Throughout UFC’s history, some big heavyweights were competing in the octagon.
And then, there were some BIG heavyweights competing in the octagon.
I’m talking about guys that had to weight cut to get to the 265 lbs heavyweight limit.
Here’s a list of the 20 biggest UFC fighters of all time.
It’s hard to determine who’s the biggest, as all fighters adhere to the 265 lbs limit (only a few came over the limit before it was introduced).
Therefore, we’ll look at their overall size, height, and walking weight to see who were the biggest heavyweights ever in the UFC.
When you hear “biggest” or “fattest” guys in UFC history, most people instantly think of Roy Nelson and his big belly.
Well, what if I told you that Big Country barely cracks the Top 20 in that department?
It’s hard to judge these things, as there were only a handful of UFC events before the 265 lbs the promotion introduced the heavyweight limit.
Many fighters walk around a lot heavier than that and then cut to 265, but Big Country isn’t one of them, even though his big belly is world-famous.
In fact, he sometimes gained a few pounds to look extra chubby before his fights.
Some people wondered why he never made the cut to light heavyweight, believing he’d be more efficient, but big Roy never cared for that idea.
He’s roughly 6 feet (183 cm) and a real 265-pounder (120 kg) without having to lose weight for his bouts.
While Shane Carwin was well-known for his giant physique, there were many guys even bigger than him.
Standing at 6’4’’ (188 cm), Carwin weighed in at 265 lbs most of his career.
However, his walking weight was much bigger at around 280 lbs (127 kg).
That’s bigger than most heavyweights in the UFC, but later in his career, Carwin dropped that weight even further, weighing in at around 255 lbs (115kg).
There’s no doubt he was one of the biggest UFC fighters ever, especially around the time when he duked it out against Brock Lesnar.
At first glance, you wouldn’t put Greg Hardy here among the UFC’s biggest fighters ever.
He’s moderately tall and looks chubby, but not one of the biggest ever, right?
Being 6’5’’ (196 cm) and walking around at about 285 lbs (129 kg), Hardy is the only guy ever to (almost) miss weight – at heavyweight.
He initially missed weight coming at 266.5 lbs for his fight against Maurice Greene but slipped past after getting an additional hour to lose the weight.
If being the only guy ever to (almost) miss heavyweight in the UFC doesn’t get you on this list, I don’t know what does.
It’s crazy that Mark Hunt is on this list, considering that he’s shorter than most UFC heavyweights.
However, the legendary Super Samoan had to cut tons of weight to make the 265 lbs limit for most of his fights.
He walked around at 300 lbs (136 kg) for most of his career and then dropping to 265 to make weight.
What’s even more jaw-dropping is the fact that the dude is only 5’10’’ (178 cm), and the UFC heavyweight average is around 6’3’’ (190 cm).
Be it nature, training, steroids, or everything combined; Brock Lesnar was one huge fellow while competing in the UFC.
You put him next to other big guys such as Alistair Overeem or Shane Carwin, and Lesnar dwarfed them.
He wasn’t the tallest fighter around the division at 6’3’’ (191 cm), but he was super buff.
He regularly weighed in at 265, but it is believed his normal walking weight is between 285 and 290 lbs (roughly 130 kg).
Yeah, the guy was big.
Derrick Lewis was the kind of dude that came to weigh-ins with a bucket of fried chicken (before he drastically lost weight and got into the best shape of his life).
However, that doesn’t change how colossal he was during his biggest days.
He stands at 6’3’’ (191 cm), just like Lesnar, but weighed even more at his normal weight, walking at around 300 lbs (136 kg).
In the end, he always made the 265 lbs limit and now regularly weighs in the 255-265 range.
You don’t get the nickname Bigfoot without being a giant.
Antonio Silva was a 6’4’’ (193 cm) giant known for being one of the few fighters to endure brutal weight cuts to make the heavyweight limit.
