16. Dominick Cruz

Country: USA

Date of Birth: March 9, 1985

Weight Division(s): Bantamweight

MMA Record: 24-4-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2005-Present

Accolades: UFC Bantamweight Champion, WEC Bantamweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer

Dominick Cruz is considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight in UFC history, known for combining his crisp boxing and dynamic footwork with blast double-leg takedowns.

He is a two-time bantamweight champion with wins over Uriah Faber, Demetrious Johnson, and T.J. Dillashaw. His rivalry with Faber is one of the most legendary in UFC history and his dominant run at 135 earned him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame in 2021.

Injuries derailed his career and he missed a lot of time during his prime years. While Cruz has had a rougher go of things lately, he has not retired and still has championship aspirations.

15. Islam Makhachev

Country: Russia

Date of Birth: September 27, 1991

Weight Division(s): Lightweight

MMA Record: 24-1-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2010-Present

Accolades: UFC Lightweight Champion, World Combat Sambo Champion, 8th Longest UFC win streak (12), 5th Fewest Strikes Absorbed Per Min. in UFC History 

It won’t be long before Khabib’s protege is in the upper echelon in future versions of this list – Islam Makhachev is a grappling phenom with that overwhelming Dagestani style that wears opponents down and never lets them come up for air.

He is the current UFC lightweight champion and the only fighter to have ever fought and beaten the #3 and #1 active PFP fighter on the UFC roster – he won the belt off Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and then bested challenger Alexander Volkanovski only 4 months later at UFC 284.

While he might not have the mauling style of his teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev is a special talent who is set to make a dominant run in the UFC’s toughest division.

14. Chael Sonnen

Country: USA

Date of Birth: April 3, 1977

Weight Division(s): Middleweight/Light Heavyweight

MMA Record: 31-17-1

Years Active: 1997-2019

Accolades: Top 5 UFC Light Heavyweight, Top 5 UFC Middleweight, 4th Highest Control Time Percentage in UFC History (69.3%), 8th Longest Top Position Time in UFC History (1:29:52), Highest Top Position Percentage in UFC History (63%), 8th Fewest Strikes Absorbed Per Min. in UFC History (1.32)

Some fighters use their wrestling to set up their boxing – Chael Sonnen used his trash talking to set up his wrestling. Sonnen is known for being one of the greatest MMA fighters on the mic – getting into his opponents head before the bout even begins.

His wrestling carried him to a great career, with big wins over Michael Bisping and Shogun Rua. He almost became the man to stop Anderson Silva’s run of UFC middleweight dominance, but was caught in a triangle in the 5th round after dominating the fight.

Sonnen might be more regarded for his personality and trash talk, but his wrestling is still some of the best the UFC has ever seen.

13. Chad Mendes

Country: USA

Date of Birth: May 1, 1985

Weight Division(s): Featherweight

MMA Record: 18-5-0

Years Active: 2008-2018

Accolades: Top 5 UFC Featherweight, NCAA Division I Wrestler 

Featherweight isn’t a division that’s known for its wrestlers. In fact, there have only ever been 4 featherweight champions in the UFC – Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski. All strikers. However, one name comes to mind when asked about UFC featherweight wrestlers: Chad Mendes.

A former D1 wrestler, Mendes is still the best wrestler in UFC featherweight history, despite having retired in 2018. His lightning quick reflexes set up his blast double leg takedowns, making him one of the most explosive wrestlers on the UFC roster.

He has notable wins over Clay Guida, Darren Elkins, and Ricardo Lamas. The only losses in his career came against UFC champions in Alexander Volkanovski, Frankie Edgar, Conor McGregor, and Jose Aldo.

12. Chris Weidman

Country: USA

Date of Birth: June 17, 1984

Weight Division(s): Middleweight

MMA Record: 15-6-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2009-Present

Accolades: UFC Middleweight Champion, NCAA Division I Wrestler 

An All-American wrestler, Chris Weidman is known for being the man who put a stop to Anderson Silva’s legendary UFC middleweight title run. He used his wrestling ability to open up a path for his striking, leading him to defending his title 3 times.

While beating Anderson Silva twice is the apex of his career, he also had big wins over Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort. His knockout over Silva is considered one of the greatest moments in UFC history, since he was the one who landed the KO despite being the wrestler.

