The significance of holding a UFC championship title has reached an unprecedented level. While it`s long been understood that a UFC champion is generally considered the top fighter in their division, this was previously open to debate when other major organizations like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship were prominent.
Historically, the claim of UFC champions being the absolute best was challenged. Fedor Emelianenko reigned as heavyweight king outside the octagon. Demetrious Johnson`s departure to ONE saw him regarded as the top flyweight elsewhere. Bellator standouts like Johnny Eblen, Patchy Mix, and Patricio Pitbull were seen as potential rivals to UFC champions. And early female legends such as Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey built their legacies before the UFC widely promoted women`s divisions.
Looking at the current rankings, nearly every division features a universally recognized No. 1 fighter, with heavyweight being the sole exception. There, Francis Ngannou, who vacated his UFC title and has fought more recently than current champion Tom Aspinall, still received one vote. However, Aspinall is widely expected to solidify his top spot with his next undisputed title defense.
This prompts the question: Are there fighters outside the current champion list who could make a case for the top spot? Consider the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. An injury sidelined him from challenging Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title, and he`s now watching Jack Della Maddalena, the *new* champion, prepare for a potential fight against Pound-for-Pound king Islam Makhachev.
Another undefeated contender is Movsar Evloev, who also seems to need another win to secure a title shot. Despite his 8-0 UFC record, he was bypassed when Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title; instead, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes were booked for the vacant belt.
Some might even argue that Ilia Topuria isn`t the definitive lightweight ruler despite his incredible knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Arman Tsarukyan also recently defeated Oliveira and boasts a more extensive track record at 155 pounds.
While it requires significant effort to argue against the eleven current UFC champions being the top fighters in their respective divisions, their positions are far from secure. Dricus du Plessis faces a major challenge against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. Kayla Harrison must contend with the return of Amanda Nunes, arguably the greatest female champion in history. And Della Maddalena is set for a tough test against the seemingly unbeatable Makhachev.
As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it`s plausible that the top-ranked fighters will remain unchanged by year`s end. However, it would surprise no one if the rankings see further shake-ups in the coming months.
Heavyweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Anatoly Malykhin (2), Rizvan Kuniev (1)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 3 Jon Jones (retirement)
Light Heavyweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Anatoly Malykhin (2), Phil Davis (1), Roman Dolidze (1), Dovlet Yagshimuradov (1), Zhang Mingyang (1)
Middleweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Roman Kopylov (2), Abus Magomedov (2), Gregory Rodrigues (1), Michael Page (1), Marvin Vettori (1)
Welterweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Carlos Prates (4), Stephen Thompson (3), Kevin Holland (2), Jason Jackson (2), Shamil Musaev (2), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1)
Lightweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Gadzhi Rabadanov (3), Benoit Saint Denis (1), Jalin Turner (1)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 1 Islam Makhachev (moving to welterweight)
Featherweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Movlid Khaybulaev (2), Razhabali Shaydullaev (2), Calvin Kattar (1), Chepe Mariscal (1)
Bantamweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Montel Jackson (3), Magomed Magomedov (2), Henry Cejudo (1), Marcus McGhee (1)
Flyweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Kai Asakura (2), Matheus Nicolau (2), Charles Johnson (1), Hiromasa Ougikubo (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)
Women`s Bantamweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Joselyne Edwards (2), Nora Cornolle (1)
Women`s Flyweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Jena Bishop (2), Jessica Andrade (1), Karine Silva (1), Ariane da Silva (1)
Women`s Strawweight
Recent results for ranked fighters: 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: Luana Pinheiro (3)
Murray Blackwood