10 Best Defensive Fighters in the UFC Today

The name of the game, as Joe Rogan likes to point out, is to "inflict the most damage while taking the least amount of damage possible."

Some use excellent head movement while others like to use their footwork to run circles around their opponents.

Whatever their method may be, the men on this list are the best in the UFC at turning defense into offense.

10. Phil Davis

"Mr. Wonderful" makes this list because he has the best strikes-absorbed-per-minute ratio in the UFC.

Granted he's only had five fights in the UFC, but in those five fights Davis has absorbed 22 total strikes. This is due to Davis' ability to wrestle his opponents to the ground but he's also shown an improved striking game that features punches as well as kicks.

Davis has shown great ability to avoid being hit, but he will need to work on more than just a takedown as a striking defense to further his defensive potential.

9. Alistair Overeem

Since Overeem's move to heavyweight, he's been virtually unstoppable. His last loss was in 2007 and since then, Overeem has shown opponents why his name is "The Demolition Man."

His superior striking allows Overeem to strike without being touched. He literally had three fights in a row in which he did not absorb a strike.

The reason Overeem doesn't place higher on the list is due to the lack of competition he's fought. Brett Rodgers and Tod Duffee had no business being in the ring with Overeem and he showed why. But against Fabricio Werdum, Overeem saw his striking defense penetrated by the Brazilian grappler.

8. Jon Jones

Jon Jones may be more known for his unorthodox striking, but his natural physical ability actually allows him to be one of the better defensive fighters as well.

His reach and length gives opponents fits once the fight begins. Jones has had almost 10 or more inches of reach on almost every opponent he's faced.

Jones' ability to use his reach to keep opponents at bay has kept him virtually untouched through all but three of his fights in the UFC.

Opponents will need to figure out more ways to get inside of Jones' reach if they hope to dethrone the champion.

7. BJ Penn

BJ Penn while at lightweight seemed like Superman. Not even a speeding bullet could touch BJ Penn's chin.

Then came Frankie Edgar and everything changed. Before Edgar, however, Penn ruled over the lightweight division.

His ability to stop opponents' takedowns while outboxing his foes made Penn the cream of the crop at 155. A solid jab was the foundation for his success that not only set up his combinations, but also kept wrestlers at bay when attempting a takedown.

6. Georges St-Pierre

GSP is more known for his rather uninteresting decision victories as of late, but when St-Pierre chooses to stand with opponents, nobody can touch him.

In his rematch with Josh Koscheck, St-Pierre used a jab to keep Kos off balance while using superior footwork to maneuver around Kos' failed attempt at any offense.

He currently sits at No. 7 on the strikes-absorbed-per-minute list for UFC fighters.

5. Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez has the potential to be one of the most dominant heavyweights in UFC history. His wrestling pedigree is very good and he also has a vast array of strikes to complement his ground game.

When Velasquez has decided to trade strikes with opponents he's been very successful. Other than his war with Cheick Kongo, Velasquez has remain untouched in stand-up battles. He currently sits at No. 4 on the strikes-absorbed-per-minute statistic for UFC fighters.

Like Anderson Silva, foes are almost petrified to mount any offense because they know hitting Velasquez is not always difficult, but they leave themselves open for a takedown as well.

4. Lyoto Machida

The Machida era may have not lasted very long, but the "Machida Puzzle" continues to confuse opponents.

His ability to strike and get away from his foe has made Machida one of the most elusive fighters in UFC history. Part of it is his own talent and part of it is that finding training partners to emulate Machida is difficult. 

Machida has been tagged more in recent fights, a sign of facing better competition, but opponents no doubt feel like they signed up for a marathon as they chase Machida across the Octagon.

3. Frankie Edgar

Apologies to Dana White, but Frankie Edgar isn't No. 2 on my list either.

Edgar's ability to move around has made him one of the most elusive fighters at lightweight. He's always moving around, not giving his opponents a moment to land punches.

When Edgar does strike, by the time his opponents realize they've been hit, he's already back on the outside circling around again.

His recent matches against Maynard have shown that Edgar can be tagged but that if you do knock him down, you better keep him down to prevent the "Frankie Edgar Dance" starting again.

2. Dominick Cruz

If you get tired from watching Frankie Edgar move around, you should be put into a coma trying to keep up with Dominick Cruz's movement.

Cruz's movement allows for him to circle around his foe and land shots while making his opponents miss. His footwork has come under some criticism but his overall movement more than makes up for it.

Even if opponents can somehow get a hand on Cruz they still are forced to deal with his wrestling and attempt to match Cruz's lightning-fast pace.

1. Anderson Silva

Was there any doubt?

The few opponents who attempted to stand with "The Spider" have quickly found themselves collecting their senses on the Octagon canvas.

Silva's ability to stand with his arms at his waist while avoiding his opponents' strikes is like watching a master at work.

If you could watch Picasso at work it would resemble Anderson's striking defense. Each stroke of the brush reveals a bigger picture, just like each movement of Silva's head shows another moment of brilliance.

Then just when you think it can't get any better, Picasso finishes his masterpiece, just as Silva drops his adversary with a single strike.