The significance and prestige of holding a UFC championship title are arguably at an all-time high. For much of the last two decades, it was generally accepted that a UFC champion was the top fighter in their weight class, yet the presence of major promotions like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship often provided valid contenders for the title of world`s best in specific divisions. Fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko, Demetrious Johnson (post-UFC), Johnny Eblen, Patchy Mix, Patricio Pitbull, Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey (pre-UFC) all demonstrated that elite talent existed outside the octagon.
However, looking at current rankings, the UFC`s dominance is clear. Almost every division`s number one spot is held by a unanimously voted UFC fighter, with heavyweight being the only exception where the titleholder status is slightly less settled after Francis Ngannou`s departure. Tom Aspinall, the current champion, seems poised to solidify his claim with another successful defense.
This leads to the question: are there strong arguments for non-UFC fighters or other UFC contenders to be considered the true number one in their divisions? While some notable talents like the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov and Movsar Evloev are strong contenders awaiting their title shots, the overall consensus still firmly places the reigning UFC champions at the top. Even recent controversial results, like Ilia Topuria`s claim to the lightweight top spot after defeating Charles Oliveira, are debated against the stronger overall record of fighters like Arman Tsarukyan.
Despite the clear dominance of the 11 current UFC champions in their respective weight classes according to rankings, their positions are far from secure. Several champions face significant challenges in the near future. Dricus du Plessis is set to defend against Khamzat Chimaev, Kayla Harrison faces the returning legend Amanda Nunes, and Jack Della Maddalena is lined up against the formidable Islam Makhachev.
As we look ahead, it`s possible that the top-ranked fighters will remain unchanged by the end of the year. However, given the upcoming high-stakes bouts, it would be equally unsurprising to see shifts in the divisional rankings before the year concludes.
Recent Fight Results (Previous Ranking Shown)
Heavyweight: No. 7 Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev, Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. No. 9 Serghei Spivac, No. 12 Phil De Fries def. Arkadiusz Wrzosek
Light Heavyweight: No. 8 Khalil Rountree def. No. 7 Jamahal Hill, No. 13 Azamat Murzakanov def. Brendson Ribeiro
Middleweight: No. 15 Fabian Edwards def. Josh Silveira
Welterweight: Kamaru Usman def. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley, Thad Jean def. No. 10 Jason Jackson
Lightweight: Ilia Topuria def. No. 3 Charles Oliveira, No. 9 (tied) Beneil Dariush def. No. 14 Renato Moicano, No. 9 (tied) Mateusz Gamrot def. Ludovit Klein, No. 11 Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes
Featherweight: N/A
Bantamweight: No. 1 Merab Dvalishvili def. No. 3 Sean O’Malley, No. 10 Mario Bautista def. No. 5 Patchy Mix, No. 11 Sergio Pettis def. Raufeon Stots, No. 15 Magomed Magomedov def. Sarvarjon Khamidov
Flyweight: No. 1 Alexandre Pantoja def. No. 6 Kai Kara-France, Joshua Van def. No. 2 (tied) Brandon Royval, No. 9 Muhammad Mokaev def. Thomas Assis
Women`s Bantamweight: No. 1 Kayla Harrison def. No. 2 Julianna Peña, No. 4 Ketlen Vieira def. No. 5 (tied) Macy Chiasson
Women`s Flyweight: No. 8 Liz Carmouche def. Elora Dana, No. 10 Rose Namajunas def. No. 15 Miranda Maverick, Tracy Cortez def. No. 13 Viviane Araujo
Women`s Strawweight: N/A
Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters
Heavyweight: No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich vs. No. 8 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23), No. 12 Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija (UFC Paris, Sept. 9), No. 15 (tied) Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira (UFC Nashville, July 12)
