Whether it be MMA or boxing, the heavyweight division has always garnered loads of attention from fighting fans. It isn’t hard to see why when you consider that the division holds the biggest and baddest fighters in the world. But fighters stand at the top of the class as the best heavyweights of all time? Let’s take a look.
5. Randy Couture
Randy Couture is a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, this on its own gets him a position on this list. He was also able to score a number of wins over big names in the division like Kevin Randleman, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Tim Sylvia.
Couture was also the UFC 13 Tournament Winner and held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship twice. Despite bouncing between the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions, Couture will always be remembered for his exploits at the heaviest weight class.
4. Daniel Cormier
‘DC’ is one of just four fighters to hold UFC titles in two different weight classes at the same time. He had an overall record at Heavyweight which was 15-2, with his only two defeats coming at the hands of the fighter who is at the top position on this list. Some of Cormier’s most notable wins came against Miocic, Josh Barnett, and Bigfoot Silva.
3. Brock Lesnar
This may be the most controversial pick on the list due to his short career in the Octagon. Nevertheless it can’t be understated the massive impact Lesnar made to the sport within his career. His 5-3-1 record was against all top fighters in the sport, scoring impressive wins over the likes of Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Shane Carwin.
It should also be noted that until 2018, Lesnar held the record for the most UFC title defenses in the heavyweight division, before being surpassed by Stipe Miocic.
2. Cain Valesquez
For a brief time it looked like Valesquez was poised to head to the very top of this list, winning fights in dominating fashion and sending terror throughout the division. This two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion has a record of 14-2 but due to injuries has had only seven fights since winning his first title in 2011.
Valesquez burst onto the scene defeating veteran Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, which earned him both credibility UFC fans and eventually got him the golden ticket with Brock Lesnar. He hasn’t looked back since, losing just twice but avenging his losses.
1. Stipe Miocic
Recently dethroned by Francis Ngannou, Stipe Miocic ruled the heavyweight class with an iron fist for almost a decade. He had just a couple of losses before taking the Heavyweight Championship from Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198. He went on to defend the title against Alistair Overeem, Dos Santos and Ngannou in their first meeting, giving him the record for the most UFC Heavyweight title defenses of all time.
If you’d like more UFC rankings, check out our list of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
