14 Best Heavyweights In MMA History, Ranked

Highlights

• Jon Jones, though new to the heavyweight division, has already made an impressive mark with his dominant victories.
• Junior Dos Santos, with his relentless knockout power, has solidified his place in MMA heavyweight history.
• Mark Hunt's journey from a rocky start to legendary knockouts showcases his status as one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

In combat sports, the heavyweight division has always been seen as the pinnacle. The weight class had massive legacy roots in wrestling and several forms of striking -- namely, boxing. The prestige has only carried over into the world of MMA.

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There, fans have seen big guys competing in promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, Rizin and PFL, among the many, as they lay claim to the title of the "baddest man on the planet." Here is a list of some of the best juggernauts to have ever graced MMA and left fans thinking they were the titans atop the mountain.

14 Jon Jones Has Proven He Can Roll With the Big Boys

'Bones' Moved Up From Being the Greatest UFC Light Heavyweight Of All Time

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• Jon Jones achieved the title of the youngest champion in UFC history.
• His sole professional defeat came through a contentious disqualification against Matt Hamill.
• Jones has massive scalps to his name, such as Daniel Cormier, Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson.
• 'Bones' MMA record stands at 27-1 (1 NC).

Truthfully, it may be a bit too early to place Jon Jones as one of the best heavyweights in MMA history. After all, he has only had one fight in the division. It was a championship fight that he won, defeating Ciryl Gane who, with all due respect, doesn't have the legacy that other names on this list do. Despite that, Gane was considered the second-best to Francis Ngannou -- pushing Ngannou to the limit and eventually losing a five-round decision to the "Predator" in 2022.

Jones already had a long reign as the light heavyweight champion with his long-range strikes, impressive takedown skills and, perhaps, the scariest ground-and-pound in MMA history. When he fought Gane in 2023's UFC 285, though, he made it look easy by submitting Gane in Round 1. Bones is a terrifying figure, and while MMA math might not be a thing, it feels like once he gets over his injury, beating Stipe Miocic for the G.O.A.T. title will be a formality.

13 Junior Dos Santos Entertained With 15 Knockouts In 22 Wins

'Cigano' Has The Longest Winning Streak In UFC Heavyweight Division History

• Junior Dos Santos faced Cain Velasquez in three bouts, with a result of two losses out of three.
• Following his UFC heavyweight title reign, Dos Santos contended for the belt on two occasions.
• He emerged victorious against Fabricio Werdum in both UFC and bare-knuckle MMA competitions.
• His MMA record stands at 22-10.

At one point, it seemed like Junior Dos Santos was all set to be one of the biggest stars in MMA heavyweight history. While he didn't quite achieve all of his potential, Dos Santos was a ferocious competitor in his heyday, coming off like a true gladiator. Bursting onto the scene with a shocking upset win over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90 in 2008 via TKO, he then rattled off a record nine straight wins until 2012.

'JDS' won UFC heavyweight gold at UFC's first-ever event on FOX during this run. He knocked Cain Velasquez out in a little over a minute. He would defend the title once against Frank Mir but then tumbled down the rankings with a 7-8 run. Still, his legacy puts him in the upper-tier of MMA heavyweights, especially as he helped build the UFC's division where many believe the highest standard lies.

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12 Mark Hunt Was The 'King of Walk-Offs'

Hunt Slept Many Men Until a Harrowing Loss To Brock Lesnar At UFC 200

Hunt's Best KOs	Event	Date	Result
vs. Chris Tuchscherer	UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch	Feb. 27, 2011	KO (Punches)
vs. Cheick Kongo	UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson	Feb. 26, 2012	TKO (Punches)
vs. Stefan Struve	UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann	Mar. 3, 2013	TKO (Punches)
vs. Roy Nelson	UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson	Sep. 20, 2014	KO (Punch)

A very curious case, Mark Hunt began his career as an all-star kickboxer who struggled mightily with the other aspects of MMA. The UFC even offered to buy out his PRIDE contract when they absorbed the promotion in 2007, but Hunt insisted on fighting. The world was glad he did. While his UFC career got off to a bad start by losing in the first round via armbar to Sean McCorkle at UFC 119 in 2010, Hunt would then achieve some legendary knockouts inside the octagon against the likes of Roy Nelson, Frank Mir and Cheick Kongo.

In the latter stage of his career, he also slept Antônio Silva, Frank Mir and Derrick Lewis. He would lose three fights thereafter and retire from MMA. It's unfortunate that Hunt could never quite win a world championship in MMA, losing his one interim shot in 2014 against Werdum. But his highlight reel knockouts, durable chin and lovable personality are enough to make him one of MMA's best heavyweights. These are why fans are intrigued by his intentions to return to combat sports in the bare-knuckle arena.

