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Combat sports are defined by rivalries. The back-and-forth of two elite competitors meeting multiple times, each fight building on the last, each result demanding a rematch — these are the stories that define generations of fans. The UFC has produced some of the greatest rivalries in combat sports history. Here are the 10 greatest UFC rivalries of all time, ranked by their competitive intensity, narrative arc, and lasting impact on the sport.

1. Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes

Three fights that told a complete story. Hughes dominated GSP in their first meeting, showing the young Canadian that he wasn’t ready. GSP won the rematch by TKO, showing that he had corrected the things that got him stopped. The third fight, the rubber match at UFC 79, was a masterclass from GSP — a unanimous decision that established him as the welterweight king for the rest of the decade. The rivalry showed development on both sides across three years and three fights.

2. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture

The defining light heavyweight rivalry of the early UFC. Liddell knocked out Couture in their first fight. Couture beat Liddell at UFC 49 to win the title. Liddell won the rematch at UFC 52 with a thunderous right hand. Three fights across four years between the two biggest stars of the early UFC. Their fights built the light heavyweight division into one of the sport’s most popular weight classes.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman

Two fights that became the pivot point of the middleweight division’s history. Weidman ended Silva’s 16-fight winning streak at UFC 162 with a knockout that shocked the world. The immediate rematch at UFC 168 produced one of the most horrifying moments in UFC history when Silva’s leg broke on a checked kick. The rivalry redefined what was possible for challengers in the age of seemingly invincible champions.

4. Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier

A trilogy between two great heavyweight champions. Cormier knocked Miocic out in round 1 at UFC 226. Miocic stopped Cormier in round 4 of the rematch — a round he had been losing before a series of body shots finished the fight. The rubber match at UFC 252 was a five-round decision for Miocic, cementing his place as the greatest heavyweight champion in UFC history. Three fights, three different stories, all compelling.

5. Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega

One of the most competitive and well-matched title fights in featherweight history. Holloway defended his title with a comprehensive performance over five rounds, but Ortega pushed him in ways other challengers hadn’t. The shared respect between the two fighters and the quality of Ortega’s title challenge made it one of the best fights of its year.

6. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor

The highest-selling UFC pay-per-view in history. The bad blood between the camps was genuine and extended far beyond fighting. McGregor — the biggest star in combat sports — was completely dominated by Khabib’s smothering grappling and then submitted in round 4. The post-fight brawl generated controversy that kept the story alive for years. The fight itself was historic in its commercial impact.

7. Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker

Their first fight was a unanimous decision for Adesanya at UFC 243 — technically brilliant, with Adesanya outpointing the champion in front of 57,000 fans in Melbourne. Their rematch at UFC 271 was even better — a competitive back-and-forth that Adesanya won again but which validated Whittaker’s credentials at the highest level. Two elite middleweights showing what the sport’s best can look like.

8. Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski

A trilogy that defined the featherweight division for three years. Volkanovski’s decision wins over Holloway were genuinely controversial — many observers scored the second fight for Holloway. The third potential fight (which was proposed but not completed in the trilogy format) would have been one of the most anticipated in featherweight history. Two fighters at the absolute peak of the sport exchanging positions at the top of the division repeatedly.

9. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso

The most important rivalry in women’s flyweight history. Grasso’s submission of the seemingly invincible Shevchenko was one of the greatest upsets in women’s MMA. The rematch ended in a majority draw that left the title situation and the rivalry unresolved. The saga continues to define the division and has generated some of the sport’s most passionate debate about judging and close fights.

10. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson

The first Gustafsson fight at UFC 165 is widely considered the Fight of the Night in Jones’s entire championship career. Gustafsson pushed Jones further than anyone ever had, winning rounds, wobbling him, and pushing the fight to a genuinely close decision. The rematch years later was a more decisive Jones win, but the first fight’s legacy as the night someone finally found the formula to compete with Jones remains one of the division’s most important chapters.