Having stamina is essential for all MMA fighters. With it, you will be able to fight your opponent. Whether you’re boxing or wrestling, stamina is key in the UFC. Every fighter has a way of staying motivated and training for the fight ahead.
Fighters with the best stamina are hard to beat and can make it tough for their opponents. But who has the best stamina in the UFC? Find out by reading this article about the top UFC fighters with the best endurance:
Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 1984. He currently weighs in at Lightweight (155) and height of 5’10”. Tony Ferguson has a lengthy record of 14 wins and three losses. His nicknames are “El Cucuy” and “Crazy Tony.”
Tony Ferguson started his career in the 145-pound division. Still, in 2009 he started fighting 155-pound division and has been one of the top contenders ever since. He was also an Ultimate Fighter winner, where he won by defeating Ramsey Nijem via TKO in the second round.
Tony is known for his incredible stamina and endurance in fights which led to his nickname “El Cucuy” (which means “the boogeyman” or “the monster”). In his debut, he started out slowly and accumulated at a slow pace. Over time, his endurance would empower him to win matches for the rest of the fight.
Tony Ferguson is an aggressive fighter with vicious leg kicks and other types of low attacks. He’s always looking for strikes which makes him difficult to predict and prepare for a fight. His nickname “El Cucuy” comes from this unpredictable quality, constantly switching from high attacks to low attacks, making it hard for opponents to defend themselves against Tony Ferguson’s relentless attack on their legs and body.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov, born on September 20, 1988, is a former Russian professional mixed martial artist who fought in the Lightweight division. He was born in Dagestan, Russia. He currently lives and trains in San Jose, California, fighting out of Jackson Wink MMA.
Khabib Nurmagomedov started his career as an amateur kickboxer. He later went on to fight in the King of the Cage promotion. His nickname is “The Eagle.” Khabib Nurmagomedov is well known for his explosiveness when it comes to striking, specifically in his leg kicks.
He throws a lot of leg kicks, often looking for a knockout or finish with his punches. Khabib also likes to grapple a lot, but he’s been shown by other fighters that he can strike with skills more often than not. He has an excellent jab and can often time his opponents with punches.
He is also very talented on the ground and top game. He likes to work in the top position and can sometimes finish the fight with a submission. However, some of Khabib’s fights have been close, and he has been taken down by opponents, sometimes by mistake.
Khabib has good stamina, which allows him to dominate in certain fights, especially if he’s ahead of an opponent in terms of points. Still, when given a tough fight, he tends to get exhausted pretty early on in the fight.
Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, born July 22, 1989, is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist born in Nigeria who fights in the Middleweight division. His nickname is “The Last Stylebender,” also the name of his fighting style.
The “Stylebender” is known for its flashy and fancy kicks, usually used to finish fights. Israel Adesanya likes to fight standing up rather than on the ground, so he often finds himself out of position when it comes to grappling.
He likes to fight on his feet with his right hand in the face of his opponents, allowing him to throw punches and leg kicks. His explosive kicks and punches will enable him to always land hits on his opponents, even when they’re out of range or being held by the referee.
He won numerous Muay Thai tournaments and has competed in various international amateur boxing competitions. Israel Adesanya was signed by UFC and had a solid record of 23 wins out of his 24 MMA appearances, with 15 knockout records.
Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman, born May 11, 1987, is a Nigerian and American professional mixed martial artist who fights in the Welterweight division with a record of 11 wins, one loss, and 0 draws. His nickname is “The Nigerian Nightmare,” and he currently holds the record for the most wins by stoppages in UFC history.
He has also been ranked as one of the top welterweights in the world. Kamaru has had many fights with top welterweights and has been dominating recently. Kamaru Usman has a hefty left hand which he likes to throw.
He also uses his other hand to kick his opponents or use various standing submissions when necessary. His stamina has been excellent during his recent fights, which has earned him respect. He’s outstanding on the ground and top game, so he can hold his opponents down for long periods when he decides to get the fight to the ground. However, Kamaru is also not afraid of striking and often goes toe-to-toe with his opponents.
Colby Covington
Colby Covington, born February 22, 1988, is an American professional mixed martial artist who fights in the Welterweight division with a record of 20 total fights, 17 wins, and three losses. He is currently signed to the UFC.
He likes to call himself a “country boy,” and he’s been known to trash talk after almost all of his wins, which often lands him in trouble despite being ranked as one of the top fighters in the UFC. Colby Covington likes to clinch up with opponents and take them down using various techniques, including throws or trips, usually followed by ground-and-pound or submission attempts.
He is known for his willingness to stand and trade with his opponents before picking them apart with strikes. Colby Covington is a talented fighter and has been looking great in recent fights, so it’s hard to predict what he’ll do during the next fight.
He has a perfect ground game, which allows him to keep up with many strikers. His endurance is one of his best qualities, so he can last long on the ground without ever tiring out. Talking about his stamina and flashiness, we can easily say that the “Chaos” nickname fits him perfectly.
Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson, born November 16, 1983, is an American mixed martial artist who competes for Bellator MMA in the Lightweight division. His nickname is “The Young Assassin,” and he’s known for his flashy style and high-risk tactics.
