If trained and applied correctly, strength is one of the most underrated yet useful advantages in the mixed martial arts arena. A fighter's ability to transfer strength into both their striking and grappling allows them to physically dominate their opponents and control where the fight takes place.

Over the years, the UFC has featured some of the most physically-imposing combatants in all combat sports. These competitors have been able to use their strength to trample their competition, capture world championships in intimidating fashion, and provide fans with some of the most memorable, entertaining performances in UFC history.

10 Jon Jones Is A True MMA Titan

Jones' Heavyweight Jump Makes Him Scarier

America's Jon 'Bones' Jones isn't someone often associated with pure strength. However, upon retrospection of his UFC lightweight run, while there may have been hiccups in the road, Jones used his strength to smartly complement his wresting, stamina and striking techniques. He mastered the art of ground and pound, which surprised many given his lean frame.

Victories against the likes of Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, that epic choke-out of Lyoto Machida, and the pummeling of Chael Sonnen are prime examples. From the moment he beat Stephan Bonnar from pillar to post, fans knew he would be something special. Jones captured light heavyweight gold, cleared out the division and then left for the next step in his evolution: heavyweight. There, Jones -- bigger, bulkier, and scarier -- rag-dolled the powerful Cyril Gane and submitted him within a round to show his rivals he was the true alpha. This stronger Jones has many eager to see if he will fight Stipe Miocic, or if injuries will force him to retire.

9 Cain Velasquez Was Sneaky Strong In The Octagon

Velasquez's Strength Earned Him UFC Heavyweight Gold

Cain Velasquez is a deceptively powerful heavyweight competitor whose cardio, strength, and training regime was considered legendary. The former UFC heavyweight champion defeated the much bigger Brock Lesnar to claim the title back in 2010. Velasquez was known for dominating much larger opponents on the ground using his prolific wrestling and never-ending cardio.

He even recorded a whopping 2300+ pounds of force behind his punch in a sports science episode. He was one of the hardest hitters during his reign in the UFC, holding victories over Ben Rothwell, Junior dos Santos, Travis Browne and Antônio Silva. Velasquez would retire from MMA in 2019, but he did transfer his talents to wrestling for a while, including a stint in WWE.

8 Yoel Romeo Remains A Physical Freak Of Nature

Romero Has Been Called Inhuman By Many Fighters

Yoel Romero's physical attributes are as close as you can get to a real-world Marvel super-soldier. His chiseled physique isn't just for show; he has monumental power and agility due to those muscles. As such, 'Soldier of God' boasted some of the rarest and most impressive athletic feats ever seen in the octagon. Romero's ability to swiftly transition his power into parts of his body led to devastating knockout victories over Lyoto Machida, Chris Weidman, and Luke Rockhold.

The Cuban is also a profound wrestler, capable of taking down anyone with utter force in the clinch. He won Olympic Gold in 2002 and a World Championship in 1999. This is why strikers like Israel Adesanya opted to keep him at a distance. Notably, Romero faced former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, twice during his time in the UFC and absorbed many of Whittaker's most powerful kicks without flinching. Romero left UFC in 2020 and is now showcasing his might at Bellator.

7 Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson Always Stunned With His Power

'Rampage's' Feats Left An Indelible Mark On The Sport

Besides being one of the more entertaining personalities in combat sports, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson was widely known for his power punching and boxing skills. Jackson recorded a whopping 1800 pounds of force behind his punch in a sports science episode, and is considered one of the most terrifying knockout artists in MMA history.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion has slept the likes of Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. His highlight reel began with that iconic KO slam of Ricardo Arona in 2004 at PRIDE. Since then, many opponents have exercised caution against Jackson, who also busted a door up with his fist in The Ultimate Fighter, reminding viewers he can crush anything. Coincidentally, Jackson has come out of retirement to box in 2024, leaving fans eager to see if he still has it.

6 Georges St. Pierre Was Deceptively Strong

GSP Still Remains Fit And In Fine Form Today

Canada's Georges St. Pierre was not necessarily known for his powerful striking capability. However, his incredible strength and conditioning made him one of the most dominant, versatile wrestlers in UFC welterweight history. The former UFC welterweight king would use his strength advantage to constantly pressure and take his opponents down with ruthless aggression.

