MMA
Best Striking Defences in UFC History
This article discusses the different striking defence techniques as well as listing fighters with the best striking defence in UFC history.
Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva//Getty Images
Just like in boxing, defence is one of the most important things in mixed martial arts.
Perhaps it's even more vital in MMA than in boxing; in MMA you have to have excellent wrestling defence, submission defence and of course striking defence. You can get hurt in many more ways in the cage as opposed to boxing where you only have to avoid your opponents’ fists.
In this article, we will discuss the differences in striking defence techniques as well as providing you a list of fighters with some of the best striking defences in UFC history.
What is Striking Defence in MMA?
The risk and reward factor of striking defence in MMA is much different. In boxing, you can rely on having a tight guard so you can take your opponents’ punches on your glove. Whereas, in MMA you cannot sit behind a high guard because the gloves in mixed martial arts are so small. Therefore, MMA fighters must use skills like: parrying shots, catch and countering, having good footwork and head movement to evade your opponent.
Conversely, just having a really good reading of the fight game can help you when it comes to striking defence; you may not be blessed with elite footwork or head movement, instead, your fight IQ can get you out of situations before they even manifest.
As far as defending leg kicks go, checking incoming leg kicks can be extremely rewarding. Not only will you be able to avoid taking a heavy kick to your calf or thigh, you can actually do damage to your opponent if you check the kick perfectly.
For those who don't know what “checking a leg kick” means: essentially, you use the densest part of your shin (the bottom part) to block the kick from your opponent. This can lead to you doing damage to their leg or even foot. There have been fights in the past where checking a leg kick has resulted in broken feet, toes, or even worse, a broken tibula and fibula - just see the brutal Anderson Silva leg break versus Chris Weidman as a prime example.
Fighters With Best Striking Defence in UFC History
Sean Strickland punches Israel Adesanya//Getty Images
Here's our top ten list of fighters with the best striking defence in UFC history. The list will be based on a mixture of statistics and skill level.
10. Phil Davis - Light-heavyweight
Phil Davis might be a name that you have never heard of. That being said, the former UFC light-heavyweight actually has the third-best striking defence percentage in history, coming in at 72.3%.
Davis had freakish length which allowed him to stay out of the range of his opponent, thus not absorbing many strikes throughout his time in the UFC.
9. Miles Johns - Bantamweight
Miles Johns is another fighter on this list that statistically is outstanding at striking defence (71%). The bantamweight fighter has a record of 15-2, having only lost once by KO/TKO.
Johns’ slick boxing style and burst of speed makes him hard to hit flush with any strike.
8. Dominick Cruz - Bantamweight
Known for his exceptional and unique footwork and movement, Dominick Cruz really relied on hitting and not getting hit during his prime years, on his way to wins over some all-time greats of the lower divisions like Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson and TJ Dillashaw.
Cruz used his movement and reflexes to frustrate and tire out his opponents, all whilst counter-striking with great precision.
7. Michael “Venom” Page - Welterweight
Michael “Venom” Page is one of the most elusive and technical fighters in the whole of MMA. His point-fighting style is specifically designed to evade and counter strike with supreme efficiency.
If only the Englishman's takedown defence and grappling was at the same level as his striking, he just might have been unstoppable.
6. Israel Adesanya - Middleweight
Israel Adesanya is one of the best counter-strikers in the history of MMA. Known for exiting off of angles and evading his opponents shots, the Nigerian-born fighter always seems to answer back with a stinging hook or head kick.
His fights against Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker are prime examples of his great striking defence and counter-striking.
5. Jon Jones - Light-heavyweight
Jon Jones punches Alexander Gustafsson//Getty Images
For all of his creative striking techniques and his excellent grappling, Jon Jones has really good striking defence, and it's mainly because of his extraordinary length.
Jones’ height of 6ft4 and reach of 84.5-inch allows him to strike from an outside distance in which his opponents cannot land anything on him. This often forces his opponents to lunge in desperately trying to land. To counter that, Jones will stiff arm his opponent's head whilst circling away, and then eventually he regains octagon control.
4. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson - Welterweight
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson has mastered the Karate-based stance. Now into his 40s, the veteran welterweight is still as elusive as they come, relying on that springy Karate stance and his ability to move off the centre line.
Thompson has a very high striking defence percentage of 65%, which is one of the highest in UFC history.
3. Anderson Silva - Middleweight
Known as one of the best defensive fighters in MMA history, a prime Anderson Silva was an excellent counter-striker who would make his opponents miss and then would answer back with a creative combination.
Silva was frustrating to fight because of his defence, reading of the fight game and his creativity. Very few MMA fighters have fought like Silva and achieved what he did.
2. Georges St-Pierre - Welterweight
Georges St-Pierre punches Matt Hughes//Getty Images
Georges St-Pierre is awesome at everything, and striking defence is included in that. The Canadian had legendary striking defence which registered at 72% across his entire UFC career.
St-Pierre's striking defence was great because of his fight IQ and his ability to change the centre line, by switching angles, causing his opponents to never truly be set to throw their strikes.
1. Lyoto Machida - Light-heavyweight
You can't talk about UFC striking defence without mentioning Lyoto Machida. “The Dragon” had exquisite striking defence thanks to his Karate-based style which allowed him to be elusive with his upper body as well as having great footwork.
Machida had a striking defence which exceeded over 60% in the UFC. Considering the level of opposition he fought, that's quite simply outstanding, hence why he ranks at number one on our list.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp