Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko Rise to Number One in MMA Rankings
In an exciting day for the world of mixed martial arts, Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko starred in a meteoric rise in the ESPN rankings. Both fighters, who started Saturday in second position in their respective categories, ended the day at the top after resounding victories at UFC 322.
The performances of Shevchenko and Makhachev, although equally successful, presented notable differences. Shevchenko, defending her women’s flyweight title, secured the victory by unanimous decision against Zhang Weili, who had previously relinquished her strawweight championship to compete in a higher weight class. For his part, Makhachev, former lightweight champion, demonstrated his superiority by dethroning Jack Della Maddalena at welterweight.
Another aspect that distinguished the performances was the level of their opponents. Zhang, Shevchenko’s rival, was number one in the ESPN ranking, which made their fight a clash between the two best MMA fighters. In contrast, Della Maddalena, whom Makhachev defeated, was ranked eighth among men. This disparity could explain why one voter kept Makhachev in second place, below Ilia Topuria, Makhachev’s successor as lightweight champion.
Men’s Pound-for-Pound Ranking
UFC Welterweight Champion
Makhachev fulfilled his promise to become a two-division champion by neutralizing Della Maddalena’s strategy at UFC 322. This victory tied him with Anderson Silva, with the longest winning streak in UFC history, with 16 consecutive wins, and positions him among the greats of MMA. Although the welterweight division has high-level contenders, the fight everyone is waiting for is the match with the current lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria.
UFC Lightweight Champion
After knocking out two of the best featherweights in UFC history (Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway) in 2024, Topuria faced the challenge of surpassing these feats in 2025. He decided to move up to lightweight with the goal of challenging Makhachev, but, faced with the rise of the latter, Topuria conquered the vacant title by knocking out Oliveira at UFC 317.
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Dvalishvili is starring in an impressive trajectory in the UFC bantamweight division. Not only did he defeat Sean O’Malley for the second time in nine months at UFC 316, but he also exhibited a new facet of his game, finishing O’Malley with a guillotine in the third round. Since August 2022, Dvalishvili has defeated José Aldo, Yan, Henry Cejudo, O’Malley (twice), Umar Nurmagomedov, and Sandhagen. In addition, he will defend his title again in December, in a rematch against Yan, becoming the only champion in UFC history to defend a title four times in a year.
UFC Heavyweight Champion
Aspinall is possibly the most dynamic, skilled, and talented heavyweight this sport has seen. His dominance over his opponents is unmatched, and no one has managed to withstand a full assault against him. Although he hoped to demonstrate his supremacy against Jon Jones, the latter’s withdrawal allowed him to ascend from interim champion. His first defense of the undisputed title ended unexpectedly, with an eye poke in his fight against Gane at UFC 321, which was declared a no-contest.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Pereira’s excellent performance in 2024 solidified his position as a UFC star, but he faced his toughest test as light heavyweight champion when he faced Ankalaev at UFC 313. Although Pereira had faced opponents with good striking, the question was whether he could beat a fighter with great grappling ability. Pereira failed to win by unanimous decision. However, he decisively changed this result by defeating Ankalaev in a rematch at UFC 320.
UFC Middleweight Champion
After five years of anticipation, Chimaev finally competed for a championship at UFC 319, achieving one of the most dominant performances in UFC history. Chimaev did not manage to finish the fight, but he submitted Du Plessis in their five-round bout and answered doubts about his physical condition. If Chimaev manages to stay healthy and compete frequently, he still has time to climb in this ranking.
UFC Flyweight Champion
The UFC flyweight king has accumulated four title defenses, including two in pay-per-view main events in 2024. His winning streak reached eight in his victory over Kara-France at UFC 317, whom he had previously defeated. He will defend the belt against Yan at UFC 323. Pantoja is dominating the 125-pound division.
UFC Featherweight Champion
Following his knockout loss to Topuria in February 2024, it seemed that the sport was beginning to write Volkanovski’s obituary. However, Volkanovski proved that he still has much to offer the world of sport by reclaiming the featherweight belt at UFC 314. His age (36 years old) will continue to be a recurring theme before his fights, which does not bother him, as he enjoys proving people wrong.