Benson Henderson is one of the most experienced fighters in the world, with over 16 years of professional experience. He’s also a former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, having previously held several other championships. In addition to MMA, Benson also has an amateur wrestling background which has helped him tremendously in his fights.
His small stature helps him to avoid takedowns by bigger opponents. It allows him to throw punches at will with his uppercuts. He’s also very good on the ground, where he can use a variety of submissions to win his fights or just hold his opponents down to rest.
His endurance is pretty good, and he often finishes a fight rather quickly, so he’s also known as one of the active and quick fighters. His stamina is one of his best qualities, which is why he can finish so many fights quickly.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson, born August 13, 1986, is an American mixed martial artist. He is the current Flyweight Champion and was widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. His excellent footwork, mobility, and speed make it hard to predict his actions during a fight.
Johnson has a very high fight IQ, allowing him to stay one step ahead of his opponents. He also has excellent wrestling and grappling, so many times he’ll be able to get an opponent on the ground or defend a takedown.
When they’re on their feet, Johnson often uses his movement to avoid punches which he can then answer with his own strikes. He’s not afraid to strike, although his defense is perfect, so he rarely gets hit. The only time he’s been hit many times in a fight was during his title fight with Eddie Alvarez.
In every other fight, Demetrious has defended takedowns and countered strikes easily, often finishing the fight with strikes. He’s also one of the most active fighters in the world. His stamina levels are incredible, so he can last for an extended period despite taking shots himself or being tired out on his feet.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is a Canadian actor and former professional mixed martial artist. He’s widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history. He was the Middleweight Champion and is currently ranked as the #2 Light-Heavyweight fighter in UFC history.
His nickname is “Rush,” and he’s known for his pinpoint accuracy with his strikes, earning him the reputation of being one of most technical strikers in MMA. He also has an excellent ground game. He often waits until an opponent gets tired before taking them down on their feet, usually followed by a submission attempt or ground-and-pound.
Georges St-Pierre uses his intelligence, incredible reflexes, and reaction time to win fights. He’s adamant, although he rarely gets taken down in a fight, even though many fighters try to take him down. Georges St-Pierre is an aggressive fighter who often looks for openings in his opponents’ defenses before finishing them with strikes.
He’s also known for his willingness to stand and trade with opponents before attacking them with strikes, which makes him quite unpredictable. The only time Georges St-Pierre was hurt in a fight was during his fight against Matt Serra at UFC 69 when he accidentally hit his head on the turnbuckle.
Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz, born August 2, 1983, is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nick’s nickname is “The Stockton Slugger.”
Nick Diaz is one of the most experienced UFC fighters in the world. Although he’s lost five out of his last six fights, he’s still considered the most formidable fighter on the planet. He used to have excellent wrestling and grappling skills, although he rarely uses them during a fight now.
Nick Diaz is known for being a well-rounded fighter who doesn’t care much about defensive tactics. Instead, he prefers to focus on throwing powerful strikes at his opponents. He’s not afraid of taking risks and often throws caution away to scare off an opponent who might not want to go toe-to-toe with him.
He also has excellent conditioning, so he can last long in a fight, even if he’s tired. His stamina levels are incredible, so no matter how tired Nick Diaz is during a fight, he’ll always be able to make a comeback.
Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz, born April 16, 1985, is an American professional mixed martial artist who is currently a free agent. He is the younger brother of former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and WEC Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz.
Nate often uses his wrestling skills to force opponents against the cage to either finish them with strikes or make them tired for a submission attempt. He also has an excellent ground game, although he still needs polish his submission skills.
His chin is perfect, although he does struggle with spinning attacks because he doesn’t have the best footwork. He used to be a cautious fighter, but now that he’s more experienced, his old habits are slowly fading away.
Regarding his endurance and stamina levels, Nate Diaz is one of the toughest fighters in the UFC, often lasting for an extended period despite taking unnecessary shots.
Cain Velasquez
Caín Ramirez Velasquez, born July 28, 1982, is an American professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist, currently appearing for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). Velasquez is regarded as one of the best heavyweight fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA). His nickname is “The Mexican Wrecking Machine.”
Cain Velasquez is an excellent wrestler and also has an underrated ground game. Although he’s not considered very good at striking, he has good boxing, footwork, and head movement. Velasquez is exceptionally athletic, so he can still be a threat on the feet.
His stamina levels are still excellent, although he seems to get tired a little faster now that he’s older. Cain Velasquez is an aggressive fighter who loves to finish fights by taking his opponents down and ground-and-pounding them until they’re out of energy or get hurt.
He often tries to take opponents down using his wrestling, although he’s not as good as many think. His submission skills are also not so good, as he rarely tries for a submission, instead choosing to finish fights with strikes.
Jon Jones
Jonathan Dwight Jones born July 19, 1987, is an American professional mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Jon Jones has outstanding endurance and stamina, despite his lazy conditioning habits, which can sometimes cost him a fight. Jon Jones uses his reach to stay away from the cage and avoid getting taken down by his opponents.
He also has impressive kicking skills and a perfect ground game, despite not relying much on it during a fight. Jon Jones is one of the best strikers in MMA, thanks to his excellent speed, footwork, combinations, and accuracy. Jon Jones is known for being incredibly fast.
Still, he needs to be considered more powerful compared to other fighters who share weight classes with him. His chin can be a problem at times too.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Ryan Cormier, born March 20, 1979, is an American former professional mixed martial artist, amateur wrestler, and current commentator for the UFC. He is the reigning two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Cormier has a brown belt in BJJ and is one of the few fighters to have beaten former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Anderson Silva. Daniel Cormier is one of the most dominant light heavyweights ever. His grappling skills are unmatched, and his wrestling skills are pretty good too.
He’s also an excellent striker who can use his reach to his advantage. Since he’s a powerful fighter with excellent cardio levels, he’s able to go for long periods without getting tired and can always come back for a comeback if needed.
Daniel Cormier is a very dangerous ground fighter. He can control his opponent from the bottom by holding them down, taking their back, and pounding them on the ground until they’re helpless.
Carlos Condit
Carlos Joseph Condit, born April 26, 1984, is an American former professional mixed martial artist. Condit is a former WEC Welterweight Champion, UFC Interim Welterweight Champion, UFC interim Middleweight Champion, Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, and WEC King of the Cage Middleweight Championship.
He is most known for his excellent wrestling skills and his submissions. Carlos Condit does not like to take fighters down, but he has incredible takedowns and a strong ground game. His striking could be better because he spends most of his time on the ground, where he doesn’t use his striking skills much.
When talking about his stamina, he spends countless hours training, including all the hours it takes to get ready for fight night, so he does not show signs of fatigue. His speed is also high for a welterweight.
Alexander Gustafsson
Alexander Gustafsson, born January 15, 1987, is a Swedish professional mixed martial artist. He is a former UFC fighter and was number 6 in the UFC ranking. Alexander Gustafsson is one of the best strikers in MMA, as his hands are incredibly fast, and his combinations are very accurate.
He also has a decent ground game, although he prefers to remain on his feet. His stamina levels are good, and his conditioning is high. This has enabled him to stay active for a long time before his fights, but he tends to tire out a little faster than other fighters in his weight class.
Frankie Edgar
Frankie Edgar, born October 16, 1981, is an American retired professional mixed martial artist and former UFC Featherweight Champion with a record of 16–4. He is considered one of the greatest lightweight strikers in mixed martial arts history due to his all-around spectacular striking ability.
Edgar, at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighing 145 pounds (66 kg), boasts incredible speed, power, and technical prowess in his striking and grappling while also possessing exceptional boxing skills. Frankie Edgar has perfect ground and pound, but he relies too much on it in a fight since he doesn’t have any submission skills or impressive takedowns.
About his stamina, he can go for long periods without getting tired. Thanks to his excellent cardio levels, which enable him to keep going and going in a fight without any signs of fatigue.
Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz, born March 9, 1985, is an American professional mixed martial artist. He has formerly competed for UFC and is currently competing in the World Series of Fighting division, where he is the current WSOF Bantamweight Champion.
Dominick Cruz’s striking isn’t as good as it used to be before his multiple-fight injuries, but it’s still impressive. He also likes to stay on his feet and only uses his wrestling skills to take opponents down and control them.
He needs to use submissions or ground-and-pound techniques more because of that. His chin is excellent, and his stamina levels are pretty good, despite fighting injured for over two years.
Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski, born September 29, 1988, is an Australian mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the UFC, competing in their Featherweight division. Alexander Volkanovski has solid wrestling skills and a decent striking game.
Still, he sometimes does not use his striking when fighting. His cardio could be better, too, because of that. Alexander Volkanovski mainly focuses on takedowns and grappling on the ground, where he’s most vital. He’s dominant on top and can control his opponent from half-guard or full mount, pounding them until they cannot fight back.
Max Holloway
Holloway, born December 4, 1991, is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the UFC and is a former featherweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Holloway has been active for almost seven years.
His striking, wrestling, and submission skills are relatively high, although his cardio levels can be questionable sometimes. His endurance is good, as he can last very long without getting tired.
Anderson Silva
Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist and boxer. He is the former unified UFC Middleweight Champion and was the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Anderson Silva has unmatchable striking skills, as his boxing and kickboxing are very fast and precise.
He also has a perfect ground game, where he’s weakest due to his bad submission defense. However, he can still make up for it by staying on his feet for long periods without getting tired. His endurance is greatly improved since he hasn’t fought for a long time and is also very strong, so that’s one of his few weaknesses.
His stamina levels are pretty good, and his conditioning is very high. These high stamina levels have helped him stay in the fight for extended periods. Overall, Anderson Silva is one of the best fighters in the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fighters above are the best in the world despite their weaknesses. They are all powerful and skilled fighters who can compete with one another anytime in a fight due to their dominance in different aspects of fighting.
They have every advantage except for their gas tank and stamina, submission skills, and the ground/pound game. They make up for it by using smart strategies, being dominant on their feet, controlling their opponents with takedowns, or grappling them down to get a good ground-and-pound onto them until they fall unconscious or fall out of exhaustion.
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