The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (2024)

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (1)

Dan Tom

May 2, 2024 8:00 pm ET

You can’t tell the story of mixed martial arts without talking about Brazil.

A country that’s hosted Vale Tudo (a Portuguese term for “anything goes”) fights since the 1920s, it’s no surprise to see that the martial arts mecca of Brazil continues to carry a strong presence throughout MMA.

Whether there’s a fight card going down in Russia or Japan, it’s still not uncommon to see Brazilian competitors being flown in to test the local talent. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, most famously, has had a major Brazilian presence since Royce Gracie won the first tournament at UFC 1.

The UFC, which was in part created by Brazilians like Rorion Gracie back in 1993, initially served as not just an amazing spectacle — but also a successful way of selling the effectiveness of both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the Gracie brand alike.

The sport would quickly evolve into the 21st century, which saw the UFC, under its new ownership of the Fertitta’s and Zuffa, steadily take over the landscape as they helped bring MMA to the mainstream.

Knowing the importance of Brazil and its history with the organization, the UFC would end up repaying Brazil’s faithful by investing in the Brazilian market with everything from a plethora of live shows to talent cultivation in the form of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brasil” during its world-expansion era.

With the UFC set to host yet another pay-per-view in Brazil, it’s a great excuse to take a stroll down memory lane to pay homage to the great Brazilian fighters of our time.

It’s almost unfairly impossible to list and rank all of Brazil’s finest, so I limited this list to Brazilians who have competed in the UFC. Though this caveat will likely tinker with the rankings given that a lot of these fighters had fantastic accomplishments outside of the octagon, I did my best to recognize each combatant and their contribution to the landscape as a whole.

I purposely left Royce Gracie off the list in order to make room for all the fighters that he opened the proverbial door for, but make no mistake: This list doesn’t likely exist without what he was able to accomplish with his early tournament wins.

As usual, these lists reflect my personal tastes and biases and are not meant to serve as some ultimate authority. That said, I feel very strongly about not only my list – but also my honorable mentions at the end.

So, without further ado …

25

Gleison Tibau

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (2)

Gleison Tibau

Making the cut to kick off this list is longtime UFC lightweight wins leader Gleison Tibau.

You might not see a lot of Tibau footage being played on highlight reels, but this Brazilian powerhouse was quietly one of the toughest outs at 155 pounds throughout the promotion’s golden era.

Not only is Tibau the only fighter who has an argument for beating the undefeated phenom, Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the American Top Team representative still holds the record for the most takedowns landed in UFC lightweight history (84).

Tibau, at least according to Joe Rogan, is also one of the biggest lightweights we’ve seen touch down in the UFC’s octagon.

Joe Rogan talking about Gleison Tibau is still one of my favorite MMA things. pic.twitter.com/VaPeE2SbYJ

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) September 1, 2019

24

Edson Barboza

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (3)

May 15, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Edson Barboza celebrates his TKO victory against Shane Burgos at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Also making the cut as a non-champion who never challenged for a UFC title is Brazilian warhorse, Edson Barboza.

Despite surprisingly never challenging for a belt, no one should be questioning Barboza’s place on this list.

Aside from having a list of knockouts that deserves its own article, Barboza continues to wreak havoc across two of the sport’s deepest division well over a decade since his UFC debut.

Tenderising people’s bodies since 1986: Edson Barboza🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/6pev0zFFpq

— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) October 13, 2023

From following the footsteps of Brazilians who came before by scoring leg kick knockouts to setting his own bar with spinning kick highlights that will stand the test of time, Barboza remains a stalwart for Brazil’s finest when talking about striking in MMA.

23

Demian Maia

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (4)

Demian Maia

When it comes to specialists who have found success in the octagon, it’s difficult to deny Demian Maia for what he was able to accomplish with Brazilian jiu-jitsu in MMA’s modern era.

After mixed success at and failed bid for the UFC title at 185 pounds, Maia moved down to the welterweight division where he would experience an incredible career renaissance.

