# The 13 Greatest UFC Heavyweight Champions of All Time

> The UFC heavyweight throne has been held by knockout artists, submission specialists, and warriors who transcended the sport — from its earliest brawlers to today's elite technicians. Who do you crown the greatest?

*By YPB Team · Published June 25, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-13-greatest-ufc-heavyweight-champions-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (5 votes)

1. **Jon Jones** — 40% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Current UFC heavyweight champion who submitted Ciryl Gane in his debut at UFC 285 (2023), already a legend from light heavyweight.
2. **Frank Mir** — 20% (1 votes · score 848/1000)
   Two-time UFC heavyweight champion known for devastating submission skills, defeating Tim Sylvia and Brock Lesnar.
3. **Francis Ngannou** — 20% (1 votes · score 848/1000)
   Knockout power record-holder who stopped Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in 2021 to claim the heavyweight title.
4. **Randy Couture** — 20% (1 votes · score 694/1000)
   Three-time UFC heavyweight champion (2000, 2002, 2007) who became champion at 43 years old in an iconic comeback win.
5. **Tim Sylvia** — 0% (0 votes · score 679/1000)
   Two-time heavyweight champion with the longest title reign (2003-2008) and one of the division's most resilient fighters.
6. **Brock Lesnar** — 0% (0 votes · score 555/1000)
   Former WWE star who shocked the world by beating Randy Couture to become heavyweight champion in 2008, becoming a crossover phenomenon.
7. **Junior dos Santos** — 0% (0 votes · score 397/1000)
   Brazilian KO artist who knocked out Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds in 2011 to claim the heavyweight title.
8. **Tom Aspinall** — 0% (0 votes · score 397/1000)
   Current UFC interim heavyweight champion known for lightning-fast finishes, earning the belt with a record-setting KO win in 2023.
9. **Andrei Arlovski** — 0% (0 votes · score 299/1000)
   Former UFC heavyweight champion (2005-2006) and one of the division's pioneers with explosive striking power.
10. **Mark Coleman** — 0% (0 votes · score 299/1000)
   The first-ever UFC heavyweight champion (1997) and MMA pioneer who introduced ground-and-pound wrestling to the sport.
11. **Cain Velasquez** — 0% (0 votes · score 299/1000)
   Two-time champion and wrestling-based fighter who dominated the division from 2010-2015 with relentless ground-and-pound.
12. **Fabricio Werdum** — 0% (0 votes · score 185/1000)
   Submission specialist who shocked the world beating Cain Velasquez at altitude in 2015 to become heavyweight champion.
13. **Daniel Cormier** — 0% (0 votes · score 51/1000)
   Two-division champion who knocked out Stipe Miocic in 2018 to add the heavyweight belt to his light heavyweight title.

Tags: sports, ufc, legends, all-time, fighters, mma