- The All-Time rankings will be refreshed sometime this weekend.
New Feature: UFC Bonuses
In recent years, the UFC brass have been handing out monetary awards to selected fighters after every event, for the best performances of the night. The awards include ‘Knockout of the Night’ and ‘Submission of the Night’ for the most impressive stoppages, and ‘Fight of the Night’ awarded to both participants of the most exciting bout.
Not every bonus gets awarded at each event – there have been a few UFC cards where no fights ended in a submission – and at times multiple fighters receive each award. For example, the ‘Fight of the Night’ honors have been shared among up to three bouts in a single event. On occasion, a lucky fighter has been rewarded with both a Fight of the Night and a Submission or Knockout of the Night in the same fight.
While these awards are arbitrary and fans often disagree with who should have received the bonuses after each event, the fighters with a large number of bonuses under their belt gain the reputation of being the most exciting athletes in the UFC. Our newest contributor and long-time reader Craig compiled a list of fighters who achieved the most bonuses in each category. As with the rest of our UFC Records section, we’ve set out to publish a Top 10 in each category, but the actual numbers vary because of ties. So read on, before you grab a package of sports beans and head to the gym to work off the inspiration:
Always the fan favorite, the recently retired Chris Lytle sits atop of this list with 6 Fights of the Night. An interesting observation: 9 out of 12 fighters with 4 or more Fights of the Night have competed as lightweights in the UFC (though a few of them have ventured into other divisions as well).
A couple of Ultimate Fighter 5 alumni, Joe Lauzon and Nate Diaz lead the way with 6 and 5 Submissions of the Night respectively. Not far behind is the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wizard Demian Maia, and a name that might surprise some of our readers: Terri Etim. Maia and Etim hold 4 submission bonuses each.
This is a very short list at the moment, as only six fighters have earned more than 2 total Knockout of the Night bonuses. Not surprisingly Anderson Silva not only holds the record in this category, but also has twice as many KO awards as any other UFC fighter.
Overall ‘of the Night’ Bonuses
Total bonuses received by each fighter, in any category. Anyone with 5 or more is included, and Anderson Silva shares the top honors with Joe Lauzon with 11 total awards.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Saturday, August 22nd 2026: PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira | |||
 [#1 W145] Cristiane Justino | [#4 W135] Ketlen Vieira | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#2 W145] Sara Collins Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 5/16/2026 [UFC] Last Opponent: [#10 W135] Jacqueline Cavalcanti Last 5: W L W L W | ||
| Thursday, September 10th 2026: Super RIZIN 5: Naniwa No Chou Fukkatsu Matsuri | |||
 [#5 FW] A.J. McKee |  [#6 FW] Rajabali Shaidullaev | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 FW] Salamat Isbulaev Last 5: W L W W W | Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#249 FW] Yuta Kubo Last 5: W W W W W | ||
| Thursday, September 10th 2026: Super RIZIN 5: Naniwa No Chou Fukkatsu Matsuri | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#16 W105] Rena Kubota | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#9 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 12/31/2025 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#2 W105] Seika Izawa Last 5: W L W W L | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | [#5 WW] |  Ian Garry | |
| [NR] | Khabib Nurmagomedov | [#29 WW] | Myktybek Orolbai | |
| [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | [#25 WW] | Neil Magny | |
| [#2 W115] | Mackenzie Dern | [#178 WW] |  Namo Fazil | |
| [#1 FW] |  Alexander Volkanovski | [#161 WW] | Conor McGregor |
The Argument for or against Cruiserweight: Revisited (Again)
About a year ago, I posted the first update to my original post.
I feel the need to keep revisiting this as we get more data, because every few months I see this topic bubble up to the top of various sites and forums.
In summary, we started tracking weigh-in weights, and I wanted to see if the heavier fighters won more often than lighter fighters. Using the same ideals as before, with an even larger data set:
- In 778 non-draw official fights where both fighters weighed in at different weights, but above 210 (our Light Heavyweight limit), 390 were won by the lighter fighter, and 388 won by the heavier fighter (49.9%).
- When you allow for mismatches and include matches in which only one fighter had to weigh above 210, the total tally increases to 946 and the gap widens, with the heavier fighter only winning 455 (48.1%).
- For the record, across the board, the heavier fighter has won 52.5% of the time.
