The most violent UFC fighter was unofficially crowned in 2017, but how far behind are the chasing pack?
Certain folks may dislike highlighting the violent aspect of MMA, but let’s not sugarcoat it, it’s a supremely violent sport.
There are avid fans of the sport who don’t watch it for the brutality. They may enjoy the technicality, the mastery, the storylines, the characters or any number of other aspects of the sport as opposed to sheer savagery. If anyone falls into that category while abhorring the violence, you can stop reading now. You won’t enjoy this piece one bit.
Now that only the swangin’ n’ bangin’ degenerates are left, let’s explain the criteria. A fighter’s placement in this ranking has no bearing on their overall ability. Their ranking is based on their proficiency for violence. Form is somewhat weighted and in order to qualify, each athlete must have fought within the last 12 months to make things a little more current.
With that in mind, here are the honourable mentions: Joe Lauzon, Carlos Condit, Rafael dos Anjos, Jeremy Stephens, Doo Ho Choi, Chang Sung Jung, Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes, Jimi Manuwa, John Lineker, Edson Barboza, Marlon Moraes, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Cody Garbrandt, Darren Till, Zabit Magomedsharipov, James Vick, Max Holloway, Cub Swanson, Yancy Medeiros, Derek Brunson, Max Holloway, Kelvin Gastelum, Jose Aldo, Jim Miller. Mirsad Bektic.
15. Paulo Costa
A 100% finish rate in 11 professional fights. Enough said.
Paulo 'Borrachinha' Costa is the real deal. He just walked through Johny Hendricks. Great performance and a prospect to watch. #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/qBWFDb66ds
— Ahmar Khan (@AhmarSKhan) November 5, 2017
14. Santiago Ponzinibbio
There was just something so brutal about his knockout of Gunnar Nelson… maybe it was the eye pokes!
Wooooooow! 😱
Lights out for @GunniNelson… Devastating first-round KO from @SPonzinibbioMMA! 👊 #UFCGlasgow pic.twitter.com/NrNUaOYAZX
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 16, 2017
13. Mairbek Taisumov
Five straight knockout wins in the UFC’s most populated division. No wonder why he’s found it tough finding a ranked opponent to come to Europe.
BA-BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Just like that, @Taisumov155 FLOORS Silva in the first round!! #UFCRotterdam
WOW!!! pic.twitter.com/xLUqX6kdkU
— UFC (@ufc) September 2, 2017
12. Tony Ferguson
He set a divisional record of 10-straight wins in the UFC’s most populated weight class. No mean feat considering he also has a finish rate of over 80%.
https://twitter.com/TheMMAPosts/status/918700813383380993
11. Yoel Romero
A physical specimen who can do truly scary things inside the Octagon. He’s always in pursuit of the finish and when he gets it, it’s usually nasty.
What a finish! @YoelRomeroMMA KO's Chris Weidman with a flying knee! #UFCNYC #UFC205 https://t.co/ArHGA4Evan
— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 13, 2016
10. Mike Perry
Every time he wins, it’s a knockout. What he lacks in technical ability, he more than makes up for in sheer ferocity. He comes in higher than Ponzinibbio, who recently defeated him, purely because his power in the first round appeared to make the Argentinian take a step back and fight a little less violently than usual.
https://twitter.com/planetamma/status/909401275913076741
9. Darren Elkins
You don’t get the moniker ‘the Damage’ for nothing. Elkins is high up in the rankings because not only does he like dishing out punishment, he also thrives when he’s being pummelled into oblivion.
The Damage is here!
Darren Elkins returns at #UFCLongIsland and last time out he produced a stunning comeback… pic.twitter.com/t1kf3ZxMHh
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 21, 2017
8. Robbie Lawler
Zero submission attempts… zero! He wants to stand and trade. He wants to inflict pain and he embraces feeling it. ‘Ruthless’ is a true gem. He was even grinning like a mad man when RDA was lighting him up against the fence during that insane combo.
For anyone surprised by Robbie's lack of submission attempts #UFCWinnipeg pic.twitter.com/ZbE5LDKC8x
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 15, 2017
7. Volkan Oezdemir
He’s got no time for the judges’ scorecards. He hasn’t been out of the first round since his UFC debut, which he took on very short notice.
⌚ Gone in 42 seconds ⌚
The last time we saw Volkan Oezdemir he truly had "No Time"…
Watch #UFC220 live on BT Sport, Jan 20 👊 pic.twitter.com/NdTiwmesBi
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) November 29, 2017
6. Matt Brown
“The Immortal” isn’t a normal human being. He’s been to the other side, he’s literally come back from the dead. Upon returning to this mortal coil, he made it his second life’s mission to harvest souls.
😮 THAT ELBOW 😮
Matt Brown finishes Diego Sanchez in brutal fashion!#UFCNorfolk pic.twitter.com/NRAdtTtZiS
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) November 12, 2017
5. Francis Ngannou
His finish of Alistair Overeem was one of the most terrifying knockouts in UFC history. While his skill-set is incrementally improving, his mindset has stayed the same. He’s been out for blood since day one.
👊 Unbeaten UFC Predator
vs.
💪 Former Heavyweight champ
Francis Ngannou and Junior dos Santos is on at #UFC215… 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mNu1Lbsujt
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 29, 2017
4. Luke Rockhold
He’s never heard the final buzzer in his UFC tenure and once he gets in top position, he’s absolutely relentless. In his comeback fight after that humiliating knockout loss to Michael Bisping, he made streaking middleweight David Branch tap to strikes.
Luke Rockhold is back! 👊
Vicious finish of David Branch at #UFCPittsburgh last night. 💪 pic.twitter.com/vznqIxZQAF
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) September 17, 2017
3. Cyborg
Scared the holy Bejaysus out of Chris Weidman when the former middleweight champion tried to break up her dispute with Angela Magana at the Athletes Retreat. Also, she hasn’t gone the distance in over a decade with 16 of her 18 wins coming by way of knockout.
The legend of Cris Cyborg continues to grow! 🇧🇷
Relive best bits as Cyborg captured the featherweight title… pic.twitter.com/hx1SV8zDcB
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) August 2, 2017
2. Justin Gaethje
16 finishes in 19 fights. The man pays no heed to defence and is accepting of the inevitable brain damage. He just loves violence and he’s one of the best at it.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR!
Get in the mood for #UFC213 by reliving the best bits from Gaethje vs. Johnson. 👏👏👏#TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/UNuKL0ZDTx
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 8, 2017
1. Eddie Alvarez
The king stay the king.
WOOOOOW! 😱
The Underground King is back at the expense of Justin Gaethje!
Eddie Alvarez is a Warrior 👊 #UFC218 pic.twitter.com/pD7YRlhkav
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) December 3, 2017
