Today, a UFC championship holds more significance than ever. This isn`t entirely new, as for the past couple of decades, a UFC champion was widely seen as the top fighter in their weight class. However, in earlier eras, when promotions like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship were prominent, there was always room for debate about global supremacy.
Legends like Fedor Emelianenko were considered heavyweight kings without fighting in the octagon. Demetrious Johnson was seen as the top flyweight globally after moving to ONE. Bellator stars like Johnny Eblen, Patchy Mix, and Patricio Pitbull were strong challengers to their UFC peers. Pioneering female fighters such as Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey dominated elsewhere before the UFC embraced women`s MMA.
Examining the current rankings, almost every division boasts a unanimously voted No. 1 fighter. The exception is heavyweight, where Francis Ngannou, who vacated his UFC title and has fought more recently than current champion Tom Aspinall, received a single vote. It appears Aspinall is just one successful undisputed title defense away from solidifying his top spot.
This raises the question: could any other fighter arguably be ranked No. 1 in their division instead? Consider the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. An injury prevented him from challenging Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title, and now he`s sidelined while new champion Jack Della Maddalena is set to fight the top pound-for-pound fighter, Islam Makhachev.
What about Movsar Evloev? He`s also undefeated and seemingly needs another win to earn a title shot. Despite his 8-0 UFC record, he wasn`t chosen to fight for the vacant featherweight title after Ilia Topuria vacated it. Instead, matchmakers booked Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
There`s even room to question if Ilia Topuria is the undisputed lightweight king following his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 (though his spectacular knockout makes that a tough argument). Arman Tsarukyan also recently beat Oliveira and has a deeper resume in the lightweight division.
Clearly, it`s difficult to argue that the current 11 UFC champions aren`t the best in their weight classes. However, their positions at the top are far from secure. For example, Dricus du Plessis faces a major challenge against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. Kayla Harrison must defend against the legendary Amanda Nunes, widely considered the greatest female champion ever. And Della Maddalena faces the formidable Islam Makhachev soon.
As we reach the middle of 2025, it`s possible the top-ranked fighters will remain the same by year`s end. However, it would also not be surprising to see significant changes in the rankings before the year concludes.
Ranking Movements and Upcoming Bouts by Division
Heavyweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 7 Curtis Blaydes defeated Rizvan Kuniev, Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeated No. 9 Serghei Spivac, No. 12 Phil De Fries defeated Arkadiusz Wrzosek.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Anatoly Malykhin (2), Rizvan Kuniev (1).
Falling out of the rankings (previous ranking shown): No. 3 Jon Jones (retirement).
Light Heavyweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 8 Khalil Rountree defeated No. 7 Jamahal Hill, No. 13 Azamat Murzakanov defeated Brendson Ribeiro.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Anatoly Malykhin (2), Phil Davis (1), Roman Dolidze (1), Dovlet Yagshimuradov (1), Zhang Mingyang (1).
Middleweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 15 Fabian Edwards defeated Josh Silveira.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Roman Kopylov (2), Abus Magomedov (2), Gregory Rodrigues (1), Michael Page (1), Marvin Vettori (1).
Welterweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): Kamaru Usman defeated No. 7 Joaquin Buckley, Thad Jean defeated No. 10 Jason Jackson.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Carlos Prates (4), Stephen Thompson (3), Kevin Holland (2), Jason Jackson (2), Shamil Musaev (2), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1).
Lightweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): Ilia Topuria defeated No. 3 Charles Oliveira, No. 9 (tied) Beneil Dariush defeated No. 14 Renato Moicano, No. 9 (tied) Mateusz Gamrot defeated Ludovit Klein, No. 11 Rafael Fiziev defeated Ignacio Bahamondes.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Gadzhi Rabadanov (3), Benoit Saint Denis (1), Jalin Turner (1).
Falling out of the rankings (previous ranking shown): No. 1 Islam Makhachev (moving to welterweight).
Featherweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): N/A.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Movlid Khaybulaev (2), Razhabali Shaydullaev (2), Calvin Kattar (1), Chepe Mariscal (1).
Bantamweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 1 Merab Dvalishvili defeated No. 3 Sean O’Malley, No. 10 Mario Bautista defeated No. 5 Patchy Mix, No. 11 Sergio Pettis defeated Raufeon Stots, No. 15 Magomed Magomedov defeated Sarvarjon Khamidov.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 5 Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Montel Jackson (3), Magomed Magomedov (2), Henry Cejudo (1), Marcus McGhee (1).
Flyweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 1 Alexandre Pantoja defeated No. 6 Kai Kara-France, Joshua Van defeated No. 2 (tied) Brandon Royval), No. 9 Muhammad Mokaev defeated Thomas Assis.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Kai Asakura (2), Matheus Nicolau (2), Charles Johnson (1), Hiromasa Ougikubo (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1).
Women`s Bantamweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 1 Kayla Harrison defeated No. 2 Julianna Peña, No. 4 Ketlen Vieira defeated No. 5 (tied) Macy Chiasson.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 10 Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Joselyne Edwards (2), Nora Cornolle (1).
Women`s Flyweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 8 Liz Carmouche defeated Elora Dana, No. 10 Rose Namajunas defeated No. 15 Miranda Maverick, Tracy Cortez defeated No. 13 Viviane Araujo.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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).
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Jena Bishop (2), Jessica Andrade (1), Karine Silva (1), Ariane da Silva (1).
Women`s Strawweight:
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown):
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: 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): Luana Pinheiro (3).