Once on top, GSP was unstoppable. His opponents would do anything possible to merely survive the round. He defended his title nine times between 2008 and 2013 and relinquished it, before returning from a hiatus to claim the UFC middleweight championship in 2017 against Michael Bisping. GSP's title run included victories over Carlos Condit, B.J. Penn, Matt Hughes, and Jake Shields, proving that he could TKO or submit guys at will. To this day, 'Rush' speaks a lot about fitness, exercise and looks even younger and more muscular than when he competed in MMA.

5 Chael Sonnen's Strength Was Often Underestimated

Sonnen Almost Took Out UFC's Middleweight GOAT With His Might

Like St. Pierre, Sonnen's MMA potency was measured by how easily he could take his opponents to the ground and inflict as much damage as possible. He became a seasoned NCAA Division 1 wrestling standout, going on to the UFC where he once won four straight rounds against Anderson Silva before being submitted in the fifth.

It proved 'The Bad Guy' could back his talk up. Sonnen's strength and conditioning taxed many in the UFC, as well as when he moved to Bellator, making him one of the most difficult grapplers to prepare for. He had notable wins over Mauricio Rua, Michael Bisping, 'Rampage,' and Wanderlei Silva, crafting iconic trash-talking feuds along the way across the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

4 Daniel Cormier Was A Power Cut Above The Rest

Cormier's Wrestling Background Made Him A True Behemoth

Daniel Cormier was an extremely unique fighter capable of wrestling or knocking his opponent out. At first glance, Cormier seemed to be an undersized heavyweight who gave up a significant reach to his bigger and taller opponents. Despite this disadvantage, the prodigy would effectively utilize both this wrestling and knockout power to dominate the bigger and bolder competition for years.

Cormier burst onto the MMA scene by winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as a late replacement in 2012. He went on to compete in the UFC and successfully capture both the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight championships. He had iconic slams of Josh Barnett and Dan Handerson, as well as a Miocic KO in his highlight reel, to perfectly illustrate why his strength should not have been overlooked. To sum it up, if you can submit Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson twice, you are a beast! And that is just the tip of the iceberg on a very decorated MMA résumé.

3 Matt Hughes Was A Monster In The UFC Octagon

Hughes' Physique and Raw Prowess Terrified Many

In his prime, there was nobody quite like Matt Hughes. The two-time former UFC welterweight champion was a powerful wrestler who lifted his opponents with relative ease on many occasions inside the octagon. Hughes used his strength primarily in his offensive grappling to take his opponents down and secure favorable positions.

He defended his belt a total of six times during his championship run and defeated the likes of Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, and GSP. Fans will always remember him carrying Trigg across the cage and then battering him, as well as that slam that knocked Carlos Newton out cold. No matter what, win or lose, Hughes would let his opponents know they weren't stronger.

2 Khabib Nurmagomedov Is A Pocket Rocket

'The Eagle' Dominated UFC's Lightweight Division Like A Boss

Khabib Nurmagomedov's incredible grappling ability is precisely why the former UFC lightweight champion -- who retired undefeated -- makes the list. Once 'The Eagle' took his opponent to the ground, it was only a matter of time before he would secure a dominant position, choke his opponent unconscious or find a limb to mangle. His strength made it look like a game between men and boys.

The Dagestani native tapped out Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje in his short but immaculate title run. Other scalps included Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson. The most impressive thing is that he would tell his opponents exactly what he was going to do, yet they could not stop him. While Nurmagomedov retired after his father's death, this legacy continues with fighters such as Islam Makhachev, who constantly tout sambo as a stronger, meaner jiu-jitsu.

1 Francis Ngannou Remains The Combat Sports' Gold Standard'

'The Predator' Devoured In MMA And Now, In Boxing

When it comes to pure strength and power, it is impossible not to recognize the most devastating heavyweight knockout artist in UFC history. Francis Ngannou has been tough to take down as years passed, which led to him stunning Gane with some grappling of his own. Injured or not, Ngannou can overpower anyone.

He has insane knockouts over Alistair Overeem, Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes and Miocic, among the many. Now, Ngannou is over at PFL waiting to continue his MMA career after leaving the UFC heavyweight title behind. The thing is, Ngannou has shown his strength as he goes back to his first passion -- boxing, out-muscling Tyson Fury, knocking him down, and losing a decision many thought he won. Clearly, the Ngannou who had trouble with technical wrestlers and bigger bodies, is a thing of the past, reiterating that the Cameroonian is aging like fine wine.