Best Takedown Defense UFC: Top Active Fighters (2026)

Quick answer

Ilia Topuria has the best takedown defense in UFC among fighters in AgentMMA's active pool: 95.2%. He stopped 20 of 21 attempts across 10 UFC bouts. Jose Aldo follows at 91.6%, with 98 stops from 107 attempts. The ranking uses fights through October 17, 2026, and is current as of October 22, 2026.

Data snapshot: AgentMMA analysis of 4,514 UFC bouts; 313 active fighters who faced 20+ takedown attempts in 5+ UFC bouts; 1994-03-11 to 2026-10-17 (computed 2026-10-22).

Best takedown defense UFC: active fighter leaderboard

Best takedown defense, active UFC fighters

The percentage shows how many recorded attempts failed. The stopped/attempted column makes each sample visible. Topuria has the higher rate, but Aldo faced more than five times as many attempts. Division reflects AgentMMA's classification on the snapshot date.

How this list is counted

AgentMMA adds every opponent takedown landed and attempted across UFC bouts with round-by-round stats. Takedown defense equals one minus opponents' takedowns landed divided by their attempts. It is a career total, not an average of separate bout percentages.

A fighter needs at least five UFC bouts and 20 attempts faced to qualify. AgentMMA then applies its active-fighter flag. That leaves 313 fighters in this study. The cutoff removes tiny samples, but 20 attempts still isn't a large history.

Only recorded attempts count. If opponents rarely shoot, a fighter may reach the threshold with a thin denominator. Read 20/21 differently from 141/164, even though both produce one clean percentage.

Fights outside the UFC never enter this figure. They can still appear in a fighter's professional record. Results follow UFC Stats as stored in AgentMMA's database, and an overturned result counts as a no-contest.

Other leaderboards can use a different date, roster rule, minimum or no-contest policy. The UFC Record Book currently puts Julio Arce first at 96.2% and Topuria second at 95.2%. Its public table is all-time, while this page filters AgentMMA's active pool. That narrower question changes the order.

For the underlying formula and its limits, see How UFC takedown defense is calculated.

Notable names on the list

Ilia Topuria

Topuria's 20 stops from 21 attempts explain his 95.2% mark. One more conceded takedown would move it sharply because the denominator is still small. UFC results show Justin Gaethje stopped him after round four in June 2026. That loss ended Topuria's lightweight title reign, but this ranking measures takedown defense rather than wins.

Jose Aldo

Aldo owns the deepest sample in the top three: 107 attempts across 23 UFC bouts. His 91.6% therefore carries less small-sample risk than Topuria's figure. There is a status problem, though. UFC reported Aldo's retirement in May 2025, so AgentMMA's active flag is stale for him in this snapshot. The row stays because it is part of the computed table.

Islam Makhachev

Makhachev ranks third at 91.3%, after stopping 21 of 23 attempts in 19 UFC bouts. UFC identifies him as its welterweight champion and reported his first successful defense in August 2026. His total spans a long UFC run, yet opponents have tried only 23 recorded takedowns against him.

Petr Yan

Yan's 141 stops from 164 attempts give him the largest denominator on this table. His 86.0% sits below the leaders, but it has faced far more testing. UFC reported that Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title in December 2025. This is the clearest example of why you should read volume beside rate.

Kamaru Usman

Usman stopped 46 of 51 attempts across 20 UFC bouts, good for 90.2%. UFC results show he fought Dricus Du Plessis at middleweight in July 2026 and lost by unanimous decision. His division label reflects that move, while the defense figure covers his full UFC statistical record.

Related AgentMMA pages

• Most takedowns in one fight
• Most takedowns (career)
• Most control time in one fight
• Longest UFC win streaks
• How UFC takedown defense is calculated

How solid is this data?

The base is broad: 4,514 UFC bouts from March 11, 1994, through October 17, 2026. The ranking itself covers only 313 fighters who meet all three rules. They must be marked active, have five UFC bouts and face 20 takedown attempts.

The main limit sits in the denominator. Topuria qualifies with 21 attempts, while Yan has faced 164. One successful takedown against Topuria would move his percentage much more than one against Yan. The table shows both counts so you can judge that risk.

UFC bouts are the only inputs. Fights elsewhere affect a listed pro record, but never this UFC figure. An overturned result is stored as a no-contest. The active filter can also lag a retirement, as Aldo's row shows.

This page changes when new UFC results alter a qualifying fighter's totals or eligibility. A roster-status update can also add or remove a name. The next completed event won't always change the order.

FAQ

Who has the best takedown defense in UFC?

Ilia Topuria leads AgentMMA's active-pool table at 95.2% as of October 22, 2026. He stopped 20 of 21 recorded attempts across 10 UFC bouts.

Who are the UFC takedown defense leaders?

The first three are Ilia Topuria at 95.2%, Jose Aldo at 91.6% and Islam Makhachev at 91.3%. Belal Muhammad follows at 90.6%, then Rafael Fiziev at 90.4%.

What does UFC takedown defense percentage mean?

It is the share of an opponent's recorded takedown attempts that fail. Topuria stopped 20 of 21, which produces 95.2% under AgentMMA's method.

Why doesn't the official UFC takedown defense list match this one?

The public UFC Record Book is an all-time list and currently has Julio Arce first at 96.2%. AgentMMA filters its database to fighters marked active, so its pool and order differ.

Is Jose Aldo still an active UFC fighter?

No. UFC reported that Aldo retired in May 2025. AgentMMA's active flag still included him in this computed snapshot, so his 91.6% row is a known status exception.

How many attempts are needed to enter this ranking?

A fighter needs at least 20 opponent takedown attempts and five UFC bouts. AgentMMA also requires an active status in its database for this page.