Islam Makhachev has maintained his position as the pound-for-pound king for over 600 consecutive days.
However, following the events of UFC 317, that lengthy reign appears to be under significant threat.
Ilia Topuria had initially hoped to make a statement by defeating Makhachev to solidify his legacy. Instead, he claimed the vacant lightweight title with a spectacular knockout against future Hall of Famer Charles Oliveira, a performance already considered a Knockout of the Year contender. This victory also placed him in an elite group, becoming one of only 10 fighters in UFC history to hold championship belts in two different weight classes. A tough turn of events compared to his original plan, indeed, Ilia.
Clearly, a win over Makhachev would have removed all doubt regarding who deserves the top spot. Nevertheless, the undefeated Topuria has built a compelling case independently, boasting notable victories over fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. With Makhachev`s next fight against Jack Della Maddalena still some time away, there`s plenty of opportunity to debate the strength of Topuria`s claim to the number one ranking.
Two of our expert panelists are already leaning towards Topuria. While Makhachev began June having received a unanimous clean sweep of first-place votes, the top spot is now shared among three fighters. Makhachev secured three votes, Topuria received two, and surprisingly, flyweight powerhouse Alexandre Pantoja grabbed one. Hot on their heels are contenders like Merab Dvalishvili, Dricus du Plessis, Tom Aspinall, and Magomed Ankalaev. Should Makhachev not succeed in his defense against Della Maddalena, it`s quite plausible he could drop more than a single spot, which is remarkable given his impressive track record to date.
To put it simply, the discussion around the pound-for-pound rankings is exciting once again!
Much of this renewed dynamism is thanks to a certain fighter, previously known for infrequent appearances, who has finally decided to step away from the sport. Jon Jones will undoubtedly remain part of any conversation about the greatest fighters of all time, but he is no longer included in our current ranking system after announcing his retirement.
The interim heavyweight champion had been steadily falling down our rankings for months as it became increasingly clear he was unlikely to face Tom Aspinall or any other potential opponent. Now that he has permanently exited the active roster, it simplifies the process, removing the need to account for a fighter who seemed to have lost his passion for competition some time ago.
Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Noted):
No. 2 Ilia Topuria defeated No. 17 Charles Oliveira
No. 3 (tied) Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France
Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:
No. 5 Dricus du Plessis vs. No. 14 Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 319, August 16)
No. 11 Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier (UFC 318, July 19)
No. 17 Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)
Other Fighters Receiving Votes (Number of Ballots):
Francis Ngannou (2), Aljamain Sterling (2), Joshua Van (1), Mario Bautista (1), Brandon Moreno (1), Cory Sandhagen (1)
Fighters Falling Out of the Rankings (Previous Ranking Noted):
No. 15 Jon Jones (Retirement)