MMA is a thrilling sport where anything can happen anytime. However, the thing that can catch fans off guard is watching the two fighters attack each other in slow motion while panting. MMA fighters who don’t have good cardio are always at a disadvantage. If a fighter cannot stand up and attack without being gassed, they will have a very little chance to win if taken to the ground. One of the most exhausting parts of a fight can be the exchanges that occur on the ground as a fighter looks for a submission to get the finish. There have been many incredible fighters in the MMA world over the years. However, only a few have impressive cardio.
10) Michael Bisping
Bisping was an amazing MMA fighter throughout his career. He was a man who could withstand serious damage, with his cardio aiding his durability. Bisping has gone the long distance with the best fighters in many bouts and rarely looked like he had just been through one of the toughest bouts in UFC history. His lengthy fight with the legend Anderson Silva is a great example of fantastic cardio. Even though “The Count” was bleeding and taking so much damage, he still looked ready to fight in the fifth round just as he did in the first.
9) Dominick Cruz
Cruz began his MMA career in 2005 and has been a stunning fighter over the years. He has impressive cardio and has competed in some all-out battles with other fighters with impressive stamina, but it is rare to see him exhausting. “The Dominator” has a great MMA record of 24 wins with just four losses. 16 out of his 24 wins have come by decision. He is one of the best bantamweights in MMA history.
8) Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman has always been dominant in the octagon. But very few people must have noticed that most of his fights have gone to long lengths. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has fought 24 professional bouts till now and won 20 of them. The amazing thing is that nine of his wins came via knockout. Even though the former welterweight champion does not consistently get wins by judges’ decisions, he often doesn’t feel like his fights were that big of a deal. While some fighters start panting during post-fight interviews, Usman is always calm and patient in his interviews.
7) Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson is the best fighter ever to fight in the flyweight division. Because of his incredible title reign, the division continued to exist. The “Mighty House” consistently defeated his opponents, making a 13-fight winning streak from 2012 to 2017. His many fights went to five rounds and he always looked ready to get closer to victory. Johnson currently fights in the ONE Championship, where he is the Flyweight champion.
6) Georges St-Pierre
One of the greatest MMA fighters the UFC ever had, Georges St-Pierre, was never seen being tired during his bouts. He used to overpower most of his opponents; this can be proved by the fact that “Rush” has lost only two bouts during his career. GSP ended his career on a thirteen-fight win streak, nine of which he won by decision. Most of his fights went great distances. The former Welterweight and Bantamweight champion was really phenomenal in the octagon.
5) Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz was one of the most exciting fighters in MMA history. He has never been afraid to take on the best that the promotion has to offer because he just simply loves fighting. Even though “The Stockton Slap” has been in trouble in a few bouts, he has always showed off his impressive cardio. Nate’s bouts against Conor McGregor are great examples of his cardio, where he took plenty of damage but barely slowed down.
4) Nick Diaz
One of the most entertaining MMA fighters, Nick Diaz, also has incredible cardio, just like his brother. The two have shared their training videos on social media, showing off some impressive cardio strength. Nick has taken many heavy shots in his fights but always manages to counterattack and regroup quickly to ensure the victory. During his career, “Diablo” has scored 13 out of his 26 wins via knockout.
3) Tony Ferguson
Even though Ferguson has lost seven consecutive bouts since 2020, there is no denying that, despite his losing efforts, “El Cucuy” has managed to remain competitive. He has often been awarded fight of the night or performance of the night, and it’s not hard to see why. During his bouts, almost every round he fights looks like his first, no matter how much damage he has suffered. Throughout his career, most of Ferguson’s wins have come through knockouts and submissions.
2) Frankie Edgar
Although Frankie Edgar has lost his last three bouts, he was a brilliant fighter during his prime. He has amazing skills and cardio that have led him to defeat some of the biggest fighters in MMA, like Charles Oliveira, B.J. Penn and more. He defeated Penn in two lengthy title matches and also managed to win the last trilogy bout against him. Edgar’s impressive cardio has been a major contributor in his victories over big fighters.
1) Alexander Volkanovski
The current Featherweight Champion in the UFC, Alexander Volkanovski, has consistently showcased his impressive cardio by entering each round with the same speed and intensity a fighter possesses when he steps into the octagon. Volkanovski’s many fights have gone the distance and his bout against Brian Ortega especially showed how incredible cardio he has. “The Great” is one of the best MMA fighters in the past two decades and has lost only three fights till now.
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