11 MMA Fighters Who Excelled in Multiple Weight Classes
Throughout mixed martial arts history, a rare breed of fighter has managed to conquer opponents across multiple weight classes. These warriors showcased their well-rounded excellence against all shapes and sizes.
10+ Best MMA Fighters Who Rule Multiple Weight Classes
Here are some of the most impressive multi-division destroyers that MMA has seen:
Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is an absolute beast, dominating two UFC divisions with crushing power and slick submissions. She dismantles foes with vicious strikes as a ferocious featherweight. Then the Lioness drops down to bantamweight and mauls everyone there, too. Bow down to Amanda, the undisputed queen of both divisions!
Henry Cejudo
They don't call him "Triple C" for nothing! Henry Cejudo captured UFC gold at flyweight and bantamweight and is an Olympic wrestling champ. His freakish speed and high-level wrestling allow him to negate size disadvantages against bigger opponents. Henry often storms out the gates, blitz foes with strikes, and then transitions seamlessly into his world-class mat skills. A truly elite mixed martial artist.
Conor McGregor: Notorious for a Reason
Conor McGregor backs up his notorious trash talk by finishing opponents across multiple divisions. He exploded into featherweight, dethroning long-time champ Jose Aldo in 13 seconds! Then Conor moved up to lightweight and became a simultaneous two-division champion by stopping Eddie Alvarez. His left hand from hell holds crazy power, letting Conor starch elite lightweights as a former featherweight. Simply put, this Irish superstar knows how to fight.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier made his name as an Olympic wrestler, then showed off his skills in MMA's light heavyweight and heavyweight ranks. DC would grind opponents down with his wrestling before ending fights with nasty ground and pound. Despite often being the smaller fighter, Cormier outworked and outfought much larger men. He capped off his career by becoming a two-division UFC champ.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov put on grappling clinics in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions. He implemented a straightforward but suffocating style - relentless takedowns and vicious ground and pound. The Eagle's grappling was so next level that he consistently controlled excellent wrestlers much bigger than his 155-pound frame. Khabib's unmatched top control allowed him to dominate in two weight classes.
Junior Dos Santos
Junior Dos Santos showcased elite speed and boxing as both a heavyweight and light heavyweight. He befuddled larger men by smoothly gliding around the Octagon and landing pinpoint strikes. Dos Santos capped his career by defeating wrestle-heavy contenders at 205 pounds using his anti-grappling skills. It's pretty impressive for a former heavyweight champ!
Brandon Moreno
Don't let Brandon Moreno's "Assassin Baby" moniker fool you - this Mexican star is all killer. After an unsuccessful first UFC run at flyweight, Moreno returned better than ever with a more well-rounded skill set. He dethroned champ Deiveson Figueiredo in an epic back-and-forth war despite being outsized. Moreno then gave Figueiredo an immediate rematch...and proceeded to dominate the heavier Brazilian! Viva la violence!
Marcus Brimage
Marcus Brimage burst into the UFC with his bull rush style, overpowering opponents at bantamweight. He then successfully took his crushing strength up to 145 pounds. At featherweight, Marcus remained a tank, plowing through foes with raw power. Despite his small stature, this pocket Hercules rushed forward and steamrolled much larger men across two divisions.
Randy Couture
Randy Couture's gritty style allowed him to conquer heavyweights despite being undersized at 225 pounds. He implemented an exhausting clinch-heavy attack of dirty boxing and wrestling chops. Randy also ruled the light heavyweight class for years with the same grueling game plan. Captain America ground down fighters of all shapes and sizes through mental fortitude and sheer willpower.
Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson's famed "H-Bomb" right-hand left bodies crumbled across multiple weight classes. At 185 and 205 pounds, Henderson would lull opponents into a false sense of security...BAM!!....cue lights out after a cannonball right hand. And few could survive Henderson's bone-rattling slams off his Greco-Roman wrestling. From middleweight to light heavyweight, the H-Bomb wreaked havoc.
B.J. Penn
B.J. Penn's slick jiu-jitsu skills and crisp striking made him a prodigy able to dismantle larger fighters as a welterweight or lightweight. He jumped to 170 pounds and dethroned long-reigning champ Matt Hughes via rear naked choke. The Prodigy then dropped back down to capture the lightweight belt, too! This Hawaiian icon remains the only man to win UFC titles in two weight classes.
Catch the Action with Streaming
The rise of sports streaming has made it easier for MMA fans to watch must-see multi-division fights. Instead of expensive pay-per-view events, you can now watch live UFC action on RMMAStreams for free.
Services like YouTube TV also include UFC cards on cable channels like ESPN.
Conclusion
The elite fighters profiled here exhibited skills that transcended weight classes. Their technique, athleticism, fight IQ, and heart allowed them to defeat larger opponents on the sport's biggest stages. These multi-division destroyers proved that skills and smarts can overcome size in combat sports. Their cross-division dominance is a testament to the excellence MMA can achieve.