The results are nearly identical as before, though the heavier fighter (again) gained ground in all three statistics. There are a few possibilities to explain this and it could be a combination of:
FightMatrix Program: Strikeforce (08-18-2012)
Women Bantamweight Championship (135)
[#1/#5DD] Ronda Rousey (5-0-0, 135.0lb) vs. [#2/#7DD] Sarah Kaufman (15-1-0, 134.0lb)
Sarah Kaufman is the All-Time #6 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ronda Rousey (3-0-0)
2012-03-03: W vs. [#4BW] Miesha Tate (12-3-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 4:27 of round 1
2011-11-18: W vs. [#9FW] Julia Budd (3-2-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 0:39 of round 1
2011-08-12: W vs. [#9BW] Sarah DAlelio (6-2-0) via Technical Submission (Armbar) in 0:25 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Sarah Kaufman (3-0-0)
2012-03-03: W vs. [#3BW] Alexis Davis (12-5-0) via MD (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2011-07-22: W vs. [#7BW] Liz Carmouche (7-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-04-02: W vs. [#45BW] Megumi Yabushita (19-20-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:34 of round 3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ronda Rousey 168, Sarah Kaufman 168
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#15] Ronaldo Souza (15-3-0, 186.0lb) vs. [#41] Derek Brunson (9-1-0, 186.0lb)
Ronaldo Souza is the All-Time #17 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ronaldo Souza (2-1-0)
2012-03-03: W vs. [#70MW] Bristol Marunde (12-7-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:43 of round 3
2011-09-10: L vs. [#4MW] Luke Rockhold (10-1-0) via UD (50-45, 48-47, 48-47)
2011-01-29: W vs. [#25MW] Robbie Lawler (19-9-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:00 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Derek Brunson (2-1-0)
2012-06-16: L vs. [#35MW] Kendall Grove (15-10-0) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)
2011-11-18: W vs. [#45MW] Nate James (13-8-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-07-30: W vs. [#85MW] Lumumba Sayers (6-2-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:33 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ronaldo Souza 168, Derek Brunson 63
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#35] Tarec Saffiedine (12-3-0, 169.5lb) vs. [#111] Roger Bowling (11-2-0, 170.0lb)
Last 3 Fights: Tarec Saffiedine (2-1-0)
2012-01-07: W vs. [#54WW] Tyler Stinson (24-9-0) via SD (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
2011-07-30: W vs. [#168MW] Scott Smith (17-10-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
2011-01-07: L vs. [#19WW] Tyron Woodley (10-1-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Roger Bowling (2-1-0)
2012-03-03: W vs. [#358WW] Brandon Saling (8-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:15 of round 2
2011-12-17: W vs. [#617MW] Jerron Peoples (4-2-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:42 of round 1
2011-07-22: L vs. [#67WW] Bobby Voelker (24-8-0) via TKO (Knee and Punches) in 2:16 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tarec Saffiedine 224, Roger Bowling 168
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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FightMatrix Program: UFC 150 (08-11-2012)
Lightweight Championship (155)
[#1/#5DD] Ben Henderson (16-2-0) vs. [#2/#6DD] Frankie Edgar (14-2-1)
Ben Henderson is the All-Time #14 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Frankie Edgar is the All-Time #3 ranked Lightweight and #21 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ben Henderson (3-0-0)
2012-02-26: W vs. [#2LW/#6DD] Frankie Edgar (14-2-1) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 49-46)
2011-11-12: W vs. [#11LW] Clay Guida (29-13-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-08-14: W vs. [#16LW] Jim Miller (21-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Frankie Edgar (1-1-1)
2012-02-26: L vs. [#1LW/#5DD] Ben Henderson (16-2-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 49-46)
2011-10-08: W vs. [#5LW] Gray Maynard (11-1-1) via KO (Punches) in 3:54 of round 4
2011-01-01: D vs. [#5LW] Gray Maynard (11-1-1) via Draw (Split) in 5:00 of round 5
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ben Henderson 167, Frankie Edgar 167
Previous Match-up Record: Ben Henderson leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#10] Donald Cerrone (18-4-0) vs. [#25] Melvin Guillard (30-11-2)
Last 3 Fights: Donald Cerrone (2-1-0)
2012-05-15: W vs. [#41LW] Jeremy Stephens (20-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-12-30: L vs. [#4LW] Nate Diaz (16-7-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2011-10-29: W vs. [#4FW] Dennis Siver (20-8-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:22 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Melvin Guillard (1-2-0)
2012-07-07: W vs. [#86LW] Fabricio Camoes (14-7-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2012-01-20: L vs. [#16LW] Jim Miller (21-4-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:04 of round 1
2011-10-08: L vs. [#15LW] Joe Lauzon (22-7-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 0:47 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Donald Cerrone 88, Melvin Guillard 35
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#7WW] Jake Shields (27-6-1) vs. [#27] Ed Herman (20-8-0)
