MMA pound-for-pound rankings: Islam Makhachev still No. 1 … and now it’s unanimous

It’s difficult getting a group of people to agree on almost anything. But the ESPN pound-for-pound voting panel is now unanimous in proclaiming Islam Makhachev the No. 1 fighter in MMA.

Makhachev’s quick, dominant submission win over Renato Moicano last weekend at UFC 311 convinced any holdouts who had been hesitant to put the 33-year-old Dagestani at the top of their top 10s. Prior to the weekend, Makhachev was already our consensus No. 1, but three other fighters also got first-place votes in our last rankings update.

Makhachev remains right where he already was in the rankings, but the winner of Saturday’s other title fight made a big upward move. Merab Dvalishvili surged into the top five, after previously being No. 8, on the strength of successfully defending his bantamweight belt against Umar Nurmagomedov for his 12th win in a row.

For the ESPN divisional MMA rankings, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Jan. 22. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.

Men’s pound-for-pound rankings

1. Islam Makhachev  

UFC lightweight champion
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD

He staked his claim as the greatest lightweight of all time by swiftly dispatching late-replacement opponent Moicano at UFC 311. It was his UFC-record fourth title defense and tied Kamaru Usman for the second-longest winning streak in UFC history, at 15. Makhachev even finally won over UFC CEO Dana White, who now agrees he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. The only question is whether Makhachev will look to extend his reign of dominance at 155 pounds or take his talents to welterweight in pursuit of a championship in a second weight class. — Andreas Hale

2. Alex Pereira  

UFC light heavyweight champion
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 5, 2024
Next: March 8 vs. Magomed Ankalaev

A stellar 2024 cemented Pereira’s place as a star in the UFC, but he faces arguably his toughest test as light heavyweight champion when he steps into the Octagon with Ankalaev at UFC 313. Pereira has dealt with strikers, but can he get the job done against a talented grappler? He will find himself in the unfamiliar spot of being the betting underdog, if opening odds hold, but if anybody can overcome the odds, it’s “Poatan.” — Hale

3. Jon Jones  

UFC heavyweight champion
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD

He has ceded his place as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world to Islam Makhachev, but the only thing preventing Jones from reclaiming the spot is activity. Should “Bones” finally accept Tom Aspinall‘s challenge, he will have the opportunity to silence the doubters and once again prove why he has been called the greatest MMA fighter of all time. — Hale

4. Ilia Topuria  

UFC featherweight champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

After knocking out two of the greatest featherweights in UFC history (Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway) in 2024, what will Topuria do for an encore in 2025? He’s teased a move up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev, which would have a major impact on the pound-for-pound rankings. However, it’s more likely the Spaniard will defend his title one more time before he departs the featherweight division. Rumors suggest that a rematch with Volkanovski could be next, but both Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev are waiting in the wings for their number to be called. — Hale

5. Merab Dvalishvili  

UFC bantamweight champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD

Dvalishvili’s stellar performance defending his bantamweight title against Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 vaults the cardio machine into the top five. His endless gas tank broke Nurmagomedov and made oddsmakers look like fools for having the champion as a pretty significant underdog. He may not be the best bantamweight in UFC history yet, but his current run of beating José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, Sean O’Malley and Nurmagomedov may be one of the best runs we’ve ever seen in the division. — Hale

6. Alexandre Pantoja  

UFC flyweight champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 29-5
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Kai Asakura, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

The UFC’s flyweight king has racked up three title defenses, including two in pay-per-view main events in 2024. He has already teased his next title defense in early 2025. Pantoja is quickly taking laps around the 125-pound division. — Brett Okamoto

7. Tom Aspinall  

UFC heavyweight interim champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

If you’re going by the eye test, you can make a case that Aspinall is the most dynamic, skillful, naturally talented heavyweight the sport has ever seen. He is dominating opposition in a way that, frankly, is unmatched in the sport. No one can even last a round with this man. Now, will we see him fight Jon Jones? — Okamoto

8. Francis Ngannou  

PFL heavyweight Super Fights champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

It’s amazing Ngannou is still held in this regard, considering he’s 38 years old and has taken on two sports in recent years as opposed to just one. It’s unfathomably hard, what this man has taken on. Think about it: He almost beat Tyson Fury in his first-ever boxing match, and no one can say with any certainty he wouldn’t beat Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall if given the chance. — Okamoto

T-9. Dricus Du Plessis  

UFC middleweight champion
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 22-2
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Israel Adesanya, Aug.17, 2024
Next: Feb. 8 vs. Sean Strickland

No one receives as many backhanded compliments as Du Plessis — but hey, as long as the wins keep coming, who cares? The UFC’s middleweight champ is basically known for breaking all of the technical rules of MMA and making it work. He’s taken out some of the best names of his division’s history, and is on his way to becoming one of those names if it keeps up. -Okamoto

T-9. Belal Muhammad  

UFC welterweight champion
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

Muhammad is on a 10-fight win streak, which dates all the way back to 2019. He has no discernible holes in his game, and he’s been finished only once in his career. It’s going to take someone remarkable to beat him. He’ll likely face one of the best finishers in the sport, Shavkat Rakhmonov, in his next title defense. — Okamoto

Other fighters receiving votes: Alexander Volkanovski and Khamzat Chimaev.

