Ascending to widespread recognition after his initial-round triumph over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 the prior Saturday, Ilia Topuria secured considerably more in his available title match at 155 pounds than simply becoming the inaugural undefeated two-division titlist in promotional annals.
Topuria (17-0), the 28-year-old combatant of Georgian heritage who entered the world in Germany and presently lives as a national athletic icon in his adopted homeland of Spain, likewise superseded fresh adversary Islam Makhachev as the preeminent fighter across the globe in the discipline of mixed martial arts.
Being the breakthrough sensation that UFC desperately required this annum, Topuria conceivably evolved into the organization’s fresh representative after brutally concluding the tenure of the previous champion whilst validating that his striking potency significantly scales up with him an augmented 10 pounds. It was a showcase that wasn’t attained devoid of difficulty, nonetheless, as Topuria dismissed an initial forearm strike to the visage at close quarters and upturned a potentially susceptible grappling skirmish along the barrier to assume the commanding position on the ground.
However, Topuria’s genuine strength lies within his boxing arsenal, which is commencing to manifest as potentially the most meticulous and savage skillset any preceding UFC fighter before him has brandished. Topuria perpetually maintains the perfect stance to unleash pulverizing hooks from the precise spacing without compromising the power and exactitude necessitated to conclude a confrontation with merely a solitary blow.
Topuria disclosed the UFC compelled him to pledge against provoking Makhachev by enacting an immediate transition to welterweight merely one contest following his relinquishment of the featherweight diadem. The singular query now transpires into which contender UFC will designate next for Topuria to initiate his 155-pound title incumbency against from the collective of deserving adversaries: Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and Paddy Pimblett (the latter of whom engaged with Topuria in a vibrant post-bout confrontation).
Irrespective of whether he ultimately materializes as the pioneering UFC fighter to endeavor to secure a title across a tertiary weight class, Topuria is primed for the caliber of stratospheric ascendance that hasn’t been witnessed since the emergence of Conor McGregor.
Topuria embodies the champion UFC devotees presently require most from the vantage point of orchestrating crossover spectacles, and it coincidentally transpires that he equally reigns as the foremost fighter in the game at this juncture following a trinity of knockout triumphs over Alex Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and now Oliveira.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Ilia Topuria — Lightweight champion
Record: 18-0 | Previous ranking: No. 2
Topuria executed a momentous advancement in metamorphosing into the promotion’s modern figurehead by dispatching Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 during June to seize the available lightweight title. The foremost undefeated, dual-division champion throughout UFC’s timeline arguably possesses the most finely tuned and volatile boxing abilities the Octagon has ever accommodated. Topuria seemingly progresses along his trajectory toward becoming the paramount MMA celebrity since Conor McGregor.
2. Islam Makhachev — Lightweight
Record: 27-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Makhachev elected to relinquish his 155-pound title notwithstanding the presence of prior featherweight authority Ilia Topuria ascending to his division. At the age of 33, Makhachev aspires to enrich his increasingly legendary record by vying for a title in a secondary weight classification. He anticipates contesting the modern welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena this forthcoming autumn accompanied by an opportunity to replicate Anderson Silva’s UFC benchmark of 16 successive victories.
3. Merab Dvalishvili — Bantamweight champion
Record: 20-4 | Previous ranking: 3
It’s unnerving to contemplate, although, at the age of 34, “The Machine” merely persists in augmenting his capabilities as his 135-pound title incumbency endures. Half a year subsequent to eclipsing the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov despite a compromised back, Dvalishvili compelled the capitulation of former titleholder Sean O’Malley throughout their June rematch at UFC 316. Accompanied by boundless stamina and refined striking, Dvalishvili progressively evolves into a comprehensive fighter, and he anticipates a return against leading contender Cory Sandhagen.
4. Alexandre Pantoja — Flyweight champion
Record: 31-5 | Previous ranking: No. 5
Maturing gracefully, the 35-year-old native of Brazil documented his fourth title preservation alongside a submission victory over Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 during June. The triumph propelled Pantoja into the frontrunner’s position for the greatest number of victories, conclusions, and submissions throughout flyweight antiquity. A confrontation versus immensely popular challenger Joshua Van looms imminently as Pantoja persists in augmenting his legacy amid this concluding career rejuvenation.
5. Dricus du Plessis — Middleweight champion
Record: 22-2 | Previous ranking: 4
Articulate whatever sentiments you harbor pertaining to his lumbering and oftentimes crude pattern of forward pressure, the native of South Africa has realized substantial results throughout nine undefeated excursions into the Octagon. The safeguarding 185-pound titleholder journeyed back to Australia in February to comprehensively outmaneuver Sean Strickland throughout their title rematch. A confrontation against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev materializes for August at UFC 319 within Chicago as the defending titleholder is poised to enter the fray as a betting underdog.
6. Alexander Volkanovski — Featherweight champion
Record: 27-4 | Previous ranking: 7
A 14-month interlude served the 36-year-old Volkanovski advantageously as he rebounded from a duo of knockout setbacks to the paramount combatants globally by brilliantly outpointing Diego Lopes to capture the available 145-pound title at UFC 314 during April. Currently a two-time titleholder, Volkanovski substantiated, notwithstanding this advanced phase in his career, that prowess, intellect, and timing remain capable of eclipsing youth and strength.
