Georges St-Pierre has revealed his personal top-five greatest fighters in MMA history, listing Royce Gracie as the man who inspired him to pursue martial arts. He included Demetrious Johnson, believing Johnson would be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world with equalized size, along with Jon Jones, whom he singles out for his record above even Fedor Emelianenko and Tom Aspinall. Anderson Silva made the list for his 'matrix' style, and Conor McGregor was included for his impact on MMA's popularity and his transcendence beyond the sport.
Georges St-Pierre has shared his personal list of the five greatest fighters in MMA history, offering a candid look at the athletes who shaped his view of the sport and his own career.
St-Pierre named Royce Gracie first, crediting the Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer as the fighter who originally inspired him to pursue martial arts. Demetrious Johnson also made the cut, with GSP arguing that Johnson would rank as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet if size were equalized across all competitors. Anderson Silva earned a place on the strength of his distinctive, evasive "matrix" style, while Conor McGregor was recognized not only for his in-cage accomplishments but for the scale of his cultural impact and his ability to transcend the sport entirely.
Jon Jones, carrying a 28-1-0 record and fighting out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, was singled out by St-Pierre specifically for his record — enough, in GSP's view, to rank Jones above even Fedor Emelianenko. Jones lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, and his all-around threat is reflected in his 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes as well. Notably, St-Pierre's list also includes reigning UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, the 33-year-old Englishman who carries a 15-3-0 record and ranks sixth in the pound-for-pound standings. Aspinall lands a remarkable 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy, numbers that place him among the most efficient heavyweights the sport has seen.
Anderson Silva, now 51, compiled a 34-11-0 record across his career and hit 61 percent striking accuracy, the technical precision that clearly left a lasting impression on St-Pierre.
Why it matters
- St-Pierre's list spans multiple eras and weight classes, reflecting how broadly the GOAT conversation has expanded
- Placing Jones above Fedor adds a notable voice to one of MMA's longest-running debates
- Aspinall's inclusion signals growing recognition for the current heavyweight champion as a genuine all-time great in the making
