In the ever-shifting MMA landscape, ranking the world’s greatest fighters might seem like a fool’s errand, but that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do with the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Here, our esteemed panel sorts out the movers and shakers from every division to provide you with the most definitive list of the best fighters on the planet.
Updated pound-for-pound rankings can be found here.
There are plenty of familiar faces at the top of the rankings to end 2025, but some of them took a winding
road to get there.
Two champions changed divisions. One champion lost his spot and then won it back. A former champion jumped on the opportunity to reclaim his throne. And one fell short in her quest to become a two-division titleholder, but still enters 2026 with the No. 1 next to her name.
If you’ve been keeping track of the UFC’s increasingly convoluted title scene, then you know exactly who we’re talking about. If not, then the MMA Fighting Year-End Divisional Rankings should be both a fun look back at where the best-of-the-best previousy stood and perhaps a portent of things to come if it’s even possible to predict where the game is heading these days.
Below are the final rankings of the year, and for a fun twist, we’re marking down fighter movement based on where they stood last year as opposed to in the most recent rankings update. So check out the 2024 Year-End rankings and then see where everybody ended up 12 months later.
HEAVYWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Tom Aspinall
Who is No. 1 now? Aspinall
Biggest movers: Waldo Cortes-Acosta was dutifully making his way up the rankings after being signed off of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, but wins over Andrei Arlovski and Robelis Despaigne were hardly lighting the combat sports world ablaze. Even when he won his first two fights of 2025, it didn’t feel like he was a real player at heavyweight.
Then he lost to Sergei Pavlovich and it felt like we could comfortably put a ceiling on “Salsa Boy.” Wrong. Three months later, Cortes-Acosta flashed his knockout power with a one-eyed comeback against Ante Delija, then racked up his second fast finish of November when he clocked Shamil Gaziev in less than 90 seconds. Just like that, the dancing Dominican became the most talked-about heavyweight of 2025.
Biggest losers: Even though Jon Jones exited the rankings after briefly calling it a career in June, it’s Tom Aspinall who might have taken the biggest hit. Yes, he held on to his No. 1 spot, but he didn’t come close to getting the Jones clash he wanted, was promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion by default, and then saw his first fight in 15 months end in a no-contest after an eye-poke from Ciryl Gane that somehow resulted in Aspinall receiving a torrent of criticism.
Aspinall was poised to have the biggest year of his career; instead, he became the face of one of MMA’s most anemic divisions.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 7 Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. No. 13 Derrick Lewis (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 11 Serghei Spivac vs. No. 12 Ante Delija (UFC Houston, Feb. 21)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 3 Jon Jones (“retirement”), No. 12 Jairzinho Rozenstruik, No. 14 Renan Ferreira
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Alex Pereira
Who is No. 1 now? Pereira
Biggest movers: Carlos Ulberg and Azamat Murzakanov, come on down!
Now firmly established in the top 10, Ulberg and Murzakanov brought some much-needed fresh blood to the light heavyweight division. They’re not spring chickens by any means (both men have already passed 35), but in all likelihood, one of them challenges for a title this year and that’s exciting enough.
Big shout-out to Dominick Reyes, too, who fell short of earning a second title shot, but made an inspiring surge back into the rankings.
Biggest losers: There were bigger fallers, but it’s hard to look past Jamahal Hill continuing to plummet from his championship heights.
Hill put on a strong losing effort against Jiri Prochazka and then dropped a forgettable decision to Khalil Rountree, leaving him without a win ever since he beat Glover Teixeira for a vacant belt almost three years ago. Following the Rountree loss, Hill admitted he hasn’t been at his best and planned to take time off, so it could be some time before he bounces back—if ever.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 9 Dominick Reyes vs. No. 15 Johnny Walker (UFC 327, April 11), No. 14 Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas (UFC 324, Jan. 24)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 12 Anatoly Malykhin, No. 15 (tied) Gadzhi Yagshimuradov
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Dricus du Plessis
Who is No. 1 now? Khamzat Chimaev
Biggest movers: This whole division is cooking right now.
Nassourdine Imavov should be next for Khamzat Chimaev, Anthony Hernandez continued his torrid run, and Brendan Allen kept himself in the contender race by jumping on a short-notice opportunity and upsetting Reinier de Ridder. Speaking of “RDR,” the former ONE Championship star still had a brilliant 2025, scoring three impressive wins before being tripped up by Allen.