While he never failed to make weight, he frequently came to the weigh-ins on fight morning at 280-285 lbs, meaning he rehydrated at least 20 lbs (9 kg) after the cut.
That means Bigfoot probably walks around 290-300 lbs (roughly 134 kg), making him well-deserving of his nickname.
Dan Christison wasn’t a big deal in the UFC, going 1-1 in his 2-fight stint with the promotion.
Still, he was one of the heavyweight giants and one of the tallest UFC fighters ever.
Nicknamed Big Dan, the guy was 6’8’ (203 cm)’ and normally weighed around 270 lbs (122 kg) when he was with the UFC.
He won both Fight and Performance of the Night bonuses for his first UFC gig against Brad Imes, only to get unanimously beaten by Frank Mir and never compete in the UFC again.
Later in his career, he even competed in super heavyweight.
Sean McCorkle was pretty decent in his best days, but those days weren’t in the UFC.
The 6’7’’ (201 cm) giant went 1-2 in his UFC career, but some folks will always remember his UFC debut where he submitted Mark Hunt.
After his UFC release, he competed in super heavyweight and even pro-wrestling after his MMA days.
He was a big man in the UFC, but he got to 335 lbs (152 kg) in his last career fight after he left the promotion.
One of the guys on this list that competed before the 265 lbs limit was inducted was Paul Varelans.
He was nicknamed The Polar Bear because he was truly a huge guy.
At 6’8’’ (203 cm), Varelans fought in the UFC at around 310-320 lbs range (140-145 kg).
In his 8 UFC fights, he was a solid 4-4, but he was one of the pioneers of the game.
Later in his career, he got closer to 340-350 lbs (155-160 kg), so his opponents usually knocked him out before he could ever use his size advantage – he went to the 2nd round only once in his career.
If there was ever a guy who knew how to utilize his size in the UFC cage, it’s Tim Sylvia.
He was truly one of the giants and one of the few that crowned their career with a UFC title.
Sylvia stood at 6’8’’ (203 cm) as well, and while he never missed weight in the UFC, he did miss it later in his career (in ONE FC).
He also fought at super heavyweight a lot, and his biggest was 310 lbs (140 kg).
He wanted to make a comeback in 2015 under Reality Fighting, but they forced him to withdraw from the fight after declaring him “dangerously obese.” The former UFC champ got all the way up to 371 lbs (168 kg).
As far as I know, Wesley Sims never had too much trouble making heavyweight.
He was always in the 255-260 lbs range (115-118 kg), and I believe it was maybe just slightly less from his walking weight.
Well, he was a tower, a 6’10’’ (208 cm) tall, the fourth tallest UFC fighter in history (yes, the three taller are also on the list.
Do you want to know why Gan McGee got nicknamed The Giant?
Gan was around the same height as Wes Sims; only he weighed a whole lot more.
During his UFC tenure, he walked at around 270 lbs (122 kg), but he got a whole lot bigger after that.
For his 2004 fight against Semmy Schilt for Pride FC, McGee came in at 295 lbs (134 kg).
He wasn’t a bad fighter, though.
He once fought for the UFC title against Tim Sylvia and lost via TKO, but Sylvia tested positive for steroids later on, so it’s a shame that Gan never got a second chance.
You probably know Semmy Schilt as one of the best kickboxers to ever fight, but yes, he was in the UFC, too.
Even though his PRIDE days were longer, he did have two memorable UFC performances – a great win and a great loss.
He comes in second place when we talk about the UFC’s tallest fighters, but he only weighed around 255-260 lbs (116-118 kg) at the time.
In his biggest days (most notably during his kickboxing career, he got to 290 lbs (132 kg).
If we considered only the 265 lbs limit era, Stefan Struve would be the biggest UFC fighter of all time.
He’s the only 7-footer (213 cm) to ever compete in the UFC, making him the tallest skyscraper to ever battle in the octagon.
He wasn’t that heavy, though, being around 280 lbs (127 kg) walking weight.
