Heavyweight fighters truly are some of the most exciting athletes in the world. One celebrated example would be the boxing heavyweights – let’s face it; whether or not you’re a fan of the pugilistic practice, you probably know who Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali are!
It’s no different in MMA. The title fights are vicious and taxing, and no one has held onto the heavyweight top spot for more than two title defenses. That means that it’s hard to think about the question, “Who is the best of all time?”
(credit: bleacherreport)
The most reasonable way to rank MMA heavyweights would to be to use their career records along with their wins against other top-in-the-world rankers. Given that, let’s have a look at the list we’ve made.
- Ricco Rodriguez
Career record: 53-24 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 2-2
- Shane Carwin
Career record: 12-2
Career record fighting best in the world: 2-2
- Sergei Kharitonov
Career record: 24-6
Career record fighting best in the world: 6-5
- Dan Severn
Career record: 101-19-7
Career record fighting best in the world: 8-7-3
- Mark Coleman
Career record: 16-10
Career record fighting best in the world: 7-9
- Brock Lesnar
Career record: 5-3 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 4-3 (1 NC)
- Alistair Overeem
Career record: 42-15 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 12-13
(credit: bleacherreport)
- Andrei Arlovski
Career record: 25-14 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 14-13
- Frank Mir
Career record: 18-11
Career record fighting best in the world: 9-10
- Daniel Cormier
Career record: 19-1
Career record fighting best in the world: 9-1
- Stipe Miocic
Career record: 16-2
Career record fighting best in the world: 6-2
- Tim Sylvia
Career record: 31-10
Career record fighting best in the world: 8-6
- Randy Couture
Career record: 19-11
Career record fighting best in the world: 13-9
Finishes: 11 (57.8 percent)
- Josh Barnett
Career record: 35-8
Career record fighting best in the world: 13-8
(credit: bleacherreport)
- Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
Career record: 35-11-2
Career record fighting best in the world: 15-10
- Fabricio Werdum
Career record: 21-6-1
Career record fighting best in the world: 15-6
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Career record: 34-10-1 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 20-10
- Junior Dos Santos
Career record: 18-4
Career record fighting best in the world: 12-3
- Cain Velasquez
Career record: 14-2
Career record fighting best in the world: 9-2
(credit: bleacherreport)
- Fedor Emelianenko
Career record: 36-4 (1 NC)
Career record fighting best in the world: 17-4
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Here at Martial Tribes, we’d be foolish if we didn’t think our passionate friends would have their own thoughts about who’s the greatest, and why! – So let us know YOUR thoughts on the all-time best.
