The strongest Mortal Kombat fighters who will easily crush the UFC

From its inception to its execution, UFC 250 attracted a lot of constant discourse, and much could be said about everything that happened outside the cage, including the fact that one of the organization's most popular champions was kicked out of the premises. However, most fans can agree on one thing: the fights were largely unbelievable. Despite appearing to be a somewhat underwhelming main event in the lead-up, Justin Gaethje and Ilya Topuria put on one heck of a show!

As the challenger leader of combat sports firmly established in 2026, the UFC has left behind the days when it would market itself as real life. Mortal Kombat. UFC 1, famously marketed with the tagline “There Are No Rules,” tapped into the counter-cultural zeitgeist fueled by Midway's franchise, sparking a similar but more profound moral outrage in the process. Nowadays, both the UFC and Mortal Kombat There are huge, mainstream properties… I mean, the UFC was just a White House event, and Mortal Kombat 2 grossed nearly $70 million at the box office.

This got me thinking: which one MK Fighters will dominate the UFC And gold for years?

Johnny Cage

Welcome, new UFC mega star

• Era: Mortal Kombat 1
• Weight division: UFC middleweight (185 lbs) or welterweight (170 lbs)
• Entrance Theme Song: Remix of songs from his movies / “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
• Height: 6'1″
• Martial Arts/Fighting Style: Kickboxing, boxing

Unlike his previous incarnations, which involved some magic, Mortal Kombat 1Johnny Cage is just a great martial artist with a huge ego. He primarily fights using a combination of kickboxing and traditional boxing, incorporating quick jabs, counters, and wheel kicks. While the latter can certainly backfire badly in the UFC (as Chris Weidman learned first-hand in his UFC 194 fight against Luke Rockhold), Cage's lightning-fast movement almost defies human limitations, suggesting he'll be able to catch opponents or at least recover in time to minimize damage.

In the middleweight division, elite striking repeatedly proves to be the difference maker, exemplified by Israel Adesanya and Alex Perera's perfect blend of timing and precision. Cage takes those elements and magnifies them to, well, video game proportions, making him basically untouchable on foot. Kickboxers can be vulnerable to wrestlers who press them to the canvas, but Johnny's defensive moves are specifically designed to counter lunges. In fact, if a wrestler attempts a takedown he will receive the winning blow.

Finally, Johnny is the ultimate hype man, and he will 100% throw most opponents before they even get to the cage. Granted, he probably won't be a bad trash talker like Chael Sonnen, but his brash attitude will get under everyone's skin inside and outside the cage. The UFC will also see $$$.

How can Johnny lose…

Johnny fights dirty. Scratch that, he's literally hardened to fighting dirt. In extreme hype, he'll forget himself and punch someone in the groin, getting disqualified in the process.

Casey Cage

Welcome, The New UFC Mega Star (Part 2)

• Era: Mortal Kombat X and 11
• Weight division: UFC Women's Bantamweight (135 lbs.)
• Entrance Theme Song: “Bubblegum B*tch” by MARINA
• Height: 5'8″
• Martial Arts/Fighting Style: Fighting, boxing

I almost went with Sonya Blade because she's voiced by Ronda Rousey MK11But Cassie looks like she would fare well in the UFC. For one thing, he has the larger-than-life personality that's really needed to be a breakthrough MMA star these days. Second, she is a good fighter, combining her mother's weapon-based military training with Johnny's martial arts.

Obviously, Cassie can't enter the Octagon armed with a pistol or wearing her special forces armor, and she has to rely on her hand-to-hand skills (and her brawler version MK10). She is a high-pressure MMA striker who uses hooks, head movements (like her mother), and takedowns. Unlike traditional point-fighters who wait for openings, Cassie fights off extreme forward pressure, and her height and reach are almost identical to the division's reigning champion, Kayla Harrison.

How can Casey lose…

Because of her military background, Cassie relies on game plans and data. If she meets a fighter who goes against the script, she may be caught off guard. Although she won't be able to take a selfie in the Octagon, she might be distracted by the media's side.

That, or Cassie enters the cage with Amanda Nunes. I'm not betting against the Lions.

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Liu Kang

An honorable champion

• Era: Classic
• Weight division: UFC Lightweight (155 pounds)
• Entrance Theme Song: Theme from Enter the dragon By Lalo Shifrin
• Height: 5'10″
• Martial Arts/Fighting Style: Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin Kung Fu

Before becoming the Fire God, Liu Kang was just your humble, average Bruce Lee and Gordon Liu fusion. In the classic era, Kang fights with fluidity, explosiveness, and economical movement, relying on mid-to-low kicks and rapid-fire punches to slowly chip away at opponents (and maybe give them a “dead leg”).

Historically and statistically, the UFC's lightweight division is the most competitive and deeply stacked. As a result, we've seen many types of fighters rise up, from combo brawlers to wrestlers who maintain control for almost the entire duration. Elite strikers are perhaps the flashiest and most popular, with many of them emphasizing boxing and attritional leg kicks to slow down other fighters. Kang simply operates on a different plane of motion, and his stance maximizes his mobility for both defense and offense. He is also deadly with his hands and feet, making him a good all-around fighter. If a fighter tries to circle the fence to relieve the pressure, Kang's speed allows him to close the distance and land the final hit.

How could Liu Kang lose…

To be honest, Kang's success will be in the hands of his opponent. Against the striker? He wins. Against a high-pressure, counter-counter machine like Khabib Nurmagomedov? Yes, no, Kang's direct nature will be his undoing.

Reco

The UFC heavyweight division could use a new body

• Era: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023)
• Weight division: UFC heavyweight (maximum 265 pounds)
• Entrance Theme Song: “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden
• Height: 6'3″
• Martial Arts/Fighting Style: Muay Thai, wrestling

Mortal Kombat 1 Reiko was completely rebuilt from the ground up, stripping her of any supernatural-flirting elements and turning her into, frankly, a pure modern MMA fighter. He relies on holds, tackles and suplexes. The latter may not be as flashy in the Octagon, but his sheer size and strength will allow him to handle many of the UFC's biggest boys. At around 273 lbs, Reiko could easily cut down to 265 lbs and then rehydrate to his standard weight, and he would match up with the meatiest members of the division (Tom Aspinall or Brock Lesnar).

While he can hold his own on his feet, Ray will be a classic ground-and-pound nightmare who has the raw physical strength to break down defensive guards. No complicated jiu-jitsu submissions; Riko would trap his opponent's wrists and unleash short range elbows until the ref stepped in.

How can Reiko lose…

Rekos are trained and bred to kill, not score points. He could very well end up with an illegal move that would disqualify him, and Herb Dean would have the thankless task of not only stopping the fight but letting Reiko know he's lost.

Reiko's strikes can also be a bit reckless, making her vulnerable to a faster striker like Aspinall, Gane, or maybe John Jones.