Who’s one of the best undefeated fighter in MMA?

It is arduous to stay undefeated in MMA.

Since ESPN ranked the highest unbeaten martial artists on this planet a yr in the past, a number of have suffered their first losses. None was extra important than former middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev failing to get his hand raised for the primary time in 16 appearances in a cut up resolution to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 final month. Longtime Bellator MMA champ Johnny Eblen and featherweight Lerone Murphy additionally took their first profession defeats.

Ilia Topuria has managed to remain good by way of not one however two UFC championships — and appears to increase that streak in a light-weight title unification bout towards Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington, D.C. For the second straight yr, Topuria stands on the prime of ESPN’s rating of one of the best undefeated fighters in MMA in the present day. This is the total listing, primarily based on résumé and potential.

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1. Ilia Topuria (17-0), UFC light-weight champion

What’s unimaginable is that, towards one of the best opponents on this planet, Topuria is delivering comparable outcomes to when he began in MMA a decade in the past. He all the time has been a prolific finisher, with an 88% profession ending price, however that price has truly climbed to 100% in title fights. Topuria has knocked out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira in UFC championship fights and submitted Brian Bouland in Cage Warriors. Topuria may be setting an not possible bar to match. He has been good on the highest problem attainable.

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2. Usman Nurmagomedov (21-0), PFL light-weight champion

There are two methods of Nurmagomedov’s two-fight rivalry with Paul Hughes in 2025. Both he was proven to be human by barely squeaking out a pair of selections in back-to-back contests for the PFL light-weight championship, or he proved his mettle by defeating the hardest challenger of his profession twice. Even in case you select to consider the previous, the very fact is Nurmagomedov would possibly be one of the best light-weight on this planet. Nobody can definitively say how a Nurmagomedov versus Topuria matchup would go. And primarily based on the truth that Nurmagomedov is able to beating Topuria, he has to rank No. 2 on this listing.

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3. Movsar Evloev (20-0), UFC featherweight

It has taken seven years and 10 consecutive wins contained in the Octagon, nevertheless it seems Evloev will lastly obtain his crack on the UFC featherweight belt later this yr. Many stated he ought to have challenged for the title in January, however the UFC opted as an alternative to offer Diego Lopes his second title struggle towards Volkanovski in 9 months. Evloev did not complain, although. He simply solidified his spot because the No. 1 contender by defeating the opposite undefeated fighter in his division, Lerone Murphy. There is a cause it has taken Evloev so lengthy to achieve the highest. He has not recorded a single end throughout this 10-fight run within the UFC. However he is without doubt one of the finest fighters on this planet, and Volkanovski can have his arms full, ought to they meet later this yr.

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4. Michael Morales (19-0), UFC welterweight

In some methods, it feels as if Morales nonetheless has one thing to show as a result of every part has occurred so shortly and simply for him up to now. Like Topuria, Morales has elevated his sport as his competitors has risen. He has knocked out his previous three opponents (Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady) inside the primary spherical. It is not alleged to look this straightforward. Sooner or later, there shall be a correction the opposite manner. Proper? He is speaking a couple of title shot towards Islam Makhachev at 26 years previous. If he stays unbeaten, he’ll be a bona fide star.

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5. Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0), UFC welterweight

It flew below the radar, however simply final week, video surfaced of Rakhmonov coaching for the primary time since he underwent knee surgical procedure in January. The Kazakh welterweight’s absence has been some of the unlucky developments in all of MMA lately. Rakhmonov has been out as a result of knee accidents since he beat Ian Machado Garry in December 2024 and was faraway from the UFC’s rankings in February. If he can return to well being, he’ll return to some of the dynamic conditions in MMA, primarily making a five-headed monster on the prime of the UFC’s welterweight division. Fingers crossed for a return this yr.

