Max Holloway Was Left Out The List: This UFC Top 25 American Fighters Ranking Just Got WAY More Interesting

Alright, fight fans, listen up! UFC Freedom 250 is about to blow up the South Lawn of the White House this Sunday, and trust me, the spotlight is going to be blinding. It's all part of America's 250th birthday bash, so you know this isn't just any fight night. To crank up the hype even more, someone dropped a ranking of the top 25 American fighters in UFC history, and let's just say, they started a conversation before the first punch is even thrown!

The Max Holloway Mystery, Solved (Kind Of)

So, how did they even put this list together? It wasn't just throwing darts at a board, that's for sure. They looked at a fighter's full legacy, their accomplishments inside the Octagon, how innovative they were, and yeah, a little bit of "vibes" too. The kicker? It's all about their UFC career only. No outside stuff. And if a guy peaked early but fizzled later, his peak still got the weight. This is important, because these rules led to some wild choices and, well, one pretty big oopsie at first: Max Holloway was accidentally left off the original list! Glad they fixed that, because you know the internet would have melted down.

Old School Dominance and Bantamweight Kings

Kicking off the list at #25, we've got the legendary Dan Severn. This dude was the first real deal amateur wrestler to absolutely storm the Octagon. We're talking two-time NCAA Division I All-American and two-time Olympic alternate! He showed everyone what wrestling could do back in the early days. After a tough loss to Royce Gracie in the UFC 4 finals, Severn bounced back hard, winning the very next tournament and then snagging the 1995 Ultimate Ultimate. Wins over guys like Oleg Taktarov (twice!), Dave Beneteau, Paul Varelans, and Tank Abbott? That's nothing to sneeze at! He even avenged a prior "superfight championship" loss against Ken Shamrock at UFC 9, even if that fight was a total mess thanks to emergency rules. He eventually lost the first UFC heavyweight title fight to Mark Coleman at UFC 12, but his place in history was already locked down. Then at #24, we see Aljamain Sterling, and honestly, he's got a solid case to be even higher up. The guy's got 14 wins, the most in bantamweight division history! He's a one-time UFC bantamweight champion and defended that belt three times. The list creators mentioned "a few factors" holding him back, but you can't deny his resume. He won the title in a huge moment, which just proves he belongs on this list. So there you have it, the very first peek at how they're ranking the best American fighters ever. Whether you agree or not, one thing is clear: these lists always spark serious debate, and that's half the fun! With UFC Freedom 250 just days away at the White House, this ranking just added another layer of hype to what's already set to be an unforgettable event. Get ready, because the Octagon is about to explode!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.