Jake Shields is the All-Time #21 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Jake Shields (1-2-0)
2012-02-26: W vs. [#143WW] Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-09-17: L vs. [#6WW] Jake Ellenberger (27-6-0) via TKO (Knee and Punches) in 0:53 of round 1
2011-04-30: L vs. [*] Georges St Pierre (22-2-0) via UD (50-45, 48-47, 48-47)
Last 3 Fights: Ed Herman (3-0-0)
2012-02-04: W vs. [#100MW] Clifford Starks (8-1-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:43 of round 2
2011-08-14: W vs. [#90MW] Kyle Noke (19-6-1) via Submission (Inverted Heel Hook) in 4:15 of round 1
2011-06-04: W vs. [#280MW] Tim Credeur (12-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:48 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jake Shields 167, Ed Herman 189
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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FightMatrix Program: UFC on Fox 4 (08-03-2012)
Light Heavyweight (205)
[#4] Mauricio Rua (20-6-0) vs. [#29] Brandon Vera (12-5-0)
Mauricio Rua is the All-Time #4 ranked Light Heavyweight and #18 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Mauricio Rua (1-2-0)
2011-11-19: L vs. [#2LHW] Dan Henderson (29-8-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2011-08-27: W vs. [#8LHW] Forrest Griffin (19-7-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:53 of round 1
2011-03-19: L vs. [#1LHW/#2DD] Jon Jones (16-1-0) via TKO (Punches and Knees) in 2:37 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Brandon Vera (1-1-0, 1 NC)
2011-10-29: W vs. [#80LHW] Eliot Marshall (10-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2011-01-01: NC vs. [#21LHW] Thiago Silva (14-3-0) via NC (Overturned by NSAC) in 5:00 of round 3
2010-03-21: L vs. [#1LHW/#2DD] Jon Jones (16-1-0) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 3:19 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Mauricio Rua 259, Brandon Vera 280
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#5] Lyoto Machida (17-3-0) vs. [#6] Ryan Bader (14-2-0)
Lyoto Machida is the All-Time #7 ranked Light Heavyweight and #19 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Lyoto Machida (1-2-0)
2011-12-10: L vs. [#1LHW/#2DD] Jon Jones (16-1-0) via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:26 of round 2
2011-04-30: W vs. [*] Randy Couture (19-11-0) via KO (Front Kick) in 1:05 of round 2
2010-11-20: L vs. [#7LHW] Quinton Jackson (32-10-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Ryan Bader (2-1-0)
2012-02-26: W vs. [#7LHW] Quinton Jackson (32-10-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2011-11-19: W vs. [#51LHW] Jason Brilz (18-5-1) via KO (Punch) in 1:17 of round 1
2011-07-02: L vs. [*] Tito Ortiz (17-11-1) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:56 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Lyoto Machida 238, Ryan Bader 160
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#29] Joe Lauzon (21-7-0) vs. [#32] Jamie Varner (20-6-1)
Last 3 Fights: Joe Lauzon (2-1-0)
2012-02-26: L vs. [#12LW] Anthony Pettis (15-2-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 1:21 of round 1
2011-10-08: W vs. [#24LW] Melvin Guillard (30-11-2) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 0:47 of round 1
2011-06-26: W vs. [#252WW] Curt Warburton (10-3-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 1:58 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Jamie Varner (3-0-0)
2012-05-26: W vs. [#80LW] Edson Barboza (10-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:23 of round 1
2012-02-10: W vs. [#95LW] Drew Fickett (42-18-0) via Submission (Punches) in 0:40 of round 1
2011-10-21: W vs. [#232FW] Nate Jolly (12-4-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:09 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Joe Lauzon 160, Jamie Varner 70
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Ranking Debate: Mike Russow (with Polls)
Recently, Sherdog updated their rankings again and I was quite surprised to see Mike Russow at #10 in the Heavyweight rankings. I thought I was dreaming last month when I saw him in their Top 10, but now I know that it’s for real. A dream it was not.
It’s quite common to see human polled subjective rankings seemingly “grab” a fighter at random to slide into an open final spot. After all, Russow didn’t get into the Top 10 via some big win, nor did he accomplish a ranking boost due to a loss (see: Michael Bisping). For Russow, it was Carwin’s inactivity-fueled ejection from the list that let Russow mysteriously slide into the #10 position.
Post UFC 149: Lombard or Boetsch?
We decided to highlight Hector Lombard as being appropriately ranked, or at least being deserving of a higher ranking than Bisping, thus being in the Top 10 — this being in our two blog posts regarding Michael Bisping’s inflated ranking on most sites. Read the “follow-up” blog post here.
Prior to UFC 149, we had Lombard at #6 and Boetsch at #9. The USA/Today Consensus Ranking had them at #11 and #6 respectively.
Given that the official verdict was a split decision for Boetsch, we were all in the ballpark. Though this viewer, and the three Sherdog unofficial judges in the play-by-play, gave the fight to Lombard 29-28. Had this been the official call, our ranking would have been perfect. Lombard didn’t set the world on fire, but a #6 beating a #9 by 29-28 x3 is a reasonable result, considering their pre-fight positions.
What do you think?
[poll id=”10″]