Seamlessly melding his jiu-jitsu with some newfound wrestling skills into one solid sword, Maia was able to take the division by storm, setting submission records in the process.

Maia may have never won a UFC title despite his two tries at-bat, but the Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend still holds standings for having the third most submission wins in UFC history.

22

Ronaldo Souza

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (5)

Speaking of Brazilian jiu-jitsu legends who did well in the octagon, how can you deny Ronaldo Souza a spot on this list?

An athletic phenom who tore through the Gi and No-Gi grappling world, “Jacare” eventually made his way over to MMA to apply himself similarly.

Not only did Souza’s athleticism seamlessly lend itself to the wrestling aspect of MMA, but the former Strikeforce champion was also able to pick up striking skills at a surprising clip.

Souza’s lack of UFC gold keeps him from being ranked higher on this list, though it should be noted that it was injuries and unfortunate matchmaking circ*mstances that unfairly kept Souza away from a deserved title shot during his prime (a time when no one wanted to fight Jacare).

21

Cris Cyborg

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (6)

Say what you will about women’s divisions north of 135 pounds, but I’d be remiss if I left Cris Cyborg off of this list.

Even though a lot of Cyborg’s success came under Scott co*ker-ran promotions like Strikeforce and Bellator, her arrival in the UFC marked a breaking of barriers that many wouldn’t have thought possible given her history with UFC president, Dana White.

the very successful #UFC debut of Cris 'Cyborg' at #UFC198 against Leslie Smith. pic.twitter.com/zZGBaxCKwP

— BringTheFight™ (@BTFMMAPodcast) May 15, 2016

Cyborg may have come up short in a strange fight with Amanda Nunes back at UFC 232, but that doesn’t change the positive impact she’s had on women’s MMA.

20

Renan Barao

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (7)

Renan Barao

Breaking the top 20 is former UFC bantamweight champion, Renan Barao.

Despite most remembering “The Baron” for his precipitous decline after his series with T.J. Dillashaw, many forget that Barao was riding an impressive 32-fight winning streak headed into that title fight.

And though we never got a title-unification bout with Dominick Cruz during Barao’s reign, the Nova Uniao fighter was still able to deliver some insanely entertaining finishes during his tenure.

10 years ago, #OnThisDay Renan Barao defended the UFC Interim Bantamweight Title, stopping Eddie Wineland in the 2nd round at UFC 165. pic.twitter.com/iJnNVlTEni

— Josh (@JUchiha909) September 21, 2023

19

Jessica Andrade

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (8)

Jessica Andrade

Fighting in just about every women’s division that’s ever existed in the UFC, it’s difficult to deny former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade a spot on this list.

A powerhouse who started her UFC career at 135 pounds, “Bate Estaca” would eventually work her way down to strawweight, where she was able to secure a world title opposite Rose Namajunas in front of her home country of Brazil.

Andrade also managed to work her way to a title shot at flyweight, but continues to campaign at 115 pounds.

18

Murilo Bustamante

Securing a firm spot on this list is Brazil’s first UFC titleholder, Murilo Bustamante.

Although many are probably shouting the name “Royce Gracie” at this article, allow me to remind you that up until Bustamante’s win over Dave Menne back at UFC 35, Brazil could only have claim to UFC tournament champions (given that weight classes like middleweight weren’t officially rolled out in the UFC until 2001 per the New Jersey Athletic Control Board).

After utilizing his underrated boxing skills to beat the UFC’s first middleweight champion, Menne, Bustamante then defended his title against Team Quest standout Matt Linland (whom Bustamante had to submit twice due to a major error on the part of referee John McCarthy).

May 10, 2002

UFC 37

Title Defence #1

Murilo Bustamante defeats Matt Lindland
via Submission (guillotine choke) at 1:33 of Round 3 pic.twitter.com/hFszOIpK7q

— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) September 4, 2023

Like many champions during the UFC’s early days, Bustamante ended up departing from the organization due to contract issues. Not only did Bustamante never lose his UFC middleweight title in the octagon, but the Brazilian Top Team founder arguably beat prime versions of Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson in nip-tuck affairs north of 185 pounds.