11. Matt Hughes 

Country: USA

Date of Birth: October 13, 1973

Weight Division(s): Welterweight

MMA Record: 45-9-0

Years Active: 1998-2011

Accolades: UFC Welterweight Champion (x2), UFC Hall of Famer, 6th Most UFC Title Fight Wins (9), 9th Longest Control Time in UFC History (1:53:42), 5th Longest Top Position Time in UFC History (1:45:08), 7th Highest Top Position Percentage in UFC History

One of only two fighters to have beaten Georges St. Pierre in the UFC, Matt Hughes is regarded for his wrestling skills and dominating ground-and-pound style. He’s one of the most accomplished UFC fighters in history, with wins over legendary fighters like GSP, BJ Penn, and Royce Gracie.

Known as “the Hitman,” Hughes won the UFC welterweight title twice and defended it a whopping 7 times. While the aforementioned Mark Coleman was a pioneer of the ground-and-pound style, Hughes took it to the next level, making him an instrumental figure in the evolution of MMA.

10. Tito Ortiz

Country: USA

Date of Birth: January 23, 1975

Weight Division(s): Light Heavyweight

MMA Record: 21-12-1

Years Active: 1997-2019

Accolades: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer 

Simply put, the UFC wouldn’t be what it is today without Tito Ortiz. Along with Chuck Liddell, he was one of MMA’s first stars, using his wrestling skills and heavy hands to make a name for himself in the UFC.

Ortiz had a great run as UFC light heavyweight champion, holding the title from 2000 to 2003. He defended his belt 5 times, with notable wins over Ken Shamrock, Wanderlei Silva, and Vitor Belfort.

Although he never beat Liddell in the UFC, the rivalry between the two helped shape the sport and make the UFC one of the biggest MMA promotions in the world.

9. Frankie Edgar

Country: USA

Date of Birth: October 16, 1981

Weight Division(s): Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight

MMA Record: 23-11-1

Years Active: 2005-2022

Accolades: UFC Lightweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer, 10th Most Total Fights in UFC History (30), 7th Most Decision Wins in UFC History (11), 8th Most Fight Night Bonuses in UFC History (11), 2nd Longest Total Fight Time in UFC History (7:57:10), 6th Longest Top Position Time in UFC History (1:32:34), 2nd Most Significant Strikes Landed in UFC History (1801), 4th Most Total Strikes Landed in UFC History (2481), 6th Most Takedowns Landed in UFC History (73)

If you love underdogs (or at least undersized fighters), Frankie Edgar is a hero. The fan-favorite utilized his outstanding footwork and boxing to set up his takedowns, making him one of the most successful wrestlers in UFC history.

The former UFC lightweight champion has big wins over legendary fighters like BJ Penn, Gray Maynard, and Chad Mendes. His 3 title defenses at lightweight are tied with BJ Penn and Khabib Nurmagomedov for the most in UFC lightweight history.

A career that spanned almost 20 years and across 3 weight divisions, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar is one of the best wrestlers the UFC has seen. His accolades and longevity in the sport speak for themselves.

8. Randy Couture

Country: USA

Date of Birth: June 22, 1963

Weight Division(s): Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight

MMA Record: 19-11-0

Years Active: 1997-2011

Accolades: UFC Heavyweight Champion, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer, 7th Most UFC Title Fight Wins (8), 7th Longest Control Time in UFC History (2:06:42), 9th Longest Top Position Time in UFC History (1:27:15)

One of the most important figures in MMA history, Randy “the Natural” Couture is a natural choice to make this list of the best UFC wrestlers of all-time. He is a multi-division champion, having won the UFC heavyweight title 3 times and the UFC light heavyweight title twice.

Considered a pioneer of the UFC, Couture has big wins over stars like Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. His takedowns and ground-and-pound were an essential part of his game. The true epitome of a mixed martial artist, he varied his approach to each fight, all stemming from his wrestling base.

7. Cain Velasquez

Country: USA

Date of Birth: July 28, 1982

Weight Division(s): Heavyweight

MMA Record: 14-3

Years Active: 2006-2019

Accolades: UFC Heavyweight Champion, UFC Knockout of the Year (2010), 3rd Highest Striking Differential in UFC History (4.08), 6th Most UFC Knockout/Technical Knockout Wins in UFC History (10), 9th Highest Control Time Percentage in UFC History (60.4%)\

The greatest wrestler in UFC heavyweight history is Cain Velasquez. Known for his outstanding cardio at heavyweight, he brought a relentless pace that utilized his wrestling to set up his heavy hands.

