Who are the 10 best black fighters in the world currently?

Who are the 10 best black fighters in the world currently?

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:29 PM

Black fighters in the world of combat sports are widely regarded as some of the world's top fighters and are eager to make their mark in UFC. Every fighter needs to compete at the UFC's elite level since they will have their best chance at becoming a household name. The best battles in the UFC cement the legacies of the sport's most prominent competitors, making the octagon a veritable nursery for future superstars.

Black fighters
Left to right - Jimi Manuwa punches Anthony Johnson during the UFC 191 event inside MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 5, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari
Source: Getty Images

MMA's biggest names are represented on this list, including Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, and Jon Jones. A talent's star power can rise quickly after a string of victories, mainly if those victories occurred recently or in a title match scheduled for 2019.

1. Jon Jones

Black fighters
Jon Jones of the US looks on after his UFC Light Heavyweight Title bout with Thiago Santos of Brazil at T-Mobile Arena on July 06, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Sean M. Haffey.
Source: Getty Images

Jon Jones is the best mixed martial arts fighter ever. With a 25-1 professional record, he is the youngest fighter in UFC history to hold a championship belt (DQ). The one loss in Jon Jones' career is a disqualification from a fight in which he was overwhelming his opponent, Matt Hamill. Jones's illegal 12–6 elbows to Matt Hamill's head from the mount resulted in a disqualification.

He is only 35 years old. Therefore he is still at the height of his professional potential. Given his background and character, things may quickly turn for the worst. It will only be revealed in time.

2. Demetrious Johnson

UFC black fighters
Demetrious Johnson celebrates his submission victory over Wilson Reis of Brazil in their UFC flyweight fight at Sprint Center on April 15, 2017, in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo: Josh Hedges
Source: Getty Images

DJ, aka "Mighty Mouse," is regarded as the best flyweight fighter in MMA history. He dominated the UFC flyweight division for nearly six years as champion, tearing it apart from top to bottom until he was forced into rematches or to leave for another company.

Demetrious Johnson has a record of 29 wins and three losses as a professional boxer (one of those losses coming from a move up to bantamweight, where they fought another all-time great in Dominic Cruz.). Perhaps his most memorable victory was in 2017 when he submitted Ray Borg with a flying armbar, a move that had never been used in the Octagon before. This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable finishes in mixed martial arts.

3. Daniel Cormier

Big black fighters
Daniel Cormier weighs in during the UFC 187 weigh-in at the MGM Grand Conference Center on May 22, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Brandon Magnus.
Source: Getty Images

Former United States Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier is now an MMA fighter. His acquaintance with Cain Velasquez, an experienced UFC heavyweight and fellow AKA squad member, helped him land a deal with the UFC when he went unbeaten at heavyweight with Strikeforce.

DC has a 22–2 record in professional mixed martial arts. Until his dramatic loss to Stipe Miocic, he was one of only four UFC fighters holding both the light and heavyweight belts simultaneously.

One of the greatest rivalries in mixed martial arts history is between him and Jon Jones, who has fought twice (Jones won the first meeting and knocked out Cormier in the second fight, but it was later ruled a no contest due to Jones' drug testing returning positive).

4. Anderson Silva

Black fighters in boxing
Anderson Silva of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC 237 weigh-in at Jeunesse Arena on May 10, 2019, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Buda Mendes
Source: Getty Images

Another potential MMA great, Anderson Silva, is a Brazilian fighter who raised the bar for the entire sport when he signed with the UFC. With his silky footwork and impeccable timing, he was an almost unstoppable force in the promotion.

His mixed martial arts record of 34 wins and ten losses belies his true potential. He has been fighting much past his physical prime, which is likely why he has racked up six defeats since losing his title to Chris Weidman in 2013. Sad as it is to watch a legend fade away, the fact that he still fights out of pure love for the game is inspiring.

5. Kamaru Usman

Young black fighters
Kamaru Usman prepares to fight Leon Edwards in their Welterweight title bout during the UFC 278 at the Vivint Arena on August 20, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Photo: Alejandro Salazar
Source: Getty Images

Kamaru Usman, or "The Nigerian Nightmare," has a 15-1 professional mixed martial arts record. In a shocking and decisive victory over Tyron Woodley, he finally became the UFC welterweight champion he had always wanted to be.

He is a fantastic wrestler who has only lost one match in his entire career. Usman is quite vocal about his African heritage and often wears local attire to public events to showcase it. He paints his face in the Nigerian flag's colours for every ceremonial weigh-in. He has even advocated for Nigeria to have a UFC event in Africa. 

6. Tyron Woodley

Black fighters in boxing
Tyron Woodley prepares to fight Vicente Luque in their welterweight fight during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images

Tyron Woodley has sometimes had the most extensive support from MMA fans, and that may be because he complains about everything from his treatment by promotion to the esteem in which the public holds his name. Those who want to be thrilled by action may also have noticed that he became a much more careful fighter after becoming champion.

He is 19–4 in mixed martial arts competition. His opponents he has defeated include. Stephen Thompson, Darren Till, Robbie Lawler, Carlos Condit, and Kelvin Gastelum.

7. Israel Adesanya

Famous black fighters
Adesanya of Nigeria awaits the start of one of the rounds in the UFC middleweight fight during the UFC 276 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 02, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images

Israel Adesanya is another Black-American mixed martial artist who makes no secret of his African ancestry. Many of his interviews for the UFC have him talking about his ties to Nigeria. He also hopes to see a UFC event held in Africa shortly. Adesanya has an undefeated 19-fight record in mixed martial arts.

Israel Adesanya may look like a promising young fighter. Still, he is a seasoned veteran of the fight business thanks to his successful career as a kickboxer before he joined the UFC.

8. Francis Ngannou

UFC black fighters
Francis Ngannou of Cameroon interacts with media during the UFC 260 press conference at UFC APEX on March 25, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari.
Source: Getty Images

Francis Ngannou, a kickboxing superstar, just broke Tyrone's record for the most brutal punch in history. Ngannou was homeless in France until he found solace in an MMA gym, and he did not start training in MMA until four years before his title fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 220. He has been a professional for 14 years and has only lost three times.

9. Rashad Evans

Famous black fighters
Rashad Evans weighs in during the UFC 145 official weigh-in at Fox Theatre on April 20, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Al Bello/Zuffa LLC
Source: Getty Images

Rashad Evans, one of the most famous UFC fighters ever, won season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter. He has won 19 times and lost only eight times in his professional career. Like Anderson Silva, he lingered past his prime and racked up a string of defeats that ultimately led to his retirement.

Rashad Evans was the UFC light heavyweight champion before losing the title to big black fighter Lyoto Machida, and he had a spectacular knockout victory over Chuck Liddell. Among the prominent fighters he defeated is Bisping, Henderson, Liddell, Sonnen, Griffin, and 'Rampage' Jackson.

10. Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson

UFC black fighters
Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson weighs in during the UFC 187 weigh-in at the MGM Grand Conference Center on May 22, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Josh Hedges.
Source: Getty Images

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson was a formidable figure before Francis Ngannou came up—a terrifying presence inside the cage, capable of turning out the lights on any opponent. After failing to make an impact at Welterweight in his UFC debut, Anthony Johnson was released from the promotion. After returning, he fought through the MMA weight classes until he settled into the light heavyweight division.

There have been numerous successful black fighters throughout combat sports history, including boxing, MMA, kickboxing, and WWE. These fighters have achieved great success in their respective sports, and their legacies continue to inspire and influence future generations of fighters.

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Authors
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Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.