17

Marco Ruas

Speaking of Brazilian pioneers who don’t get talked about enough, there was no way I wasn’t going to include Marco Ruas on this list.

Aside from following Royce Gracie to become Brazil’s second UFC tournament champion at UFC 7, Ruas was the first Brazilian fighter to successfully cross-train and apply multiple martial arts at the highest level (something that was considered controversial at the time amongst his fellow Brazilian martial artist).

Despite being largely billed as a Luta Livre fighter (which is Brazilian submission wrestling), Ruas was also a very skilled striker who popularized everything from foot stomps to leg kicks in the octagon.

Marco Ruas x Paul Varelans. The incredible spectacle of Ruas systematically chopping down the awesome 6’8 Polar Bear with leg kicks/stomps went a long way towards changing perceptions of size/strength/skill in NHB/MMA (and pro wrestling). (9.8.1995) 🌟
pic.twitter.com/tOtig5K2FP

— Vintage Puroresu プロレス (@vintagepuro) February 25, 2024

“If you grapple me, I punch and kick you. If you punch and kick me, I grapple you. There’s no way out.” – Marco Ruas

16

Alexandre Pantoja

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (9)

Alexandre Pantoja

Ranking active champions on these sorts of lists can be tricky, but I have a hard time not firmly ranking one of my favorite fighters, Alexandre Pantoja.

Aside from being a perennially underrated talent who had to take the long road to get here, Pantoja has proven to be an all-action entertainer in victory or defeat.

Brandon Moreno vs Pantoja 2 – Fight Preview UFC 290 pic.twitter.com/1fJ9TjhfYa

— GIX MMA (@gixMMA) July 11, 2023

Not only has Pantoja delivered some of the greatest flyweight fights en route to capturing the division’s title, but the Brazilian remains a role model for fans and future fighters alike, reminding us what we can achieve despite some of life’s darker struggles.

This is so deep man. Not many people noticed or took time to understand.

Pantoja asks his father who left him & his mother years ago with nothing, “You proud of me now dad?!” pic.twitter.com/eLvHc5qd4k

— Kota (@kotamarrello) July 9, 2023

15

Deiveson Figueiredo

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (10)

Deiveson Figueiredo

Narrowly notching a top 15 spot is a former flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo.

Arguably the most devastating puncher that the division has seen since John Lineker, Figueiredo was an absolute force at 125 pounds.

Deiveson Figueiredo with that TKO 👊 pic.twitter.com/6mZcUeUDyb

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) August 26, 2018

Figueiredo struggled to make the weight and perform consistently toward the end of his flyweight run, but “Deus da Guerra” continues to successfully campaign up a division at bantamweight.

14

Alex Pereira

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (11)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 13: Alex Pereira of Brazil reacts to defeating Jamahal Hill in their light heavyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Despite his unique UFC rise making it difficult for many to both rank and gauge his potential, there’s no denying the combat sports resume that Alex Pereira has been able to accrue in such a short time.

Between being a two-division Glory kickboxing champion and having serious history with Israel Adesanya, Pereira was fast-tracked to a title shot after a few successful showings in the octagon.

Already submitted my #UFC287 breakdown for this week, but couldn’t help throw this video together after hearing @TeddyAtlasReal talk about the jabbing dynamic between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya.

Tacked on George Foreman-Gullick to help illustrate his Pereira comparisons: pic.twitter.com/Clws9Re94N

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) April 4, 2023

After going 1-1 with Adesanya and winning a title at 185 pounds, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and found immediate success against three former champions en route to securing another undisputed UFC world championship.

Akin to the previous three selections, the book is still being written on Pereira’s career.

