Demetrious Johnson
Conor McGregor
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Demetrious Johnson leads 3 of 4 categories. Our all-time ranking places Demetrious Johnson at #5 and Conor McGregor at #11.
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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.
The case for Conor McGregor
The biggest star the sport has ever produced, McGregor changed MMA's economics and reach while backing it up in the cage during his prime. He became the first fighter to hold two UFC titles simultaneously, knocking out featherweight king José Aldo in a record 13 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015 and stopping Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight belt at UFC 205 in 2016. His left hand was one of the most feared weapons in the sport, and his self-promotion filled arenas and drove the two biggest pay-per-views in company history. He also crossed into boxing for a blockbuster loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Injuries, inactivity and losses to Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov, plus a leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021, clouded his later years. He sits around 22-6, but his peak dominance and cultural impact are undeniable.