EA SPORTS UFC 5 Best Fighters by Weight Class

Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Georges St-Pierre are the top three fighters in EA SPORTS UFC 5. Jones controls distance with five-star reach, Khabib controls the canvas with maximum wrestling ratings, and St-Pierre pairs elite takedowns with clean combinations.

How Do Five-Star Ratings Influence Matchups in EA SPORTS UFC 5?

Five-star attributes are numerical thresholds that grant top athletes statistical advantages over lower-rated counterparts. The official 5-star roster hub lists eleven baseline five-star combatants, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alexander Volkanovski, Amanda Nunes, Anderson Silva (Legacy), Jon Jones, Valentina Shevchenko, Georges St-Pierre (Legacy), Joanna Jedrzejczyk (Legacy), Israel Adesanya, Islam Makhachev, and Fedor Emelianenko. Selecting an athlete with a five-star overall grade ensures high execution speed, durable health pools, and distinct signature perks that swing momentum in ranked championships.

"UFC 5 captures that in more authentic detail than ever before, from next-generation graphics upgrades that give gameplay animations new life, damage systems that marry the brutality and strategy of the fight game, gameplay updates that make the action feel even more fluid and realistic, and much more." — the official EA SPORTS UFC 5 game features page

EA Sports integrates historical variants alongside current titleholders through alter egos, giving specific iterations of athletes modified stat spreads. While five-star athletes give you the highest baseline execution, four-and-a-half-star fighters yield higher point yields when winning ranked bouts. Choosing between a max-rated specialist and a high-stat contender often depends on whether you prioritize raw ratings or leaderboard climbing efficiency.

EA Sports UFC 5 has plenty of fighters on its roster, let's look and see which fighters rank among the best in their respective divisions and categories.

— Best Fighters in EA Sports UFC 5 - Super Cheats

Division Breakdown: Top Ranked Competitors by Weight Class

Division balance is the core structure determining matchup viability in competitive Octagon play. Each weight class features distinct leaders whose traits cater to specific offensive strategies, ranging from outside kickboxing to smothering top control.

Men's Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight

Heavyweight action prioritizes stopping power, where Jon Jones holds the number one rank, followed by Fedor Emelianenko and Stipe Miocic. Emelianenko possesses 97 punch speed and 95 punch power, pairing quick sambo hand combinations with dangerous knockout ability. Daniel Cormier and interim champion Tom Aspinall complete the division's top five. Aspinall delivers 98 punch speed, 96 punch power, and a long reach that allows players to score knockouts while retaining submission viability on the mat.

At Light Heavyweight, Jon Jones remains at number one with an 86 punch power and 88 kick power baseline, compensated by range control and diverse clinch work. Alex Pereira ranks second with 97 punch power and 96 kick power, functioning as a primary counter for stand-up striking battles. Daniel Cormier ranks third at 93 punch power, followed by Jiri Prochazka at 96 punch power and Jamahal Hill with 98 punch power.

Men's Welterweight, Middleweight, and Lightweight

Welterweight is led by Georges St-Pierre (Legacy) at a five-star rating with 92 punch power and 92 kick power, backed by nine historical title defenses. Leon Edwards holds the second spot at four-and-a-half stars with 91 punch power and 95 kick power, while Kamaru Usman sits third with 94 punch power and 88 kick power. Colby Covington and Shavkat Rakhmonov round out the top five, with Rakhmonov carrying identical 94 ratings in punch and kick power.

Middleweight features five-star striker Israel Adesanya at number one, followed by the legacy edition of Anderson Silva. Both fighters offer exceptional counter-striking stats and fluid switch-stance mechanics. Sean Strickland ranks third, former champion Michael Bisping holds the fourth spot, and Dricus Du Plessis occupies the fifth position.

Lightweight contains two five-star wrestlers at the top: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Nurmagomedov brings an undefeated career profile with 100 ratings across takedowns, clinch control, and ground striking, alongside 91 punch power. Makhachev matches him with 94 punch power, 90 kick power, and the highest takedown grade in the weight class. Justin Gaethje ranks third with 95 punch power and 98 kick power, followed by Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.

Men's Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Flyweight

Featherweight is anchored by cover star Alexander Volkanovski, a five-star fighter with 94 punch power, 93 kick power, 97 punch speed, and 99 footwork. Max Holloway ranks second at four-and-a-half stars with 89 punch power, while Legacy Conor McGregor sits third with 97 punch power, 98 punch speed, and 99 accuracy. Ilia Topuria and Jose Aldo complete the top five featherweight selections.

Bantamweight features Sean O'Malley as the top-rated competitor, carrying a four-and-a-half-star grade with 98 punch speed, 99 accuracy, and 100 head movement, making him effective in stand and bang modes. Aljamain Sterling ranks second with 88 punch power, followed by Cory Sandhagen, Marlon Vera, and Merab Dvalishvili.

Flyweight features Alexandre Pantoja at number one following his title victory over Brandon Moreno. Pantoja possesses 95 punch power and 90 kick power. Moreno ranks second, legacy Demetrious Johnson ranks third with 88 punch power, Henry Cejudo sits fourth, and Deiveson Figueiredo rounds out the group with 98 punch power.

Women's Strawweight, Flyweight, and Bantamweight

Women's Strawweight is led by Joanna Jedrzejczyk (Legacy) at five stars, followed by Zhang Weili with 96 punch speed, 96 punch power, and 94 footwork. Rose Namajunas occupies the third spot, while Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Lemos complete the top five.

Flyweight features Valentina Shevchenko as the five-star division leader, challenged by Alexa Grasso at four-and-a-half stars. Grasso brings 96 punch speed, 93 punch power, 95 footwork, and 96 switch stance, complemented by the Fast Hands perk. Erin Blanchfield, Taila Santos, and strawweight crossover Joanna Jedrzejczyk follow in the ratings.

Bantamweight belongs to five-star fighter Amanda Nunes, who presents 96 punch speed, 98 punch power, and 98 switch stance. Shevchenko ranks second in the division, followed by Holly Holm, Julianna Pena, and Miesha Tate.

Which Attributes Define the Most Effective Combatants?

Core attributes are numerical ratings across punch power, kick power, and takedown control that dictate Octagon strategy. As documented in GameRant's fighter breakdown, individual stats govern how quickly strikes land, how much damage penetrates an opponent's guard, and whether transitions result in a successful submission.

The top five punch power ratings across the entire roster belong to Derrick Lewis at number one, followed by Mike Tyson (1988), Sergei Pavlovich, Jamahal Hill, and Anthony Johnson. These combatants rely on heavy single-shot damage to trigger flash knockouts or doctor checks.

The top five kick power rankings belong to Edson Barboza in the top spot, followed by Justin Gaethje, Jose Aldo, Alex Pereira, and Jan Blachowicz. Combining these high kick values with leg damage allows players to diminish an opponent's footwork and movement speed across longer rounds.

Wrestling authority is led by Islam Makhachev, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Bo Nickal, and Khamzat Chimaev. Selecting one of these five grapplers enables rapid takedowns against strikers who carry weaker defensive fighter ratings.

Selecting the Right Fighter for Specific Playstyles

The table below breaks down five top selections across different divisions, detailing when each athlete is appropriate to select and the tactical limitation associated with their kit.

Where does this guide's official EA SPORTS UFC 5 information come from?

Official details in this guide follow Is EA SPORTS UFC 5 Crossplay? 2023 - No, which describes the game in its own words.

EA SPORTS UFC 5 is a sports game released in 2023, available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Is EA SPORTS UFC 5 Crossplay? 2023 - No