Anderson Silva
Demetrious Johnson
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Dead even across the measured categories. Our all-time ranking places Anderson Silva at #3 and Demetrious Johnson at #5.
The case for Anderson Silva
For seven years 'The Spider' was untouchable, holding the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days and a record 16 consecutive victories with 10 straight middleweight title defenses. His striking looked like something from another sport: the front-kick knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in 2011, the matrix-like head movement, the finishes of Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, Chael Sonnen and Chris Leben. He fought with his hands down and made elite opponents miss by inches before countering with fight-ending precision, and he twice moved up to light heavyweight and won. His aura finally cracked when Chris Weidman knocked him out at UFC 162 in 2013, and the 2013 rematch ended horrifically when Silva broke his leg on a checked kick. He retired 34-11, but at his peak he was the most artistic finisher the sport has seen.
The case for Demetrious Johnson
'Mighty Mouse' is arguably the most technically complete fighter of all time, a flyweight who mastered every phase without a defining weakness. As the inaugural UFC flyweight champion he set the record for most consecutive title defenses with 11, a run of dominance from 2013 to 2018 in which he blended world-class striking, wrestling and submissions into a seamless whole. His suplex directly into an armbar against Ray Borg at UFC 216 in 2017 is one of the most spectacular finishes in history. Because he competed in the sport's lightest and least-promoted division, his brilliance was often underappreciated relative to bigger names. Traded to ONE Championship in 2018, he won that promotion's flyweight grand prix and title and delivered a flying-knee knockout of Adriano Moraes in 2022. He retired around 25-4-1, revered by peers as a fighter's fighter and a technician without equal.