UFC heavyweights: Top three UFC fighters in their division, their stat, career highlight and more

A new UFC Heavyweight hero was crowned at UFC 260, as Francis Ngannou knocked out longtime champion Stipe Miocic in the second round. Francis Ngannou was crowned as the 22nd UFC Heavyweight champion in the organization’s history, but how does he compare to the best UFC Heavyweights of all time?

It’s definitely too early to tell right now, especially since he’s just been the UFC Heavyweight Champion for two months. Ngannou, on the other hand, has the potential to be among the finest when everything is said and done.

However, for the time being, these are the top 3 Heavyweights in their division in UFC history.

3. Daniel Cormier (UFC record: 11-3-1, MMA record: 22-3-1)

It’s easy to overlook Daniel Cormier‘s heavyweight credentials, owing to his enormous successes at 205 pounds. Cormier is one of only four fighters in UFC history to hold belts in two weight classes, although his time at Heavyweight in the UFC was undoubtedly brief, if spectacular.

However, his stint which culminated in his winning the promotion’s Heavyweight championship, as well as the list of competitors he defeated, place him among the finest.

In 2009, Cormier joined StrikeForce, where he made his professional MMA debut. He was 10-0 at the end of 2012, having defeated Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett to earn the StrikeForce Heavyweight Championship.

In 2013, the former Olympic wrestler made his debut in the UFC, defeating former UFC Heavyweights champion Frank Mir.

In the end, a win against Roy Nelson was his last in the division until 2018. But, while still holding the UFC Light-Heavyweight belt, he KO’d Stipe Miocic to win the UFC Heavyweight title as well that year.

Cormier successfully defended his championship against Derrick Lewis before losing it to Miocic in a rematch, and he retired in 2020 after losing their trilogy bout.

His cumulative record at Heavyweight was 15-2, with his only losses coming at the hands of Miocic. And, considering the achievements of the combatants he defeated.

READ MORE: Alex Volkanovski, the current UFC champion, ranks his top three all-time fighters

2. Cain Velasquez (UFC record: 12-3, MMA record: 14-3)

Cain Velasquez began MMA in 2006 after graduating from California’s renowned American Kickboxing Academy. His notoriety was enough for the UFC to contract him after only two years and as many fights.

Velasquez was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler who was a sensation inside the Octagon.

While being a smaller Heavyweight, his grappling talents enabled him to dismantle virtually anybody he faced, and he also had a vicious kickboxing arsenal refined under instructor Javier Mendez.

Velasquez, on the other hand, was all about speed. He was known for his endurance and would just cause opponents to turn brown as he drove them harder and harder down the stretch, gradually and inevitably breaking them.

Velasquez was sidelined for nearly a year due to injuries, and once he resurfaced, he was not the same. He lost his UFC championship against Fabricio Werdum and wins one more fight in the Octagon after that.

Nobody could come close to surpassing his style of wrestling, hitting, and savagery when he was at his best.

1. Stipe Miocic (UFC record: 14-4, MMA record: 20-4)

Stipe Miocic – is at the top of the heap.  Miocic, a Golden Gloves boxer and NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, has always had the potential to rise to the top of the UFC.

And after making his debut in 2011, he swiftly put together a remarkable 12-1, with his only defeat coming after an illegal hit from Stefan Struve under questionable circumstances.

Miocic was defeated in a controversial decision by Junior Dos Santos in the UFC for the second time in 2014. This time, though, the setback just fueled his determination.

Miocic continued smashing anybody who stood in his way, eventually overcoming Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 to win the UFC Heavyweight championship.

With victories against Alistair Overeem, Dos Santos in a rematch, and Ngannou in their first encounter, he rapidly became the favourite UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Despite losing the championship to Daniel Cormier in 2018, Miocic was able to retain it in a rematch and by defeating Cormier in their rematch and second bout, confirming his credential as the UFC’s finest Heavyweight.

Though Miocic is not the champion but the question is whether Ngannou can now surpass him at the summit of the Heavyweight summit. For the time being, he is the finest and most experienced Heavyweight anyone have seen in the Octagon.