MMA Divisional Rankings: Which dominant UFC champion is most at risk of losing their title?

UFC gold has by no means held extra weight.

That’s not precisely a revelation provided that for the higher a part of the previous twenty years, it was broadly accepted that being UFC champion means you’re the No. 1 fighter in your weight class. However when promotions like PRIDE, Bellator, and even ONE Championship have been actively selling MMA, there was at the very least room for debate.

Fedor Emelianenko was lengthy considered because the king of the heavyweights regardless of by no means stepping foot contained in the octagon. When Demetrious Johnson was despatched from UFC to ONE, he took the title of world’s biggest flyweight with him. Homegrown Bellator merchandise like Johnny Eblen, Patchy Combine, and Patricio Pitbull all made sturdy circumstances to be thought of as worthy opposition to their UFC counterparts. And lengthy earlier than Dana White even thought of selling girls’s fights, legends like Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey have been doing there injury elsewhere.

Now, try these charts beneath. All however one division encompasses a No. 1-ranked fighter unanimously voted in, with the exception being heavyweight, the place Francis Ngannou garnered one vote of assist. Ngannou by no means misplaced his UFC title earlier than making the soar to PFL and he’s truly fought extra just lately than present UFC champion Tom Aspinall, however one will get the sense Aspinall is only one undisputed title protection away from claiming that final poll.

So the query must be requested, is there an argument for any fighter that they need to be No. 1 as an alternative? Maybe the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, who missed out on his likelihood to problem Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title and now sits on the sidelines with an damage watching new champion Jack Della Maddalena line up a combat with Pound-for-Pound No. 1 Islam Makhachev?

Or might it Movsar Evloev, additionally with out a loss and in addition seemingly having to compete once more to earn a championship alternative? Evloev was not noted within the chilly when Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title, along with his 8-0 UFC file not swaying the matchmakers, who as an alternative booked Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to combat for the vacant belt.

One might even argue Topuria isn’t the rightful light-weight ruler after his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 (although good luck having that dialogue after one of the gorgeous knockouts of the 12 months). In any case, Arman Tsarukyan additionally just lately defeated Oliveira, and he has a way more spectacular physique of labor at 155 kilos.

As you’ll be able to see, you must attain to make a case that the 11 present UFC champions aren’t the clear-cut better of their divisions, however that doesn’t imply these chart-toppers are locked in. Dricus du Plessis might lose his spot at UFC 319 in August when he fights Khamzat Chimaev. Kayla Harrison has to fend off a returning Amanda Nunes, solely the best girls’s champion ever. And Della Maddalena will quickly have his day in courtroom with the seemingly indomitable Makhachev.

On the midway level of 2025, it’s completely potential we’re wanting on the similar names at No. 1 by 12 months’s finish; however, nobody shall be shocked if the calendar 12 months offers us a number of extra rankings twists earlier than it’s all mentioned and completed.

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): 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 that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Anatoly Malykhin (2), Rizvan Kuniev (1)

Falling out of the rankings (earlier rating proven): No. 3 Jon Jones (retirement)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): No. 8 Khalil Rountree def. No. 7 Jamahal Hill, No. 13 Azamat Murzakanov def. Brendson Ribeiro

Upcoming bouts that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Anatoly Malykhin (2), Phil Davis (1), Roman Dolidze (1), Dovlet Yagshimuradov (1), Zhang Mingyang (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): No. 15 Fabian Edwards def. Josh Silveira

Upcoming bouts that includes 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 Web 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Roman Kopylov (2), Abus Magomedov (2), Gregory Rodrigues (1), Michael Web page (1), Marvin Vettori (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): Kamaru Usman def. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley, Thad Jean def. No. 10 Jason Jackson

Upcoming bouts that includes ranked fighters: No. 11 Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 12 Michael Web page vs. Jared Cannonier (middleweight bout) (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 14 Thad Jean vs. Logan Storley (PFL 8, Aug. 1)

Fighters additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Carlos Prates (4), Stephen Thompson (3), Kevin Holland (2), Jason Jackson (2), Shamil Musaev (2), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1)

rating

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): 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 that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Gadzhi Rabadanov (3), Benoit Saint Denis (1), Jalin Turner (1)

Falling out of the rankings (earlier rating proven): No. 1 Islam Makhachev (transferring to welterweight)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): N/A

Upcoming bouts that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Movlid Khaybulaev (2), Razhabali Shaydullaev (2), Calvin Kattar (1), Chepe Mariscal (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): No. 1 Merab Dvalishvili def. No. 3 Sean O’Malley, No. 10 Mario Bautista def. No. 5 Patchy Combine, No. 11 Sergio Pettis def. Raufeon Stots, No. 15 Magomed Magomedov def. Sarvarjon Khamidov

Upcoming bouts that includes ranked fighters: No. 5 Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)

Fighters additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Montel Jackson (3), Magomed Magomedov (2), Henry Cejudo (1), Marcus McGhee (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): 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 that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Kai Asakura (2), Matheus Nicolau (2), Charles Johnson (1), Hiromasa Ougikubo (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): No. 1 Kayla Harrison def. No. 2 Julianna Peña, No. 4 Ketlen Vieira def. No. 5 (tied) Macy Chiasson

Upcoming bouts that includes ranked fighters: No. 10 Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2)

Fighters additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Joselyne Edwards (2), Nora Cornolle (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven): 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 that includes 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Jena Bishop (2), Jessica Andrade (1), Karine Silva (1), Ariane da Silva (1)

Current outcomes for ranked fighters (earlier rating proven):

Upcoming bouts that includes ranked fighters: No. 5 Jessica Andrade vs. No. 11 Crazy 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 additionally receiving votes (variety of poll appearances proven): Luana Pinheiro (3)

A refresher on the bottom guidelines:

• The six-person voting panel consists of MMA Combating staffers Alexander Ok. Lee, Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, E. Casey Leydon, Damon Martin, and Jed Meshew.
• Fighters shall be faraway from the rankings if they don’t compete inside 18 months of their most up-to-date bout in a given weight class. Updates to the rankings are usually accomplished following every month’s UFC pay-per-view.
• Ought to a fighter announce their retirement, our panel will determine whether or not that fighter ought to instantly be faraway from the rankings or keep their place till additional discover. (Let’s put it this manner: We’d have taken Khabib Nurmagomedov out of our rankings loads faster than the UFC did.)
• Holding a promotion’s title doesn’t assure that fighter shall be considered as the perfect of their promotion. Moreover, fighters who usually compete or maintain titles in a number of weight courses are eligible to be ranked in a number of lists.

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