UFC Divisional Rankings: Which Dominant Champion is Most at Risk?

The significance of holding UFC gold has never been greater.

This isn`t a groundbreaking realization, considering that for the better part of the last two decades, being a UFC champion generally meant you were considered the top fighter in your weight class. However, back when organizations like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship were major players in MMA, there was always room for debate on who was truly number one globally.

For years, Fedor Emelianenko was widely regarded as the heavyweight king despite never competing in the octagon. When Demetrious Johnson moved from UFC to ONE, he was still seen by many as the world`s premier flyweight. Fighters developed outside the UFC, such as Bellator`s Johnny Eblen, Patchy Mix, and Patricio Pitbull, presented compelling arguments for being on par with or surpassing their UFC counterparts. And long before Dana White featured women`s divisions, legends like Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey were dominating in other promotions.

Fast forward to today`s rankings. In almost every division, the No. 1 spot is held by a fighter who received unanimous votes. The heavyweight division is a rare exception; although Francis Ngannou, who left for PFL without losing his UFC title and has fought more recently than current champion Tom Aspinall, still got a single vote. It feels like Aspinall is just one successful undisputed title defense away from solidifying his claim on that final ballot.

Given this dominance, the question arises: Is there any fighter outside the top spot who could convincingly claim they should be No. 1 instead? Consider the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, who missed his chance to fight Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title due to injury and is now sidelines while the new champion Jack Della Maddalena prepares for a potential clash with Pound-for-Pound No. 1 Islam Makhachev.

What about Movsar Evloev, another undefeated fighter who also seems to need another victory to earn a title shot? Despite his 8-0 UFC record, Evloev was passed over for the vacant featherweight title fight after Ilia Topuria moved up, with Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes getting the opportunity instead.

One could even argue Ilia Topuria isn`t the clear lightweight ruler after his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 (though that stunning knockout makes it a tough case to make). After all, Arman Tsarukyan also recently defeated Oliveira and arguably has a more extensive track record at 155 pounds.

As evident, it`s challenging to argue against the current 11 UFC champions being the clear-cut best in their respective divisions. However, this doesn`t mean their reign at the top is secure. Dricus du Plessis faces a major test against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. Kayla Harrison is challenged by the returning legend Amanda Nunes, arguably the greatest female fighter ever. And Della Maddalena is set for a formidable encounter with Islam Makhachev.

At the midpoint of 2025, it`s entirely possible the same names will remain at No. 1 by the year`s end. On the other hand, it wouldn`t be surprising if the remaining months bring significant shifts and surprises in the rankings.

Heavyweight

Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown):

• No. 7 Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev
• Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. No. 9 Serghei Spivac
• No. 12 Phil De Fries def. 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 def. No. 7 Jamahal Hill
• No. 13 Azamat Murzakanov def. 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 def. 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 def. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley
• Thad Jean def. 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 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

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 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

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 def. No. 6 Kai Kara-France
• Joshua Van def. No. 2 (tied) Brandon Royval)
• No. 9 Muhammad Mokaev def. 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 / Featherweight

Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown):

• No. 1 Kayla Harrison def. No. 2 Julianna Peña
• No. 4 Ketlen Vieira def. 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 def. Elora Dana
• No. 10 Rose Namajunas def. No. 15 Miranda Maverick
• Tracy Cortez def. 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):

• N/A

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)