13

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (12)

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Even though a majority of his accolades took place during his tenure with Pride Fighting Championships, there is no way I’m not mentioning Brazil’s most beloved heavyweight champion, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Not only did Nogueira’s deceptively intelligent game influence the likes of other Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters like Demian Maia and Rani Yahya, but “Big Nog” was also able to secure wins (as well as a UFC interim heavyweight title) opposite former champions like Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture.

#OTD 08.29.2009

Randy Couture vs. Minotauro Nogueira – UFC 102 pic.twitter.com/3whc7PWO6e

— Neo Vale Tudo (@NeoValeTudo) August 30, 2022

The insane mileage of Nogueira eventually caught up to him in a hurry once he hit the post-prime stage of his career, but the legendary Brazilian still did his best to keep surprising us until the end. And though I wish he retired in front of his home country back at UFC 134, he produced a memory that no one in that crowd will soon forget.

With #UFC301 around the corner, I wanna know what your favorite UFC Brazil moment is?

Feels like too many to choose from, but Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira upsetting Brendan Schaub as north of a 2-1 underdog for the UFC’s return to Brazil back at UFC 134 is probably mine: pic.twitter.com/SoKzzXyf8W

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) April 30, 2024

12

Wanderlei Silva

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (13)

Akin to the prior selection, Wanderlei Silva is another fighter who did his best work in other organizations – but still deserves a solid spot on this list.

Wanderlei Silva knocked out Tony Petarra with a knee in his second UFC fight, 22 years ago today. 🪓
https://t.co/G6IUvs9Bpt

— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) May 7, 2021

In fact, before Silva began terrorizing Pride Fighting Championship’s middleweight division, “The Axe Murderer” had already competed inside the UFC’s octagon against some notable names. But with destiny taking Silva over to Japan, the Brazilian bruiser wouldn’t fight for the North American promotion until UFC 79, where he was immediately matched up with arch-rival Chuck Liddell.

#OnThisDay in 2007: Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva stepped into the Octagon!

Watch this fight in full and your other favorites on @UFCFightPass now! 👀 pic.twitter.com/SEXWF1nJvs

— UFC (@ufc) December 29, 2023

Although Silva lost more than he won in the UFC, the former Pride champ was still able to put on some incredible performances – including an unforgettable barnburner with Brian Stann that closed out both of their UFC careers.

“The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva vs Brian Stann | UFC on Fuel 8

After a insane pace in the 1st where both fighters scored multiple knockdowns, Wanderlei Silva knocked out Brian Stann in the 2nd in his return to Japan #UFC #MMA

Requested by @OTrillmatic pic.twitter.com/o8UYLqIQke

— Underrated MMA Performances (@MMAUnderrated) January 23, 2024

11

Glover Teixeira

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (14)

Coming in just outside of the top 10 is MMA’s greatest sportsman, Glover Teixeira.

Not only does Teixeira hold the record for most finishes in light heavyweight history (13), but his title-winning effort opposite Jan Blachowicz made the Brazilian the oldest first-time champion at 42 years of age.

Never forget when a brash Ion Cutelaba stormed across the UFC’s Octagon to confront Glover Teixeira, only to be greeted with “Not today”. #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/Zc0iojKvh5

— Mike's MMA Picks (@MikesMMAPicks) January 15, 2023

Not only was Teixeira’s late-career title run an improbable one, but John Hackleman-trained was able to produce unforgettable moments that ranged from epic title fights to real-life Game of Thrones reenactments.

The grappling sequences of jiri and glover were incredible pic.twitter.com/t9wvUcjE5T

— Michael Chandlers Overhand🥊 (@Chandy_SZN) November 21, 2022

Teixeira’s MMA lineage also connects Hall of Famer and former champion Chuck Liddell to the current UFC champ at 205 pounds (at least at the time of this article), Alex Pereira.

10

Fabricio Werdum

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (15)

Fabricio Werdum

Making the top 10 is the legend killer himself, Fabricio Werdum.

