MMA
Who Has the Most Wins in UFC History? A Data-Driven Ranking
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company in the world. The UFC organizes events where professional fighters compete using a variety of martial arts techniques, with winners determined by knockout, submission, or judges' decision. UFC competitions require individuals to factor in a myriad of disciplines, such as mastering exceptional fighting skills and techniques, physical conditioning, and incorporating rigorous work ethic routines that are essential for navigating the demanding and competitive nature of the sport. Furthermore, one needs to adapt strategic career management, such as understanding the timelines of fights and their importance to the preparation, recovery, and performance of a competitor, to maximize the potential for victory.
Jon Jones /Getty Images
Therefore, accumulating a high number of wins in the UFC is extremely difficult as a competitor must find and maintain the right balance in mentality, skill, and strategy, while navigating the highly competitive environment, physical demands, and career management that incorporates training routines and industry connections.
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the UFC’s Winningest Fighters
The SB Market Index is a statistical analysis of UFC career records, in conjunction with expert and media perception. This Index helps to rank the most successful fighters by win volume.
Industry Insights
This is a curated analysis informed by the 10 leading MMA and sports media sources, measuring how each of these dominant fighters is featured in debates about the “greatest” or “most significant” UFC fighters of all time.
| Source Name | Jim Miller | Max Holloway | Charles Oliveira | Neil Magny | Donald Cerrone | Andrei Arlovski | Jon Jones | Dustin Poirier | Demian Maia | Rafael dos Anjos |
UFC Hall of Fame Inductees (Official) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ESPN – “Top 25 MMA Fighters of All Time” | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Bleacher Report – “Ranking the 25 Greatest UFC Fighters” | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Tapology – All-Time Greats User Rankings | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
MMA Junkie – “30 Greatest UFC Fighters” list | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
GiveMeSport – “Top 10 UFC Fighters Ever” | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sherdog – “Greatest MMA Fighters of All Time” | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
talkSPORT – “Top 10 GOATs of MMA” | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Athletic – “MMA’s Mount Rushmore” discussions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CBS Sports – “Ranking the Best UFC Champions” | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Mentions | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
SB Score
This score is calculated based on two key career metrics in the UFC: Total Wins (60%
weightage) and Win Percentage (40% weightage).
| Fighter | Wins | Losses | Win % | SB Score |
| Jon Jones | 22 | 1 | 95.7 % | 1.000 |
| Max Holloway | 23 | 8
| 74.2 % | 0.864 |
| Demian Maia | 22 | 11 | 66.7 % | 0.787 |
| Charles Oliveira | 23 | 11 | 67.6 % | 0.814 |
| Dustin Poirier | 22 | 9 | 71.0 % | 0.824 |
| Rafael dos Anjos | 21 | 15 | 58.3 % | 0.675 |
| Jim Miller | 27 | 18 | 60.0 % | 0.817 |
| Donald Cerrone | 23 | 14 | 62.2 % | 0.769 |
| Neil Magny | 23 | 12 | 65.7 % | 0.796 |
| Andrei Arlovski | 23 | 18 | 56.1 % | 0.749 |
SB Market Index
| Rank | Fighter | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Jon Jones | 1.000 | 10 | 7.400 |
| 2 | Max Holloway | 0.864 | 8 | 6.573 |
| 3 | Charles Oliveira | 0.814 | 6 | 4.963 |
| 4 | Donald Cerrone | 0.769 | 7 | 4.954 |
| 5 | Dustin Poirier | 0.824 | 6 | 4.965 |
| 6 | Andrei Arlovski | 0.749 | 3 | 2.550 |
| 7 | Rafael dos Anjos | 0.675 | 3 | 2.535 |
| 8 | Demian Maia | 0.787 | 2 | 1.757 |
| 9 | Jim Miller | 0.817 | 1 | 0.963 |
| 10 | Neil Magny | 0.796 | 0 | 0.159 |
The GOAT: Jon Jones’s Unmatched Record
Jon Jones is undoubtedly the Greatest of All Time, as evidenced by his dominant top ranking in our Market Index after tallying 7.400, driven by his nearly perfect win percentage (leading the SB Score) with 1.000 and a very high ‘Industry Insights’ score of 10.
