Ranking: The 33 best European MMA fighters right now!

European MMA is thriving, with fighters making a massive impact across all the top promotions worldwide.

Fighters from Europe dominate the ranks of organizations like the UFC, Bellator, and PFL, and many of the sport’s top pound-for-pound stars in 2024 hail from European nations.

Click ”Next” to discover the best European MMA fighters making waves in the sport today!

33. Kerim Engizek

• MMA record: 21-4
• Notable wins: Patrik Kincl

OKTAGON MMA middleweight champion Kerim Engizek pulled off his biggest win ever as he defeated Patrik Kincl via unanimous decision in front of 60.000 fans.

Engizek has not lost a fight in a decade and currently rides a 14-fight winning streak.

32. Shamil Musaev

• MMA record: 19-0-1
• Notable wins: Murad Ramazanov

PFL 2024 welterweight finalist Shamil Musaev has an impressive and undefeated pro MMA record. As an amateur, he became the European champion in 2016 and world champion in 2017.

31. Magomed Umalatov

• MMA record: 17-0
• Notable wins: Neiman Gracie, Aleksey Novikov

PFL welterweight Magomed Umalatov will face Shamil Musaev in the 2024 finals at the end of November. His undefeated 17-0 record, with 13 stoppages, shows proof of a very talented and dangerous fighter.

30. Dakota Ditcheva

• MMA record: 13-0
• Notable wins: Valentina Scatizzi, Jena Bishop, Cornelia Holm

PFL bantamweight Dakota Ditcheva is a rising star on the European MMA scene.

With all her 13 wins coming via stoppage, most in the first round, Ditcheva is a devastating kick boxer with tremendous power for the division. The sky’s the limit for the 26-year-old Brit.

29. Serghei Spivac

• MMA record: 17-4
• Notable wins: Marcin Tybura, Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa

Moldovian 29-year-old Serghei Spivac faced heavyweight top dogs right from the start of his UFC career.

With wins against the likes of Marcin Tybura, Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa, Spivac put himself in the top 10 of the heavyweight division. As 29 is young for a heavyweight, it’s safe to assume that the Moldavian has plenty of big fights coming his way in the future.

28. Aleksandar Rakic

• MMA record: 14-5
• Notable wins: Thiago Santos, Anthony Smith

Austrian mixed martial artist Aleksandar Rakic has had a tough time lately as he’s on a three-fight losing skid. However, he’s still ranked inside the top five of the light heavyweight division.

27. Losene Keita

• MMA record: 15-1
• Notable wins: Mateusz Legierski, Ronald Paradeiser, Predrag Bogdanovic

OKTAGON MMA featherweight champion Losene Keita has been a force of nature in his professional career. His only loss came via a leg injury he suffered in the fight against Mate Sanikidze.

In December he will once again face Ronald Paradeiser, this time in the finals of the OKTAGON 1 million euro lightweight tournament.

26. Jack Hermansson

• MMA record: 24-8
• Notable wins: Kelvin Gastelum, Ronaldo Souza

During his long career, Swedish former Cage Warriors champion Jack ”The Joker” Hermansson faced many of the toughest fighters in the UFC middleweight division.

His finest performance is still the unanimous decision win in a five-rounder against the then red-hot contender Ronaldo Souza, back in 2019.

Hermansson has alternated wins and losses in his last eight fights, but can still hang with the best in the division.

25. Marvin Vettori

• MMA record: 19-7-1
• Notable wins: Paulo Costa, Jack Hermansson, Roman Dolidze

Italy’s Marvin Vettori has fought and won against some of the best in the middleweight division, but when things have mattered the most, he’s been falling short.

In 2021 he challenged Israel Adesanya for the title but lost a one-sided fight via unanimous decision. Since then he alternated wins and losses.

24. Volkan Oezdemir

• MMA record: 20-7
• Notable wins: Jimi Manuwa, Aleksandar Rakic

Volkan Oezdemir faced the absolute top of the UFC lightweight division for the past seven years and fought Daniel Cormier for the title in his fourth fight in the promotion.

Oezdemir lost his recent fight against Carlos Ulberg on November 23. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak.

23. Nikita Krylov

• MMA record: 30-9
• Notable wins: Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir

Light heavyweight veteran Nikita Krylov has more than a decade of fights in the world’s premier MMA promotion. He’s currently a top ranked fighter and holds three straight wins against Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir and Ryan Spann.

Krylov is an explosive and dangerous fighter with 28 (!) of his 30 wins coming via stoppage.

