UFC's Best Ever: Top-10 Heavyweights of All Time
- Zak Drapeau
- 20 minutes ago
- 5 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 2/14/2026
I feel like I need to say this before we get into the list: Brock Lesnar is one of the most famous Heavyweight in UFC history and a former champion but he was 4-3 (1NC) in the UFC which is no where near enough to make this list.
10. Tim Sylvia
Alright youngens, for those of you who got into the sport around COVID, a name you probably don't know and need to look up is Tim Sylvia. From 2002 to 2007, Sylvia not only held gold in the UFC but also in 3 other promotions. One of the best Heavyweights in the world, Sylvia had a total of 9 UFC title fights winning 5 of them.
Sylvia was an easy Top-5 Heavyweight at his time, especially after winning a banger of a trilogy with the next man on our list but has since been remembered less due to a weaker "Strength of Schedule" and lack of promotion around him.
9. Andre Arlovski
Andre Arlovski has the second most fights in UFC history and 4th most wins but holds each of those records BY A LOT for the Heavyweight division. Arlovski was also a former UFC champion who in total went 3-2 in title fights.
Arlovski's 25-22-1 record in the UFC holds him back from being to high on this list. However, you can't deny his longevity and his prime way back in 2005, which are both legendary in the division.
8. Tom Aspinall
This may be a controversial take on this list but I'm pretty comfortable saying Tom Aspinall is a Top-10 Heavyweight in the UFC right now. He has faced many of the top Heavyweights in the world right now and only lost because of a freak ACL tear against Curtis Blaydes, who he would go on to beat in the rematch by first round knockout.
And speaking of first round knockouts, Aspinall has 7 in his 10 total fights. This guy is an electric knockout artist, the current champion and deserves a spot on this list.
7. Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis has the most knockouts in UFC history with 16 and has been among the UFC's Top-10 Heavyweights for 9 years now. Lewis in total is 20-11 in the UFC and due to his longevity, has one of the best "Strength of Schedules" in Heavyweight history.
Lewis is also the only man on this list to never hold UFC gold even though he did have two title fights between 2018 and 2021. Even though he is one of the best sells, the best knockout-artist of all time and a legend of the sport, never being a champion has to hold him back here.
6. Frank Mir
I originally had Mir higher on this list before taking a deeper dive and realizing his career is more legend than actually weighted in greatness. He has some of the most legendary moments in the divisions history but also some of the lowest points as well. Battles with Brock Lesnar and the Nogueira brothers have made him one of the most memorable Heavyweights but his 2-3 record in title fights and being finished 8 times by knockout holds him back in my eyes.
5. Junior Dos Santos
One of the most dangerous men in Heavyweight history, Junior Dos Santos started his UFC career in 2008 and went undefeated in 9 fights until 2012. During this time, JDS would be involved in the greatest trilogy in the division's history with Cain Velasquez where he'd lose the final two. Somehow in his long and storied career, JDS would only have a 2-3 record in title fights, beating both Cain in their first war and Frank Mir in his prime. During his run to the title in 2008-12, he had 7 knockouts and was the #1 Pound-for-Pound fighter in the UFC.
4. Francis Ngannou
Francis was the hardest to place on this list for a few reasons and I can understand anyone who has him higher or lower. To me, there has to be some respect to the lineal Heavyweight championship which Ngannou still hold even though he hasn't fought for the promotion in 4 years. He is also (in my opinion) the most feared fighter to ever enter the Octagon.
Francis is also 12-2 in the UFC including a 2-1 record in title fights but even though he was champion, I'd consider his "Strength of Schedule" as weaker than you might think which is why I have him at #4 and not a little higher where I initially put him at 2.
3. Randy Couture
One of the greatest to ever do it, Couture is one of only 3 men to win the Heavyweight title twice and was the oldest to do so at 43 years old. Holding a great career at both 265 and 205 pounds, Couture is more remembered for his Heavyweight career for defending his legacy in both UFC and Japan against some of the greatest fighters of his era from 1997 to 2004. The legend also defended the sport against Boxer James Toney in one of the UFC's greatest moments and the Natural is considered the first GOAT of the division.
2. Cain Velasquez
A man who revolutionized the Heavyweight division from 2008 to 2013, Cardio Cain is one of the smallest Heavyweights on this list but beat his opponents with elite conditioning, precision and wrestling in a time when most Heavyweights were just swinging. Part of AKA's rise in the late 2000's. Cain won 13 of his first 14 UFC fights, losing to JDS at the start of their legendary rivalry and then avenging his loss by beating him twice.
Sadly, Cain's career shortened and then ended due to injuries with the two losses at the end of his career coming after tearing ACLs and meniscuses, starting when he was only 31 and champion. If he hadn't gotten injured, it's very likely he'd top this list.
1. Stipe Miocic
The greatest Heavyweight of All Time is Stipe Miocic and it doesn't look like he'll be passed up anytime soon. Holder of the most title fight wins, most consecutive title fight wins and most fight bonuses in the division, Miocic was the emblem of the division for 5 years from 2016-2021.
Stipe was a new version of Cain when the former had to walk away due to injuries and is the most well-rounded Heavyweight in the division's history in my opinion. For a 7-year stretch Stipe fought the best of the best and almost always won. Rivalries with Daniel Cormier and Francis Ngannou shaped the division for years and proved he would fight anyone. A 6-3 record in title fights is by far the best the UFC has ever seen at Heavyweight and 10 knockouts solidify his spot as the Greatest UFC Heavyweight of All Time.
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-Z.D.