11 Francis Ngannou Was Destined For Greatness

The 'Predator' Walked Away From The UFC As Champion

• Francis Ngannou lost a close split decision to Tyson Fury in his boxing debut.
• The Predator signed a lucrative deal with the PFL to continue his MMA career.
• Ngannou's MMA record is 17-3, leaving diehards hoping he steps into the cage again.

The former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, makes other knockout artists look like they have pillow fists in comparison. Ngannou's knockout power is utterly terrifying, as fighters don't just get stopped by him; their reactions make it seem like they're lost in another dimension -- aka the 'Shadow Realm.'

He has 12 career knockouts over various MMA legends like Dos Santos, Velasquez and Alistair Overeem. Curtis Blaydes, Arlovski, Miocic, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik also got cracked senseless by him. Ngannou's tenure with the UFC ended after he walked away from a deal and signed with the PFL, going on to impress in boxing against Tyson Fury. Sadly, fans didn't get Ngannou versus Jones.

10 Brock Lesnar Is The Most Successful WWE Crossover Star

Lesnar Became A UFC Champion After Three Fights In The UFC

Brock Lesnar's UFC Career	Information
Total UFC Fights	8
Overall UFC Record	5-3
Notable Wins	Randy Couture, Frank Mir, Shane Carwin
UFC Heavyweight Title Reign	Nov. 15, 2008 - Oct. 23, 2010

While a controversial pick, Brock Lesnar made a massive impact in his short time in MMA. It's worth noting that his record was against all top fighters in the sport. He scored a massive win over Randy Couture via TKO to snatch the UFC heavyweight title. After that, he beat Frank Mir via TKO, and then submitted Shane Carwin. He lost the belt to Velasquez and then lost to Overeem in 2011, which took him out of the sport.

Lesnar came out of retirement in 2016 to fight Hunt at UFC 200 and picked up a win after years away (although it would later be overturned). Until 2018, Lesnar held the record for the most UFC title defenses at heavyweight, before being surpassed by Miocic. Considering Lesnar's resume, pedigree, and legacy, he absolutely sits among the elites at 265 pounds, especially as someone who cynics felt would flop when he crossed over from WWE.

9 Mirko Cro Cop Was A Kickboxing Sensation

Cro Cop Ended His MMA Career With A 10-Fight Win Streak

• Mirko Cro Cop has an MMA record of 38-11-2 (1 NC).
• He was the PRIDE 2006 Openweight Grand Prix Champion.
• He was the K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 Champion.
• He won the 2016 RIZIN Openweight Grand Prix.

Mirko Cro Cop came over from kickboxing in 2001 with high aspirations. Even with the high expectations, it's unlikely that many expected the Croatian would become one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Cro Cop went on to be a tournament champion in both RIZIN and PRIDE.

Along the way, he defeated some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, adding UFC and Dream to his C.V. He was known for his powerful kicks, setting up knockout victories over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Josh Barnett, and Mark Coleman. In the latter stages of his career, he slept Gabriel Gonzaga and Muhammed Lawal, all before retiring in 2019 due to health issues.

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8 Alistair Overeem Made His MMA Debut At 19

Overeem Had 67 MMA Fights In His Career

• Alistair Overeem once went on a 12-fight win streak.
• He made his UFC debut against Brock Lesnar, finishing him in one round in 2011.
• Overeem's overall MMA record is 47-19 (1 NC).

Alistair Overeem was a Dutch light heavyweight for the first five years of his career, before moving up. Overeem's additional muscle took him from a good fighter to an all-time great, as he racked up an impressive record. He defeated some of the greatest fighters in the sport, such as Werdum, Hunt and dos Santos.

Along the way, Overeem gained heavywieght championships in both Strikeforce and DREAM. While he never became a champion in the UFC, he got extremely close at UFC 203 where he lost to Miocic. He would go down as one of the greatest fighters to never win the title.

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7 Randy Couture Made His Mark In Two Divisions

Couture Captured A UFC Title Over The Age Of 40

• Randy Couture competed in a record 16 title fights.
• He was the first multi-divisional champion in UFC history.
• Couture retired in 2011 with an overall MMA record of 19-11.

Randy Couture is a victim of his own success. Couture spent half of his career fighting at light heavyweight and regularly bounced between the two weight classes. However, his accomplishments at 265 pounds still have him slated as one of the greatest ever at heavyweight.

Couture was a three-time UFC heavyweight champion, along with winning light heavyweight gold. He scored wins over names such as Kevin Randleman, Gonzaga, and Tim Sylvia. The last of which is also considered one of the greatest upsets in UFC history.

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6 Fabricio Werdum Was A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Specialist

Werdum Shocked The World By Submitting Fedor Emelianenko In Strikeforce

• Fabricio Werdum is also a four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion.
• Werdum's overall MMA record is 24-10-1 (1 NC).
• Werdum is now dabbling in bare-knuckle, too.

