UFC Champions: Men’s Pound-For-Pound Rankings

The UFC has seen a shift in their champions over the last two years. With many UFC legends being dethroned from their title as champion. Some names that come to mind are Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski.

When looking at all of the men’s champions, there’s one thing that sticks out to me, that between all of the men’s champions they have a combined 5 total championship defences.

(Leon Edwards 2, Islam Makhachev 2, Alexandre Pantoja 1)

Here is my Pound-For-Pound Rankings for the current UFC Champions.

8. Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus recently won the UFC Middleweight title at UFC 297 via decision against Sean Stickland. Stickland had recently taken the belt from Israel Adesanya back at UFC 293. With Adesanya being ready to make his return to the octagon, I see this as an unfavourable fight for Dricus.

7. Sean O’Malley

Sean O’Malley is one of the UFCs brightest, young stars. Sean won the Bantamweight Championship at UFC 292 where he knocked out Aljamain Sterling in the second round. Sean is set to take on Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 where he looks to avenge the only loss of his career. With the performance Merab Dvalishvili gave us at UFC 298, if Sean is able to win his next fight against Chito, he’ll have his work cut out for him against a very hungry Merab.

6. Alexandre Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja is one of three champions on the UFC roster that has a title defence. Pantoja won the Flyweight belt at UFC 290 against Brandon Moreno. Since then, he was able to defend his belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 via decision. There has been a lot of speculation as to who Pnatoja should fight next. I believe if Muhammad Mokaev takes care of business tomorrow night against Alex Perez, we’ll see him challenge Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship.

5. Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria has been making noise in the UFC world as of recent. Topuria recently knocked out UFC legend Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to claim the UFC Featherweight title. Topuria has many plans as champion, including calling out UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev. I see Ilia’s next fight being a defence against Alexander Volkanovski. However, if Volkanovski is not ready, I believe we will see Brian Ortega challenge for the belt.

4. Jon Jones

Jon Jones is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. Jones dominated the UFCs Light Heavyweight division for many years. After spending three years away from the octagon, Jones returned at UFC 285 but this time to challenge Ciryl Gane for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Jones dominated Gane in only two minutes, winning the belt via submission. Jones was set to take on UFC legend Stipe Miocic back in November, but was cancelled due to Jones injuring his shoulder. A Jones vs Miocic fight should be coming soon.

3. Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards is the longest reigning champion among the current UFC champions. Leon infamously won the belt at UFC 278 after a shocking fifth round knockout against former Champion Kamaru Usman. Since then, we have seen Leon defend the Welterweight best twice, once against Usman, and most recently at UFC 296 against Colby Covington. Leon has no fight schedule currently, but I believe his next defence will be against Belal Muhammad or Shavkat Rakhmonov.

2. Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira is one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. The Light Heavyweight champion recently won the vacant belt against Jiri Prochazka. Pereira has only been fighting in the UFC since 2021. Since then, he was also able to also secure the UFC Middleweight title for a brief stint. Alex is set to headline UFC 300, where he will defend the Light Heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill. If Alex is able to defend his belt at UFC 300, I believe he could become the UFC’s first “Triple Champ”, possibly doing so in the Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions.

1.Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev has taken over the UFC Lightweight division over since the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Islam has defended his belt twice against UFC Featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski. Although Islam has not defended his belt against any Lightweights, I believe we will see him take on Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje very soon.