Top 10 Best Fighters of All Time
Welcome to the realm of sweat, skill, and glory - the world of fighting! Over the years, we've seen many warriors ascend to the top, showcasing their tenacity, strength, and brilliance. From the famed octagons of MMA to the global stages of boxing, from traditional martial arts dojos to the dramatic sets of Hollywood, countless fighters have left us in awe with their exceptional skills. So, who exactly are the best fighters of all time?The traits of a good fighter extend far beyond physical strength or a swift punch. An exceptional fighter embodies discipline, endurance, strategy, adaptability, and the kind of mental fortitude that can rival the toughest philosophers. A fighter's prowess is measured not just in their knockout count, but in their ability to read their opponent, to adapt their tactics on the fly, and to stand up again and again, no matter how many times they're knocked down.
Whether it's the unparalleled quickness and agility of Bruce Lee, the powerful and poetic footwork of Muhammad Ali, the cold precision of Fedor Emelianenko, the entertaining yet effective fight sequences of Jackie Chan, or the explosive martial arts talent of Jet Li, each of these fighters and many more have exemplified unique aspects of what it means to be a truly great fighter.
This isn't just about who has won the most titles or who has the most formidable right hook. It's about celebrating those who have pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a fighter, who have shown us that fighting is as much a mental game as a physical one, and that the heart of a true warrior lies in never giving up, even in the face of the most insurmountable odds.
Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often credited with paving the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Lee is considered by critics, media,... read more Bruce Lee was the best of his time. I'm not sure Ali would pose as much threat to Bruce Lee as some make out. Bruce Lee was very evasive. How many people do you hear talking about the time they hit Bruce? It's usually about how overwhelming and dominating Bruce's skill and ability were, and how Bruce Lee did as he pleased.
Every second that passes in a fight with Bruce and Ali is bad news for Ali, as Bruce would be targeting Ali's vulnerable spots, such as his knees, his eyes, and everything else Ali had not trained to protect. So, with every second that goes by, Ali's chances are diminishing.
Bruce is considered the best fighter by so many people. That causes a bit of resentment, so some envious individuals try to downplay Bruce in return. Michael Jai White will say something he doesn't really think, like Jackie Chan beats Bruce. The whole world thinking Bruce was the best fighter, hands down, with no arguments, really does cause resentment. So, Joe Rogan will say Gene Lebell beats Bruce in return. It's a case of some people trying to level the playing field.
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures of the 20th century, and is frequently ranked as the best heavyweight boxer and greatest athlete of the century. Hands down, he is one of the top five boxers of all time and arguably number one. Unlike many of his contemporaries in the heavyweight division, who relied on heavy knockout power, Ali had extremely slick footwork and outstanding quickness in both feet and hands. He also had a fantastic chin. On top of all this, he was endlessly marketable and charismatic. His trash talk was some of the best ever seen, making him an extremely compelling champion.
Muhammad Ali is the greatest fighter of all time. Some say Bruce Lee could bring down Ali, but consider the facts. Ali is 6'3 and weighs 220 lbs, while Lee is 5'9 and weighs 150 lbs. If a fight were to happen between Ali and Lee, Ali would win by knockout. Ali would control the distance. Many people say that Lee could just kick Ali in the head, but with Ali's longer reach and greater height, it would be very difficult for Lee to do that. Also, Lee wasn't fond of kicking taller people in the head because his balance would be compromised, giving Lee the disadvantage. Lee could try to get in close to Ali, but Ali would beat him to the ground.
Li Lianjie, better known by his English stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and wushu champion who was born in Beijing. He should be number 2. Number 1 should be Ip Man, followed by Ali as number 3. Then comes Liston, who isn't even on this list to vote for. Go figure: Goku is on this list, but no Sonny Liston?
I agree with the other posts. Jet Li should be ranked second. He shouldn't be beaten by a mere boxer. Jet Li was a monk. He was trained day and night to be a fighter, and to be ranked third is completely absurd. A master in Kung Fu, skilled with numerous weapons and many fighting styles in his arsenal, and yet a boxer is rated higher than him? Yes, Muhammad Ali is brilliant in "boxing," but let's be real. Put him in a ring with a highly skilled, badass fighter like Jet Li, and he will lose. Even his name proves he's gifted: "Jet" Li is as fast as a jet.
First of all, Jet Li is better than Chan, Norris, and the people in places 5 and 6 too. In fact, he comes second, right after Bruce Lee. Not to mention, Jet Li is the second greatest of all time. Also, UFC fighters are no match for Lee and Li.