Fabricio Werdum never seemed like he could be on this list. Werdum was a middling UFC fighter who got cut after getting knocked out by Dos Santos. He improved, going to Strikeforce in 2009. He submitted Fedor Emilianenko to end the Russian's 27-fight win streak before returning to the UFC in 2012 and going on a six-fight rampage.

He beat Hunt and then Velasquez for the belt. Once Miocic took the title, Werdum got inconsistent. But he still racked up tidy wins over Travis Browne, Walt Harris and Alexander Gustafsson. Werdum goes down as a versatile heavyweight, with insane grappling and submission skills.

5 Cain Velasquez Was A Cardio Machine

In 2019, Velasquez Retired From Mixed Martial Arts

• Daniel Cormier said Cain Velasquez always got the better of him in training.
• Velasquez was in MMA from 2006-2019 with a 14-3 record.
• Velasquez also had stints in wrestling with companies like WWE.

For years, it seemed that Cain Velasquez would one day dominate a subject such as this. However, it was injuries and lack of activity that did the Mexican champion in. He seemed to have all the skills in the world and defeated mythical fighters. He beat Lesnar for the heavyweight title in 2010, and then dos Santos for the belt again in 2012.

He also claimed scalps such as 'Bigfoot' Silva, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Browne. While his later years saw him losing to the likes of the aforementioned Werdum and Ngannou, his short run at the top can never be tarnished. He was a grappling king, a cardio machine, and remains someone everyone respects in and out of the cage.

4 Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Was An Underrated Beast

'Minotauro' Held Championship Titles in Pride and the UFC

• He is the twin brother of UFC fighter Antônio Rogério Nogueira.
• 'Big Nog' won 21 of his 34 victories by submission.
• 'Minotauro' retired in 2015 with a 34-10-1 (1 NC) record.

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (aka 'Big Nog') is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. A former champion in PRIDE and the UFC, he had an extremely impressive run from 1996 to 2006, where he went 28-3-1. Those three losses during that run were to Dan Henderson and Emelianenko.

Nogueira defeated names such as Cro Cop, Coleman, and Fabricio Werdum. While his UFC years weren't as fruitful as he was getting older, he still captured the promotion's interim heavyweight crown with a win over Sylvia.

3 Daniel Cormier Was A Heavyweight Champion In Three MMA Organizations

'DC' Is The First Fighter to Have Title Defenses in Two Divisions

• 'DC' has beaten fighters like Antônio Silva, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva and Gustafsson.
• Cormier retired in 2020 with a 22-3 (1 NC) record.
• Cormier has refereed in the WWE since, and is part of the UFC commentary team.

Daniel Cormier might have lost his heavyweight trilogy to Miocic, but he did lift the gold there for a bit. Throw in a reign at lightweight, it is hard to deny him his place on the list. He is a former Strikeforce tournament champion, and has beaten the likes of Derrick Lewis and Anthony Johnson.

At lightweight, only Jones could beat him. It's no surprise, given how immaculate 'DC' was early on in his career. He won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament in 2012 to set the foundation for when he would move up in the UFC, taking over once Velasquez left heavyweight. Cormier is a Hall of Famer, who proved how to strike, grapple and submit with aplomb.

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2 Stipe Miocic is The Most Successful UFC Heavyweight Champion

Miocic Successfully Defended His UFC Title Four Times During His Two Title Reigns

• Miocic was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion.
• Miocic debuted in MMA in 2010 and has a 20-4 record.

The Ohio-based Stipe Miocic scored wins over many former and future champions during his career. He regained his belt from Cormier, while putting down the likes of dos Santos, Overeem and Ngannou. Even though he is no longer champion, it's a safe bet that Miocic isn't done building his legacy.

Jones wants this Miocic fight badly to show who is the true apex in this division. He will have to tread lightly, because while Miocic isn't a spring chicken, he has tremendous knockout power and wrestling. He also boasts TKO wins over Andrei Arlovski and Hunt to prove he cannot be underestimated.

1 Fedor Emelianenko Is An International Star From Russia

'The Last Emperor' Never Fought In The UFC

• Despite being known for his striking, Emelianenko has 15 victories via submission.
• He has never lost a fight by decision.
• Emelianenko's MMA record ended at 40-7 (1 NC).

While Fedor Emelianenko's legacy has been run through the mud by Dana White and UFC over the years, he's still the greatest heavyweight of all time. The Russian never stepped foot in a UFC cage, but Emelianenko's prime had him fighting in PRIDE. That promotion had the best heavyweight division at the time, which UFC poached fighters from.

He racked up 16 knockout wins in a career that spanned 2000-2023. He became a dominant champion, with a 27-fight unbeaten streak that took out 'Big Nog,' Cro Cop, Coleman, Randleman, Sylvia, Hunt, Mir, Arlovski and 'Rampage' Jackson. While never fighting in the UFC has been a critique throughout his career, he holds victories over a staggering seven former champions from the company.