There are many interconnected ways to measure a fighter’s success in MMA. Entertainment value, promotional savvy, a loyal fan base, and even earning power. They are prize fighters, after all.
The most broadly understood characteristic of excellence in a fighter’s career, however, is also the most simple: their record. A series of integers on separate sides of an en dash, often used sans context to represent the totality of a fighter’s ability. Some fighters are fortunate enough, on the biggest stages, to receive the benefit of closer examination. Maybe Douglas Andrade isn’t the best bantamweight in the world, despite his 25–3 record.