“Cardio Cain” had one of the best runs in UFC heavyweight history, with big wins over Junior Dos Santos, “Minotauro” Nogueira, and Brock Lesnar. He won the title twice and defended his belt two times.

Velasquez represents a rare breed of heavyweight that used his cardio and wrestling to take him to the heights of MMA.

6. Kamaru Usman

Country: Nigeria

Date of Birth: March 11, 1987

Weight Division(s): Welterweight

MMA Record: 20-3-0 as of date of publication

Years Active: 2012-Present

Accolades: UFC Welterweight Champion, Division I Wrestler, 2nd Longest Win Streak in UFC History (15), 7th Longest Average Fight Time in UFC History (17:35), 4th Most Control Time in UFC History (2:13:51), 7th Most Total Strikes Landed in UFC History (2369), 2nd Highest Takedown Defense Percentage in UFC History (97.3%)

Kamaru Usman had one of the best welterweight runs in UFC history, using his smothering wrestling to beat the likes of Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns.

The former UFC welterweight champion had an incredible 15-fight win streak, which is second all-time in UFC history. Usman is known to drag his opponents down or dominant them in the clinch against the cage, setting up his hands for later in the fight.

Some believe he has an argument for being considered the greatest welterweight of all-time over Georges St. Pierre.

5. Daniel Cormier

Country: USA 

Date of Birth: March 20, 1979

Weight Division(s): Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight

MMA Record: 22-3-0 (1 NC)

Years Active: 2009-2020

Accolades: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion, ESPN Fighter of the Year (2018), ESPY Award for Best MMA Fighter (2018), NCAA Division I Wrestler 

Like other fighters in the top 5 of this list, Daniel Cormier isn’t just one of the best wrestlers in UFC history – he’s one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. One of only 4 UFC fighters to simultaneously hold championship titles, Cormier used his wrestling background to take him to the heights of the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Cormier is known for his high-crotch slams, in which he lifts his opponents in the air and drops them on their back. He was a six-time US Olympic Wrestling team member and six-time US National Championships gold medalist, using the wrestling background to become one of the best MMA fighters of all time.

“DC” is one of the most revered fighters in UFC history, currently working as a color-commentator during fight broadcasts. His only losses are to Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic – the greatest MMA fighter of all time and the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, respectively.

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Country: Russia

Date of Birth: September 20, 1988

Weight Division(s): Lightweight

MMA Record: 29-0-0

Years Active: 2008-2020

Accolades: UFC Lightweight Champion, Longest-Reigning Lightweight Champion in UFC History, Combat Sambo World Champion (2009, 2010), 3rd Longest Win Streak in UFC History (13)

There is a strong case for why Khabib Nurmagomedov should be considered the greatest wrestler in UFC history. If not for his relatively short UFC career, he would also have a case for being considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time, period.

Khabib’s smothering Sambo style wrestling revolutionized the sport of MMA. A master of chain wrestling, Nurmagomedov would shoot for single legs, drag his opponents to the cage, and maul them with ground-and-pound. His mastery of wrist-control position was dubbed the “Dagestani handcuff” by former UFC middleweight champion and current analyst Michael Bisping.

The only undefeated fighter to make this list, Khabib was the most dominant in his career. He never bled throughout his UFC career and only ever lost two rounds – the third round in his fight with Conor McGregor, in which he chose to strike rather than wrestle, and the 1st round of his fight with Justin Gaethje.

3. Georges St. Pierre

Country: Canada

Date of Birth: May 19, 1981

Weight Division(s): Welterweight, Middleweight

MMA Record: 26-2-0

Years Active: 2002-2019

Accolades: UFC Welterweight Champion, UFC Middleweight Champion, UFC Hall of Famer, 9th Most Wins in UFC History (20), 2nd Most Decision Wins in UFC History (12), 3rd Longest Win Streak in UFC History (13), 2nd Most Title Fight Wins in UFC History (13), Longest Control Time in UFC History (2:42:04), Longest Top Position Time in UFC History (2:22:05), 2nd Highest Significant Strike Defense Percentage in UFC History (73.1%), 2nd Most Total Strikes Landed in UFC History (2591), Most Takedowns Landed in UFC History (90), 3rd Highest Takedown Accuracy Percentage in UFC History (73.8%), 8th Most Submission Attempts in UFC History (24)

Many MMA fans consider Georges St. Pierre to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time, and for good reason. Despite his traditional karate background, GSP utilized his wrestling to become one of the UFC’s most decorated champions ever.

