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The UFC, and indeed MMA as a whole, was built around the search for the world's best fighting style. That common goal is what brought together so many different martial artists from various backgrounds for the first-ever UFC tournament. It was during that event that Royce Gracie introduced the world to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
After the diminutive grappler emerged victorious, the martial arts community as a whole realized that it had much more to learn. As the years came and went and the sport of MMA progressed, the realization that there was no such thing as one superior martial art became common knowledge.
This led to the development of a system that covered every phase of combat, from striking and wrestling to grappling and ground-fighting. Thus, numerous UFC fighters are experts in multiple martial arts. Some, however, are ranked as black belts in more than one fighting style, and this list compiles five such fighters.
#5. Lyoto Machida: Two black belts
During his prime, Lyoto Machida was the promotion's poster child for traditional martial arts. The former 205 lbs champion is the son of Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida, and 'The Dragon' eagerly followed in his father's footsteps. Under his father's guidance, he became a third-degree Shotokan black belt.
But it's not just karate that 'The Dragon' achieved a black belt rank in. Walter Brocas helped Machida capture a first-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, granting him grappling expertise to compliment his striking pedigree as a karateka. His abilities as a former titleholder enabled him to capture UFC gold.
#4. Sage Northcutt: Three black belts
Before he became an MMA fighter, Sage Northcutt was an undefeated kickboxer with a 15-0 record and 77 world youth karate championships to his name. He is a highly credentialed martial artist whose background earned him an opportunity to sign with the UFC, which 'Super Sage' did after embarking on an unbeaten run.
Unfortunately, after succeeding in his debut and sophomore fight under Dana White's banner, his career underwent a downswing. Regardless, he remains an experienced martial artist with a fourth-degree black belt in Kajukenbo, a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, and a first-degree black belt in Shuri-ryū Karate.
His skill set rendered him a dynamic striker whose natural athleticism still makes him an interesting prospect as his future as a combat sports athlete progresses.
#3. Robert Whittaker, UFC middleweight: Three black belts
Robert Whittaker is one of the most skilled fighters in the UFC middleweight division. The former 185 lbs champion is a speedy striker who skips into mid-range with blitzing boxing combinations. He uses a wide but not quite bladed stance that makes it possible for him to dart in and out with alarming quickness.
The foundations of 'The Reaper's skill set are his three black belts in Hapkido, Gōjū-ryū karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. All three are ranked as first-degree black belts, but his BJJ expertise is perhaps the most surprising considering that Whittaker mainly operates as a striker.
His grappling is mostly used in a defensive capacity. All five of his submission wins came in the first seven bouts of his career on the regional scene.
#2. Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, UFC welterweight: Three black belts
Stephen Thompson is arguably the best striker in MMA. As a UFC fighter, he is a two-time welterweight title challenger. But prior to embarking on a career as a professional mixed martial artist, 'Wonderboy' was an undefeated kickboxer with 58 wins and one no-contest in 59 bouts.
As a fighter, Thompson fights using a wide, bladed stance that makes it easy for him to bounce in and out of range to draw his foes into counterpunches. The moment his opponents lunge forward after becoming frustrated by his movement, 'Wonderboy' lunges forward at the same time to intercept them with a straight left.
As far as his martial arts credentials are concerned, Thompson is a fifth-degree black belt in Tetsushin-ryū Kempo, a first-degree black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu and a first-degree black belt in American kickboxing.
#1. Georges St-Pierre, former UFC welterweight/middleweight: four black belts
One of the biggest stars in MMA history is also arguably the sport's greatest fighter. Georges St-Pierre is a former champion of the welterweight and middleweight divisions. The Canadian legend is responsible for beating multiple generations of the world's best fighters en route to breaking numerous records.
Despite his wrestling-heavy approach later in his career, 'GSP' was once an explosive striker with a karate base. He owns a third-degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate, a first-degree black belt in Gaidojutsu, a first-degree black belt in Shidōkan Karate, and a first-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
His combination of skills allowed him to carve one of the greatest legacies in combat sports history. Very few have come close to the Canadian's greatness, and arguably no one has surpassed him.
