5 of the tallest MMA fighters of all time

There’s hardly an ideal body type when it comes to MMA. Truly talented athletes and coaches can design a fighting style suitable for all shapes and sizes. No matter how big or small a fighter is, there are ways to play to strengths, and there are prime examples of this.

The sport has seen fighters like 5-foot-3 Demetrious Johnson become a living legend in MMA, fighting almost exclusively larger opponents in ONE Championship and the UFC.

In a similar sense, MMA fighters like Daniel Cormier—a miniscule 5-foot-9 in comparison to his heavyweight and light heavyweight contemporaries—became a UFC champion in both weight classes.

Conversely, there have been some true titans in MMA, some of whom dwarf the enclosure they compete in. These fighters have been gifted with towering heights and overwhelming size advantages.

Simply put, size hardly matters in this sport. But it’s still a sight to behold whenever a fighter truly larger than any of his opponents steps into the cage. However, whether or not they take advantage of their natural physical gifts is entirely up to them.

So who are the giants who have graced the hallowed octagon of MMA?

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#5. Dustin Joynson

British Columbia’s largest tree is the Cheewhat Giant, which stands at roughly 182 feet tall, give or take. Conversely, the province’s largest MMA fighter is Dustin Joynson, who grew up just a few hours away in Victoria.

Coming in at 6-foot-5, the 36-year-old Joynson has made a name for himself on the American and Canadian regional scene, most recently claiming a victory over Carl Seumanutafa in Philadelphia’s Cage Fury Fighting Championship. However, he has had losses post this victory.

Nowadays, Joynson is under contract with ONE Championship. As a professional MMA fighter, Joyson has never been in a fight with an opponent who is as tall or taller than he is.

Of course, for someone standing at 6-foot-6, being the taller man is no surprise. And with three knockouts and one submission on his resumé, it seems Joynson is plenty comfortable using his height advantage in competition.

#4. Alexander Volkov

Few MMA fighters fit their given nickname as well as Alexander Volkov. Often referred to as 'Drago', an ode to the iconic Russian villain in the famous Rocky Balboa movies, Russia’s Volkov towers over his opponents with his massive 6-foot-6 frame.

The UFC's No. 5-ranked heavyweight is an MMA veteran with an impressive 34-9 record. Still only 33-years-old, ‘Drago’ continues to improve when it comes to utilizing his reach, steadily increasing his ability to finish fights against high-level competition.

On his resume sit 22 knockouts and three submissions, good for a solid 59 percent finishing rate. The Russian goliath is always in a matchup with a height and reach advantage.

Furthermore, Volkov is a great example of an MMA fighter who has made good use of his physical advantages so far in his career. However, he has had losses to shorter fighters, last losing to Cyril Gane, who is 6'4".

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#3. Thomas Narmo

Much like Alexander Volkov, Thomas Narmo fits his nickname to a tee. Known as ‘The Last Viking’, the Norwegian MMA fighter stands at a monstrous 6-foot-7, and has even played a giant Viking on TV for the Netflix original series, Ragnarok.

Formerly a professional hockey player, Narmo’s transition from the ice to the MMA cage has been smooth. Having gone undefeated in his first four bouts, he is considered the best of the heavyweight bunch among a still growing Norwegian MMA scene.

The Scandinavian athlete finished all four of his opponents, collecting a trio of knockouts and a submission.

Currently signed with ONE Championship, Narmo’s debut for the organization ended in a no-contest after he absorbed a debilitating groin kick prior to the final bell.

Undefeated and with a significant size advantage in almost every fight, Narmo’s stock is quickly rising. In fact, his name has been floated around as a potential opponent for Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida’s next fight.

#2. Stefan Struve

For MMA fans who are already familiar with ‘Skyscraper,’ his inclusion on the list comes as no surprise. Akin to an NBA center, Stefan Struve is listed anywhere between 6-foot-11 and seven feet tall. Either way, Struve is a massive human and was an excellent fighter in his heyday.

Using his height and ridiculous reach, Struve won 29 professional bouts before retiring in 2020. The Beverwijk, Netherlands native holds victories over notable names such as Stipe Miocic, António ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira, and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, among many others.

Of course, Struve has never been in a fight without a height advantage, providing him with ample time to hone his ability to fight at a distance. Even so, Struve was never able to reach the top despite 15 years in the sport. Which goes to show: size isn’t everything in MMA.

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#1. Hong Man Choi

If you’re an MMA fan and have never heard of Hong Man Choi, buckle up. Standing at an astounding 7-foot-2, Hong Man Choi is one of the largest humans on the planet.

Choi’s career is littered with ups and downs, along with varying levels of competition, most notably a three-year, three-fight stretch between 2007 and 2009.

In his second professional MMA bout, Choi was booked to fight the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. If this sounds absurd, that’s because it is. But when factoring in Choi’s 12-inch height advantage, however, the prospect became a bit more interesting.

Unsurprisingly, Fedor would finish Choi in the first round, securing a deep triangle choke to force the tap.

In 2008, Choi would fight Mirko Cro Cop, another all-time great. He again entered with a 12-inch height advantage. Again, unsurprisingly, Choi would be chopped down like a tree before being TKO’d via leg kicks.

The loss effectively washed away the mystique of the 7-foot-2 titan. That is, until a new, equally bizarre opponent surfaced.

Enter: Jose Canseco. Yes, the same Jose Canseco who was pushed out of Major League Baseball due to numerous steroid scandals. The 45-year-old would make his MMA debut in 2009 in a highly anticipated matchup with Choi. But this time, Choi would get the job done, and fast.

Just 1:19 into the first round, Canseco found himself belly-down, tapping to punches with Choi unleashing a barrage upon him before the ref mercifully stepped in to end the one-sided affair.

The win would mark the first of Choi’s career, a memorable way for MMA’s resident giant to secure his first victory.