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title at 20 years, four months and 22 days old. Mike Tyson has the perfect build for a fighter. He possesses speed, power, and the mental attitude to destroy anyone. A great fighter is someone who can destroy his opponent, not just hit him. I believe Mike Tyson could beat anyone on the street. Once he has you in a corner, no referee can stop the fight. You can't run away. Mike Tyson was not just a good fighter but a true warrior.
Ali punched and ran away. That's child's play, just like Floyd. If you want to be elusive and hard to fight, fight like Roy Jones Jr. and actually fight. Additionally, Mike was knocking people down with gloves. Imagine him without gloves. He weighs around 240 pounds and is 5'10. He would toss Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris around. Ali wasn't even close to Mike's athletic ability.
Mike Tyson is hands down one of the top 5 boxers ever and arguably number 1. His power, speed, technique, and fight IQ were unparalleled. The only thing that brought him down was his personal problems outside of the ring. Inside the ring, he was an artist, painting masterpieces with his opponents' blood, teeth, and brain trauma.
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American actor and martial artist. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts. Norris went on to appear in a minor... read more There once was a street named after this man, but they had to change the street's name. That's because no one crosses Chuck Norris and lives. A true American icon and hero, great fighter and great man.
Chuck Norris stomps Bruce Lee, Cassius Clay, and that other Mexican guy I've never heard of. He is the best. He beats them all without even trying that much. Cassius was a stupid thinker and not even close to the best boxer. Bruce Lee was a lame actor.
Chuck Norris is a great fighter, but he is not the best in the world. Chuck Norris definitely was not as good as Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee knew more techniques and had more skill. He was also too fast and strong for Norris.
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist, sambist, and judoka, currently competing for Rizin Fighting Federation. Fedor is one of the top heavyweights of all time and arguably number one. He was an undersized heavyweight who looked more like a factory worker than an elite heavyweight cage fighter. He is an extremely high-level and accomplished sambo fighter and judoka. Don't judge a book by its cover.
If you were to look at Fedor versus fighters such as Kevin Randleman and Mark Coleman, you would never put money on Fedor based on looks alone. Most of his opponents looked like Greek gods, and he made them look like amateurs.
Fedor isn't as great as Bruce Lee, but I'd say Fedor is the GOAT in MMA. I'd put Fedor above Jon Jones, as Jones has used PEDs and has cheated a bit in fights. But Jon Jones is good, no doubt.
Hands down, the best MMA fighter I have ever watched. He's incredible to watch. Just imagine fighting him. He's so explosive, yet so relaxed. He can fight and be dangerous in every position. If you think you have him, think twice. He's able to escape every submission, and his ground and pound is more unique than anything else.
He's great standing up and on the ground. He can take any kind of punishment, but in the end, he escapes every dangerous position and finds a way to win every single time. His striking is phenomenal. His Jiu-Jitsu is amazing. He's been undefeated for 10 years straight, and nobody understands how he was able to manage that. I don't think we'll ever see a more confident, straightforward fighter like Fedor. He's unique. He just amazes me. Long live the Last Emperor!
To be honest with all of you Bruce Lee fans and Mike Tyson fans, this man here can crush and destroy all of the fighters on this list, including Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Chuck Norris, and others. The only reason he's not number one is because people don't know anything about him, are jealous of him, or harbor hatred toward him. You should know that he's the one who taught Bruce Lee how to fight. He has a wonderful heart and is a Chinese superhero with superhuman abilities and a powerful mind. I consider him to be a version of Yoda, Oogway, and Albus Dumbledore, among others. I've never seen anyone beat him because he never gives up. Whether he has good arms, bad arms, no arms, good legs, bad legs, or no legs, he can still beat you using his head while in his wheelchair.
So, this man RULES and is UNTOUCHABLE.
He could beat anyone. Everyone knows that. He was Bruce Lee's master, and for some reason, Bruce Lee is ranked above him. He taught Bruce Lee and, during his learning period, left for some time. When he returned, he had learned a new type of Wing Chun but was rejected by his own master. However, it proved to be the better style. You can't beat this guy. He defeated the best boxer in the world at the time and was only partially injured with a black eye. He survived the war because he was a master of martial arts and even beat a Japanese general who could easily defeat three martial arts masters in a matter of seconds.