And don’t forget Costello van Steenis, who earned a top 15 spot with an unbelievable comeback submission win over the undefeated Johnny Eblen.
Biggest losers: Well, Eblen obviously, but you have to feel for Dricus du Plessis.
He entered 2025 in discussion for the top of the pound-for-pound list, and even though a clash with Chimaev loomed after he settled his business with Sean Strickland, du Plessis had a legitimate shot to hand Chimaev his first loss. On paper, at least.
In reality, Chimaev made it look so easy against du Plessis to the point that it’s unclear if the South African star ever gets a title shot again, much less an immediate rematch.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 4 Sean Strickland vs. No. 6 Anthony Hernandez (UFC Houston, Feb. 21), No. 8 Reinier de Ridder vs. No. 9 Caio Borralho (UFC 326, March 7), No. 13 Costello van Steenis vs. Fabian Edwards (PFL Madrid, March 20)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 11 Marvin Vettori, No. 14 Roman Dolidze, No. 15 Derek Brunson
WELTERWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Belal Muhammad
Who is No. 1 now? Islam Makhachev
Biggest movers: Makhachev did the damn thing.
He waited for Belal Muhammad to drop the title, which was nice of him, but once the path was clear, Makhachev made his move to 170 and did something close friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov never did: Become a two-division champion.
Making things interesting for the new champion is the fact that he has a healthy crop of compelling challengers. Michael Morales, Ian Machado Garry, and Carlos Prates all made their way into the contender circle, and even former champion Kamaru Usman is in play.
Biggest losers: Out with the old, in with the new.
Sorry, there’s no nice way to put what happened to Gilbert Burns and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson this year as the respected veterans both suffered eye-opening losses in their lone appearances. Burns was shredded by Morales for his fourth straight loss, while Thompson got a raw deal, losing a controversial split decision to Gabriel Bonfim.
Whatever the reason, neither guy can seem to get on track and for the first time in years, they exited our rankings.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 12 Ramazan Kuramagomedov vs. Shamil Musaev (PFL Dubai, Feb. 7)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 7 (tied) Gilbert Burns, No. 10 Jason Jackson, No. 13 Michael Page (competing at middleweight), No. 14 Stephen Thompson, No. 15 Shamil Musaev
LIGHTWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Islam Makhachev
Who is No. 1 now? Ilia Topuria
Biggest movers: If we’re giving props to Makhachev, we have to do the same for Topuria.
Topuria wanted to become lightweight champion, whether it was by beating Makhachev or someone else, and it turned out to be the latter with Makhachev’s departure. Facing the always dangerous Charles Oliveira, Topuria once again unleashed his knockout magic to claim a second UFC title and make his case to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Honorable mentions go to Benoit Saint Denis for reversing his fortunes with a 3-0 campaign, Paul Hughes for boosting his profile with two valiant five-round efforts against Usman Nurmagomedov, and Paddy Pimblett for silencing the doubters and legitimately earning a ranking—and an interim title shot.
Biggest losers: Even though he’s the rightful No. 1 contender, it’s still Arman Tsarukyan.
How did we get here? At the beginning of the year, Tsarukyan was a trendy pick to dethrone Makhachev at UFC 311. An injury forced him to pull out at the last second and that apparently put him on the UFC’s poop list for the foreseeable future. Even a dominant win over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar has done little to improve his standing with Dana White.
Now, he finds himself in limbo as Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 with the winner expected to face Topuria in the future.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Charles Oliveira vs. No. 4 Max Holloway (UFC 326, March 7), No. 5 Justin Gaethje vs. No. 11 (tied) Paddy Pimblett (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 6 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alfie Davis (PFL Dubai, Feb. 7), No. 7 Dan Hooker vs. No. 8 Benoit Saint Denis (UFC 325, Jan. 31), No. 11 (tied) Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy (UFC 325, Jan. 31), No. 14 Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega (UFC 326, March 7)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 1 Islam Makhachev (moved to welterweight), No. 7 Dustin Poirier (retirement), No. 13 Michael Chandler
FEATHERWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Ilia Topuria
Who is No. 1 now? Alexander Volkanovski
Biggest movers: He’s not getting a title shot for some reason, but in my eyes, Lerone Murphy made an airtight case that he’s worthy of one.
With respect to Volkanovski, who won a vacant featherweight title to begin a second reign, its Murphy who delivered the most meaningful result of the year at 145 pounds. The biggest knock against the undefeated Murphy was that he doesn’t finish fights, which put him in an unfavorable light with the matchmakers, and it seemed like they put him up against the debuting Aaron Pico to fast-track the Bellator slugger to a title shot.
