Islam Makhachev has held the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings for over 600 days.
Following the events of UFC 317, his reign is now facing a significant challenge.
Ilia Topuria originally expressed a desire for a legacy-defining showdown against Makhachev. However, he instead secured the vacant lightweight championship with a spectacular Knockout of the Year contender against future Hall of Famer Charles Oliveira. This victory also placed him among an elite group of just 10 fighters to claim UFC titles in two distinct weight divisions. Perhaps not the exact path he envisioned, but impressive nonetheless.
Undeniably, defeating Makhachev would have left no room for debate regarding the number one position. Yet, the undefeated Topuria has built a powerful case independently, notably through his knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. With Makhachev`s next defense still pending against Jack Della Maddalena, there`s ample time to analyze just how compelling Topuria`s claim truly is.
Already, two of our panel experts are convinced. Makhachev began June with a unanimous sweep of number one votes, but the top position is now shared among three competitors: Makhachev received three votes, Topuria two, and, surprisingly, flyweight powerhouse Alexandre Pantoja garnered one. Hot on their heels are Merab Dvalishvili, Dricus du Plessis, Tom Aspinall, and Magomed Ankalaev. Should Makhachev falter against Della Maddalena, it`s entirely possible he could drop more than one spot, which might seem improbable given his accomplishments so far.
In short, the discussion around the pound-for-pound king has become exciting once again!
This renewed interest is significantly due to a certain part-time competitor finally stepping away from the sport. While Jon Jones remains a fixture in discussions about the greatest fighters of all time, he is no longer included in our current rankings following his announcement of retirement.
The interim heavyweight champion had been steadily declining in our charts for months, as it became increasingly clear he was unlikely to fight Tom Aspinall or any other contender. Now that he has officially departed, there`s a sense of relief in not having to account for a fighter who seemed to have lost his competitive drive some time ago.
Recent Results for Ranked Fighters
No. 2 Ilia Topuria defeated No. 17 Charles Oliveira
No. 3 (tied) Alexandre Pantoja defeated 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)
Fighters Also Receiving Votes (number of ballots)
Francis Ngannou (2)
Aljamain Sterling (2)
Joshua Van (1)
Mario Bautista (1)
Brandon Moreno (1)
Cory Sandhagen (1)
Falling Out of the Rankings (previous rank)
No. 15 Jon Jones (Retired)
Murray Blackwood