EA SPORTS UFC 5 best fighters: Top 5-Star Picks and Fan Favorites

If you are hunting for the EA SPORTS UFC 5 best fighters, your pick decides whether you dominate the Octagon or get countered in seconds. In EA SPORTS UFC 5, fighter ratings, weight class, and move sets directly affect striking, grappling, and submission success, so selecting the right athlete matters from the opening bell. The verified answer comes from two sources: EA’s official 5-star roster and a community-driven Tapology fan ranking for UFC 5.

What Makes a Fighter “Best” in EA SPORTS UFC 5?

EA does not publish one universal “best” list. The clearest first-party indicator is the 5-star rating tier on the official roster hub. Fighters with a 5-star rating represent the highest-rated tier available in the game. The roster hub also confirms that Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski are the cover stars, making them marquee choices. Beyond pre-made athletes, you can build a custom fighter in Career Mode and raise stats over time, so “best” can also mean the fighter you develop to fit your playstyle.

The Official EA SPORTS UFC 5 5-Star Roster

According to EA’s dedicated 5-Star Fighter Roster hub, the following athletes carry the top 5-star rating in EA SPORTS UFC 5. This is the most authoritative list of high-rated fighters because it comes directly from the game’s official roster hub.

For the full first-party list, check EA’s official UFC 5 5-Star Fighter Roster.

Community-Voted Favorites: Tapology Fan Ranking

Not every player picks purely by rating. A community-sourced ranking on Tapology, created by user Terminator008 and titled “OP fighters to play as in UFC 5,” compiles votes from Tapology users into a consensus list. Because this is fan-voted and not an official EA rating, treat it as player preference rather than a first-party tier. The top 15 consensus picks are:

1. Max “Blessed” Holloway
2. “The Notorious” Conor McGregor
3. Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya
4. Anderson “The Spider” Silva
5. Ilia “El Matador” Topuria
6. Alex “Poatan” Pereira
7. Georges “Rush” St-Pierre
8. “Suga” Sean O’Malley
9. Islam Makhachev
10. Jack Della Maddalena
11. Michael “Venom” Page
12. Cory Sandhagen
13. Petr “No Mercy” Yan
14. Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane
15. Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes

Notice that several names, such as Israel Adesanya, Amanda Nunes, and Islam Makhachev, appear on both the official 5-star roster and the fan ranking, which strengthens their case as elite picks. To see the live community votes, visit the Tapology fan ranking for UFC 5.

New Fighters and Cover Stars on the Roster

The wider UFC 5 Fighter Roster hub also highlights new additions and the cover athletes. The confirmed cover stars are Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski. EA labels the following competitors as new fighters on the roster hub:

• Joshua Van
• Reinier de Ridder
• Ignacio Bahamondes
• Esteban Ribovics
• Sean Woodson
• Bryan Battle
• Mauricio Ruffy
• Iasmin Lucindo
• Bas Rutten
• Asu Almabayev

These names expand the playable roster, but they are not listed in the 5-star tier in the extracted roster data.

How to Build a Top Fighter in Career Mode

If you prefer to create your own elite fighter, EA SPORTS UFC 5 lets you develop a custom athlete from scratch. You can customize appearance details such as hair, eye color, and tattoos, then choose a weight class and fighter type. As you progress through Career Mode, you can level up key stats, including stand-up and submission skills, by earning XP. Playing different modes and completing challenge-board challenges grants XP for Punch Card progression. You can also earn UFC Coins through Punch Card rewards and Fight Week contracts, then spend them in the Store on gear, accessories, emotes, and select Alter Egos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which EA SPORTS UFC 5 best fighters are officially 5-star rated?

The official 5-star roster includes Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alexander Volkanovski, Amanda Nunes, Anderson Silva (Legacy), Jon Jones, Valentina Shevchenko, Georges St Pierre (Legacy), Joanna Jedrzejczyk (Legacy), Israel Adesanya, Islam Makhachev, and Fedor Emelianenko, according to EA’s 5-star hub.

Are the Tapology picks official EA ratings?

No. The Tapology list is a community-sourced fan ranking based on user votes, while the 5-star roster is EA’s first-party in-game rating tier.

Who are the cover stars of EA SPORTS UFC 5?

Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski are confirmed as the cover stars on the official UFC 5 Fighter Roster hub.

Can I use a created fighter instead of a 5-star athlete?

Yes. Career Mode lets you create a fighter, pick a weight class and fighter type, and level up stats like stand-up and submissions as you play.