Light Heavyweight: No. 5 Corey Anderson vs. Denis Goltsov (heavyweight bout) (PFL Africa, July 19), No. 13 Nikita Krylov vs. No. 15 Bogdan Guskov (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26), No. 14 Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23)
Middleweight: No. 1 Dricus du Plessis vs. No. 2 Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 3 Nassourdine Imavov vs. No. 6 Caio Borralho (UFC Paris, Sept. 9), No. 7 Robert Whittaker vs. No. 10 Reinier de Ridder (UFC Baku, July 26), No. 8 Anthony Hernandez vs. No. 13 Roman Dolidze (UFC Vegas 109, Aug. 9), No. 9 Johnny Eblen vs. Costello van Steenis (PFL Africa, July 26), No. 11 Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 12 Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori (UFC 318, July 19), No. 14 Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov (UFC 317, June 28), No. 15 Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta (PFL 10, Aug. 21)
Welterweight: No. 11 Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 12 Michael Page vs. Jared Cannonier (middleweight bout) (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 14 Thad Jean vs. Logan Storley (PFL 8, Aug. 1)
Lightweight: No. 4 Max Holloway vs. No. 7 Dustin Poirier (UFC 318, July 19), No. 15 A.J. McKee vs. Akhmed Magomedov (featherweight bout) (PFL Africa, July 19)
Featherweight: No. 2 Movsar Evloev vs. No. 10 Aaron Pico (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26), No. 3 Diego Lopes vs. No. 7 Jean Silva (Noche UFC, Sept. 13), No. 4 Brian Ortega vs. No. 8 Aljamain Sterling (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23), No. 12 Patricio Pitbull vs. No. 14 Dan Ige (UFC 318, July 19), No. 15 (tied) Jesus Pinedo vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (PFL 8, Aug. 1)
Bantamweight: No. 5 Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)
Flyweight: No. 8 Amir Albazi vs. No. 9 Tatsuro Taira (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2), No. 11 Alex Perez vs. No. 12 Steve Erceg, No. 13 Asu Almabayev vs. No. 15 Ramazan Temirov (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)
Women`s Bantamweight: No. 10 Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2)
Women`s Flyweight: No. 5 Dakota Ditcheva vs. Sumiko Inaba (PFL Africa, July 19), No. 8 Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop (PFL 9, Aug. 15), No. 13 Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci (strawweight bout) (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)
Women`s Strawweight: No. 5 Jessica Andrade vs. No. 11 Loopy Godinez (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 8 Iasmin Lucindo vs. No. 13 Angela Hill (UFC Vegas 109, Aug. 9), No. 10 Amanda Ribas vs. No. 12 Tabatha Ricci (UFC 318, July 19)
Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown)
Heavyweight: Anatoly Malykhin (2), Rizvan Kuniev (1)
Light Heavyweight: Anatoly Malykhin (2), Phil Davis (1), Roman Dolidze (1), Dovlet Yagshimuradov (1), Zhang Mingyang (1)
Middleweight: Roman Kopylov (2), Abus Magomedov (2), Gregory Rodrigues (1), Michael Page (1), Marvin Vettori (1)
Welterweight: Carlos Prates (4), Stephen Thompson (3), Kevin Holland (2), Jason Jackson (2), Shamil Musaev (2), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1)
Lightweight: Gadzhi Rabadanov (3), Benoit Saint Denis (1), Jalin Turner (1)
Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (2), Razhabali Shaydullaev (2), Calvin Kattar (1), Chepe Mariscal (1)
Bantamweight: Montel Jackson (3), Magomed Magomedov (2), Henry Cejudo (1), Marcus McGhee (1)
Flyweight: Kai Asakura (2), Matheus Nicolau (2), Charles Johnson (1), Hiromasa Ougikubo (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)
Women`s Bantamweight: Joselyne Edwards (2), Nora Cornolle (1)
Women`s Flyweight: Jena Bishop (2), Jessica Andrade (1), Karine Silva (1), Ariane da Silva (1)
Women`s Strawweight: Luana Pinheiro (3)
Falling Out of the Rankings (Previous Ranking Shown)
Heavyweight: No. 3 Jon Jones (retirement)
Lightweight: No. 1 Islam Makhachev (moving to welterweight)