Initially starting his MMA career as a grappling coach for other heavyweights like Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Werdum eventually started to make a name for himself in organizations like Jungle Fight and Pride Fighting Championships. And after a brief stint in the UFC where Werdum was cut after going 2-2, “Vai Cavalo” eventually returned to the promotion years later with a much more complete game in tow.

Fabricio Werdum vs Roy Nelson.
Gonna go down a HW rabbit hole to celebrate some of the better performances we've seen. pic.twitter.com/dtcr8h98UI

— BJJOversimplified (@BJJOvrsmplified) January 28, 2024

Werdum already had a win over the legendary Fedor Emelianenko by the time of his second UFC run, but the Brazilian added the ultimate cherry on top by beating the highly touted Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title.

2 minutes and bit of Fabricio Werdum bringing Cain Velasquez's title reign to a painful end. @FabricioWerdum went from going 2-2 and released from the UFC to a 6 fight winstreak in his return run which ended with him becoming UFC Heavyweight Champion. pic.twitter.com/CAVnvcwFKV

— The Honest Jones Fan🦆 (@SmackdownLayer) February 10, 2023

9

Rafael dos Anjos

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (16)

Rafael dos Anjos

Notching the No. 9 slot is former UFC lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos.

Another Brazilian champion who started his UFC career at 2-2, dos Anjos definitely had the harder road to success in regards to his title path.

After beating fighters like Nate Diaz and Benson Henderson, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt finally got a shot to show off his improved game for the lightweight title opposite Anthony Pettis.

March 14, 2015

RDA's Magnum Opus

5 round beatdown to dethrone Anthony Pettis

From 0-2 Start to UFC Champion, Incredible. pic.twitter.com/jzPaLm29rk

— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) November 29, 2022

Even though dos Anjos dropped the belt after one defense, the Brazilian warhorse was able to continue to prove his medal by moving up to welterweight, where he was able to beat former champions and challenge for an interim belt.

Cageside view of that Rafael dos Anjos onslaught that Robbie Lawler somehow survived #UFCWinnipeg pic.twitter.com/kfVN3cGIqe

— Hater (@Hater_Picks) December 18, 2017

8

Junior Dos Santos

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (17)

Junior Dos Santos at UFC 143. (USA TODAY Sports)

Coming in at No. 8 is one of the most fan-friendly UFC heavyweight champions, Junior Dos Santos.

Junior Dos Santos’ UFC debut 13 years ago in 2008.pic.twitter.com/srQP7hNrBv

— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) March 4, 2021

Stepping onto the scene with an emphatic knockout of Fabricio Werdum, the young Brazilian would go on to accrue the longest win streak in UFC heavyweight history, winning 9 fights in a row.

10 years ago today: Junior dos Santos navigates around Mark Hunt's legendary chin, cracking him in the temple with a spinning hook kick to win a title eliminator and set up the trilogy fight with Cain Velasquez pic.twitter.com/nlpHcXLwId

— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) May 25, 2023

After losing his title in a rematch with Cain Velasquez, Dos Santos was still able to give us some incredible highlight-reel knockouts opposite fellow strikers like Mark Hunt. He even put on an instant heavyweight classic with Stipe Miocic back at UFC on FOX 13.

“Cigano” Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic 1 | UFConFOX 13

JDS and Stipe go to war for 5 rounds in a really close fight with JDS able to get a really close decision victory #UFC #MMA

Requested by @CilviaDemoisa10 pic.twitter.com/pztXXLJ5VV

— Underrated MMA Performances (@MMAUnderrated) January 30, 2024

7

Lyoto Machida

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (18)

Taking the No. 7 slot is one of the most unique fighters on this list, Lyoto Machida.

A fighter who went on a remarkable undefeated run to a earn UFC title, you can see why Joe Rogan anointed the Brazilian’s reign as “the Machida era” back at UFC 98.

