The UFC has seen some truly incredible fighters over its storied 31-year history, but only the best of the best have been able to see periods of sustained dominance over an entire weight class. While there is plenty of nuance that goes into a long win streak in the UFC, namely the quality of opponents, at some point a run of victories becomes so long that we as viewers have no choice but to appreciate greatness. The UFC, with its 625 million fans, is a top-viewed combat sport. This popularity has brought in online sports betting brands, giving fans a fun way to be part of the action.
A quick note before we get started, six fighters are technically tied for 4th place. Demetrious Johnson, Max Holloway, Islam Makhachev, Georges St. Pierre, Jon Jones, and Khabib Nurmagomedov all have recorded 13 fight win-streaks. Still, we’ve decided to highlight just the below that we think come with important caveats that put them above the rest.
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov – 13 Wins
The first of the five tied fighters who we decided to go with, Khabib Nurmagomedov without a doubt deserves a spot on the list for the simple fact that he went out on his terms. The longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion ever, Khabib’s relentless wrestling-based style was simply too much for opponents to handle, helping the fighting legend record an undefeated 29-0 record throughout his professional career, including a perfect 13 wins in 13 fights in UFC events.
4. Islam Makhachev – 13 Wins
And who else could it be but Khabib’s long-time sparring partner to join him on this list? Islam Makhachev goes ahead of his good friend here because he has the chance to keep this streak going. The reigning lightweight champion is, like all Dagestani fighters tend to be, an excellent wrestler, but he also has the added wrinkle of being a world-class kickboxer as well. He is expected to defend his title again this summer, with a win giving him sole control of 3rd place on the longest UFC win streak list.
3. Jon Jones – 13 Wins
For many considered the all-time greatest UFC fighter, Jon Jones has had multiple controversies throughout his career, but no one can deny his dominance in the Octagon. Perhaps the most adaptable fighter ever, Jones has seamlessly transitioned from the light heavyweight to the heavyweight division without missing a beat. In fact, this win streak would be at 19 if not for his 2017 win against Daniel Cormier being overturned after a positive test for a banned substance.
2. Kamaru Usman – 15 Wins
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a fighting fan who doesn’t love the Nigerian Nightmare Kamaru Usman. A former collegiate and professional wrestler, Usman used his expertise on the ground to suffocate his opponents over a dominant 15-fight stretch that saw him hold the welterweight championship with an iron grip. Although he is currently reeling from a 3-fight losing streak, Usman remains a stellar fighter who still threatens to get his hands back on a championship belt.
1. Anderson Silva – 16 Wins
No matter how spectacular his fall was, we cannot forget just how magical Anderson Silva’s run at the top of the fighting world was. He secured the biggest winning streak in UFC history over an astounding 2500+ days as middleweight champion. A supremely confident fighter who had the generational talent to match it, Silva in his prime was an absolutely joy to watch, being one of the few wrestlers who had the skills to toy with his opponents and still absolutely destroy them.