After Ilia Topuria moved out of the featherweight division, Alexander Volkanovski seized the opportunity to reclaim the top spot.
At UFC 314`s main event, Alexander Volkanovski, the former champion, once again became the champion. He delivered a classic five-round victory against a tough opponent, Diego Lopes. As expected, Volkanovski is back at number one in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Topuria is no longer ranked in this division as he plans to compete only at 155 pounds.
This situation is familiar to MMA fans. Volkanovski held the No. 1 position for over four years before Topuria defeated him at UFC 314. Now, Volkanovski has many opportunities to build on his legacy. Several new contenders are waiting, including the undefeated Movsar Evloev and other fighters who achieved significant wins this April.
Jean Silva also made a big impact at UFC 314. He improved his UFC record to 5-0 with an impressive victory over Bryce Mitchell. Silva dominated Mitchell with his striking and finished the fight with a ninja choke in the second round. Many believe Silva was the most talked-about fighter after the Miami event due to his spectacular performance.
Lerone Murphy also quietly climbed into the top 10 after defeating Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105. Murphy is undefeated as a professional and has won eight consecutive UFC fights since his debut draw. If opportunities arise, Murphy could get a title shot sooner rather than later.
Regardless of who is next, Volkanovski is back in control of the featherweight division, which seemed unlikely after his loss to Topuria 14 months prior. His return to the top is a positive story in 2025, and he is surely motivated to prove his doubters wrong again.
Here are the recent results for ranked fighters: Alexander Volkanovski (previous rank #2) defeated Diego Lopes (previous rank #5), Yair Rodriguez (previous rank #8) defeated Patricio Pitbull (previous rank #9), Lerone Murphy (previous rank #13) defeated Josh Emmett (previous rank #10).
Upcoming fights featuring ranked fighters: Giga Chikadze (rank #14) vs. David Onama (UFC Kansas City, April 26).
Other fighters who received votes: Dan Ige, Kleber Koike, Calvin Kattar.
