MMA in the UK has reached unprecedented levels of popularity in recent years. From sold-out
UFC events across England to the rise of British champions, the sport has never been more mainstream.This explosion in interest has reignited the debate about who is the
greatest British MMA fighter of all time. With household names like
Leon Edwards and
Paddy Pimblett leading the charge, fans have more reasons than ever to get involved in
UFC and MMA betting at
Bovada.
Top UK MMA Fighters of All Time
Leon Edwards
Leon “Rocky” Edwards is widely regarded as the face of British MMA. With 22 wins from 28 professional bouts, his crowning moment came in August 2022 when he knocked out Kamaru Usman to become the
UFC Welterweight Champion.Edwards defended his belt successfully against Usman again in March 2023 and against Colby Covington in December of the same year. However, setbacks against Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady in 2024 have cast doubt over his recent form. Despite this, his role in headlining three
UFC events in England cements his legacy as a trailblazer in UK MMA.
Michael Bisping
No list of top UK MMA fighters is complete without
Michael “The Count” Bisping. As the first Brit to headline a
UFC main event, Bisping paved the way for future stars. He competed in both middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from 2004 to 2017, capturing the
UFC Middleweight Championship at
UFC 199.Fighting through adversity—most notably continuing his career after becoming legally blind in one eye—Bisping made a successful title defence against Dan Henderson and was later inducted into the
UFC Hall of Fame. His impact on UK MMA is immeasurable.
Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall is the current poster boy for British MMA in the heavyweight division. With a professional record of 15 wins from 18 fights, he captured the
UFC Interim Heavyweight Title by knocking out
Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023.In July 2024, he defended his belt with a dominant finish over Curtis Blaydes, confirming his spot among the elite. Known for his explosive finishes—six of his eight
UFC victories have come before the first round’s midpoint—Aspinall ranks #11 pound-for-pound and is one of the most exciting talents in the sport today.
Darren Till
Darren Till is one of the most technically skilled MMA fighters ever to emerge from the UK. A Muay Thai and
boxing specialist, he transitioned to MMA with great success, winning 18 of his 24 pro fights before retiring in 2022 after a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.Till was a former
UFC title challenger at welterweight in 2018 and remained a serious contender across two divisions. Since stepping away from MMA, he has returned to his striking roots and picked up two wins in professional
boxing in 2025.
Paddy Pimblett
Though not yet at “greatest of all time” status,
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett has played a crucial role in keeping British MMA in the spotlight. After rising through
Cage Warriors as the featherweight champion, he signed with the
UFC and has gone undefeated with a 7-0 record so far.His most high-profile win came at
UFC 314, where he finished Michael Chandler via TKO and earned a Performance of the Night bonus. If he can beat a top-five opponent next, a title shot could be on the horizon for the Liverpool native.
Conclusion
The debate over the best British MMA fighter of all time continues to evolve. From pioneers like Michael Bisping to current champions like Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall, the UK has no shortage of elite talent. As the sport continues to grow domestically, the next generation of stars—like Paddy Pimblett—are ensuring that British MMA remains a global force for years to come.
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