RASHAD EVANS VS LYOTO MACHIDA

The Lyoto Machida era was here!
Going 14-0 up to this point, it was time for the 🐉 to teach us a lesson in traditional martial arts. Rocking Evans multiple times, he ultimately crumbles him into what seemed to be a lifeless mound to steal the title pic.twitter.com/Ix9ZxNCqWJ

— MMA Casuals (@MMA_CASUALS_) December 13, 2023

Although Machida ended up dropping the title after one defense, “The Dragon” continued to be a difficult out at both light heavyweight and middleweight – challenging for titles in each division.

Machida also continued to add to his highlight reel, landing karate-style front kicks on Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort that will stand the test of time.

Lyoto Machida did this 2 years ago today pic.twitter.com/C8Ha1HWeDv

— Connoisseur of Combat (@ConOfCombat) May 12, 2020

6

Mauricio Rua

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (19)

Landing just outside the top five is another Brazilian fighter who made his name in Japan, Mauricio Rua.

Era un día como hoy que Shogun Rua vencía a Lyoto Machida en su segunda pelea en UFC 113

Mira más combates históricos en @UFCFightPass 📺 pic.twitter.com/Dko3lxHHlc

— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) May 9, 2023

Despite arguably being post-prime by the time he got to the UFC due to the amount of mileage on his knees alone, “Shogun” was still able to achieve a UFC championship by becoming the first man to officially defeat Machida.

Who remembers Brandon Vera vs Shogun Rua?

10 years ago nowpic.twitter.com/9LEIBHKome

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) August 4, 2022

Even though Rua ended up dropping the title to an up-and-coming Jon Jones back at UFC 128, the Pride grand prix champion went on to give his fans unforgettable fights against the likes of Dan Henderson and Brandon Vera before a painfully slow and steady exit from the sport.

5

Amanda Nunes

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (20)

Amanda Nunes

Narrowly taking a top five spot is arguably the greatest female fighter that the octagon has ever seen in Amanda Nunes.

Amanda Nunes vs Ronda Rousey

Rousey shows no defense and get wobbled by every single shot that Nunes throws at her. pic.twitter.com/YZtRD6x52o

— Wire (@WireMartialArts) January 4, 2024

Nunes initially started her career as a wild brawler who came from a judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu background, but eventually found her form as a crushing athletic phenom who holds victories over women’s MMA legends like Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg.

5-years-ago today: Amanda Nunes knocked out Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds to become a two-division champion and arguably the best women's fighter in MMA history. It remains the only KO loss in Cyborg's 18-year career pic.twitter.com/uZ4Bt8Jv0G

— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) December 29, 2023

Even though I always wanted to see a rematch between her and Cyborg, perhaps Nunes can be lured out of retirement by Kayla Harrison. But regardless of Nunes’ future, her legacy as an all-time great remains firmly secure.

4

Vitor Belfort

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (21)

Nov 7, 2015; Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Vitor Belfort (red gloves) vs. Dan Henderson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ibirapuera Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Notching the No. 4 spot is a Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort, whose career transcends multiple generations.

Here's Vitor Belfort vs Tank Abbott at UFC 13 pic.twitter.com/AP97xrhzKX

— The Filthy Casual (@MMAfilthycasual) June 28, 2023

Starting his UFC career as a heavyweight who was essentially being hailed as MMA’s Mike Tyson, Befort found success as a smaller heavyweight, winning a UFC tournament championship back at UFC 12.

25 years ago today: Vitor Belfort blitzes Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil, stopping "The Axe Murderer" in 44 seconds. This was Belfort's light heavyweight debut pic.twitter.com/gPwx6LJP9w

— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) October 16, 2023

Belfort made his light heavyweight debut a little over a year later at UFC 17.5, stopping a young Wanderlei Silva in just 44 seconds.
Despite briefly winning a title at 205 pounds in his series with Randy Couture, Belfort eventually washed out of the organization, only to return at middleweight almost 5 years later.