Chan Kong-sang known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and singer. He is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself, in the cinematic world. He has trained in Wushu or Kung Fu and Hapkido, and has been acting since the 1960s, appearing... read more When I say the best fighters, I don't pick fighters who were the strongest. I believe there were deadlier fighters than Bruce Lee. It's just that we don't know about them (although he was influential). Jackie Chan had courage, which many people can't show anymore. This is evident from the bloopers in the end credits. He also staged the best "fixed fight" of all time. I don't like fight scenes with technology. He also had talents in other categories, like singing and directing. Jackie Chan isn't the best, nor the greatest, but he deserves to be number one on this list.
I would have loved to see '80s Jackie Chan against Bruce Lee, both in their prime. Jackie, in my eyes, was underrated. The things this man could do were groundbreaking. People just don't take him seriously. He did all his own stunts and should be second on this list.
He has such a prolific body of amazing fight scenes and death-defying stunts that it dwarfs anyone else on the planet, not to mention this list. This guy is completely insane in the best ways.
Anderson da Silva (born April 14, 1975) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and had the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. This started in 2006 and ended in 2013 and included a UFC record 16 consecutive victories in that span. UFC president Dana White, UFC commentator... read more I saw that Bisping beat him in 2016, but it seems Bisping was on a really hot streak during that time. From what I can find in terms of historical success, Silva has consistently dominated for a fairly respectable reign.
Plus, looking at the guys ranked 1-8, this isn't a skill-based list. It's a fanboy/Hollywood list, apparently. Pretty boys can look badass, and they have endurance too, for their career. Especially stuntmen. They can take punches. But to win a fight? There's a very real element of application that fighting actors and stuntmen don't utilize the way professional fighters do. But of course, that's all just my opinion.
Anderson Silva is labeled the best fighter who has ever lived. He has taken MMA to the next level. Bruce Lee actually said Muhammad Ali could beat him, so to say he is better is just ridiculous. Anderson Silva has one-hit KO'd people faster than Bruce Lee (Vitor Belfort). If somebody who is faster, stronger, more experienced, and better trained than Lee can't handle Silva, then why say Lee is any better?
Ali was an incredible mixed martial artist. Fedor and Chuck are jokes. Fedor is the laughingstock of MMA, and even Bruce Lee told Chuck he would not be a great fighter. Lee, Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris, and Jet Li all trained together. As to why they're even on this list is phenomenal. It shows how little people know.
You might as well put the Power Rangers on here. I'm not hating on them as fighters, but to put them on this list, or even consider it, is a joke. Without Lee, most fighters would not even be known. I could make a new sport, make it famous, and then get whipped in whatever it is. Just because you are somewhat of a founder does not make you the god of whatever it is.
But then again, modern-day fighters can't use steroids like Lee did, so their bodies can't be pushed as far. But also, steroids couldn't beat Silva either. Simple facts.
Brock Edward Lesnar is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler, professional American football player, and mixed martial artist who is currently signed to WWE. Not the greatest fighter, but he definitely is the guy who has worked hard. He is massive and has accomplished a lot in his career despite going through illness, etc. NCAA Champion, UFC heavyweight champion, and, despite being scripted, is a champion in professional wrestling. He headlined four out of the six highest PPV events. Two of them are the top two. Plus, he moves around the cage/ring like a light heavyweight guy.
Brock Lesnar only lost in the UFC due to his battle with illness, but he has squatted 1,000 pounds, deadlifted 900, and according to witness Kurt Angle, he benched over 800 pounds! He ran a 50m dash in 6 seconds! He can truly beat anyone. If he gets a hold of you, you're done! The force with which he could hit you or slam you is tremendous.
Are you out of your mind? He is a beast incarnate. He conquered the Undertaker's streak. He also defeated many legends in WWE & UFC. He is more dangerous than Ken Shamrock as well. He should be at number 3, after Scott Adkins.
Jonathan Dwight "Jon" Jones is an American mixed martial artist and current interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jon Jones has never lost a fight. He has one disqualification on his record due to him accidentally breaking the 12-6 elbow rule, which is an idiotic rule in the first place. He was the youngest ever UFC champion, defended his light heavyweight title 14 times, and just won the heavyweight championship in an extremely dominant fashion against an extremely high-level kickboxer who also happens to be far and away the largest person Jones has ever faced.
If Jones and Bruce Lee were forced to fight, and you actually think Bruce Lee is going to win, you're living in a dream. Jones has so much fighting experience. He will beat you after a week of coke.
Jon Jones has more durability by a ten percent difference than Bruce Lee had because he is so much heavier and trains really hard. Jones is a little faster than Lee. At full potential, he could run and dodge slightly better since he uses the treadmill and track a lot and is taller. Bruce Lee was stronger at his best. He benched more weight than Jon Jones can do and hits faster and harder. Bruce Lee could only do the one-inch punch. Jon Jones really does well in mixed martial arts, but Bruce Lee knew a few more moves and techniques. Their athleticism and skills are equally matched.