22. Ian Machado Garry

• MMA record: 15-0
• Notable wins: Michael Page, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny

Prior to signing with the UFC, Ian Machado Garry was a Cage Warriors welterweight champion and he kept his unblemished record intact in eight straight fights in the world’s premier MMA promotion. Just 26 years old, the Irish fighter quite possibly has his prime ahead of him.

His next fight, against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, will be his toughest test to date.

21. Roberto Soldic

• MMA record: 20-4-1
• Notable wins: Dricus du Plessis, Patrik Kincl

Former KSW champion Roberto Soldic has had a quite remarkable career.

His only two losses in the past eight years have come to Zebaztian Kadestam, a former ONE Championship title holder, and Dricus du Plessis, current UFC middleweight champion. No fewer than 17 of Soldic’s wins have come via knockout.

20. Zebaztian Kadestam

• MMA record: 15-7
• Notable wins: Roberto Soldic, Iuri Lapicus, Tyler McGuire

Former ONE Championship welterweight title holder Zebaztian Kadestam is well on his way back to get another shot at gold. Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, with all wins coming via TKO or KO, the Swede has devastating power in his hands.

His last fight against the dangerous Roberto Soldic is one of his finest moments to date.

19. Arnold Allen

• MMA record: 20-3
• Notable wins: Giga Chikadze, Dan Hooker, Calvin Kattar

UK featherweight fighter Arnold Allen seemed destined for a title shot before losing two straight fights to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev.

However, after defeating Giga Chikadze in July, he’s back on track again. With Ilia Topuria cementing his position in the top of the division, the next couple of fights will be crucial for Allen.

18. Nassourdine Imavov

• MMA record: 15-4-1
• Notable wins: Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier

Nassourdine Imavov is a red-hot fighter in the UFC middleweight division and one of the biggest names in French MMA.

Currently riding a three-fight winning streak against Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze, the French 29-year-old has positioned himself as one of the hottest contenders in the stacked division.

17. Mateusz Gamrot

• MMA record: 24-3-1
• Notable wins: Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev, Arman Tsarukyan

Former KSW featherweight champion and KSW lightweight champion Mateusz Gamrot has made a name for himself in the UFC lightweight division with wins against Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev and Arman Tsarukyan.

16. Sergei Pavlovich

• MMA record: 18-3
• Notable wins: Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis

Sergei Pavlovich is one of the most devastating punchers the UFC heavyweight division has ever seen. He holds first-round KO’s against the likes of Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis.

After six straight wins he recently lost two fights against Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov.

15. Jan Blachowicz

• MMA record: 29-10-1
• Notable wins: Israel Adesanya, Dominick Reyes, Luke Rockhold

With then years in the UFC, Jan Blachowicz is a staple in the light heavyweight division.

Back in 2020, he won the vacant title by stopping Dominick Reyes in the second round. He then defended the belt against Israel Adesanya before falling short to Glover Teixeira a year after winning the title.

Blachowicz is 41 but is still going strong. In his last fight, in July 2023, he lost a split decision against Alex Pereira, who later became a light heavyweight champion.

14. Alexander Volkov

• MMA record: 38-10
• Notable wins: Tai Tuivasa, Sergei Pavlovich, Alistair Overeem

Closing in on 50 pro MMA bouts, Alexander Volkov is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC at the moment.

With eight years at the top of the UFC, as well as being a former champion in both M-1 Global and Bellator MMA, Volkov is as good as they come.

13. Ciryl Gane

• MMA record: 12-2
• Notable wins: Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, Junior dos Santos

French heavyweight striker Ciryl Gane is one of the quickest heavyweights to ever compete inside the octagon. Gane has headlined two of the three UFC cards ever held in his native France, winning both via stoppage.

12. Jiri Prochazka

• MMA record: 30-5-1
• Notable wins: Dominick Reyes, Glover Teixeira, Aleksandar Rakic

Jiri Prochazka just fought six fights in the UFC, but three of them have been for the light heavyweight title. After winning the belt in 2022, after an insane battle with Glover Teixeira, he vacated the title before the rematch due to an injury to his right shoulder.

Since his comeback he lost two title fights to Alex Pereira and won against top dog Aleksandar Rakic.

Prochazka is known for his reckless fighting style and unpredictable striking, which earned him four post-fight bonuses in six bouts.

11. Petr Yan

• MMA record: 17-5
• Notable wins: Deiveson Figueiredo, Cory Sandhagen, Jose Aldo

Top ranked former bantamweight champion Petr Yan is still a force to be reckoned with in UFC’s most stacked division.