7. Magomed Ankalaev — Light heavyweight champion
Record: 20-1-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 8
The native of Dagestan, Russia, ultimately secured his opportunity at Alex Pereira’s 205-pound title during UFC 313 within March, and Ankalev delivered a commanding and technical performance to usurp the title. He likewise prolonged his undefeated sequence to an impressive tally of 14 engagements. Even though Ankalaev executed 0-for-12 on takedown initiatives against Pereira, he illustrated a well-rounded repertoire by applying duress upon his adversary and landing the cleaner strikes without committing a pivotal blunder.
8. Alex Pereira — Light heavyweight
Record: 12-3 | Previous ranking: No. 9
The 37-year-old Brazilian slugger ultimately greeted the well-rounded skillset and grappling menace of premier challenger Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 throughout March. The consequence terminated Pereira’s historical trajectory as the 205-pound titleholder, which encompassed three title preservations across a UFC benchmark of merely 176 days spanning 2024. Anticipate “Poatan” to secure an immediate rematch as any forthcoming deliberations pertaining to ascending to heavyweight necessitate suspension to aspire to avenge his title defeat.
9. Jack Della Maddalena — Welterweight champion
Record: 24-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 10
Despite a 14-month interlude and narrow triumphs across his antecedent trio of engagements, the Australian slugger materialized as the preeminent competitor within the 170-pound division alongside his hard-earned verdict victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 during May. Della Maddalena manifested elite boxing proficiency and footwork, yet his takedown resistance and enhancements upon the canvas portrayed the most substantial element in JDM’s conquest of such an extensive division.
10. Khamzat Chimaev — Middleweight
Record: 14-0 | Previous ranking: NR
Notwithstanding a commanding 8-0 record within the UFC, Chimaev remained incapable of sustaining sufficient health throughout skirmishes involving affliction and malady to attain a title opportunity. Ultimately, that narrative will undergo transformation come Aug. 19 at UFC 319 within Chicago when Chimaev, one annum removed from a preliminary-round demolition of prior titleholder Robert Whittaker throughout his concluding outing, will challenge Dricus du Plessis (and accomplish such as the betting frontrunner).
Dropped out: Jon Jones
Just missed: Tom Aspinall, Umar Nurmagomedov, Shavkat Rakhkmonov, Belal Muhammad, Arman Tsarukyan
Women’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Valentina Shevchenko — Flyweight champion
Record: 24-4-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
The forthcoming Hall of Famer merely proceeded to solidify her legacy even further at UFC 315 during May whenever she outmaneuvered the exceptionally popular Manon Fiorot across five rounds. The 37-year-old Shevchenko, who augmented her UFC record pertaining to title victories by a female by a count of 10, likewise attained her eighth title preservation by enacting championship acclimations whenever it mattered predominantly. A superfight confronting strawweight sovereign Zhang Weili could potentially materialize to conclude 2025.
2. Zhang Weili — Strawweight champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous ranking: No. 2
Zhang advanced to 10-0 within the UFC versus every competitor excluding Rose Namajunas whenever she dominated the undefeated Tatiana Suarez across five rounds at UFC 312 during February. At the age of 35, Zhang merely persists in refining her repertoire whilst teasing aspirations pertaining to ascending to 125 pounds and endeavoring to materialize as a dual-division titleholder. Could a superfight pitting her against Valentina Shevchenko exist within her horizon?
3. Kayla Harrison — Bantamweight champion
Record: 19-1 | Previous ranking: 3
Notwithstanding enduring an unreasonable cut to attain championship weight of 135 pounds, Harrison dominated dual-titleholder Juianna Pena at UFC 316 during June to seize the women’s bantamweight title. A confrontation confronting former titleholder (and former compatriot) Amanda Nunes seemingly materializes subsequently as MMA’s female G.O.A.T. journeys back to the discipline at the age of 37. Irrespective, Harrison’s inspirational narrative pertaining to enduring exhibited an authentic sensation of heartwarming sentiment.
4. Manon Fiorot — Flyweight
Record: 12-2 | Previous ranking: 4
The 35-year-old native of France interrupted an impressive 7-0 initiation to her UFC profession by emerging merely marginally short within a close verdict defeat to titleholder Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 315 throughout June. Fiorot recovered from a calamitous initial round throughout which her nose sustained battering to depend upon her stature and clinch execution versus Shevchenko within a close chess equivalent that felt subject to scoring favoring either participant.
5. Natalia Silva — Flyweight
Record: 19-5-1 | Previous ranking: 5
Undefeated throughout seven excursions into the Octagon, Silva garnered a verdict during May at UFC 315 against prior titleholder Alexa Grasso to position the 28-year-old native of Brazil within contention for a plausible title opportunity. The dynamic striker has secured 13 engagements consecutively overall since a 2017 setback upon the regional setting versus Marina Rodriguez and persists as a formidable assessment for any flyweight attributable to her velocity, feints, and precise strikes.
Dropped out: None
Just missed: Virna Jandiroba, Erin Blanchfield, Pena, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez
