Mixed Martial Artists

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What could be more exciting than watching two talented Mixed Martial Artists taking on each other at one of those thrilling fights that promise to entertain and enthral you at the same time? Anderson "The Spider" Silva, often considered one of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time, was reputed to simply maul his opponents inside the ring! At the peak of his career he had defeated even the likes of Carlos Newtown, Hayato Sakurai, Jeremy Horn, Jorge Rivera, and Lee Murray—who themselves were among the best!
Vote for Your Favourite Mixed Martial Artists
 1 
Conor McGregor
(Mixed Martial Artist and Former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Double-Champion)
Conor McGregor
22
Birthdate: July 14, 1988
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland

The highest paid fighter of Ultimate Fighting Championship, Conor McGregor is one of the most famous athletes in the world. His ascent from humble beginnings to becoming ‘The Notorious’ has been fuelled by McGregor’s mastery of martial arts, skilful fighting style and powerful punches. He is the first fighter to hold both UFC Featherweight Championship and UFC Lightweight Championship simultaneously.

 2 
Khabib Nurmagomedov
(Former Russian Mixed Martial Artist and the First Muslim to Win a UFC Title)
Khabib Nurmagomedov
12
Birthdate: September 20, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sil'di, Russia

Russian professional mixed martial artist, Khabib Nurmagomedov, is known for holding the longest active undefeated streak in MMA, with 28 wins and no losses. In September 2020, he was named #2 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. He practices Islam and is the first Muslim to win a UFC title.

 3 
Ronda Rousey
(First American Female to Earn an Olympic Medal in Judo)
Ronda Rousey
8
Birthdate: February 1, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Riverside, California, United States

A professional WWE wrestler, Ronda Rousey was the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and also the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Earlier, she became the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in judo. Amongst the greatest female MMA fighter, Ronda has also appeared in films like The Expendables 3 and Furious 7.

 4 
Jon Jones
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist and Former Two-Time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
Jon Jones
5
Birthdate: July 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States

Jon Jones, the American professional mixed martial artist, is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever. He holds many Ultimate Fighting Championship records in the light heavyweight division. However, he has been also been involved in several controversies and has been arrested for felony, hit-and-run charges and has tested positive for banned substances.

 5 
Israel Adesanya
(New Zealand Mixed Martial Artist and Kickboxer)
Israel Adesanya
4
Birthdate: July 22, 1989
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria

Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and former boxer. Considered one of the best strikers in MMA, Adesanya has won multiple championships and is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. In 2019, Israel Adesanya was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards.

 6 
Brock Lesnar
(One of the Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time)
Brock Lesnar
6
Birthdate: July 12, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota, United States

A multi-faceted personality, Brock Lesnar has had successful careers in the field of wrestling, mixed martial arts, and football. Best known for his wrestling career, Brock is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever. Brock, who has had an equally successful MMA career, is the only person in history to hold a WWE world championship and UFC championship.

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 7 
Georges St-Pierre
(One of the Greatest Fighters in the History of Mixed Martial Arts)
Georges St-Pierre
4
Birthdate: May 19, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Quebec, Canada

Considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, Georges St-Pierre is a former professional mixed martial artist. Starting from 2008, he was named by Rogers Sportsnet as the Canadian Athlete of the Year for three consecutive years. When he defeated Michael Bisping at UFC 217, he became only the fourth fighter to be a multi-division champion in UFC history.

 8 
Anderson Silva
(One of the Best Mixed Martial Artists of All Time)
Anderson Silva
4
Birthdate: April 14, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Brazilian MMA legend Anderson Silva began learning Taekwondo at 12. He holds the record of the longest reign by any UFC title-holder, being the middleweight champion from 2006 to 2013, and also has a record of 16 consecutive wins. He also has black belts in multiple martial art forms.

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 9 
Stipe Miocic
(One of the Greatest Heavyweight Fighters in UFC History)
Stipe Miocic
4
Birthdate: August 19, 1982
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Euclid, Ohio, United States

Rising from a humble background, Stipe Miocic won NAAFS Heavyweight Championship and reached Ultimate Fighting Championship, the biggest MMA platform. His talent made him one of the most successful heavyweight champions in UFC history with numerous awards. Apart from fighting MMA matches,Stipe Miocic works as a firefighter and paramedic and saves lives in Cleveland.

 10 
Rafael dos Anjos
(Brazilian American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Rafael dos Anjos
4
Birthdate: October 26, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rafael dos Anjos is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist. A former UFC Lightweight Champion, dos Anjos is renowned for his aggressive approach, which often takes his opponents by surprise. Characterized by his strong takedown capabilities and physical strength, dos Anjos holds victories over popular martial artists like Robbie Lawler and Benson Henderson.

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 11 
Tito Ortiz
(American Mixed Martial Artist and Politician)
Tito Ortiz
4
Birthdate: January 23, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California, United States

Mixed martial artist, Tito Ortiz, is currently signed to the Combate Americas promotion. In the past, he has worked with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was the Light Heavyweight Champion for three years. He also owns an MMA training gym and an MMA equipment and clothing line. In 2020, he ventured into politics. 

 12 
Alistair Overeem
(First Fighter to Hold World Titles in MMA and K-1 Kickboxing at the Same Time)
Alistair Overeem
4
Birthdate: May 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
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 13 
Dominick Cruz
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Dominick Cruz
4
Birthdate: September 3, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States

Dominick Cruz is an American mixed martial artist. Renowned for his quick striking, powerful wrestling base, and unorthodox movement, Cruz is one of the most agile competitors in the history of mixed martial arts. A two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is currently one of the most popular competitors at the UFC.

 14 
Michael Bisping
(English Actor, Commentator and Retired Mixed Martial Artist)
Michael Bisping
4
Birthdate: February 28, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Nicosia, Cyprus
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 15 
Chuck Liddell
(Former Mixed Martial Artist Who Helped Bring MMA Into the Mainstream of American Sports and Entertainment)
Chuck Liddell
4
Birthdate: December 17, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California, United States

Chuck Liddell is a retired mixed martial artist. He participated in 23 fights in the UFC and is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He is widely credited with bringing MMA into mainstream American entertainment. He was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine in 2007. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009. 

 16 
T. J. Dillashaw
(American Retired Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
T. J. Dillashaw
4
Birthdate: February 7, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sonora, California, United States

Mixed martial artist T. J. Dillashaw is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion. Interested in wrestling from a young age, he made his professional debut in 2010 and went on to achieve much success. He tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2019 and was suspended for two years.

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 17 
Henry Cejudo
(Professional Mixed Martial Artist and the Only Person to Win an Olympic Gold Medal and a UFC Title)
Henry Cejudo
4
Birthdate: February 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 18 
Randy Couture
(Actor, Former Mixed Martial Artist & Greco-Roman Wrestler)
Randy Couture
4
Birthdate: June 22, 1963
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Everett, Washington, United States

Randy Couture is a former U.S. Army sergeant and retired mixed martial artist. He currently works as an actor. He began his career as an army man and later turned to mixed martial arts. In this field, he was a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. After quitting UFC, he became an actor and starred in the hit film The Hard Way. 

 19 
Gina Carano
(Actress, Mixed Martial Artist)
Gina Carano
4
Birthdate: April 16, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States

A former mixed martial artist, Gina Carano went on to become an actress; she uses her martial arts skills to perform stunts in popular action movies. Before becoming an actress, she was quite popular in the MMA scene, being termed the face of women's MMA. In 2008, she was named in a Top 10 Influential Women list.

 20 
CM Punk
(American Professional Wrestler and Retired Mixed Martial Artist)
CM Punk
5
Birthdate: October 26, 1978
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

CM Punk is an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. CM Punk is one of the first independent wrestlers to have achieved tremendous success in WWE; his success served as a precedent for other independent wrestlers. Over the years, CM Punk has influenced and inspired popular wrestlers like Seth Rollins, Adam Cole, and Rhea Ripley.

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 21 
Nate Diaz
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Nate Diaz
4
Birthdate: April 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Stockton, California, United States

Nate Diaz is an American mixed martial artist with experience of competing in several promotions, such as Strikeforce, World Extreme Cagefighting, and Pancrase. He is currently signed with the UFC and is tied with Joseph Edward Lauzon Jr. for the second-most bonus awards. In 2007, Nate Diaz took part in the fifth season of the reality TV series Ultimate Fighter.

