Best striking defense in UFC light heavyweight history

Phil Davis holds the UFC light heavyweight record for best striking defense with 72.3% defense.

UFC fights only, minimum 5 fights. Updated October 20, 2026.

#	Fighter	Defense	Fights
1	Phil Davis	72.3%	13
2	Ryan Bader	71.8%	20
3	Jared Cannonier	68.7%	5
4	Vinny Magalhaes	68.4%	5
5	Eliot Marshall	67.9%	6
6	Thiago Silva	67.3%	12
7	Rich Franklin	65.6%	7
8	Jason Brilz	65.3%	7
9	Lyoto Machida	65.0%	15
10	Michal Oleksiejczuk	64.5%	8
11	Jon Jones	64.5%	22
12	James Te Huna	64.3%	9
13	Rashad Evans	64.0%	20
14	Brian Stann	62.7%	5
15	Forrest Griffin	61.8%	15
16	Matt Hamill	61.4%	15
17	Wilson Gouveia	61.4%	6
18	Keith Jardine	60.8%	12
19	Chuck Liddell	60.0%	19
20	Tito Ortiz	59.5%	23
21	Navajo Stirling	59.4%	6
22	Corey Anderson	59.2%	15
23	Krzysztof Soszynski	59.1%	9
24	Luiz Cane	59.0%	8
25	Francimar Barroso	59.0%	9
26	Tim Boetsch	58.5%	7
27	Quinton Jackson	58.0%	12
28	Sam Hoger	57.1%	5
29	Dustin Jacoby	56.6%	16
30	Tyson Pedro	56.5%	11
31	Eric Schafer	56.1%	7
32	Patrick Cummins	55.9%	13
33	Azamat Murzakanov	55.8%	7
34	Ilir Latifi	55.7%	12
35	Volkan Oezdemir	55.4%	16
36	Magomed Ankalaev	55.3%	17
37	Rogerio Nogueira	54.7%	13
38	Marcin Prachnio	54.6%	11
39	Sam Alvey	54.6%	8
40	Brandon Vera	54.0%	9
41	Fabio Maldonado	53.7%	9
42	Alex Pereira	53.7%	7
43	Elvis Sinosic	52.9%	6
44	Gian Villante	52.9%	15
45	Brendson Ribeiro	52.5%	9
46	Stephan Bonnar	52.4%	15
47	Mauricio Rua	52.2%	24
48	Jan Blachowicz	51.6%	23
49	Alexander Gustafsson	51.6%	17
50	Kyle Kingsbury	51.2%	9

Related records

How we count: results and statistics are from official UFC fight data. Strike and takedown numbers only exist for fights where the UFC recorded them. Rates need at least 5 UFC fights and enough attempts to be meaningful.