After losing three straight fights, against Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, the fierce striker is back in the win column after defeating Song Yadong in March and Deiveson Figueiredo last weekend.

10. Movsar Evloev

• MMA record: 18-0
• Notable wins: Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, Dan Ige

Top ranked UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev is yet to face defeat in the cage.

Being 8-0 in the UFC, with wins against tough opponents like Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes and Dan Ige, the 30-year-old could very well be fighting for a title in 2025.

9. Umar Nurmagomedov

• MMA record: 18-0
• Notable wins: Cory Sandhagen

Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of legendary UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is well on his way in building his own legacy in the promotion.

The undefeated bantamweight will most likely be the first to challenge newly crowned champion Merab Dvalishvili.

8. Magomed Ankalaev

• MMA record: 19-1-1
• Notable wins: Aleksandar Rakic, Volkan Oezdemir, Nikita Krylov

Magomed Ankalaev is most likely the next light heavyweight title challenger after defeating Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308.

Even though Ankalaev sports a 19-1-1 record, he is still a bit overlooked, especially after a split draw in the title fight against Jan Blachowicz.

7. Usman Nurmagomedov

• MMA record: 18-0-1
• Notable wins: Benson Henderson, Patricky Pitbull

Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov is the younger brother of UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov, and a cousin of former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.

He’s a fierce finisher with 14 of his 18 wins coming via stoppage. Hopefully we will see the 26-year-old test himself in the UFC in the future.

6. Leon Edwards

• MMA record: 22-4-1
• Notable wins: Kamaru Usman x2, Colby Covington, Nate Diaz

When Leon Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman in 2022 he transformed from a kind of overlooked fighter to a global MMA star. After defending his title against Usman and Colby Covington, the British welterweight lost to Belal Muhammad in July.

Still, Edwards is arguably the best welterweight on earth right now.

5. Merab Dvalishvili

• MMA record: 18-4
• Notable wins: Sean O’Malley, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, José Aldo

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili rides an impressive 11-fight winning streak that includes names like former champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Jose Aldo and Sean O’Malley.

His wrestling-heavy fight style has not won him a lot of casual fans, but his humoristic content on social media has made him something of a star.

4. Khamzat Chimaev

• MMA record: 14-0
• Notable wins: Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns

Khamzat Chimaev cemented his position as one of the scariest fighters in the world as he submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308.

No fighter has gained the kind of popularity as Chimaev did in his first couple of fights in the UFC since the haydays of Conor McGregor.

Now he’s on the brink of getting a title shot at middleweight, and quite frankly, it’s hard to see any 185er stopping him.

3. Tom Aspinall

• MMA record: 15-3
• Notable wins: Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov

British UFC interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall is widely considered to be the next heavyweight superstar.

In fact, many believe he would defeat the reigning champion and MMA G.O.A.T Jon Jones if they ever fought. The chance that they would ever clash is slim, since Jones is likely to retire after fighting Stipe Miocic in a few weeks.

2. Ilia Topuria

• MMA record: 16-0
• Notable wins: Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, Josh Emmett

Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is perhaps the biggest star of European MMA at the moment. With his recent spectacular knockout win against Max Holloway, he put himself in the position as the most exciting featherweight since Conor McGregor’s haydays.

1. Islam Makhachev

• MMA record: 26-1
• Notable wins: Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski x2, Dustin Poirier

Possibly an even better fighter than his teammate and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov, reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is one of the greatest champions the lightweight division has ever seen.

The 33 best European MMA fighters right now

1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Tom Aspinall
4. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Merab Dvalishvili
6. Leon Edwards
7. Usman Nurmagomedov
8. Magomed Ankalaev
9. Umar Nurmagomedov
10. Movsar Evloev
11. Petr Yan
12. Jiri Prochazka
13. Ciryl Gane
14. Alexander Volkov
15. Jan Blachowicz
16. Sergei Pavlovich
17. Mateusz Gamrot
18. Nassourdine Imavov
19. Arnold Allen
20. Zebaztian Kadestam
21. Roberto Soldic
22. Ian Machado Garry
23. Nikita Krylov
24. Volkan Oezdemir
25. Marvin Vettori
26. Jack Hermansson
27. Losene Keita
28. Aleksandar Rakic
29. Serghei Spivac
30. Dakota Ditcheva
31. Magomed Umalatov
32. Shamil Musaev
33. Kerim Engizek

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