 22 
Francis Ngannou
(Cameroonian-French Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Francis Ngannou
4
Birthdate: September 5, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Batié, Cameroon Batié, Cameroon

Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian MMA fighter who currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) heavyweight division. The current UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ngannou is renowned for his heavy punches and is the hardest recorded puncher of all time. Ngannou is also known for his philanthropic efforts; the Francis Ngannou Foundation aims at helping young people train in a gym.

 23 
Kimbo Slice
(Bahamian-American Mixed Martial Artist)
Kimbo Slice
4
Birthdate: February 8, 1974
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Nassau, Bahamas
Died: June 6, 2016

Kimbo Slice, dubbed The King of the Web Brawlers by Rolling Stone, gained fame for his mutual combat street fights. He dabbled in MMA, boxing, and wrestling, eventually signing with EliteXC and competing in UFC. A little over a year after signing with Bellator MMA, he died of heart failure.

 24 
Tyron Woodley
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Tyron Woodley
4
Birthdate: April 7, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ferguson, Missouri, United States
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 25 
Lyoto Machida
(Brazilian Professional Mixed Martial Artist and Karateka)
Lyoto Machida
3
Birthdate: May 30, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Salvador, Brazil

Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Lyoto Machida is currently signed with Bellator MMA. He competes in the light heavyweight division. He was previously associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The son of Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida, Lyoto began his training when he was just three. He has an MMA record of 26 wins from 36 matches.

 26 
Justin Gaethje
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Justin Gaethje
4
Birthdate: November 14, 1988
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Safford, Arizona, United States
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 27 
Holly Holm
(American Mixed Martial Artist and One of the Best Female Professional Boxers of All Time)
Holly Holm
6
Birthdate: October 17, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Holly Holm is a mixed martial artist. A former world champion in boxing, Holm currently competes in the UFC and holds the distinction of being the first fighter to hold a UFC title and a world boxing title. Her win against Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of combat sports.

 28 
Donald Cerrone
(American Retired Mixed Martial Artist and Actor)
Donald Cerrone
4
Birthdate: March 29, 1983
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, United States
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 29 
Jorge Masvidal
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Jorge Masvidal
4
Birthdate: November 12, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States
 30 
Fabrício Werdum
(Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist)
Fabrício Werdum
3
Birthdate: July 30, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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 31 
Nick Diaz
(American Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Nick Diaz
4
Birthdate: August 2, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stockton, California, United States
 32 
Yoel Romero
(Cuban Professional Mixed Martial Artist and Former Freestyle Wrestler)
Yoel Romero
4
Birthdate: April 30, 1977
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pinar del Río, Cuba

Widely considered one of the most athletic competitors ever in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Yoel Romero is often compared with the greats of the sport. A former freestyle wrestler, Romero earned Cuba a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

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 33 
José Aldo
(One of the Best Mixed Martial Artists of All-Time)
José Aldo
6
Birthdate: September 9, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil
MMA fighter José Aldo is best known for his UFC Featherweight Championship win in 2010, a title he defended seven times. In 2014, his win against Cad Mendes was termed the Fight of the Year by many organizations. By 2020, he was ranked 6th in the UFC Bantamweight rankings.
 34 
Mirko Cro Cop
(Former Croatian Mixed Martial Artist, Amateur Boxer, and Kickboxer)
Mirko Cro Cop
3
Birthdate: September 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vinkovci, Croatia

Mirko Cro Cop is a Croatian former mixed martial artist, amateur boxer, and kickboxer. He is best known for his association with Pride Fighting Championships. Cro Cop is widely regarded as one of the greatest Heavyweight MMA fighters and kickboxers of all time.

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 35 
Charles Oliveira
(Mixed martial artist)
Charles Oliveira
3
Birthdate: October 17, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Guarujá Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil
 36 
Chael Sonnen
(Retired Mixed Martial Artist and One of the Biggest Trash Talkers in MMA History)
Chael Sonnen
4
Birthdate: April 3, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: West Linn, Oregon, United States

Chael Sonnen is a retired mixed martial artist. He is also a submission grappling promoter and mixed martial arts (MMA) analyst. He began his mixed martial arts career in 1997 and soon became a top contender in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has also made a few film appearances. 

 37 
Dan Henderson
(First Mixed Martial Artist to Hold Two Titles in Two Different Weight Classes in Major MMA Promotion)
Dan Henderson
3
Birthdate: August 24, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Downey, California, United States

Dan Henderson is a retired mixed martial artist, who last competed as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the Rings: King of Kings 1999 Tournament Champion. He began his mixed martial arts career in 1997. At the time of his retirement in 2016, he was the oldest fighter on the UFC roster. 

