Recalling some of the most unique athletes to ever grace the sport of MMA.
The Most Unorthodox UFC Fighters Of All Time
Mixed martial arts skillsets have developed at an astronomical rate since the sport’s early days, to the point where almost everyone who competes in the UFC can be described as “well rounded”.
Today, let’s take a look at some unorthodox UFC fighters who have brought their own unique style to the Octagon.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Machida (26-12 MMA, 16-8 UFC) has gone down in history as one of the greatest fighters to ever compete inside the Octagon. “The Dragon” fought in the UFC between 2007-2018 and captured the light heavyweight title when he knocked out Rashad Evans at UFC 98.
The Brazilian brought a fascinating karate style into the Octagon, often confusing opponents who struggled to figure him out, before rushing onto him and falling prey to his vicious counter-striking.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Tony Ferguson
Few fighters have ever divided fan’s opinions like Tony Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) has. “El Cucuy” arrived in the UFC after winning season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter back in 2011 and went on a rampage, winning 12 of his first 13 UFC fights to capture the interim lightweight championship when he submitted Kevin Lee at UFC 216.
A potential title unification bout with then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov slipped through the cracks after three seperate injury-induced cancellations, with one particularly unfortunate incident resulting in Ferguson being stripped of his interim belt.
While the wheels have fallen off Ferguson’s career in spectacular fashion in recent years, he will always be remembered for his absurd training methods, his bizarre soundbites and his propensity to pull off ridiculous moves inside the Octagon.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Michael Page
A relatively new addition to the UFC roster, Michael “Venom” Page (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has been bewildering opponents for over ten years inside the Bellator cage before making the switch to the world leader in early 2024.
His lanky build and eccentric movement help him stand out from the pack and “MVP” has racked up a collection of some of the most stunning knockouts ever seen inside a cage, none moreso than his skull-shattering flying knee KO of Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos back in 2016.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Keith Jardine
He may never have fought for a championship belt, but Keith Jardine (17-11-2 MMA, 6-7 UFC) had a respectable run in the UFC light heavyweight division between 2005-2010. His style was fascinating to watch, mostly because of how awkward he looked inside the Octagon.
“The Dean of Mean” seemed to lack balance, fundamental skills and coordination, yet still somehow picked up wins over legendary names in the division such as Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell.
Dominick Cruz
Former WEC and UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has been bamboozling opponents with his own unique brand of footwork for almost 20 years. “The Dominator” ruled the roost at 135 lbs before vacating his title after twice undergoing surgery on a torn ACL back in 2011.
He eventually returned after an almost 3-year absence to win the bantamweight title once again, and is still a part of the UFC roster as he waits for “one last dance” inside the Octagon at some point this year.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Genki Sudo
Japanese star Genki Sudo (16-4-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) dipped his toes into the world of the UFC briefly between 2002-2004, picking up submission wins over Leigh Remedios and Mike Brown either side of a defeat at the hands of Duane Ludwig.
“Neo Samurai” was known for his extravagant entrances and his dynamic grappling and racked up eleven submission wins during his short but wildly entertaining career.
Unorthodox UFC Fighters: Anderson Silva
The combat sports career of Anderson Silva (34-11 MMA, 17-7 UFC) may have trickled to a less than dignified end in the last few years via a stint in the squared circle facing the likes of Jake Paul, Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen, but for MMA fans of a certain vintage, “The Spider” will be remembered as one of the most mesmerising talents the UFC has ever seen.
Silva dominated the UFC’s middleweight division from 2006 until 2013, when a defeat against Chris Weidman (and a horrendous leg break in the rematch) kickstarted a losing streak he would never recover from.
When he was at his best, however, he was untouchable. Silva decimated any opponent the UFC put in front of him, with his defeats of Ultimate Fighter legends Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonner being particularly visceral and violent.
