UFC 129: Jose Aldo and the Top 10 Fighters with the Best Leg Kicks in MMA

It's one of the most damaging and underrated attacks a fighter can utilize to their advantage. It's the equivalent of a body shot in boxing. The ones who do it the best will always have an advantage over their opponent in more ways than one.

It can be used early to wear an opponent down. It can make them less able to move away from strikes. If they are facing a wrestler, leg kicks can be the key factor to taking away the power in their shot. The best can use it to put opponent away.

This is a list of the very best fighters in the sport today with the best leg kicks.

Honorable Mentions

Photo by Tracy Lee

Alan Belcher

Edson Barboza

Anderson Silva

Ricardo Arona

Cung Le

Alistair Overeem

Kenny Florian

Gabriel Gonzaga

Hayato Sakurai

No. 10 Brandon Vera

Brandon Vera has won seven of his 11 professional MMA bouts by knockout including two by kicks and one by leg kicks against Mike Patt at UFC 96.

Whenever Vera gets the chance, he is usually quick to use his leg kicks and striking skills to break down his opponents. He hasn't had success as of late but still possesses some of the best leg kicks in the UFC.

There aren't too many opponents that can withstand leg kicks from Vera, and that's why they rarely take the time to know if they can.

No. 9 Keith Jardine

"The Dean of Mean" has used his leg kicks to earn several UFC victories including one over former UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell.

He also used them to defeat Kerry Schall in his first ever UFC bout.

Without having a significant power advantage over any of the other fighters in the division, Jardine uses his leg kicks to break down his opponents and score points to win a decision if it goes the distance.

Judges have argued before that leg kicks don't finish fights and sometimes don't score them, but Jardine is proof that they do damage and can even finish fights.

No. 8 Pedro Rizzo

In the past, and I mean way in the past, Pedro Rizzo had the best leg kicks in the sport. They are what almost earned him the UFC heavyweight title when he fought Randy Couture in their epic five-round war in 2001.

Since then, he hasn't been as successful in MMA, but still has some of the greatest leg kicks. Anyone who wants to learn how to perfectly throw kicks should watch him fight.

He used them to defeat Ken Shamrock in his last fight in 2010. He is expected to take on former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia sometime later this year where they might come in handy once again.

No. 7 Jose Aldo

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is one of the more dangerous strikers in the sport. He has utilized leg kicks to beat the likes or Urijah Faber in the main event of the first ever WEC PPV.

He battered the former champion's legs for five rounds before being awarded the unanimous decision in the end.

When he takes on Mark Hominick at UFC 129, he will need to put his leg kicks to use to defend the technical striking attack that Hominick will bring. They may just be the key to him being victorious.

No. 6 Mirko "Cro Cop" Flipovic

Even though Pride Open Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko "Cro Cop" Flipovic doesn't use them as much anymore, he still has some of the most dangerous leg kicks in MMA.

If there is one fighter who became famous from using his kicks, it's the man from Croatia. If you ask any fighter who they wish they had kicks similar to, it would probably be Cro Cop.

With over 60 combined MMA and kickboxing bouts, he has the experience and skill to perfectly place every kick and be as damaging and effective as he possibly can. It is what has helped him win 20 of his 39 MMA bouts by knockout.

No. 5 Forrest Griffin

Forrest Griffin doesn't have knockout power, but he does have leg kicks that are capable of taking away his opponent mobility, cardio and power.

If there was one factor in Griffin becoming the UFC light-heavyweight champion, it was the leg kick. He used them against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to win the title. He also used them to beat fighters like Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin.

It's his go-to move and is a factor in all of his fights. Look for it in his next fight versus Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

No. 4 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua knows a thing or two about leg kicks. Just ask his former opponent Lyoto Machida or any of a number of opponents he has fought.

Apart from his relentless bodykick attack, he primarily used leg kicks to wear down Machida to gain a clear advantage late in their first fight. He came up short and lost a unanimous decision, but fans knew who had done the most damage and it was because of his kicks.

Get ready for a battle of leg kicks when Rua takes on Forrest Griffin in a rematch at UFC 134 in Rio.

No. 3 Melvin Manhoef

Although it sometimes works against him, Melvin Manhoef has one of the most ruthless and devastating muay thai and leg kicks in MMA.

With 23 of his 24 wins coming via TKO, Manhoef has one of the highest knockout percentages in the sport. He has beaten some of the very best but is currently on a three-fight losing streak.

With no ground game, many opponents are quick to take the Dutch kickboxer to the ground where they don't have to suffer through his stand up attack.

No. 2 Pat Barry

Heavyweight prospect and former kickboxer Pat "HD" Barry has a 6-2 MMA record with three wins coming via leg kicks.

In his bouts with Dan Evensen and Joey Beltran, Barry brutalized his opponents with a nonstop attack to the legs.

This is one of the biggest advantages a fighter can have, especially in a division that is generally dominated by wrestlers.

In Barry's case, he will always be fighting bigger guys so having a legitimate leg kick attack is something that will always help him break down the beasts that stand in front of him.

No. 1 Thiago Alves

Welterweight contender Thiago Alves has proven time and time again that he has the most devastating leg kicks in the sport.

In bouts versus top welterweights Josh Koscheck, Chris Lytle and John Howard, Alves displayed vicious muay thai and leg kicks that did serious damage to them over the distance of the bouts. He won a unanimous decision in two and a cut stoppage in the other.

Whether or not they helped him secure the victory is not even a question. The leg kicks took their toll on them, and Alves won both bouts by applying his lethal leg kick attack.

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