He has more moves than what someone can usually teach you, and he only hits hard. He seems like the toughest fighter on this list to me. Not only is he really fast, but all his moves hit you so hard that you don't feel you can hit back as forcefully.
Tony Jaa is the greatest martial artist I have ever seen. All his moves in the movies were real, and I like his style. He's not really good at acting, but for me, that doesn't really matter. All I want to see is his fighting style. Tony Jaa is great!
Tony Jaa is incredibly strong. He beat around 100 guards and his top enemy in the film. Go on YouTube if you want proof!
Georges St-Pierre (born May 19, 1981) is a Canadian retired professional mixed martial artist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. He is a two-division champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) having won titles in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. True MMA fans know who the GOAT truly is. Georges St-Pierre was the best that ever was, pound for pound, in MMA. Casual fans prefer theatrics compared to skill, so they look past any real martial artist and prefer actors who were good at some martial arts, like Bruce Lee. Name me one of his conquests that proves he was so great. How about can crushers like Fedor, or worse yet, can crushers who are one-dimensional like Anderson Silva. Ridiculous list. Georges St-Pierre was truly a level above everyone.
The fact that Georges St-Pierre is not even in the top 3, let alone the top ten, is beyond me. This guy didn't just beat his opponents. He absolutely dominated them. Given the high caliber of opponents that he had faced, it's remarkable how bad he made them look. Also, this list is for best fighters, not actors. The inclusion of people like Jet Li on this list is baffling.
What a stupid list. GSP is the best MMA fighter that ever lived, but someone here has a different opinion. To think that Bruce Lee was the best fighter is ridiculous. As soon as he was taken down, he would be lost. This list must have been created by some kid, as they would be the only ones stupid enough to think Bruce Lee was the best.
Scott Adkins is the most complete fighter in the world. He has skills, muscles, and technique. I think he is the most complete fighter in the world now, in the 21st century. Seriously, do you think Scott Adkins should be this far behind?
Scott Adkins should at least be in the number three spot in the world. He is also a real fighter. I agree with the people who think that he is one of the top-ranked fighters.
He is the best fighter in the world. He should be at the top of this list. He is very flexible, and his techniques are mind-blowing, so he should be in the number 1 position.
Sugar Ray Robinson was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1965. Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. Ray was 85-0 in the amateur ranks. Most of his pro defeats came after the time he "wanted retirement." During this 3-year retirement break, due to money issues, he was forced to return and got 16 losses because of it. He would have retired with 132 wins and 3 losses. Those three losses were: 1) Jake LaMotta, who Ray beat four times in a row after this defeat. 2) Randolph Turpin - after 90 straight wins, Turpin beat Ray, but Ray won it back with a clean KO. 3) Joey Maxim, a much heavier opponent who was actually losing, but Ray was overheating badly and retired.
Even after his 3-year break, no one beat him twice in another five years in the ring. And after his whole 19 losses ever (44 years old at second retirement), he never got KO'd. He only retired once against a light-heavyweight when he was a middleweight, and it was so hot that the ref fainted. Ray was ahead on all the judge cards.
Basically, if Ray had fully retired when he wanted to, his record would be (including his amateur record of 85-0) 217 wins and 3 losses, which he rematched and beat both (apart from the really unfair Joey Maxim bout).
GREATEST
Deontay Leshun Wilder is an American professional boxer. He has held the WBC heavyweight title since 2015, and in doing so became the first American world heavyweight champion in nine years, which was the longest period of time in boxing history without an American heavyweight champion. His skill set is unrivaled.
Baddest man on the planet.
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov (born 20 September 1988) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist of Avar ethnicity. Nurmagomedov is a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion and the reigning undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion. He currently holds the longest undefeated streak in MMA, with 27 wins, and remains undefeated in professional MMA. Hailing from Russia's Dagestan region, he is the... read more GOAT, undefeated fighter, and the most humble and respectful fighter from those I know. The best of all time must be a great person, not just a great fighter. Khabib is the true inspiration for both.
Khabib dominated his opponents like no other. He is arguably the best grappler to ever grace the Octagon and holds Master of Sport titles and multiple world championships in Combat Sambo. Khabib has underrated stand-up skills and an extremely high-level grappling game.
He destroyed McGregor. After making McGregor look like a big wimp, Khabib should be higher on the list. He even had the guts to hop the cage and go after McGregor's trainer.
Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist and boxer. He is the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight champion.McGregor started his MMA career in 2008 and, in 2012, he won both the Cage Warriors Featherweight and Lightweight Championships, holding both titles simultaneously before vacating them to sign with the... read more
Conor is a much better fighter than Chuck Norris and many other Hollywood actors listed in the top 30. I think he should be in the top 4. He has great accuracy and is a complete fighter who covers many aspects of unarmed combat.
Floyd and Manny are the greatest 145-pound boxers in history, but Conor is a complete fighter who has dominated pure unarmed combat. Therefore, I believe he should be ahead of both of them. He also has incredible speed, precision, timing, and reflexes. He is most likely the greatest MMA fighter in history.
At least top 20.
When you think about Conor, whether you love or hate him, you know that he's a hugely influential figure, and day by day, he is being compared to the likes of the greats such as Muhammad Ali.
Even the UFC has figuratively embraced his icon, saying things like, "He is the Muhammad Ali of the UFC."
Conor McGregor is still in his prime and undoubtedly going to improve. Time is a factor in all of this, and I'm sure he will soon make it into the top 10 in the history he writes.
In Conor McChrist we trust.
Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. is an American former professional boxer and current boxing promoter."Pretty boy" Floyd or "Money" Mayweather is widely considered to be one of the greatest if not the greatest boxer in boxing history. Floyd Mayweather has had success not only inside the ring, but outside as a worthy businessman. Mayweather has had some of the largest if not the largest box office... read more
I do not like Floyd Mayweather Jr., but that being said, he is one of the greatest defensive fighters I have ever seen. It's like he's living two seconds in the future. His reflexes and speed are arguably the greatest in the history of boxing. His instincts are supernatural. I respect him as a fighter. He is number 7 on my list.
Greatest boxer of all time. No ifs, ands, or buts. He is BY FAR the most superior defensive boxer of all time. He has only ever been cleanly hit once. He should be in the top three on this list. It's preposterous to have Pac-Man, Lesnar, and 22 of the other names above him on this list.
Floyd Money is the best boxer in the world. Marciano is also the best, but Floyd has more money. However, if they were to fight, it would be a tie.
He has the best chin in the world. With just a few improvements in abilities and cardio, he could be the best heavyweight of today's generation. JDS Cigano, forever a fan.
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Karate, and Kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A professional competitor from 1998 until 2010, Liddell had 23 fights in the UFC; along with Randy Couture, he... read more I go with Chuck because he beat so many fighters I didn't like, and he won the war against Randy Couture. So why is Randy ahead of Chuck?
Chuck would bum-rush any of the competitors and throw off any kind of martial arts defense.
Royce may not be the most talented of the Gracies, but in my opinion, he is the one that deserves to be on this list because he doesn't give up. His talents are world-class, don't get me wrong. But it's his perseverance and ability to keep fighting even when things aren't going his way that makes him into a formidable warrior. Raw talent means nothing without it. Great fighter.
This man is an incredible human being, let alone fighter. I've met him once and watched a number of his fights. He would dominate anyone on here! Hands down! There's a reason there are Chuck Norris jokes and not Royce Gracie jokes. Everyone knows he is no damn joke!
Considering his size and techniques, he was probably one of the best fighters ever. He has submitted a number of good fighters 50 pounds heavier than himself.
Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer and politician, currently serving as a Senator of the Philippines. He currently ranks #4 in BoxRec's ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. In his prime, I really thought he was the Terminator from the movies. He would take punches from the strongest fighters and show no damage. I was waiting to catch a glimpse of the shiny metal if he ever got a cut, LOL. He is one of the toughest and hardest-working fighters ever, period. He is number 8 on my list.
Woah, Pacman should be at the top of the list! Number one, I mean. He is our national hero from the year of his birth until today. We Filipinos love him so much that we gave him a lot of jobs to do. He is a boxer, a promoter, a congressman/statesman, a cornerstone in his family's home, a supplier of goods in General Santos City, a former vendor of peanuts, a devoutly religious guy, a loyal person, a wealthy individual, an honest human, a man with strong passions, a persevering Filipino, and a nice guy to have a match with. Woohoo! Pacquiao #1! Hail to you. Idol!
He should be number 2, with his idol Bruce Lee in number 1. He idolized Bruce Lee and, without a doubt, he is the GOAT of boxing. Beating young, undefeated champions at age 41 is really ridiculous to imagine - an old guy beating young bloods. Manny is the true definition of GOAT: an 8-division world champion.
One of the best ever, period. It didn't matter what style of fighting - Joe kicked ass.