UFC pound for pound rankings: Ilia Topuria enters top 10 after UFC 298 win

By Jason Burgos

·Updated: March 6, 2024

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

*Rank*	*Fighter*	Record	*Last 3 Result*s
#1	Islam Makhachev	25-1	W-W-W
#2	Leon Edwards	22-3	W-W-W
#3	Alexandre Pantoja	21-5	W-W-W
#4	Ilia Topuria	15-0	W-W-W
#5	Alexander Volkanovski	26-4	L-L-W
#6	Israel Adesanya	24-3	L-W-L
#7	Charles Oliveira	34-9	W-L-W
#8	Kamaru Usman	20-4	L-L-L
#9	Alex Pereira	9-2	W-W-L
#10	Sean O’Malley	17-1-1	W-W-NC

The men’s UFC pound for pound rankings is the cream of the crop when it comes to MMA top-10 lists. It is a group of the very best fighters on planet Earth. It features the competitors who best mix power, speed, athleticism, and fight IQ into an absolutely destructive cage fighting force. It’s also a list that is heavily debated and as subjective a topic as there is in the MMA community.

With that said, here are the official Sportsnaut.com men’s UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

10. Sean O’Malley (17-1-1)

Sean O’Malley has been a divisive talent in the UFC since he first entered the company. Many have questioned his rise by claiming he received favorable matchups and avoided certain competition. Nevertheless, “Sugar” worked his way to a title fight with his impressive showings and a big victory over former champion Petr Yan in 2022.

There were still many doubters when he entered the Octagon against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, but he needed a little over five minutes to put that all to rest. Hate him or love him — and there are many more that dig the “Sugar” show — the young fighter is now the bantamweight king and on the cusp of superstardom at just 28.

9. Alex Pereira (9-2)

In a short amount of time, Alex Pereira stamped his place as one of the best middleweight MMA fighters on the planet. His knockout win over former champion Israel Adesanya forever stamped his spot in division lore and he likely would have been first in line to get a chance to again beat new champion Sean Strickland. However, he switched divisions and rapidly rose to the top at light heavyweight.

At UFC 295, he proved any doubters left wrong when he scored a destructive second-round finish over former champion Jiri Prochazka. Not only is he the ninth fighter in UFC history to win titles in two divisions, but he is by far the fastest to ever achieve the legendary feat as he did it in just seven fights.

8. Kamaru Usman (20-4)

For six straight years, Kamaru Usman set a legendary standard of excellence as he created a resume that will guarantee him a spot in the UFC Hall-of-Fame. He will go down as one of the greatest welterweight fighters of all time and one of the best pound-for-pound competitors of his era. However, all good things come to an end.

Also Read: Khamzat Chimaev next fight – Details on ‘Borz’s’ next scrap in the Octagon

At UFC 294, “The Nigerian Nightmare” took a short-notice risk and it did not pay off as rising star Khamzat Chimaev pushed his losing streak to three straight. Where the former welterweight king goes next at 36 is unclear.

7. Charles Oliveira (34-9)

Charles Oliveira was dominantly defeated by Islam Makhachev in 2022 but he still remains one of the best fighters on the planet. While he did not get an immediate rematch, he proved his place as one of the 155-pound division’s elite when he easily dispatched contender Beniel Dariush at UFC 298. He may not be the current champion but Oliveria is a lightweight legend.

Also Read: UFC Heavyweight Rankings – Looking at the 10 best at the UFC’s heaviest division

6. Israel Adesanya (24-3)

Israel Adesanya is not only one of the best UFC middleweights ever, but when all is said and done, he will be viewed as one of the greatest to ever compete in the Octagon in general. However, his case to be called the greatest 185-pounder of all time was effectively closed with his shocking loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Nevertheless, he is still viewed as an elite fighter in the sport today.

Also Read: Conor McGregor next fight – When will “Notorious” make his UFC return?

5. Alexander Volkanovski (26-4)

Featherweight great Alexander Volkanovski is one of the most complete fighters in the sport. There is little he can’t do in the cage, and he has the fight IQ to back it up. However, being a champion at lightweight is not a goal he will achieve during his career after falling to lightweight king Islam Makhachev in two opportunities.

He is also no longer the king at featherweight and is no longer among the three best fighters in the world. Nevertheless, he is still a must-have on any UFC pound for pound rankings.

4. Ilia Topuria (15-0)

After five straight wins to start his UFC career, Ilia Topuria became one of the new rising stars at 145 pounds. Then big wins over Bryce Mitchell and former interim championship challenger Josh Emmett cemented his place as not just an impressive talent but a true world title contender. Now he can be called champion after toppling featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski to kick off his 2024 schedule.

3. Alexandre Pantoja (21-5)

Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja has had a long hard road to becoming the new UFC flyweight king. He has toiled away inside the division for five years before he was finally able to earn a title fight at UFC 290. In his first chance at being champion, he made good by scoring a second (third unofficial) win over division king Brandon Moreno.

In his first defense of his thrown, he took part in another rematch — this time against Brandon Royval — and again proved he was the better man and still the best 125-pound fighter on the planet.

2. Leon Edwards (22-3)

The UFC has its second-ever champion who fights out of the UK and the first Jamaican-born titlist. Edwards shook up the MMA world with his last-minute knockout of the best fighter of his generation, Kamaru Usman, at UFC 278.

At UFC 286 he got a chance to prove his win wasn’t a fluke after being beaten in most of the previous seven rounds the duo had. And he did exactly that with an improved wrestling game, smart strategy, and a well-placed cage grab to win the rematch. In his most recent defense, Edwards again showed he is a complete package when he definitively turned away the challenge of former interim champ and two-time title challenger Colby Covington.

1. Islam Makhachev (23-1)

Many doubted how good Islam Makhachev truly was, but over the last few years he has proven how spectacular of a fighter he is with definitive wins over Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski (twice). While his wrestling is his strength, he has a very underrated striking game and really has no clear weaknesses in his fight style and approach to the game.