Best Brazilian Fighters Currently in the UFC

Since its existence, Brazil has been home to many iconic MMA fighters. As of 2024, Brazil continues to produce top-tier talent in the UFC across multiple weight classes.

In this list, we rank some of the best Brazilian fighters that are currently contracted to the UFC.

10. Ketlen Vieira

Ketlen Vieira and Pannie Kianzad//Getty Images

Ketlen Vieira competes in the women's bantamweight division where she has climbed to the top of the rankings, currently standing as the number two ranked fighter in the division.

Using her elite grappling skills, she has scored victories over some iconic names in women's mixed martial arts such as Miesha Tate and Holly Holm.

“Fenomeno” has a difficult fight on the horizon at UFC 307 against Kayla Harrison.

9. Vicente Luque 

Vicente Luque//Getty Images

Vicente Luque is a fan-favourite due to some of his excellent fights in the welterweight division. Despite never challenging for the 170-pound title, he remains a constant threat to some of the top-ranked welterweight fighters in the world because of his knockout power.

8. Mackenzie Dern 

Mackenzie Dern punches Jessica Andrade//Getty Images

Mackenzie Dern has been mixing it with the very best the strawweight division has to offer for many years. However, UFC gold still eludes her.

There aren't many female fighters on the UFC roster that possess the elite submission skills that Dern has, and with an ever-improving striking game, this gives her a strong platform to push on for the belt.

7. Jessica Andrade 

Jessica Andrade//Getty Images

A former strawweight champion and current contender in both strawweight and flyweight divisions, Andrade is known for her aggressive striking and relentless pressure.

Andrade won the UFC strawweight title after landing a brutal slam KO against Rose Namajunas, but since then, she has lost her title and has fluctuated between the strawweight and flyweight divisions.

6. Jailton Almeida

Jailton Almeida and Alexandr Romanov//Getty Images

An emerging force in the heavyweight division, Almeida has shown impressive grappling and striking, quickly rising through the ranks with dominant performances which sees him currently standing as the number sixth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC.

It is quite rare these days for a heavyweight to possess genuine black belt-level Brazilian Jiu-jitsu but he is one of them, thus giving him a clear advantage over most opponents in that aspect.

5. Diego Lopes

Diego Lopes//Getty Images

Since losing on his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has gone on a tear in the featherweight division, scoring two quick stoppages in 2023 and then stepping up against Dan Ige to win a decision in 2024.

Up next for the Mexican-Brazilian is a very tricky test against former title challenger Brian Ortega, at UFC 306.

4. Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns kicks Jack Della Maddalena//Getty Images

Gilbert Burns has been a top contender in the welterweight division for many years. “Durinho” is known for his well-rounded game, combining elite grappling with his powerful boxing.

Burns came close to lifting the welterweight title at UFC 258 when he had Kamaru Usman badly hurt, but the (then) champion rallied to score a knockout of his own.

3. Deiveson Figueiredo 

Deiveson Figueiredo//Getty Images

Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo recently moved up to bantamweight after a successful run at flyweight, where he displayed knockout power and submission skills.

He has successfully carried that power and skill up to the 135-pound division which has seen him comfortably defeat Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera.

2. Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira//Getty Images

Charles Oliveira, the former UFC lightweight champion, is a submission specialist with dangerous striking who has been a top fighter in the lightweight division for several years. There is never a boring fight when “Do Bronx” is involved.

The Brazilian currently has the most finishes in UFC history with 20. Most of these victories have come via submission and he also holds the record for the most submissions in UFC history with 16.