However, he towered over his opponents like nobody else, and he knew how to use it, getting eight post-fight bonuses in his storied career.
The top five spots are reserved for guys that competed before the limit was ever inducted.
There weren’t even weight classes, so fighters pretty much came at whatever they liked.
Jon Matua was one of the pioneers, and his numbers were staggering.
He stood at 6’2’’ (188 cm) but weighed a staggering 400 lbs (181 kg) – not walking weight, but fighting weight.
He fought only once in the UFC, but hardcore fans will know his face well.
He was on the receiving end of a brutal knockout against Frank Abbot, which ended up on every UFC classing highlight reel.
Koji fought in the UFC once, in the UFC 9 event against Mark Hall.
He lost the fight after Hall broke his nose with a jab and never competed in the UFC again.
For that fight, though, the Japanese sumo-wrestler had 390 lbs (177 kg), compared to his opponent, who was only around 200 lbs (91 kg).
The 6’6.5’’ (200 cm) Kitao later became a pro-wrestler.
This guy might’ve had the shortest MMA career ever, but he was in the UFC.
In his only career UFC fight, Thomas Ramirez fought Don Frye at UFC 8 and got knocked out in merely 8 seconds.
He never fought in MMA again, but the highlight of him stifling and convulsing on the floor went around the world.
For his 8-second MMA career, Ramirez weighed a whopping 410 lbs (186 kg) while being 6’1’’ (186 cm).
If you are a die-hard UFC or MMA fan, then you know who Teila Tuli is, even though he only fought once in his MMA career, just like Ramirez.
Tuli fought in the first UFC fight ever, on UFC 1 in 1993.
Originally a sumo-wrestler, a 6’2’’ Taylor Wily (Tuli changed his name later) fought at a whopping 415 lbs (188 kg) against Gerard Gordeau.
Tuli came to as much as 450 lbs (204 kg) in his sumo and pro-wrestling career, making him second only to one UFC fighter ever.
By far, the biggest, largest, and heaviest UFC fighter of all time is Emmanuel Yarbrough.
When he fought his only UFC fight, the colossal giant weighed in at an unbelievable 616 lbs (279 kg) in a 6’8’’ (203 cm) frame.
His opponent, Keith Hackney, had only 200 lbs (91 kg).
To this day (and forever), it’s the biggest size difference in UFC history at 416 lbs (188 kg).
Yarbrough lost the fight as he was barely able to move.
He got up to 884 lbs (401 kg) later in life and sadly died of a massive heart attack in 2015 when he was only 51.
On which criteria should we rank the best fighter jet in the world?
Bigger must be better, right?
So, if that’s you, here are the 11 biggest fighter jets in the world, ranked by length, wingspan and max take off weight.Table of Contents11.
Roaring through the sky with powerful engines and unparalleled maneuverability, the fighter jet has revolutionized warfare.
The technology and speed required of these aircraft are truly remarkable.
Anyone who has had the opportunity to see a fighter jet in person can attest that they are one of the most magnificent sights of the modern age.
The first fighter jet was manufactured in 1916.
It was the Aeromarine 39 used during World War I.
Constructed of wood, it was only considered a fighter jet after the pilots were given bombs to physically throw out of the window onto their targets.
Today, we have incredibly powerful, huge fighter jets outfitted with guns and bombs that pilots can launch with their aircraft’s controls.
Fighter jets remain the most interesting and intriguing types of aircraft for most people.
Many people measure a countries military strength by the type of fighter jets they operate.
The more superior fighter jet will likely end up winning the dog fight.
But how is superiority measured when it comes to fighter jets?
If so, one would choose the fastest fighter jet in the world.
Or is the most expensive fighter jet the winner?
Or perhaps we need to keep our sights on sixth-generation fighters.
Whatever the right answer is, some people are convinced that bigger is better (Looking at you, America).
And they will naturally wonder which country has the biggest fighter jets.