 38 
Tony Ferguson
(Retired Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Tony Ferguson
4
Birthdate: February 12, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oxnard, California, United States
 39 
Vitor Belfort
(Mixed Martial Artist Who Competes in the Heavyweight, Middleweight Divisions)
Vitor Belfort
3
Birthdate: April 1, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 40 
Dustin Poirier
(Professional Mixed Martial Artist and Former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion)
Dustin Poirier
1
Birthdate: January 19, 1989
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Lafayette, Louisiana, United States

Dustin Poirier is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). An absolute angel off the ring, Poirier often auctions his UFC kit to donate money to various charitable causes. In 2018, he founded a non-profit organization called The Good Fight Foundation, along with his wife.

 41 
Paige VanZant
(Mixed Martial Artist, Bare Knuckle Boxer and Professional Wrestler)
Paige VanZant
4
Birthdate: March 26, 1994
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dundee, Oregon, United States

Paige VanZant is an American mixed martial artist, model, and author. Although she spent over 13 years exploring dance forms like hip hop, ballet, and jazz in a dance studio owned by her parents, VanZant took up martial arts during her teenage years and went on to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A multi-talented personality, VanZant also loves hunting.

 42 
Andrei Arlovski
(Belarusian-American Professional MMA and Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Andrei Arlovski
3
Birthdate: February 4, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Babruysk, Belarus

Andrei Arlovski, also known as “The Pitbull,” is a Belarusian MMA fighter who is known for his UFC Heavyweight Championship win. He has also appeared in films such as Universal Soldier: Regeneration and been part of shows such as MTV's Bully Beatdown. He has competed for Strikeforce and Affliction, too.

 43 
Amanda Nunes
(Brazilian Professional Mixed Martial Artist Widely Regarded as the Greatest Female Mixed Martial Artist of All Time)
Amanda Nunes
4
Birthdate: May 30, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pojuca, State of Bahia, Brazil

Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion. She is also a former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time. She is openly lesbian. 

 44 
Fedor Emelianenko
(Russian Mixed Martial Artist and Judoka)
Fedor Emelianenko
0
Birthdate: September 28, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rubizhne, Ukraine
Russian mixed martial artist, judoka, and sambist Fedor Emelianenko, also known as “The Last Emperor,” competes for Bellator MMA and the Rizin Fighting Federation. He went from being a firefighter to Sports Illustrated’s top MMA fighter of the 2000s. He is also part of the Russian Presidential Council on sports.
 45 
Kamaru Usman
(Mixed Martial Artist)
Kamaru Usman
1
Birthdate: May 11, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Auchi, Nigeria
 46 
Joanna Jędrzejczyk
(Former Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Joanna Jędrzejczyk
4
Birthdate: August 18, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Olsztyn, Poland
 47 
Junior dos Santos
(Mixed martial artist)
Junior dos Santos
4
Birthdate: January 30, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Caçador, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil
 48 
Daniel Cormier
(Former Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Daniel Cormier
0
Birthdate: March 20, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lafayette, Louisiana, United States

Daniel Cormier is a retired professional mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler who is a former  King of the Cage Heavyweight Champion. He began wrestling while still in school and attended Colby Community College, where he continued to wrestle. He then turned professional and also ventured into mixed martial arts. He has also made a few media appearances. 

 49 
Jan Blachowicz
(Mixed martial artist)
Jan Blachowicz
3
Birthdate: February 24, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cieszyn, Poland
 50 
Ciryl Gane
(Mixed martial artist)
Ciryl Gane
3
Birthdate: April 12, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: La Roche-sur-Yon, France
While the term Mixed Martial Arts first came into use only in the 1990s, the earliest form of the arts originated over 6,000 years ago in China. It started gaining prominence in the mid-19th century and as of today the combat sport has become highly popular with stars like Cody Garbrandt, Tyron Woodley, and Max Holloway raking in millions per fight. While Mixed Martial Arts is predominantly a male dominated sphere, women fighters like Laura Sanko, Miesha Tate, and Ronda Jean Rousey prove that the ladies aren’t lagging behind when it comes to this thrilling combat sport. Read on for more information about the life of famous mixed martial artists.