UFC Welterweight
Della Maddalena’s staying in the top 10 might be surprising, but it reflects several things. First, losing to Makhachev is not a disgrace. Second, the welterweight division could be the most competitive in MMA history. Della Maddalena’s eight-fight winning streak in this division is significant. Although he had a less brilliant night at UFC 322, his talent is still recognized.
UFC Middleweight
Before being defeated by Chimaev and losing the belt, Du Plessis had dominated the middleweight division with 11 consecutive victories, including four in a row over champions or former champions. Will he be able to recover and have another chance against Chimaev?
UFC Lightweight
Holloway has won four of his last five fights, alternating between lightweight and featherweight. The only defeat was against Ilia Topuria, who now reigns in Holloway’s current division, lightweight.
Other fighters who received votes: Magomed Ankalaev, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Arman Tsarukyan.
Women’s Pound-for-Pound Ranking
UFC Flyweight Champion
Doubts about Shevchenko’s dominance arose in 2022 and 2023, when she had a 1-1-1 record in a trilogy with Alexa Grasso. However, Shevchenko has reaffirmed her position as the best flyweight in the world and has now established herself as number one worldwide. It was not a surprise that she defeated Zhang, but the ease with which she did so was.
UFC flyweight / strawweight
It’s difficult to move up a weight class, especially at the highest level. Zhang, who had dominated at 115 pounds for so long, may have underestimated the challenge of competing at 125 pounds. UFC 322 wasn’t Zhang’s night, but she doesn’t usually have many bad nights. If she decides to stay at 125 pounds, she’s sure to perform better in the future.
UFC Bantamweight Champion
The PFL’s standout figure is quickly becoming the face of the UFC’s women’s divisions. Following her resounding victory over Pena at UFC 316, Harrison has a 4-0 record in the UFC and boasts the achievements to complement her two Olympic gold medals in judo. However, she won’t have it easy in her first title defense, as Nunes returns with the belt in her sights.
PFL Featherweight
Cyborg had not faced an elite opponent in MMA until she faced Pacheco in 2024. It was a legitimate matchup in which many anticipated Cyborg’s defeat. Instead, she defeated the two-division PFL champion, ending Pacheco’s momentum. One of the pioneers of women’s MMA is still active and will compete for the vacant PFL title against Collins.
UFC Flyweight
Fiorot failed to overcome Shevchenko at UFC 315. However, by defeating Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield in her previous fights, Fiorot has shown that she has the tools to become a champion.
UFC Strawweight
Dern’s rise to the 115-pound throne marked a changing of the guard. She is the first champion in the division since 2019, as the previous three champions (Zhang Weili, Carla Esparza, and Rose Namajunas) had had second reigns. Dern, who has been in MMA for almost a decade and has won multiple world jiu-jitsu championships, has achieved three consecutive victories.
UFC Flyweight
Silva seems poised to be a UFC champion after her dominant performance against Grasso at UFC 315. Her “hit and move” style has frustrated even the highest-level opponents, and her youth, as she won’t turn 30 until 2027, works in her favor.
UFC Flyweight
Blanchfield avenged her 2019 loss to Cortez at UFC 322, submitting her in the second round of their rematch. At only 26 years old, Blanchfield continues to evolve, with improved striking and suffocating grappling. She will have to wait for her title opportunity, likely after Natalia Silva, but her moment will undoubtedly come.
PFL Flyweight
Ditcheva not only won the PFL flyweight season last year, but she did so in spectacular fashion, with a TKO finish over Taila Santos, who once competed for a UFC title. Ditcheva began her 2025 campaign by dominating Inaba in the co-main event of the first PFL Champions Series card in Cape Town, South Africa. She will start 2026 with a matchup against Kielholtz.
UFC Bantamweight
Peña is a two-time bantamweight champion, and one of those reigns was made possible thanks to one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, her submission victory in 2021 over Amanda Nunes. Peña’s four most recent appearances have been in title fights, so she is prepared for big moments.
Other fighters who received votes: Alexa Grasso, Virna Jandiroba, Rose Namajunas, and Tatiana Suarez.