Jon Jones, widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, captivated MMA fans with his dominance in the octagon. Jones has numerous career highlights that are a testament to the sustained excellence he exhibited. Jones became the youngest UFC champion ever at just 23 years old when he took the UFC light heavyweight title from Maurício “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 by third-round TKO.
Jones has only lost once in his UFC career, compiling an impressive record of 28 wins and one loss. What’s more impressive is that the loss came during the UFC: The Ultimate Finale fight against Matt Hamill when Jones was disqualified due to illegal elbows. Some argue that this fight should’ve been called a no-contest.
Jones participated in 16 UFC Title fights, where he has a flawless record, and also garnered 11 TKOs during his time capturing UFC titles at light heavyweight and heavyweight.
The Blessed Era: Max Holloway
Max Holloway comes in at second place on our SB Matrix Index with an impressive 6.573. He also scores an excellent win percentage ‘SB Score’ of 0.864 and a strong expert consensus rating of eight.
Max “Blessed” Holloway is one of the most beloved fighters to have ever graced the Octagon. He showcased an all-action style while carrying himself with a grounded, easy-going nature that exuded humility, a trait that earned him respect from peers and fans of the sport.
The Hawaiian has compiled an impressive record of 27 wins and eight losses with 12 TKOs and two submissions.
Holloway is a former featherweight champion and has defended the title three times. He also holds several UFC records, including most significant strikes landed (3,378) and most significant strikes landed in a single fight (445 vs Calvin Kattar).
The Comeback Kings: Oliveira and Poirier
Charles Oliveira, who is third with a matrix index score of 4.963, and Dustin Poirier, who is fifth with a matrix index score of 4.965. They each garnered an Industry insight score of six. Oliveira registered an SB Score of 0.814 while Poirier tallied 0.824.
Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira has won 16 UFC fights by submission, which is the most in UFC history. Those victories have come in a variety of ways, which show just how truly special Oliveira is once the fight hits the canvas. Oliveira’s 20 victories by finish are the most in UFC history, and he has an impressive record of 35 wins and 11 losses. The Brazilian has one UFC Lightweight Championship.
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, on the other hand, is considered one of the greatest Lightweights of all time and holds the record for the most TKOvictories (eight) in the UFC lightweight division, a record he shares with Drew Dober. Poirier has an impressive record of 30 wins and ten losses. He won one UFC Championship, the “interim lightweight belt title,” which came against Holloway in 2019.
The Iron Men: Miller, Cerrone, and Arlovski
Jim Miller, who is ranked ninth, registers a SB Matrix Index of 0.963 and a SB Score of 0.817, although he tallies a low Industry Insight score of one. Jim Miller, nicknamed “A-10,” holds the UFC records for most bouts, most total wins, and most wins in the Lightweight division. Miller has a record of 38 wins and 19 losses.
Donald Cerrone, who is ranked in fourth place, registers a SB Matrix Index of 4.954 and a SB Score of 0.769. Cerrone has a high Industry Insight Score of seven. Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone is the owner of the most wins, finishes, and post-fight bonuses in UFC history. Cerrone has a record of 36 wins and 17 losses, and two draws.
Andrei Arlovski, who ranks sixth, registers a SB Matrix Index of 2.550 and a SB Score of 0.749. He also has an Industry Insight score of three. Andrei “The Pit-bull” Arlovski holds the record for most wins (23) in UFC heavyweight history. The Belarusian-American has an MMA record of 34 wins and 24 losses.
Conclusion on UFC’s Winningest Fighters
So, who is the winningest fighter in the history of UFC? According to our in-depth analysis, which has balanced win volume with efficiency and expert opinion, Jon Jones is the unanimous number one. Jon Jones is the GOAT for a reason, and his records will take time before they are dislodged. However, all the fighters ranked on this list have showcased the mastery of the Octagon with years of toil, blood, sweat, and tears, earning them recognition, fame, respect, and adulation in a sport that is brutal and highly competitive.
These fighters are a mix of dominant champions and durable veterans who have managed to demonstrate longevity like Rafael dos Anjos, Jim Miller, Andrei Arlovski, and Donald Cerrone, statistical behemoths such as Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Demian Maia, and Neil Magny, who continues to defy the odds.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.