Being in the UFC means you are the best in the world. That's what, Dana White, the CEO of the promotion states and millions around the world believe. There is no denying that the biggest MMA stars in the world have at least once fought inside the Octagon of UFC. From the icons of the past like GSP, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Daniel Cormier to stars of the present like Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev and many more, UFC has always harbored some of the finest MMA stars in the world. While nobody can snub Jon Jones from the list as he is considered the unanimous GOAT of the sport, according to UFC's famed commentator, Joe Rogan, there was a better heavyweight fighter than Jones and to the surprise of the knowers of the sport, Rogan revealed that that contrary to the popular belief the greatest heavyweight never fought under the roof of the biggest MMA promotion in the world.
Joe Rogan Picks the Greatest Heavyweight Fighter of All Time
Joe Rogan, who has been calling the fight action since UFC 12, named Fedor Emelianenko as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time. Emelianenko went 40-7 in MMA, once going on a 30-fight win streak - the stuff of legend for the retired Russian fighter. Emelianenko was active on the circuit from 200 to 2023 yet for an unknown reason UFC could not bring the fighter to the promotion.
While great heavyweight fighters have emerged over time, moreover, with the entry of Jon Jones in the division it has become easy to pick who is the best in the category, exempt from UFC competition and more notable opponents, Rogan still touts Emelianenko as the best heavyweight to ever do it.
"Juicy Fedor from Pride... I don’t know if anybody beats Fedor in his prime. He was so good. Fedor walked down [Mirko] Cro Cop when he was in his prime," Rogan said on JRE Fight Companion.
“You’ve got to remember most of that fight was standing up and Fedor was going blow-to-blow with Crocop and walking him down... That Randleman armbar, he f****** suplexes him on his head and five seconds later he’s got him in a kimura, it’s crazy. He was different. He was a monster.”