Debate over greatest UFC fighters: Khabib and McGregor missing from top 10 list

A debate has emerged over the criteria for ranking the greatest UFC fighters of all time after Vlad Matveev published a top 10 list that excluded Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The original ranking focused on title defenses, opposition quality, and longevity. Critics argue that additional criteria should include impact on popularizing MMA, peak performance, dominance in fights, commercial success, and records. An alternative top 10 was proposed that includes Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo, Alex Pereira, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, Islam Makhachev, and Amanda Nunes. The discussion highlights the subjective nature of greatness in combat sports and whether influence beyond the octagon should factor into historical rankings.