Discover the top five MMA fighters who dominated the sport in 2023. From shocking upsets to dominant performances, these fighters left their mark on the UFC and beyond.
| Fighter | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|
| Alexa Grasso | Shocking upset against Valentina Shevchenko |
| Leon Edwards | Defeated Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington |
| Alex Pereira | Two-division champion in UFC history |
| Sean Strickland | Unlikely path to middleweight title |
| Islam Makhachev | Successful title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski |
2023 has been an incredible year for mixed martial arts, with several fighters making a lasting impression in the UFC, PFL, and beyond. Let’s take a closer look at the top five fighters who dominated the sport this year.
2023 has been an incredible year for mixed martial arts, with several fighters making a lasting impression in the UFC, PFL, and beyond. Let’s take a closer look at the top five fighters who dominated the sport this year.
5. Alexa Grasso
Alexa Grasso’s journey in the UFC hasn’t always been smooth sailing. After a rocky start, she found her stride in the women’s flyweight division and pulled off a shocking upset against dominant champion Valentina Shevchenko. Although she couldn’t secure a win in their rematch, Grasso’s performance was still impressive.
4. Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards proved himself as the number one welterweight in the world with a decisive victory over Kamaru Usman. He followed up this win with a dominant performance against Colby Covington, silencing his critics and solidifying his reign as champion.
3. Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira’s year didn’t start off on a high note, as he lost his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya. However, he quickly bounced back by moving up to the light heavyweight division and capturing the vacant title in a thrilling fight against Jiri Prochazka.
2. Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland’s path to the middleweight title was unexpected, but he proved his worth with impressive wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov. In a shocking upset, he dethroned Israel Adesanya to become the new champion.
1. Islam Makhachev
In a year filled with surprise title reigns, Islam Makhachev’s victories over Alexander Volkanovski stood out. He successfully defended his lightweight belt twice, solidifying his position as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the UFC.
These five fighters have left an indelible mark on the MMA world in 2023, and their performances will be remembered for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: Alexandre Pantoja, Patchy Mix, Tom Aspinall
