Highlights

• Max Holloway is the best boxer in the UFC, known for his exceptional striking ability and powerful combinations.
• Khabib Nurmagomedov's dominant wrestling-based style of Sambo has made him one of the greatest figures in MMA.
• Ronda Rousey popularized the use of Judo in the UFC and achieved superstardom with her impressive win streak and title defenses.

Mixed martial arts is unique compared to other sports based on its merging of various disciplines in competition. Competitors are allowed to utilize various martial arts to defeat their opponents and continue honing their skills. Throughout the history of the UFC, various disciplines have been used by numerous fighters to become champions, execute memorable finishes and continuously rise through the rankings of their respective divisions.

Fans all around the world have gravitated to certain disciplines based on their favorite fighters and memorable moments inside the octagon. These are some of the most popular fighting styles in the UFC, and the fighters best at it.

UPDATE: 2023/11/20 15:23 EST BY BRANDON EWING

The world of MMA is filled with various fighting styles that contribute to the success of our favorite fighters. Legendary fighters like George St-Pierre and Randy Courture may rely heavily on their unique wrestling abilities to gain the advantage on the ground and pound aspect, while fighters like Royce Gracie rely on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style that has helped make MMA popular today. Regardless of the style, each skill set and ability helps to make the fighters we love to watch unique in their individual ways. These are the legendary fighters of the octagon that have paved the way for the future of MMA.

5 Kickboxing: Max Holloway

Max Holloway Is A True Representation Of Determination, Hard Work, And Passion.

• Max is well known for his exceptional striking ability. Because of this, he has earned himself the nickname, "Blessed".
• He loves to actively engage and communicate with his fans over social media, helping build on his charisma and authenticity.
• Holloway is proud of his heritage, which is a combination of Samoan and Native Hawaiian.

Of all the notable strikers currently active in the UFC, Max Holloway has undoubtedly established himself as the best boxer fans have seen inside the octagon. The Hawaii native is first in total strikes landed with 3056 and number one in significant strikes landed with 2848.

Holloway is known for his ability to land many powerful combinations on his opponents throughout a fight while continuously marching forward and applying pressure. In addition, he is skilled at attacking the body of his opponents, which gradually picks away at their cardio. Holloway continues to dazzle his opponents with every UFC appearance.

4 Sambo (Wrestling): Khabib Nurmagomedov

"The Eagle" Has Quickly Become One Of The Greatest Figures In The World

• After suffering two critical injuries in 2014, Khabib came close to calling it a career and becoming a bouncer to make ends meet for his family.
• Khabib is a well-known economist and can speak in five different languages: Kumyk, Avar, Russian, Turkish, and English.
• He has a well-known feud with Conor McGregor, but at one time, he was a fan of McGregor's before their feud.

The martial art of Sambo originated in the Soviet Union in the early 1920s and continues to grow in popularity. The discipline was made world-famous in mixed martial arts by Fedor Emelianenko, a legendary heavyweight mixed martial artist who utilized Sambo to dominate his competition during his prime. Sambo, at its core, is a wrestling-based discipline that utilizes powerful takedowns, ground control, and throws.

Sambo has recently garnered worldwide attention due to the dominant UFC run of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The undefeated Russian native compiled a whopping 29 fight win-streak primarily using Sambo. Since Nurmagodemov's retirement, combatants such as Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili continue to utilize Sambo when competing in the UFC. Expect Sambo to continue to grow in popularity as numerous fighters employ the use of this powerful discipline.

3 Judo: "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey

Rousey Has Cemented Her Spot Among The All-Time Greats In MMA

• Considered to be a huge trailblazer in the world of MMA, as she became the first female ever signed by UFC.
• She ended her UFC career with an impressive 12-2 record before pursuing a career in wrestling with WWE.
• Rousey was named by TIME magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People" for her groundbreaking achievements in MMA and UFC.

Despite its usefulness in mixed martial arts, the art of Judo was primarily under the radar in the early years of the UFC. Karo Parisyan and Yoshihiro Akiyama were two of the more well-known Judo fighters in the early years of mixed martial arts but failed to capture worldwide attention throughout their careers. Judo is a relatively modern Japanese martial art that utilizes throws and takedowns to put the opponent in an unfavorable position to eventually set up a lock or choke.

Ronda Rousey's arrival and success in the UFC is what ultimately launched Judo's exposure to the world of mixed martial arts on a grand level. The former UFC women's bantamweight champion compiled an impressive 12 fight win-streak, defended her title seven times, and achieved mixed martial arts superstardom during her prime. Since then, Judo continues to be a well-utilized discipline that gives combatants favorable advantages if used effectively.

2 Muay Thai: Anderson Silva

Silva's Flashy Style And Unmatched Charisma Made Him One Of The Most Recognizable Fighters In MMA

• Anderson Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history, having held the UFC Middleweight Championship for an unprecedented 2,457 days, defending the title 10 times during his reign.
• Silva holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the UFC with 16 straight wins.
• He is dangerous inside the octagon due to his unpredictable and flashy fighting style, which is considered unorthodox. This has helped Silva become very popular among MMA fans.

Muay Thai, or "Thai Boxing", is a traditional martial art that originates from Thailand and is also known as the "art of eight limbs." The art of Muay Thai includes stand-up striking, clinch fighting, and the utilization of knees and elbows to outpoint or knock your opponent out. Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century and has only grown in popularity throughout the world. The UFC has featured several well-known practitioners of Muay Thai over the years, including Jose Aldo, Edson Barboza, and Darren Till.

However, the title of best Muay Thai fighter to ever grace the octagon undoubtedly belongs to former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva, a native of Brazil, would burst onto the UFC scene back in 2006 when he showed off his incredible striking skills by knocking out Chris Leben in 49 seconds. Joe Rogan would famously exclaim, "This man is a different kind of striker." The Brazilian defended his title 10 times, recorded 23 victories by knockout, and became one of the most dominant and popular champions in UFC history.

1 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Royce Gracie

A True Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Icon Who Solidified His Legacy As A Martial Arts Legend

• Royce Gracie became a true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend through his groundbreaking performances and exceptional skills throughout the martial arts and MMA worlds, respectively.
• Gracie had memorable fights and showdowns inside the octagon with the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba and Ken Shamrock.
• He is an advocate for self-defense and empowerment for everyone, no matter their gender, age, or ethnicity.

Of all the martial arts disciplines that are used in MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most recognizable due to its role in creating the infrastructure for modern-day MMA. BJJ is a Brazilian originated martial art that focuses on ground fighting and applying submission holds. The goal of using BJJ is to take an opponent down, control their position, and eventually secure victory by implementing one of many submission techniques. Submission techniques include chokeholds, leg locks, and armbars.

Royce Gracie is the martial artist responsible for putting the UFC on the map and launching MMA in global popularity. Gracie compiled an 11-0 professional record between 1993 and 1995, including victories over Ken Shamrock, Kimo Leopoldo, and Dan Severn. The submission ace is widely considered the best pure grappler to ever compete in the octagon and will forever be considered the "father" of MMA due to his immense role in globalizing the UFC.