Murphy flipped the script, scoring a sensational first-round knockout over Pico—Murphy’s first finish since 2021—and leaving no room for anyone to criticize his contender credentials.
Biggest losers: Speaking of Pico, it wasn’t a great year for him and fellow Bellator refugee Patricio Pitbull.
The two made their long-awaited UFC debuts with plenty of hype and while Pico got finished, Pitbull’s first walk to the octagon was even worse. Pitbull was a two-division Bellator champion, so expectations were higher, and he didn’t come close to reaching them, losing a dreadful decision to Yair Rodriguez that had fans questioning whether the Brazilian veteran was well past his best-before date.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Alexander Volkanovski vs. No. 3 Diego Lopes (UFC 325, Jan. 31), No. 7 Arnold Allen vs. No. 8 Jean Silva (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 11 Brian Ortega vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight bout) (UFC 326, March 7)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 1 Ilia Topuria (moved to lightweight), No. 3 Max Holloway (moved to lightweight), No. 13 Calvin Kattar, No. 14 Giga Chikadze
BANTAMWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Merab Dvalishvili
Who is No. 1 now? Petr Yan
Biggest movers: Yeah, it’s Yan.
The then-former (now current) bantamweight champion righted the ship in 2024 and he carried that momentum into 2025 with a solid win over the streaking Marcus McGhee to set up a rematch with Dvalishvili, who had named Yan as his preferred opponent for his fourth title defense of the year. At UFC 323, Yan put on an all-time great championship performance to stop Dvalishvili from making history and snap Dvalishvili’s seven-year, 14-fight unbeaten streak.
Mario Bautista, Song Yadong, and a slew of fresh names made waves at 135 pounds, but Yan made this his year by stealing Dvalishvili’s thunder in the final month.
Biggest losers: Not to keep piling dirt on the Bellator boys but, ouch! What a rough campaign for Patchy Mix.
At one point, Mix was drawing first-place votes from our panel, but after a pair of disastrous UFC outings, Mix is off the list. Way off the list. At just 32, it doesn’t feel like Mix should be out of the, er, mix forever, he just has a lot of work to do to restore the faith.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Umar Nurmagomedov vs. No. 7 Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 5 Sean O’Malley vs. No. 8 Song Yadong (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 6 Mario Bautista vs. No. 14 Vinicius Oliveira (UFC Vegas 113, Feb. 7), No. 13 Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (UFC 326, March 7)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 4 Patchy Mix, No. 8 Jose Aldo (retirement), No. 9 Kyoji Horiguchi (moved to flyweight), No. 10 Henry Cejudo (retirement)
FLYWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Alexandre Pantoja
Who is No. 1 now? Pantoja
Biggest movers: Joshua Van, you’re not our No. 1 flyweight just yet, but you just had one of the craziest breakthrough years in UFC history.
Van was outside of our top 15 at the end of 2024, then he beat fellow wunderkind Rei Tsuruya, finished the dangerous Bruno “Bulldog” Silva, and out-struck Brandon Royval in what was the Fight of the Year. To cap off the craziness, he earned a shot against the seemingly indomitable Pantoja.
He ends 2025 with gold around his waist and even though the circumstances aren’t ideal (get well soon, Pantoja), that shouldn’t take away from the 24-year-old’s shocking run from unranked to UFC champion.
Biggest losers: No one at 125 pounds fell too hard, but you have to feel for the old guard of Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Kai Kara-France.
Entrenched in the top 5 for ages, the three fan favorites suffered crucial losses and now find themselves on the outside looking in. While no one would be surprised to see any of them back in the title picture, the flyweight division is defined by speed and that also applies to how quickly contenders can be left in the dust.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Kyoji Horiguchi vs. No. 8 (tied) Amir Albazi (UFC Vegas 113, Feb. 7), No. 7 Brandon Moreno vs. No. 11 Asu Almabayev (UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 14 Matheus Nicolau, No. 15 Kai Asakura
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Kayla Harrison
Who is No. 1 now? Harrison
Biggest movers: Yana Santos, where did you come from?
A one-time featherweight title challenger, Santos hasn’t exactly toiled in obscurity, but to say she wasn’t much of a factor at 135 pounds in recent years would be an understatement. But big wins over Macy Chiasson and Miesha Tate have propelled her into the top 10 and given her some cachet with the fans. Beating Chiasson in particular boosted Santos’ profile as she had to deal with Chiasson coming in heavy—the fourth time in Santos’ UFC career her opponent has missed weight.
