MMA
The 10 Tallest MMA Fighters of All Time: The Giants of the Cage
This article ranks and analyses the 10 tallest MMA fighters of all time by using the SportsBoom MetaScale.
Stefan Struve and Tai Tuivasa//Getty Images
Over the years there have been some absolute giant Mixed Martial Arts fighters. But, being tall does not translate to being a good MMA fighter. On the flip side, being one of the smallest fighters does not make you a bad fighter either.
To be a good MMA fighter, you must have great striking and/or grappling technique, as well as good physical attributes.
In this article, we will focus on the tallest MMA fighters in history and we will use the SportsBoom MetaScale to rank and analyse them.
Methodology
The rankings were determined using the following criteria:
Height (50%): Primary ranking factor based on verified height records from authoritative sources.
Career Record (30%): Professional MMA record, emphasizing wins and losses.
Achievements (10%): Notable accomplishments in MMA and other combat sports.
Popularity & Legacy (10%): Cultural impact and fan recognition.
Sources Used:
Critical Consensus: Ranking the Tallest MMA Fighters
The Critical Consensus Table lists the fighter's Tapology ranking, MMA Junkie ranking, height, record and notable achievements.
Critical Consensus Table
| Rank | Fighter | Tapology Rank | MMA Junkie Rank | Height | Record | Notable Achievements |
| 1 | Guilherme de Faria | 1 | NR | 11'2" | 0-1-0 | Tallest MMA fighter ever; fought in amateur leagues. |
| 2 | Antonio Moya | 2 | NR | 8'4" | 0-0-0 | Amateur fighter with towering stature. |
| 3 | Vinicius Ramos de Lima | 3 | NR | 8'2" | 1-0-0 | Competes in Bantamweight division despite towering height. |
| 4 | Hong Man Choi | 7 | 2 | 7'2" | 4-5-0 | Fought legends like Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop; also a K-1 star. |
| 5 | Paulo Cesar Silva | 8 | 6 | 7'2" | 2-6-0 | Former Olympic basketball player turned PRIDE fighter; defeated sumo wrestling legend Akebono Taro. |
| 6 | Semmy Schilt | NR | 7 | 6'11" | 26-14-1 | K-1 Champion and notable MMA career; fought in UFC and PRIDE. |
| 7 | Stefan Struve | NR | 8 | 7'0" | 29-13-0 | Known as "The Skyscraper"; holds a win over Stipe Miocic. |
| 8 | Reuben de Jong | NR | 4 | 6'10" | 2-0-0 | MMA fighter, kickboxer, and professional wrestler; holds Guinness World Record for running through glass panes. |
| 9 | Nathan Jones | NR | 5 | 6'10" | 0-1-0 | Former WWE wrestler and strongman; competed at PRIDE 1. |
| 10 | Gan McGee | NR | 9 | 6'10" | 13-5-0 | Former UFC title challenger; notable wins in PRIDE and WEC. |
SportsBoom MetaScale: Tallest MMA Fighters
The SportsBoom MetaScale takes into consideration a fighter's height, their record, achievements and legacy.
SportsBoom MetaScale Table
| Rank | Fighter | Height (50%) | Record (30%) | Achievements (10%) | Legacy (10%) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Guilherme de Faria | 50 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 67 |
| 2 | Antonio Moya | 48 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 59 |
| 3 | Vinicius Ramos de Lima | 46 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 72 |
| 4 | Hong Man Choi | 40 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 76 |
| 5 | Paulo Cesar Silva | 40 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 65 |
| 6 | Semmy Schilt | 35 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 79 |
| 7 | Stefan Struve | 30 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 78 |
| 8 | Reuben de Jong | 30 | 20 | 5 | 8 | 63 |
| 9 | Nathan Jones | 25 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 42 |
| 10 | Gan McGee | 25 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 64 |
Below is a list of the top 10 tallest MMA fighters and their career summary.
Top 10 Tallest MMA Fighters: Fighter Profiles
1. Guilherme de Faria
Guilherme de Faria is the tallest MMA fighter of all time. That being said, the Brazilian has only had one professional MMA fight, and that resulted in a submission loss back in 2018.
Faria did have a bout scheduled in 2023, but that was cancelled. It remains to be seen whether or not he will compete in MMA again.
2. Atonio Moya
Antonio Moya is the second tallest MMA fighter of all time, however, there are no records of him ever having a professional bout, only amateur contests.
3. Vinicius Ramos de Lima
Vinicius Ramos de Lima is another fighter that has minimal pro MMA experience, having just one fight to his name. The Brazilian did win that fight via TKO back in 2019. He was also meant to fight once more in 2019, but that bout was cancelled.
4. Hong Man Choi
Despite being one of the largest fighters in the history of the sport, Choi Hong-man actually holds a losing MMA record standing at 4-5. All 9 of the South Korean's MMA fights ended inside the distance. He last fought in MMA in 2016 after suffering a KO defeat.
5. Paulo Cesar Silva (Giant Silva)
Much like Choi Hong-man, Giant Silva had a diminutive MMA record and it was a negative one. The Brazilian held a record of 2-6 with all of his fights ending before the final bell.
Silva fought in Pride between 2003 and 2006 before fighting his last MMA fight in K-1 where he won via kimura.
6. Semmy Schilt
Standing at 6ft 11 inches tall, Semmy Schilt was probably one of the most skilled tallest fighters in MMA history. The Dutchman was a six-time K-1 champion and he used those kickboxing skills and implemented them in his MMA bouts, especially in the late 90s and early 2000s.
7. Stefan Struve
Stefan Struve//Getty Images
Stefan “The Skyscraper” Struve is the tallest fighter to ever compete in the UFC. As well as being the tallest fighter in the organisation's history, the Dutchman also has the second biggest reach in the promotion measuring at 84.5 inches.
Struve picked up wins against several top fighters throughout his career, including the likes of Stipe Miocic and Antonio Silva.
8. Reuben de Jong
Reuben de Jong may have only had a short pro MMA career, but at least he can say he is undefeated across his two bouts winning both via decision. De Jong was more known for winning the 2004 and 2005 edition of New Zealand's strongest man. Additionally, he set a Guinness World Record for running through glass panes.
9. Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones is a former WWE wrestler and strongman. The towering Jones competed at the first-ever PRIDE event (PRIDE 1), back in 1997, but he suffered a submission defeat. This ended his MMA career, making him one and done in pro MMA.
10. Gan McGee
Gan McGee may have only had a decade in professional MMA but he certainly made his mark; out of his 13 victories 11 of them came via knockout.
McGee left the sport on a sour note in 2004 losing three fights in a row. The first loss in this run came against Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight belt. Not only did McGee get stopped but he tested positive for steroids in the aftermath.
He would later return to the sport in 2008 in winning fashion before losing his next fight and then retiring.
SportsBoom Suggests
Fighters like Semmy Schilt and Stefan Struve demonstrate how towering heights can coexist with technical skills.
Hong Man Choi and Paulo Cesar Silva highlight the challenges unique to exceptionally tall fighters in MMA.
Future talents like Vinicius Ramos de Lima bring intrigue to the sport, showcasing adaptability despite extreme height.
The tallest MMA fighters captivate audiences with their immense physical presence, unique fighting styles, and the challenges they face in the sport. This list celebrates their contributions while providing insights into their achievements and legacy.
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