GSP had a simple formula – he used his jabs to set up his double legs, took his opponents down, and controlled them with dominant positions. He was so efficient with this approach that fighters knew it was coming – and they still couldn’t stop it.

Abandoning his striking background for a more wrestling heavy approach made GSP one of the best wrestlers in UFC history. His stats speak for themselves.

2. Henry Cejudo

Country: USA

Date of Birth: July 19, 1987

Weight Division(s): Flyweight, Bantamweight

MMA Record: 16-2-0

Years Active: 2013-2020

Accolades: UFC Flyweight Champion, UFC Bantamweight Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling (2008), Pan American Games Wrestling Gold Medalist (2007), Pan American Wrestling Championships Gold Medalist (2006, 2007, 2008), Gold Medalist US National Championships (2006, 2007), 6th Lowest Bottom Position Percentage in UFC History (0.15%)

While Cejudo didn’t have as long of a run as some of the other UFC fighters in the top 5, he’s arguably the most decorated combat sports athlete of all time. The only Olympic Gold medalist to compete in the UFC, Henry Cejudo used his wrestling background to become double champ, holding the UFC flyweight and bantamweight titles simultaneously.

“Triple C” was the man who put a stop to Demetrious Johnson’s legendary UFC title run at featherweight, combining his wrestling with his striking to masterful effect. His wrestling was so good that it opened up paths for his striking – when opponents became too worried about takedowns, they left themselves open to punches and kicks.

Although he retired in 2020, Cejudo re-entered the USADA testing pool to be eligible to compete in the UFC. He’s expected to challenge current bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling for the title later this year.

1. Jon Jones

Country: USA

Date of Birth: July 19, 1987

Weight Division(s): Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight

MMA Record: 26-1-0 (1 NC) as of date of publication

Years Active: 2008-Present

Accolades: UFC Lightweight Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, Youngest Champion in UFC History (23), 5th Most Wins in UFC History (21), 3rd Longest Win Streak in UFC History (13), Most Title Fight Wins in UFC History (15), 7th Lowest Bottom Position Percentage in UFC History (0.2%), 3rd Highest Takedown Defense Percentage in UFC History (95%)

Jon Jones isn’t just the best wrestler in UFC history – he’s the greatest MMA fighter of all time, full stop. “Bones” owns a record that is unlikely to ever be replicated again – recently adding to his record for UFC title fight wins in a different weight class by beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

The youngest champion in UFC history, Jones used his wrestling in his early career to take out legends like Ryan Bader, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen, and many more. The only loss on his record came via disqualification, when the ref awarded Matt Hamill the victory over Jones due to an illegal 12-to-6 elbow.

What makes Jon Jones so special is his ability to combine his wrestling with his creative striking, making perfect use of his natural attributes like height and reach. His list of accolades is a mile long, and after becoming UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 285, it’s only going to get longer.

FAQs

Who are the best wrestlers in the UFC currently?

Currently, Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev could be considered the best active wrestlers on the UFC roster. Henry Cejudo has re-entered the USADA testing pool and plans to come out of retirement at some point in 2023. Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Merab Dvalishvili could also be considered for the best wrestlers active in the UFC.

How many UFC fighters are wrestlers?

Every MMA fighter needs to train in wrestling, even if it isn’t their background. Technically, every fighter on the UFC roster could be considered a wrestler because they have to train in wrestling in order to be successful in the sport.

As a point of reference, 6 out of 10 fighters on the current PFP list have wrestling backgrounds.

Why is wrestling so effective in MMA?

Wrestling gives an MMA fighter the ability to dictate the action of a fight. Wrestling enables an MMA fighter to take their opponent down and control them, and also gives them the skills to defend takedowns if they want to keep the fight standing.

Wrestlers are known for their cardio – there is an adage that it’s a different kind of cardio between grappling and striking. Wrestling can be used to tire out opponents quickly, especially if their base is in striking.