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The UFC might be a sporting organization, but first and foremost, it’s driven by the star power of its top fighters. The promotion’s biggest stars often draw millions of dollars on pay-per-view.
Right now, the UFC is home to some of its biggest-ever stars, with a number of them holding titles in the promotion’s various weight classes and some even setting promotional records.
Whether these fighters will go onto be remembered in the same way as past stars like Ronda Rousey and Georges St-Pierre remains to be seen, but it seems likely that they’ll definitely make a major mark.
Here are five of the biggest stars in the UFC right now.
#5. Conor McGregor – UFC lightweight contender
It’s definitely not a stretch to claim that Conor McGregor is literally the biggest star in UFC history.
‘The Notorious’ is not just one of just four fighters to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, he’s also by far the biggest draw in the promotion’s history. His fights often draw well over a million buys on pay-per-view, and his 2018 clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov was the highest-selling fight in MMA history.
While McGregor is still the biggest name in MMA, the fact is that his star power could well be surpassed in the near future if things don’t change for him soon.
The Irishman has now been on the shelf for well over a year following the leg injury he sustained in his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. More to the point, his record in the octagon in recent years is alarming, with his only recent win coming over Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
In fact, despite still being ranked at #13 in the lightweight division, ‘The Notorious’ has not won a bout at 155lbs since his 2016 title win over Eddie Alvarez.
Recent reports have suggested that McGregor is ready to return in 2023 – but not until he’s undergone at least six months of drug testing with USADA. This is something that has alarmed some fans after recent social media photos appeared to show him looking far more muscular than he was previously.
Either way, whenever McGregor does return to the octagon, it’ll be a huge deal – and it’s likely that his comeback will confirm his status as the biggest star in MMA history.
#4. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC welterweight contender
Ever since his explosive octagon debut in the summer of 2020, Khamzat Chimaev has looked like he is destined for stardom with the UFC. Right now, it’s hard to deny that he’s quickly become one of the promotion’s biggest names.
‘Borz’ quickly ran through three overmatched foes during his first year in the octagon, submitting John Phillips and dispatching Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert with strikes. Sadly a bad bout of COVID-19 threatened to not only ruin his momentum, but end his career entirely.
Thankfully, the Chechnyan fighter was able to recover from the virus and return in late 2021. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, defeating two top-ten ranked welterweights in Li Jingliang and Gilbert Burns before running right through Kevin Holland in September.
Chimaev’s star hasn’t risen purely because of his wins in the octagon, though. ‘Borz’ simply exudes star power and carries the same kind of aura of invincibility around him that the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ronda Rousey once did.
Put simply, he doesn’t just beat his opponents, he destroys them. Usually he makes it look easy, too. On the microphone, meanwhile, he gives off the air of a fighter who is supremely confident in his skills. While English isn’t his first language, it’s hard to deny his charisma.
Whether Chimaev can claim gold in the octagon in the near future is a question mark, but his star status is undeniable. It’s likely that he’ll remain one of the promotion’s most bankable names for years to come.
#3. Sean O’Malley – UFC bantamweight contender
While Aljamain Sterling currently holds the UFC’s bantamweight title, it’s arguable that ‘The Funk Master’ is not the biggest star in his division right now. That spot appears to belong to rising star Sean O’Malley.
‘Sugar’ has seemingly been pegged for major stardom for years now, dating back to his octagon debut which took place in late 2017.
One of the first fighters to graduate from Dana White’s Contender Series, O’Malley’s charisma and flashy fighting style quickly made him stand out. It didn’t take fans long to recognize that he had a very bright future.
A positive drug test forced him to miss the entirety of 2019, but since his 2020 return, he hasn’t looked back. He’s now beaten six of his last eight foes inside the octagon, including former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. He has only suffered one defeat, falling to Marlon Vera after suffering a foot injury.
Like all big stars, though, O’Malley’s magnetic power doesn’t just come from his success in the octagon. ‘Sugar’ has a unique look, with his wildly dyed hair and loud tattoos. He’s outspoken, has been willing to butt heads with the UFC over his pay, and fights with a crazy level of confidence.
2023 will hopefully see him fight for gold in the octagon, and if he can claim it, then the sky should be the limit for his star power. For now, though, he’s quickly becoming one of the most bankable stars in the promotion.
#2. Dustin Poirier – UFC lightweight contender
In the world of the UFC, the old pro-wrestling trick of making a new star by having them defeat a former or existing one doesn’t always work. Holly Holm, for example, never came close to matching Ronda Rousey’s star power despite beating her, and the same could be said for plenty of others.
The case of Dustin Poirier, then, is a curious one. ‘The Diamond’ is undoubtedly one of the UFC’s most bankable stars. However it feels like his trilogy with Conor McGregor (which saw Poirier win their latter two fights) was just the icing on the cake in terms of turning him into a major name.
Poirier was initially pushed as a headliner back in his days as a featherweight, but despite picking up some big wins, he didn’t quite catch on. It wasn’t until his rise as a lightweight – which started in 2015 (but really picked up steam in 2018) – that he transformed into a genuine superstar.
2018 was the year that saw him claim huge wins over Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez, both in headline bouts on big shows on the Fox network. 2019 saw him claim gold in the octagon for the first time when he beat Max Holloway for the interim lightweight crown.
While he’s never been able to become undisputed champion at 155lbs, Poirier’s charisma and more importantly his willingness to go to war with his opponents have made him wildly popular.
Right now, there’s no doubt that Poirier’s star power is at an all-time high. If he can find a way to overcome Michael Chandler this weekend, then his star could end up rising even further.
#1. Israel Adesanya – UFC middleweight champion
If Dana White wants to create a star from scratch, then there’s every chance he would produce a fighter just like current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
‘The Last Stylebender’, who has defeated 12 opponents at 185lbs since his octagon debut in 2018, fights with a unique, flashy striking style that immediately makes him stand out. It sets him apart, just like former middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.
However, where Silva’s personality was largely stoic, Adesanya is happy to be outspoken and happy to hog the spotlight too. This is something demonstrated by his more memorable entrances, one of which saw him imitate WWE legend The Undertaker.
Sure, some of his more recent fights haven’t been the most entertaining to watch. When he’s on – as he was against Paulo Costa in 2020, for instance – then there are few more incredible fighters to watch in action.
So with everything it takes to be a star, has Adesanya caught on with the fans? The answer is almost definitely yes.
He hasn’t reached a similar level as Conor McGregor when it comes to being a pay-per-view draw just yet. However, his clash with Costa drew 700k buys – one of the best buyrates of 2020 – while he hit 800k buys for his 2021 bout with Jan Blachowicz.
Overall, if ‘The Last Stylebender’ can keep winning – literally in style – then he could well usurp McGregor to become the UFC’s biggest star in the near future.
