MMA
Best Heavyweight MMA Fighters: Top 10 Heavyweights Ranked by Record and Legacy
In this article, we rank the 10 best current heavyweight MMA fighters based on analytics and our SportsBoom MetaScale.
Jon Jones//Getty Images
In the world of combat sports, everybody wants to see heavyweight bouts because they know knockouts are more common, and mixed martial arts is no different. When two big men meet, skills and the form book can be thrown out completely out of the window; on any given day, anybody can be knocked out in the heavyweight division because they all carry big power. That's why it is an impressive feat to be successful for a large period of time in the 265-pounds division.
The UFC heavyweight division has evolved significantly over the years. Heavyweights have gone from being big lumps with all power and minimal technique, to now being home to highly skilled grapplers such as Jon Jones, Curtis Blaydes and Jailton Almeida. There's now heavyweight fighters that are known for their exceptional speed and movement; like Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane for example.
Below, we will rank the best heavyweight MMA fighters based on data and the SportsBoom MetaScale.
Methodology
The rankings were determined based on career records, key victories, title defences, and fighter impact. Data was sourced from Tapology and GiveMeSport to create a balanced and comprehensive ranking.
Win-Loss Record: The most important factor in assessing each fighter’s overall career success. A fighter with a high win percentage and few losses is ranked higher.
Title Fights and Defences: Title wins and successful defenses contribute significantly to a fighter’s ranking.
Notable Opponents: Fighters who defeated top-ranked or legendary opponents are awarded additional points.
Historical Impact: This considers fighters' influence on the sport, contributions to the heavyweight division, and their place in MMA history.
The rankings will be refined with the SportsBoom MetaScale, which integrates these factors into a comprehensive scoring system.
Best Heavyweights According to Web Critics
Based on the methodology explained above, we aggregated rankings from 2 authoritative sources to create a critical consensus table.
Critical Consensus Table
| Rank | Fighter | Tapology Ranking | GiveMeSport Ranking | Record | Key Achievements |
| 1 | Jon “Bones Jones | 2 | 7 | 28-1-0, 1 NC | Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Current UFC Heavyweight Champion,undefeated in heavyweight bouts. |
| 2 | Francis “The Predator” Ngannou | 7 | 1 | 18-3-0 | Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, known for knockout power. |
| 3 | Stipe Miocic | 5 | 2 | 20-5-0 | 2x UFC Heavyweight Champion, most title defences in division. |
| 4 | Tom Aspinall | 1 | 9 | 15-3-0 | Current UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, Rising star, quick knockouts and dominant performances. |
| 5 | Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane | 6 | N/A | 12-2-0 | Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, fast and technical striker. |
| 6 | Alexander “Drago” Volkov | 3 | N/A | 38-10-0 | High-level striker, consistent contender in UFC heavyweight. |
| 7 | Curtis “Razor” Blaydes | 4 | N/A | 18-5-0, 1 NC | Excellent wrestling, top contender in UFC Heavyweight. |
| 8 | Sergei Pavlovich | 6 | N/A | 18-3-0 | Aggressive knockout artist, rising contender. |
| 9 | Jailton “Malhadinho” Almeida | N/A | N/A | 21-3-0 | Strong grappler with dominant submission victories. |
| 10 | Marcin “Tybur” Tybura | 10 | N/A | 26-9-0 | Durable veteran, consistent UFC competitor. |
Data-Driven Rankings for 10 Most Famous Heavyweights
Tom Aspinall//Getty Images
Here is how the refined SportsBoom MetaScale ranks the current crop of heavyweights. Using this scale, we can interpret who the best heavyweights are in an analytical way.
SportsBoom MetaScale
| Rank | Fighter | Win-Loss Record (40) | Title Fights and Defences (30) | Notable Wins and Impact (30) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Jon Jones | 38 | 30 | 30 | 98 |
| 2 | Francis Ngannou | 35 | 25 | 30 | 90 |
| 3 | Stipe Miocic | 34 | 30 | 25 | 94 |
| 4 | Tom Aspinall | 40 | 20 | 25 | 85 |
| 5 | Ciryl Gane | 38 | 25 | 25 | 88 |
| 6 | Alexander Volkov | 36 | 20 | 20 | 76 |
| 7 | Curtis Blaydes | 34 | 15 | 20 | 69 |
| 8 | Sergei Pavlovich | 36 | 10 | 20 | 66 |
| 9 | Jailton Almeida | 35 | 10 | 15 | 60 |
| 10 | Marcin Tybura | 30 | 10 | 15 | 55 |
1. Jon Jones
Jon Jones has always had a technical striking and grappling advantage over every opponent he has faced. Add to this his ridiculous reach, this has made him an almost unsolvable puzzle.
2. Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou is always the physically strongest fighter no matter whether he is in the cage or a boxing ring. Ngannou has produced devastating knockout finishes throughout his MMA career, making him one of the best heavyweight fighters of all time.
3. Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic's blend of striking and grappling has helped him be the most successful UFC heavyweight ever on paper, regardless of his recent defeat to Jon Jones.
4. Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall is one of the most exciting talents in the UFC today. He has incredible power, speed and footwork which has helped him finish fights quickly. He currently has the shortest average fight time in UFC history.
5. Ciryl Gane
Ciryl Gane has exceptional kickboxing skills and fluid footwork which has seen him cement himself as a top UFC contender over the last few years. His only defeats are in UFC heavyweight title fights.
6. Alexander Volkov
Alexander Volkov is one of the lengthiest fighters in MMA history, and he's used his physical gifts to his advantage by standing at long range so he can utilise his kickboxing and boxing. He is a veteran of the UFC heavyweight division.
7. Curtis Blaydes
Curtis Blaydes’ striking has improved tremendously of late, but make no mistake, he still carries that excellent wrestling game with him. And once he gets you on the mat, his only thought is to unleash vicious ground-and-pound.
8. Sergei Pavlovich
Last year, Sergei Pavlovich was being deemed the scariest fighter on the UFC roster because of his large size and incredible power. However, two recent defeats have since dampened his reputation slightly. Nevertheless, he's still one of the hardest hitters in the sport.
9. Jailton Almeida
Jailton Almeida has some of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the heavyweight division, and if he can improve on his striking, he could be a real force to be reckoned with as he climbs the rankings.
10. Marcin Tybura
Marcin Tybura is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC heavyweight division; he doesn't particularly have an elite aspect of his game, but his skills are well-rounded.
SportsBoom Suggests
Daniel Cormier punches Stipe Miocic//Getty Images
Jon Jones remains the top-ranked heavyweight, with an undefeated record in the division, and his first UFC heavyweight title defence against Stipe Miocic ended in spectacular fashion - a spinning kick to the body. There are now rumours regarding whether or not Jones will fight again. If he doesn't, it will take something quite extraordinary to knock Jones off the top spot for greatest of all time status.
Francis Ngannou, with his devastating knockout power, ranks second. Ngannou destroyed Stipe Miocic to win the UFC heavyweight title, and then defended it against Ciryl Gane before joining PFL.
Miocic follows closely due to his dominance in the heavyweight division with the most title defences in UFC history in the division, hence his max rating of 30 for that category. As a result of his longevity and success, the SportsBoom MetaScale ranks him as the second best heavyweight, behind Jon Jones, the man who recently beat him.
Tom Aspinall could very well see himself move into the top three if he is able to win the full version of the UFC heavyweight title. Since joining the UFC, Aspinall has only lost once, and that was when he injured his knee seconds into his first fight with Curtis Blaydes. Many fans currently regard Aspinall as the full champion because he has defended his interim title, something that has never had to be done before. The Englishman has the quickest fight time on the UFC roster, making him a fan-favourite.
Ciryl Gane has quickly climbed up the rankings, showcasing his elite technical kickboxing and movement. Thus far, Gane has proven he is better than every other contender in the UFC heavyweight division, but he struggles in title fights.
Alexander Volkov is 6th on this list because of his success in the UFC across a long period. But, his lack of UFC gold limits his ranking to mid-table.
Curtis Blaydes is a very good heavyweight contender, however, he recently fell short in a UFC interim title bout against Tom Aspinall, being brutally knocked out, which sees him down the rankings.
Sergei Pavlovich remains a dangerous threat due to his knockout power. That being said, he has suffered two losses recently, to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov, which has deflated the hype bubble surrounding the Russian powerhouse.
The UFC Heavyweight division is filled with exciting and dominant fighters, with Jon Jones leading the pack due to his unrivalled achievements and technical prowess. Francis Ngannou, Stipe Miocic, and other rising stars like Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ensure that the heavyweight landscape remains thrilling and competitive.
With the current potential for a unification bout between the consensus greatest of all time Jon Jones, and the rising British star Tom Aspinall, the UFC's heavyweight division remains one to watch closely as we head into 2025.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp