Zak Drapeau's UFC Top 10 List Series: The Biggest Draws in UFC Today

Zak Drapeau
11 hours ago
5 min read

by Zak Drapeau 12/6/2025

Sportz Nation

* Not counting Conor, Jon Jones or Amanda Nunes

Honorable Mentions: To Aspinall, Kevin Holland and Alexander Volkanovski

10. Justin Gaethje

How fitting that the first entry on our list will be headlining the first Numbered Event of 2026. Justin Gaethje has long been around the top of the Lightweig division and even though he is one of the best fighters in the world, his draw-ability is due to his style.

One of the most exciting and most skilled boxers in the sport, Gaethje is 3rd all-time in Fight of the Night bonuses. Being in the Main Event 4 times from 2020-2023, Gaethje's draw has cooled a bit since then which is why he's the bottom of this list. With only a few more fights left in his career, it's clear that Gaethje will always draw his fans and numbers by just how much people love to see him fight.

9. Michael Chandler

For my money, "Iron" Mike Chandler is the most exciting fighter in the UFC. As soon as Chandler came to the UFC in 2021, his wars with Hooker, Oliveira, Gaethje, Ferguson and Poirier either won Fight of the Night or were one of the best and most talked about fights of the entire card.

While Chandler is just like Gaethje in the fact that his fights are car wrecks you can't look away from, his link to Conor McGregor barely puts him ahead. The rumored fight between Chandler and McGregor has been talked about for almost 3 years now and that notoriety gives his name even more of a boost.

Photo by Alejandro Salazar/ PxImages/ Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

8. Israel Adesanya

From 2019 to 2022, Izzy would have been #2 on this list only behind Conor McGregor. He was so big in the sport that even 3 years out of his prime and over 2 years after his last win, The Last Stylebender could still Main Event the right UFC card.

Now that will almost certainly not happen again but it could. The factors of Izzy losing 3 of his last 4, not fighting for championships anymore, and his style becoming much more reserved have caused his stock to fall in the last years. Even still, his prime and drawability was SO HUGE 3 to 6 years ago that even today, people will stay in on a Saturday night if "Adesanya" is on the marquee.

7. Valentina Shevchenko

The only woman on the list, Shevchenko's consistency has made her one of the biggest draws in the U.S. while also being very close to if not the biggest draw in Central Asia. Shevchenko has Main Evented 1 PPV and 4 Fight Nights and Co-Main Evented 10 PPVs in the last 10 years in the UFC.

Shevchenko is clearly the 2nd greatest Woman to ever fight in the UFC and at 37 just had perhaps her best fight ever, dominating another all time great Weili Zhang. Shevchenko may never get the Main Event-drawing she deserves because of the lack of attention to her division but her name carries so much water and significance.

6. Sean O'Malley

Photo by Bob DeChiaria/ MMAJunkie via USA Today Sports

The "Sugar Show" set the UFC on fire for the first half of the 2020's and if it wasn't for him being at the same time as one of the greatest fighters ever in Merab Dvalishvili, it's very possible he'd still be champion and be closer to the top of this list.

The only reason, O'Malley has fallen outside the Top-5 is his recent 2 losses to Dvalishvili. His likeness and popularity with the younger generation of UFC fans is probably still #1 of any fighter. However, his recent losses and fatigue of being the top guy have pushed him just outside.

5. Max Holloway

BMF. Max Holloway is your favorite fighter's favorite fighter and even in his 14th year in the UFC Main Evented the highest bought PPV of the year. Everything about Holloway makes people want to see him fight. Genuinely a good dude? Check. Exciting fight style? Check. Social Media engagement? Check. Championship fights? check.

The BMF title has risen his stock over the last 2 years to the point that he may be more popular now than when he was the champion for 3 years.

4. Paddy Pimblett

Photo by Per Haljestam/ MMA Junkie via USA Today Sports

The newest sensation to have a meteoric rise in the UFC not only carries the UFC's younger crowd's attention but all of the UK and Europe's as well. Paddy sells and people want to see him fight. If you want proof of just how much this kid draws... look at his upcoming title fight after only having beaten 1 ranked fighter in his career.

Pimblett's energy and accent hit the UFC in 2022 just as the UK's renaissance in the sport was at it's highest and it was the perfect combination of right place and right time. Pimblett's fight style is good but not the most exciting in the world which goes to show just how enamored we are with him.

T-2. Islam Makhachev

#2 and #3 on this list were so close I had to make a tie. The newest Welterweight Champion and #1 Pound-for-Pound fighter is on his way to becoming one of the greatest fighters in history and has the backing of 144 million people behind him.

Makhachev isn't flashy, He isn't relatable, (even though he is actually a very funny interview). What he is is dominant and the true showing of greatness. Makhachev has that Jon Jones-factor that will draw people to watch him because they know they don't get to see a fighter of his ability fight very much in their lives.

A potential Superfight with Ilia Topuria in the future could make him even more of a draw in the near future and one on the scale of Khabib in East if he's not already there. Speaking of...

T-2. Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria's popularity is VERY similar to Islam's as it starts in his home country of Spain. Unlike Islam, his rise was much quicker and has the extra spark of being undefeated. While I'd argue Makhachev is the more recognizable name, Topuria drawing power also comes form his fight style and that means a lot.

Ilia FLATLINES people. What's better than watching potentially one of the All-Time greats as he's in the peak of his career? Knowing that you'll probably see a devastating knockout at the conclusion of his fight. Again just like Islam, a Superfight with his rival could send him into the stratosphere.

1. Alex Pereira

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/ Getty Images via AFP

If you didn't know Pereira would be at the top of this list you haven't been paying attention. Recognizable name, champ-champ status, highly entertaining fight style, personality outside of the ring, social media engagement, and being very active in defending his belts in Superfight and Main Events over the past 3 years makes Pereira the clear #1 choice here.

As soon as Pereira beat Izzy in their first match Pereira took over his spot as the biggest name in the sport. Since that fight in 2022, Pereira has Main Evented 8 of the 9 cards he has been on including 6 in a row at the time of writing this article. As of now, Pereira is also being looked at for a "Mega Superfight" if he moved up to challenge Tom Aspinall for the Heavyweight Championship in what could be the biggest Card of All Time. If Poatan does that and if he gets some crazy, KO-win... I struggle to say anyone can reach Conor-levels of superstardom but he would be getting very close at that point.