While there are many undefeated fighters in the professional MMA, there are a few who stand out from the packaging - fighters compete at the highest level with the best the sport can offer.

In addition to the obstacles to facing gradually tough opponents in each battle, the roster of divisional competitors who hope to end the game has expanded as the fighter’s unbeaten streak has expanded. However, not all unbeaten runs are equal. Some undefeated fighters, such as UFC middleweight BO Nickal and UFC middleweight Michael Morales, are still on the rise, while other former UFC lightweight champions Ilia Topuria have maintained the perfect record for the championship and beyond.

Nickal and Morales will be held this month as Nickal accepted former champion Reinier de Ridder in the joint event on Saturday (10 pm ET on Espn2, 7 pm ET), while Morales faced Gilbert Burns on May 17 (7 pm eSPN+eSP in eSpn+per in pprelims the UFC Fight Night).

To help differentiate the best unbeaten record from other records, ESPN will be ranked in the top 12 in MMA today based on a combination of resume and future potential.

12. Ramazan Kuramagomedov (13-0), PFL middleweight

Kuramagomedov appears to have won the Bellator title in 2024, but quietly, he has been there for a minute. Once in the battle of the same Russian city of Makhachkala, once held at UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and reigned UFC lightweight champion Islamic Mark Khochev, Kuramagomedov first appeared in the PFL in 2018 and he had never had a map before.

11. BoNickal (7-0), UFC middleweight

When Nickal first joined the UFC, everyone thought he would go back to the stars quickly. It didn't perform that way, as he did it only four times in two years. In fact, this may be the best sign that the former NCAA wrestling superstar once reached the top. He wasn't about rushing to make things happen, but he developed his own game and fought appropriately, including Saturday's match against skilled gripper Reinier De Ridder. Ultimately, yes, the sport will need to see his ceiling, but the performance of his career so far should make us very excited about his future.

10. Dakota Ditcheva (14-0), PFL Women's Lightweight Championship

The biggest question for Ditcheva in 2024 is whether she was driven to the level of competition she wasn't ready for. It turns out that Ditcheva's game level is not ready. Not only did she win the PFL lightweight season last year, she did it in a spectacular way - TKO beat Taila Santos, who once challenged the UFC championship. This year, Ditcheva's biggest concern is finding out she is the right opponent.

9. MuhammadMokaev (14-0, 1 NC), Brave CF Men's Lightweight

It's an uncertain time for Mokaev since the UFC refused to re-sign him last summer. The group publicly marked his hard work with, which would be harmful to any MMA fighter. However, support for Mokaev is talent and time. He was still young at the age of 24 and obviously possessed all the talents in the world. Time - Breakthrough Performance - can patch relationships. He is now with Brave CF, but it is not impossible to return to UFC at some point.

8. Michael Morales (17-0), UFC middleweight

Not only is Morales undefeated, he is undoubtedly one of the best prospects for MMA. He is only 25 years old and has already won five wins in the UFC. His next fight on May 15 was against one of the best fighters of the past decade, Gilbert Burns, and it almost felt like a Morales advancement as he had proven himself to belong here. His style is vibrant and his wonderful reels have multiple devastating finishes. He is a middleweight bang-star.

7. JohnnyEblen (16-0), PFL middleweight

Eblen has always been the epitome of consistency – first of all, the Bellator MMA champion and now the PFL stands out. His battles aren't always always blowing, but to some extent, it makes what he does even more impressive. He is just a winner. He won for a long time, he started making good choices for his opponents, and the PFL matchmaker will find ways to keep him properly busy. Eblen is a true talent of 185 pounds and the sport will hope to continue to see him challenged.

6. LeroneMurphy (16-0), UFC feather quantity

One of the quietest winning streaks in the UFC is getting noisier. Murphy, who now has eight consecutive championships in the octagon, has seen his most recent victory in the form of a major event against Josh Emmett’s former champion challenger. Murphy's style and personality are a bit low-key. He was not a fanatical, yelling lad. But he clamped the buttons in every way. There are no real questions about his mentality or commitment to the sport. He is rising.

5. MovsarEvloev (19-0), UFC lightweight

With the UFC for six years, nine consecutive victories. All Evloev's wins came through the decision, which may be why he hasn't fought for the UFC title yet. However, the company cannot deny that it will take longer. Evloev was a leading gripper, and his confidence went from fighting to fighting. He once said he didn't care if he had to 100-0 to win his first UFC title. This may not be necessary, but it shows his mindset. He is a 145 pound question.

4. ShavkatRakhmonov (19-0), UFC middleweight

Rakhmonov walked the distance in his last battle, a five-round unanimous decision to defeat Ian Machado Garry. That was the first time Rakhmonov failed to complete in 19 appearances, ending one of the MMA's most impressive winning streaks. Even if his finish is over, his dominance remains intact. He missed time in 2025 due to injury, but when the man becomes healthy, he will win the title. It was a terrible claim for the person holding the belt at the time.

3. Khamzat Chimaev (14-0), UFC middleweight

Inactivity remains the biggest threat to Chimaev's position in the sport. The UFC is working to book him with the company with a heavyweight powerhouse in Dricus du Plessis. When Chimaev finally got this shot, it would be one of the biggest fights of the year. Chimaev had only one fight in 2024, but he would never be impressive in a single game again - a first round against former champion Robert Whittaker, the main vote.

2. USMANNURMAGOMEDOV (19-0), PFL lightweight

It's not surprising to see Nurmagomedov in this list. The Bellator MMA is no longer there, but Nurmagomedov remains the champion of the sport. In January, he had a serious challenger on the throne of Paul Hughes, and now the PFL with Nurmagomedov's contract may strike back at some point. No matter who he is going to fight next, Nurmagomedov will almost certainly be victorious. He is as legal as them.

1. Iliatopuria (16-0), UFC lightweight

Topuria is arguably the most impressive year in MMA lightweight history, beating two historical greats in former champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Such a year is almost impossible, but Topria is trying. He made an incredible idea earlier this year to be willing to free up the UFC lightweight champion in an attempt to become a lightweight heavyweight champion. Looking forward to this move, he changed his nickname to legendary "La Leyenda".