Continue reading to learn about the biggest fighter jets by ordered by exterior length.
The Russian Mig, Fulcrum-F is a twin-engine aircraft that can seat one or two crew members.
The Fulcrum-F can reach speeds of up to 1,300 miles per hour.
The Fulcrum-F is armed with an auto cannon and 100 rounds of ammunition, laser-guided rockets, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles, anti-ship missiles, and bombs that can be guided by a variety of methods.
The Fulcrum-F also contains radar technology and several targeting systems.
The Fulcrum-F was first flown in 1997 and remains in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces.
It is believed that there have only been 8 of these jets built to date.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Editorial Team Boeing FA 18EF Super Hornet
The Super Hornet is a twin-engine aircraft seating one crew member in the 18E and two crew members in the 18F.
It can reach speeds of nearly 1,200 miles per hour.
The Super Hornet is armed with a gun that houses 412 rounds along with short and medium range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
It also carries anti-radiation missiles, glide bombs, guided and unguided bombs.
The Super Hornet also employs a targeting system, decoys and a variety of radar technology.
First flown in 1995, the Super Hornet is still in service today with the United States Navy as well as the Royal Australian Air Force and the Kuwait Air Force.
There have been over 600 of these aircraft built since they were introduced.
The American-made F-22 Raptor is a twin-engine aircraft seating one crew member.
The Raptor was built to be difficult to track and detect with radar.
The Raptor is armed with a 20 mm rotary cannon holding 480 rounds as well as air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground missiles and small diameter bombs.
The Raptor is also equipped with advanced radar technology, including a missile launch detector and a radar-warning receiver that can detect radar detection for a range of 250 nautical miles.
The Raptor was first flown in the late 1990’s and remains in service to this day.
It is primarily used by the United States Air Force and there have been a total of 195 of these aircraft built.
The Raptor is capable of ground and electronic warfare and also has intelligence capabilities.
Editorial Team Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The Tomcat is a twin-engine aircraft seating two crew members manufactured by the United States of America.
The Tomcat can reach speeds in excess of 1,500 miles per hour.
The Tomcat is armed with a Gatling cannon which carries 675 rounds as well as 28 rockets, air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, unguided bombs and a targeting system.
The Tomcat also has radar and heat-seeking search and tracking technologies onboard.
Although the United States no longer uses the Tomcat, it is still in service in Iran.
7. McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
7. McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
Robert Sullivan Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15E Strike Eagle
The American Strike Eagle is a twin-engine aircraft seating two crew members.
It has a wingspan of 42.9 ft, a length of 63.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 81,000 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 42.9 ft, a length of 63.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 81,000 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 42.9 ft, a length of 63.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 81,000 lbs.
The Strike Eagle can reach speeds of over 1,600 miles per hour.
The Strike Eagle is outfitted with a Gatling Cannon and up to 500 rounds of ammunition.
It also carries a variety of air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, bombs and countermeasures.
The Strike Eagle has been used to provide air support and patrol and to strike against valuable targets.
The Strike Eagle’s first flight was in 1986 and since then it has remained in service.
It is used by several countries besides the United States, including Saudi Arabia, Israel and Korea.
The United States has deployed the Strike Eagle for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya.
Editorial Team Sukhoi SU-57
The Russian fighter Felon is a twin engine aircraft seating one crew member.
It can reach maximum speeds of 1,320 miles per hour.
The Felon is armed with a gun autocannon, several air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles and anti-radiation missiles.
It is also outfitted with targeting systems, countermeasures and a range of different radar technologies.
It’s first flight took place in 2010 and it is currently still in service.
These jets have an expected service life of up to 35 years.
Like many of its Sukhoi counterparts, it has been used during the ongoing Syrian civil war.
Editorial Team Chengdu J 20 showing its missiles
The Mighty Dragon is a Chinese twin-engine aircraft seating one crew member.
