The 10 Best Strikers in MMA

Striking: S (our engine)

Before MMA he was a Glory kickboxing champion in two weight classes, and he brought that craft straight to the cage: he knocked out Israel Adesanya, became a two-division UFC champ, and reclaimed the light heavyweight title with an 80-second demolition of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. The left hook and chopping calf kicks are nightmare fuel.

Striking: S (our engine)

“The Last Stylebender” is one of the most decorated kickboxers ever to cross into MMA, and it showed across a long middleweight title reign built on range, timing and surgical counters. Even late in his career he remained a striking clinic, with 16 of his wins by knockout.

Striking: S (our engine)

The featherweight GOAT and longest-reigning 145-pound champion in UFC history. Aldo paired crisp boxing with leg kicks so brutal they once left Urijah Faber barely able to walk — a Hall-of-Fame striker through and through.

Striking: S (our engine)

Pressure boxing as performance art. Holloway holds the UFC record for most significant strikes landed, picked Calvin Kattar apart for a record single-night total, and produced the most iconic knockout in recent memory: the one-second-left finish of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Striking: S (our engine)

“Bullet” is a former world Muay Thai champion who reads strikers like a book. Now in her second flyweight title reign, her counters and precision make her the most refined striker in women’s MMA.

Striking: S (our engine)

“El Matador” blends boxing fundamentals with genuine one-shot power. He flatlined Max Holloway, took the featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski, then moved up and knocked out Charles Oliveira for the lightweight crown.

Striking: S (our engine)

Long, rangy and unpredictable, “Suga” is one of the most accurate distance strikers at 135, with highlight-reel knockouts of Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Vera on his résumé.

Striking: S (our engine)

A former Muay Thai standout with footwork and fluidity almost unheard of at heavyweight; “Bon Gamin” can box, kick and move like a fighter fifty pounds lighter.

Striking: S (our engine)

“Venom” is the ultimate point-fighting showman — a flashy, unorthodox striker whose karate-based timing and creativity make him must-watch on the feet.

Striking: A (our engine)

“El Pantera” is pure creativity: spinning elbows, switch kicks, and the unforgettable buzzer-beating upward elbow that flattened the Korean Zombie. Nobody throws what he throws.