Five UFC fighters tie for the tallest spot in our database at 6'5" (196 cm): Aleksandar Rakić, Ciryl Gane, Johnny Walker, Ryan Spann, and Greg Hardy. Tom Aspinall sits one centimetre behind at 195 cm, the tallest heavyweight currently in the title picture. The tables below list the tallest and shortest fighters on record, updated for May 2026.
The roster-wide average height is 5'10.7" (179.5 cm), just above the typical US adult male. Heights swing sharply by division. Light heavyweight and heavyweight averages sit above 6'2", while flyweight and women's strawweight cluster around 5'4" to 5'5". Reach tracks within an inch or two of standing height for almost every fighter, so height works as a rough proxy when reach data is missing.
Top 10 tallest MMA fighters
| Name | Height (cm) | Height (ft) | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Hardy | 196 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Ryan Spann | 196 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Ciryl Gane | 196 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Johnny Walker | 196 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Aleksandar Rakić | 196 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Tom Aspinall | 195 cm | 6'5" | View Fighter |
| Dominick Reyes | 194 cm | 6'4" | View Fighter |
| Jiri Prochazka | 193 cm | 6'4" | View Fighter |
| Jon Jones | 193 cm | 6'4" | View Fighter |
| Paul Craig | 193 cm | 6'4" | View Fighter |
Shortest MMA fighters
| Name | Height (cm) | Height (ft) | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megumi Fujii | 160 cm | 5'3" | View Fighter |
| Silvana Gomez Juarez | 160 cm | 5'3" | View Fighter |
| Paige VanZant | 163 cm | 5'4" | View Fighter |
| Zhang Weili | 163 cm | 5'4" | View Fighter |
| Erin Blanchfield | 163 cm | 5'4" | View Fighter |
| Molly McCann | 163 cm | 5'4" | View Fighter |
| Mackenzie Dern | 163 cm | 5'4" | View Fighter |
| Valentina Shevchenko | 165 cm | 5'5" | View Fighter |
MMA fighters compared to other martial artists
The average MMA fighter tends to be shorter, with a shorter reach, than boxers or other traditional martial artists. Grappling favors a shorter stature, which probably explains it. MMA fighters also tend to be lighter than their boxing counterparts, since they need to move quickly and explosively.
Quick stats about UFC fighter heights
Average reach in the UFC is 69.5 inches, against 80.0 inches for the tallest fighter and 61.0 inches for the shortest.
Average heights in each class
Average height climbs steadily from one weight class to the next:
| Weight class | Weight (lbs) | Average height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flyweight | 125 | 5'4" | Shortest fighters in the UFC |
| Bantamweight | 135 | 5'7" | Relatively low average height compared to other divisions |
| Featherweight | 145 | 5'9" | Slightly higher average height than bantamweight |
| Lightweight | 155 | 5'10" | Relatively high average height compared to other divisions |
| Welterweight | 170 | 5'11" | Some of the tallest fighters in the UFC |
| Middleweight | 185 | 6'0" | Relatively high average height compared to other divisions |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 | 6'2" | Some of the tallest fighters in the UFC |
| Heavyweight | 206+ | 6'3" | Some of the tallest fighters in the UFC |
These are just averages, and plenty of fighters in each class are well above or below them. Height is one factor among reach, weight, and fighting style.
Height advantages and disadvantages
Taller fighters have longer reach, so they can land strikes from a distance and keep opponents at bay with kicks and jabs. They also have an easier time defending takedowns, because they can sprawl and use their length to hold opponents off.
Shorter fighters are typically quicker and more agile, so they can dodge, weave, and dart in and out of range. Their lower center of gravity helps them take taller opponents down and control them on the ground. The cost is the reach disadvantage: closing the distance against a long jab is hard.
Tactics for dealing with height differences
Footwork and movement
Use footwork to get inside the opponent's reach. Lateral movement lets a fighter move in and out of range quickly, and feints can bait the opponent into throwing so you can close the distance and counter.
Clinching and takedowns
Take the fight to the ground. Height matters less there, and trips, throws, and takedowns set up submissions or ground and pound.
Strikes to the body
Heads are hard to reach against a taller opponent, so go to the body. Punches, kicks, and knees there wear an opponent down over time and can open up the head later in the fight.
Notable short and tall fighters in UFC history
Short fighters in the UFC
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson, "Mighty Mouse," stands 5'3" (160 cm) and was dominant at flyweight, holding the title for over five years and defending it a record 11 times.
John Lineker
John Lineker, also 5'2" (157 cm), is known for heavy hands and an aggressive style, and has had success at both bantamweight and flyweight.
Tall fighters in the UFC
Stefan Struve
At 7'0" (213 cm), Stefan Struve is the tallest fighter in UFC history. His record was mixed: wins over Stipe Miocic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, but some devastating knockout losses.
Semmy Schilt
At 6'11" (211 cm), Semmy Schilt was a successful kickboxer before MMA, winning the K-1 World Grand Prix four times.
Jon Jones
Jon Jones, at 6'4" (193 cm), dominated light heavyweight, holding the title and beating some of the greatest fighters in UFC history, including Daniel Cormier and Mauricio Rua.