It can fly at speeds exceeding 1,300 miles per hour.
The Mighty Dragon is armed with short and long range air-to-air missiles, anti-radiation missiles and precision-guided bombs.
It is also outfitted with an array of targeting systems and radar.
The Mighty Dragon is a fairly new fighter jet, having made its first flight in 2011.
There are currently at least six Mighty Dragons in active service and they are exclusively used by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air force.
Amy Felce Sukhoi SU-35
The Russian Flanker-E is a twin-engine aircraft seating one crew member.
It has a wingspan of 50.2 ft, a length of 71.10 ft, a height of 19.4 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,509 lb and an impressive fuel capacity of 25,400 lb.
It can fly at speeds of up to 1,500 miles per hour using its Saturn 117S engines.
The Flanker-E is armed with an internal cannon that houses 150 rounds, as well as air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and a variety of rockets and bombs.
The Flanker-E is the second largest fighter jet in the world as well as one of the most maneuverable.
Its closest rival in maneuverability is the F-22 Raptor (number 8 on our list).
Kazakhstan Air Force Sukhoi Su-30SM.
The Flanker-C is a Russian-built twin-engine aircraft seating two crew members.
It has a wingspan of 48.2 ft, a length of 71.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,059 lbs and a fuel capacity of 20,723 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 48.2 ft, a length of 71.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,059 lbs and a fuel capacity of 20,723 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 48.2 ft, a length of 71.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,059 lbs and a fuel capacity of 20,723 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 48.2 ft, a length of 71.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,059 lbs and a fuel capacity of 20,723 lbs.
It has a wingspan of 48.2 ft, a length of 71.9 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of 76,059 lbs and a fuel capacity of 20,723 lbs.
It can fly at speeds of up to 1,317 miles per hour.
It can fly at speeds of up to 1,317 miles per hour.
It has an internal auto-cannon capable of firing 150 rounds as well as rockets, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles and anti-radiation missiles.
The Flanker-C also employs the potential use of a variety of bombs, including general purpose and cluster bombs as well as laser-guided bombs.
Introduced in 1996, the Flanker-C is used by a number of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Belarus, China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, Uganda, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Robert Sullivan A General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark during a refueling mission over the North Sea. The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a medium-range supersonic interdictor and tactical attack aircraft that also fills the roles of strategic nuclear bomber, aerial reconnaissance , and electronic-warfare.
Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, it first entered service in 1967 with the United States Air Force.
The F-111 Aardvark is one of the largest and most expensive strike aircraft in history, and was the first swing-wing fighter capable of supersonic speeds in level flight.
It has a wingspan of 63 ft, a length of 73 ft 6 in, and a max take off weight of 100,000 lb.
The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production aircraft, including variable-sweep wings, after burning turbofan engines , and automated terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight.
Its design influenced later variable-sweep wing aircraft, and some of its advanced features have since become commonplace.
The strength of the F-111 Aardvark was proven in combat during Operation Desert Storm, when 22 F-111 Aardvarks managed to destroy 49 of the 79 Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles that were destroyed by coalition air power.
The U.S. Air Force retired its last F-111s in 1998.
Editorial Team Tupolev Tu-128
The Fiddler is a twin-engine aircraft seating two crew members.
It has a wingspan of 57.6 ft, a length of 98.7 ft, a maximum takeoff weight of up to 96,342 lbs and an impressive fuel capacity of 29,983 lbs.
Its turbojet engines thrust it up to speeds of over 1,035 miles per hour when the jet is armed and nearly 1,200 miles per hour when it is unarmed.
It is armed with air-to-air missiles that use radar and heat-seeking technologies.
The Fiddler is a Russian product that was mainly built to patrol the air in Siberia where other methods of surveillance were impossible or difficult.
There were only about 200 of these fighters ever built and it has only one reported combat operation.
The Fiddler is the biggest, as well as the oldest fighter plane on this list.
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Editorial Team