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MMA Guide: Top 7 Greatest Brazilian UFC fighters ever!
Brazilian UFC Fighters. Photo via Instagram and USA Today Sports
Since day one, Brazil has been one of the most successful countries in the UFC, producing some of the biggest stars the sport has ever seen.
It’s close to impossible to rank the country’s best UFC fighters, but there are a couple of athletes that stand out even among the best. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the seven greatest Brazilian UFC fighters ever!
7. Junior Dos Santos
Junior Dos Santos. Foto via Instagram: (@juniorcigano)
- MMA record: 23-10
- UFC title defenses: 1
- Key wins: Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Stipe Miocic, Mirko Cro Cop
At No. 7 we find heavyweight kingpin Junior Dos Santos who was a force in the division for more than a decade.
Taking the UFC by storm with a forceful knockout of Fabricio Werdum, Dos Santos would go on to accrue the longest win streak in UFC heavyweight history, winning nine straight fights The insane streak included names like Mirko Cro Cop, Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir!
6. Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Machida. Photo via Instagram (@lyotomachidafw)
- MMA record: 26-12
- UFC title defenses: 1
- Key wins: Maurício Rua, Rashad Evans
With his karate-based style, Lyoto Machida won the hearts of many MMA fans as he fought his way to a UFC title shot.
Machida was undefeated when he made his UFC debut in February 2007. Two years and six straight wins later, he won the light heavyweight title as an unbeaten fighter, with a record of 15-0, as he knocked out Rashad Evans in the second round.
During his long and successful career, ”The Dragon” faced some of the best fighters that ever lived. His resume includes the likes of Quinton Jackson, Maurício Rua, Jon Jones, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Yoel Romero and Vitor Belfort, just to name a few!
5. Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira. Photo via YouTube
- MMA record: 11-2
- UFC title defenses: 2
- Key wins: Israel Adesanya, Jirí Prochazka, Jamahal Hill
Is it too soon to put Alex Pereira at the No. 5 spot? I don’t think so!
After his UFC debut against Bruno Silva, ”Poatan” only faced reigning, former or future champions.
Despite his rather unique UFC rise, which could make it difficult to rank his potential as a fighter, you can’t deny that Alex Pereira is one of the most fascinating and impressive fighters to ever compete inside the octagon.
Pereira is scheduled to make his third title defense against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on October 5.
4. Charles Oliveira
Brazilian UFC Fighters. Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
- MMA record: 34-10-1
- UFC title defenses: 1
- Key wins: Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirer, Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira is one of the most impressive fighters to ever grace the octagon.
Currently holding the record for the most finishes in UFC history at 20, ”do Bronx” is bound to become a UFC Hall of Famer.
Oliveira has split time between two divisions during his UFC tenure, but found most success in lightweight where he became the champion after stopping Michael Chandler in May 2021. He then submitted prime Dustin Poirer and Justin Gaethje before losing to Islam Makhachev.
3. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes. Photo: USA Today Sports
- MMA record: 23-5
- UFC title defenses: 8
- Key wins: Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg
Two-division champioon Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter MMA that the world has ever seen. Nunes was the first woman in UFC history to become a two-division champion, holding both the bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously.
In her prime, Nunes was as violent as she was technical. Her demolishing performance against fellow MMA-great Cris Cyborg will go down in history as one of the peak moments of MMA.
2. Jose Aldo
Brazilian UFC Fighters. Photo: USA Today Sports
- MMA record: 32-8
- UFC title defenses: 7
- Key wins: Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, Ricardo Lamas
When you are forced to put Jose Aldo at No. 2, you really start to understand the level of Brazilian MMA fighters.
Arguably the best featherweight to ever do it, ”The King of Rio” became the first UFC featherweight champion following the UFC/WEC merger. He then defended the strap seven times, against the likes of Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar, before losing the belt to Conor McGregor.
The list of fighters he faced is nothing but insane, and the 37-year-old is still going strong!
1. Anderson Silva
Anderson ”The Spider” Silva. Photo: Jason Silva-USA TODAY
- MMA record: 34-11-1
- UFC title defenses: 10
- Key wins: Chael Sonnen, Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort
The Brazilian MMA king is no other than Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
Since winning the middleweight title against Rich Franklin, he defended it ten times against some of the best fighters in the sport.
If that was not enough, Silva is perhaps the fighter that has given the sport of MMA more highlights than anyone else.