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6. Dakota Ditcheva (15-0), PFL girls’s flyweight champion

Ditcheva, 27, is a sleeper decide to be the most important star in MMA in some unspecified time in the future in her profession. That’s the ceiling right here. Relying on how issues go, Ditcheva might change into a family title. She re-signed with the PFL in 2025, which holds her again by way of publicity in contrast with the UFC, nevertheless it additionally places her able by which a complete firm is behind her success. Ditcheva is arguably essentially the most violent girls’s fighter on this planet proper now, and her good document isn’t solely manufactured. The PFL has sufficient expertise in its 125-pound division to show that Ditcheva isn’t a fraud. She appeared like the true deal when she completed former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in two rounds in 2024 and shall be again in motion for the primary time this yr towards Denise Kielholtz on July 31.

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7. Muhammad Mokaev (16-0), males’s flyweight

To be candid, until one thing adjustments, we’ll in all probability by no means know the total extent of Mokaev’s potential. The UFC famously opted to not re-sign him in 2024 regardless of his good document. At the moment, he was coming off a victory over Manel Kape, who’s presently the UFC’s No. 2-ranked flyweight. Mokaev has discovered work since, however not the form of alternative that will show his standing among the many world’s finest. The excellent news is there’s nonetheless time; he is solely 25 years previous. One might argue that, for his age, his undefeated document is definitely essentially the most spectacular of anybody on this listing. He has been good towards actual competitors at an especially younger age. However the free agent’s future outlook relies upon closely on what contracts he indicators.

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8. Jacobe Smith (12-0), UFC welterweight

Smith may very well be this yr’s model of Michael Morales from a yr in the past. He has fascinating potential and is coming into a degree at which his profession might begin progressing quick. A former All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State College — and two-time NJCAA nationwide champion — Smith has an exceptional grappling base. However he has truly completed 9 of his 12 profession wins by knockout. The UFC is aware of what it has in Smith, which is why it booked him to a fan-friendly welterweight matchup towards Kevin Holland in his dwelling state of Oklahoma on July 18. Smith’s publicity is about to fulfill up along with his expertise, and the outcomes may very well be explosive over the following yr.

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9. Thad Jean (11-0), PFL welterweight champion

Jean emerged from relative obscurity to win the PFL’s welterweight match in 2025. The previous two years have represented a major bounce in competitors for Jean, however he nonetheless has quite a bit to show. He has a chance to change into the face of the PFL’s 170-pound division in 2026. His cut up resolution win over Jason Jackson final July was an actual indicator that Jean is legit. He’s carrying a whole lot of momentum into his first look this yr towards Shamil Musaev on July 25.

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10. Josh Hokit (9-0), UFC heavyweight

Oh, boy. The place to start? Hokit’s 2025 was outlined by an deliberately cringy shtick that didn’t resonate with followers early on. However that modified in a single day in 2026, when he stole the present at UFC 327 by defeating a top-five opponent in Curtis Blaydes. Find it irresistible or hate it, Hokit’s professional wrestling-style antics have caught fireplace. If he loses, his shtick might get actual previous, actual quick. However, probably, curiosity is not going to wane so long as he continues to win. How good is he, actually? That’s now the most important query, and he’ll get an opportunity to reply when he faces Derrick Lewis on the White Home garden on June 14.

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11. Baisangur Susurkaev (12-0), UFC middleweight

It is virtually becoming that Susurkaev would spherical out this listing of undefeated fighters, as he’s a detailed pal and protégé of the person we started the undefeated dialog with, Chimaev. Susurkaev made an enormous splash in 2025, when he made his UFC debut on 4 days’ discover after incomes a contract on “Dana White’s Contender Collection.” He is an ideal 3-0 contained in the Octagon since final August, however to be truthful, he has been a large betting favourite in all three appearances — and even in victory, he hasn’t dominated his fights from begin to end. He is solely 25 years previous, so there’s a whole lot of room for development right here. He is coaching alongside top-of-the-line fighters on this planet, and his document displays his expertise. If he continues to shine that expertise, he’ll be robust to beat.