10 Best UFC Fighters Of The Decade
The 2010s would have looked a whole lot different without this illustrious bunch.
You could definitely argue that this last decade has been the most important in the UFC's 26 year history. Not only have more people around the world started to tune into the spectacle that is Dana White's unique Mixed Martial Arts titan, but the company has now finally begun to establish itself as a serious force in the world of sports.
It's not hard to see why when you assess the level of talent and vast array of characters which are on display at any given UFC event. Yet, even though we've seen many brilliant fighters in the Octagon over the last ten years, only a small batch of these stars can really stake a claim to being the legitimate shining lights inside of the company during that time.
Be that through putting together a dominant streak or becoming one of the promotion's most marketable faces, these fighters have all proved to be some of the absolute standouts inside of the UFC since 2010 reared its head.
So, as we look to close out the decade, there's surely no better time than now to highlight exactly which stars have made these last ten years unforgettable.
10. Jose Aldo
So, if you're already scratching your head and wondering how the guy who got sparked out in 13 seconds by Conor McGregor at UFC 194 managed to make a list of standout fighters over the last decade, cast your mind back a few years.
Before that infamous humbling at the hands of Mystic Mac in 2015, Jose Aldo was enjoying a six year run as WEC/UFC Featherweight Champion.
Aldo's run began just before the start of the 2010s, and he took down the likes of Urijah Faber, Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar and Ricardo Lamas during that historic reign.
It seemed for a long time as though Aldo would never be usurped as the King of the Featherweights and even in the lead up to his titanic clash with McGregor, he was the overwhelming favourite - and for good reason.
Post-title loss he did in fact win the interim (later promoted to undisputed) Featherweight belt - in another clash with Edgar - but would see his dreams of another legendary reign dashed by Max Holloway (more on him later).
Aldo has had a turbulent second half of the decade (hence his low placing on this list) but his first half deserves to be remembered as one of the most dominant in UFC history.