Santos took care of business on fight night and showed she’s still a contender as she enters her age 36 campaign.
Biggest losers: Did we mention Chiasson going 0-2 (0-3 if you count her ongoing struggle with the scale) in 2025?
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 8 Ailin Perez vs. No. 11 Macy Chiasson (UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28), No. 12 Joselyne Edwards vs. Nora Cornolle (UFC Houston, Feb. 21), No. 14 Bia Mesquita vs. Montserrat Rendon (UFC Vegas 114, March 14)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 8 Holly Holm (returned to boxing), No. 13 Talita Bernardo
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Valentina Shevchenko
Who is No. 1 now? Shevchenko
Biggest movers: Natalia Silva is coming for that No. 1 spot.
“Natty Ice” scored the biggest win of her career in May, earning a lopsided unanimous decision win over recent flyweight champion Alexa Grasso. She is now 7-0 in the UFC with wins over several ranked opponents and has all the makings of a fighter who could potentially dethrone Valentina Shevchenko and be flyweight’s new torchbearer.
Biggest losers: Taila Santos is all too familiar with being almost famous.
Three years ago, Santos took Valentina Shevchenko to the limit and almost captured a flyweight title. Fast forward to November 2024, and Santos almost captured a PFL tournament championship and a million-dollar prize, only to be outclassed by Dakota Ditcheva. She still held on to the No. 6 spot in our rankings, but a drug test suspension essentially cost Santos her 2025 season and inactivity caused her stock to plummet, leaving her outside of the top 10 looking in with little opportunity to climb back up.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Natalia Silva vs. No. 9 Rose Namajunas (UFC 324, Jan. 24), No. 6 Alexa Grasso vs. No. 7 (tied) Maycee Barber (UFC Seattle, March 28)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 11 Katlyn Cerminara, No. 13 Viviane Araujo , No. 14 Jessica Andrade, No. 15 Jennifer Maia
STRAWWEIGHT
Who was No. 1 this time last year? Zhang Weili
Who is No. 1 now? Zhang
Biggest movers: Like Van, Mackenzie Dern isn’t No. 1 for us, but she is officially a UFC champion and that’s pretty good!
By the end of 2024, most of us felt we had a firm grasp of what Dern is capable of: An incredible grappler, tough as hell, but not quite championship material. However, when Zhang made the decision to move up in weight to fight Shevchenko, that opened the door for Dern to be one half of a vacant title fight and she seized the opportunity. Dern won a convincing decision over Virna Jandiroba and even if you question the legitimacy of her champion status with Zhang looming, there’s no question Dern was strawweight’s most pleasant surprise.
Biggest losers: Former UFC champion Jessica Andrade didn’t fall out of the strawweight rankings entirely but she’s barely hanging on to a top 10 spot in the division in which she once reigned.
Andrade should always be appreciated for her wicked finishing ability and willingness to fight anyone, anytime across two weight classes, but staying busy has proven to be detrimental to her record as she’s won just two of her past eight fights. “Bate Estaca” looked like a shell of herself in losses to Loopy Godinez and Jasmine Jasudavicius and if she can’t right the ship soon, this could be the last time you see her ending a year with a number next to her name.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 6 Amanda Lemos vs. No. 11 Gillian Robertson (UFC Vegas 114, March 14)
Falling out of the rankings (January 2025 ranking shown): No. 13 Angela Hill, No. 15 Luana Pinheiro
A refresher on the ground rules:
- The five-person voting panel consists of MMA Fighting staffers Alexander K. Lee, Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, Damon Martin, and Jed Meshew.
- Fighters will be removed from the rankings if they do not compete within 18 months of their most recent bout in a given weight class. Updates to the rankings are typically completed following each month’s UFC pay-per-view.
- Should a fighter announce their retirement, our panel will decide whether that fighter should immediately be removed from the rankings or maintain their position until further notice. (Let’s put it this way: We’d have taken Khabib Nurmagomedov out of our rankings a lot quicker than the UFC did.)
- Holding a promotion’s title does not guarantee that fighter will be viewed as the best in their promotion. Additionally, fighters who regularly compete or hold titles in multiple weight classes are eligible to be ranked in multiple lists.
Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Make your voice heard in the comments below.