“The Phenom” Vitor Belfort(22-10) vs Luke Rockhold(10-1)

UFC on Fox 8: Belfort vs Rockhold

May 5th 2013 pic.twitter.com/u5S32scZxt

— Underrated MMA Performances (@MMAUnderrated) February 8, 2024

And though Belfort failed to capture a title at 185 pounds, “The Phenom” proved that an old dog can learn new tricks – incorporating a plethora of kick KOs late into his career.

3

Charles Oliveira

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (22)

Charles Oliveira

Taking a top-three spot is none other than Brazilian fan favorite, Charles Oliveira.

An action fighter who is dangerous in all phases, Oliveira currently holds the record for the most finishes in UFC history at 20. And though Oliveira has split time between two divisions during his UFC tenure, “Do Bronx” still holds top submission standings at both featherweight and lightweight.

Charles Oliveira vs. Nik Lentz 2 #UFN67: pic.twitter.com/01F0HvdKf1

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) June 6, 2023

Not only did Oliveira pay off an incredible career by winning the UFC lightweight title (a title that he technically never lost in the octagon), but the former champion continues to pay things forward to his fellow Brazilians from the favelas, proving why he’s a people’s champion in every sense of the word.

Stuff like this is why fans love Charles Oliveira‼️🇧🇷

Describing the meaning of “Do Bronx”, the former LW champion gets emotional…

“A kid who came from nothing, from the bottom, from the favelas, disparaged. If God were to take me today, I would die very happy.”#UFC300 #UFCpic.twitter.com/VKIwaKKVjn

— MMA Casuals (@MMA_CASUALS_) April 10, 2024

2

Jose Aldo

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (23)

Feb 2, 2019; Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Jose Aldo (red gloves) vs. Renato Moicano (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Arena CFO. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Even though you could easily make the case for “The King of Rio” to take the top slot, Jose Aldo will have to settle for a prestigious second place.

Despite officially being credited with 7 successful title defenses, Aldo actually defended his belt 9 consecutive times if you count his run with the WEC.

Há exatos 12 anos, 🇧🇷 José Aldo nocauteava 🇺🇲 Chad Mendes na luta principal do UFC Rio 2 e se jogava nos braços do público.pic.twitter.com/NZZl8AaxmZ

— MMA Melotto (@MMAmelotto) January 14, 2024

One of the most dominant champions in this sport’s history, Aldo’s career is packed full of memorable moments that range from his insane series with Chad Mendes in Brazil to his post-prime win over Jeremy Stephens.

Jose Aldo did this to Jeremy Stephens 4 years ago today. That body shot was a thing of beauty
https://t.co/Q14kPu2zNS

— Jason Williams (@jasoneg33) July 29, 2022

Aldo, who also has a notable story about his rise from poverty in the favelas, is another people’s champion for the country of Brazil.

1

Anderson Silva

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (24)

Despite Nos. 1 and 2 practically being interchangeable, I found it difficult to deny Anderson Silva the top spot on this list.

A Hall of Famer in every sense of the word, Silva has a slew of highlgihts over the course of his epic championship run (that technically constitutes as the longest title run in UFC history).

Uma das maiores atuações individuais da história dos esportes. É inacreditável o que o Anderson Silva fez nesse dia com o Forrest Griffin, monstro pic.twitter.com/UFXBibfsxJ

— Gabriel Martins (@caradossports) August 8, 2020

From Silva’s comeback submission win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 to the front kick heard around the world at UFC 126, “The Spider” has supplied MMA with enough highlights to satisfy our appetites for years to come.

Eleven years ago today, Anderson Silva settled his beef with Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face 🦶😵 pic.twitter.com/L9Tr2y2JdT

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 5, 2022

Whether we’re talking about revolutionizing techniques or setting the standard of an era, Silva has undeniably influenced the entire martial arts sphere while representing his country of Brazil under the UFC banner.

Honorable mentions: Raphael Assuncao, Pedro Rizzo, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Thiago Alves, Gilbert Burns

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

The UFC's 25 greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, ranked (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5791

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.