How our panel voted

Brett Okamoto: 1. Islam Makhachev; 2. Ilia Topuria; 3. Alex Pereira; 4. Tom Aspinall; 5. Merab Dvalishvili; 6. Jon Jones; 7. Alexandre Pantoja; 8. Belal Muhammad; 9. Alexander Volkanovski; 10. Dricus Du Plessis.

Andreas Hale: 1. Makhachev; 2. Jones; 3. Pereira; 4. Topuria; 5. Dvalishvili; 6. Aspinall; 7. Muhammad; 8. Francis Ngannou; 9. Pantoja; 10. Volkanovski.

Megan Anderson: 1. Makhachev; 2. Jones; 3. Pereira; 4. Topuria; 5. Pantoja; 6. Dvalishvili; 7. Ngannou; 8. Du Plessis; 9. Aspinall; 10. Muhammad.

Carlos Contreras Legaspi: 1. Makhachev; 2. Jones; 3. Pereira; 4. Topuria; 5. Pantoja; 6. Dvalishvili; 7. Du Plessis; 8. Ngannou; 9. Muhammad; 10. Aspinall.

Ian Parker: 1. Makhachev; 2. Jones; 3. Pereira; 4. Topuria; 5. Dvalishvili; 6. Du Plessis; 7. Pantoja; 8. Muhammad; 9. Aspinall; 10. Khamzat Chimaev.

Jeff Wagenheim: 1. Makhachev; 2. Pereira; 3. Topuria; 4. Aspinall; 5. Jones; 6. Dvalishvili; 7. Ngannou; 8. Pantoja; 9. Volkanovski; 10. Chimaev.

Women’s pound-for-pound rankings

1. Zhang Weili  

UFC strawweight champion
Record: 25-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 13, 2024
Next: Feb. 8 vs. Tatiana Suarez

Amanda Nunes left a big hole in women’s MMA when she announced her retirement in 2023, but Zhang has filled that void in terms of a dominant presence. If Suarez proves to be as good as we have long thought she could be, though, Zhang will face her toughest title defense in years in February. — Okamoto

2. Valentina Shevchenko  

UFC flyweight champion
Record: 23-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

Even after losing her title to Grasso, Shevchenko remained a staple of the women’s pound-for-pound list. And by the end of her infamous trilogy with Grasso, she had proved that she is still one step ahead of the rest, able to game plan and improve to the point of dominating her rival in their final meeting. — Okamoto

3. Cris Cyborg  

Bellator featherweight and PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 28-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Larissa Pacheco, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

Frankly, it had been awhile since Cyborg had fought an elite opponent in MMA until she met Pacheco in 2024. That was a legitimate matchup — and many within the industry were predicting Cyborg’s downfall. Instead, she took out the PFL’s two-weight champion, upending all of the momentum Pacheco had built. One of the original pioneers of women’s MMA is somehow still going very strong. — Okamoto

4. Alexa Grasso  

UFC flyweight
Record: 16-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

Grasso has already established herself as one of the most influential Mexican fighters of all time, in addition to being one of the best fighters in the world, period. Her next story will be a comeback story, as she lost her title to Shevchenko in 2024 and then suffered a serious leg injury. She’s only 31. Chances are she’ll remain on this list for years to come. — Okamoto

5. Kayla Harrison  

UFC bantamweight
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

The longtime face of the PFL is quickly becoming the face of the UFC’s women’s divisions as well. Harrison has already beat two of the best 135-pounders the UFC has to offer, and she’ll be favored to win the belt whenever she faces current champion Julianna Peña. If she does take the belt, don’t be surprised if her first move is to demand Amanda Nunes come out of retirement. — Okamoto

6. Manon Fiorot  

UFC flyweight
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
Next: TBD

Fiorot is next in line to challenge Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight championship after knocking off Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield in her past two fights. She has the tools to become the next champion, she’s just waiting for the fight to be booked. — Hale

7. Larissa Pacheco  

PFL featherweight champion
Record: 23-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Cris Cyborg, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

As the only woman to defeat Kayla Harrison and after coming close to beating Cyborg last October, Pacheco deserves her spot on this list. Unfortunately, the lack of quality opponents in the PFL will prevent her from climbing higher. At 30, Pacheco is still improving, but it will be interesting to see who the PFL finds to face her next. — Hale

8. Julianna Peña  

UFC bantamweight champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

She upset the apple cart once, when she beat Amanda Nunes to become women’s bantamweight champion, and became a two-time champion with a narrow split decision win over Pennington in October. She’ll get the chance to pull off another upset when her title defense with Kayla Harrison is eventually booked. Can she do it again? — Hale

9. Erin Blanchfield  

UFC flyweight
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD

Blanchfield dug herself out of a hole to beat Namajunas in November, and now the 25-year-old is standing by to see what’s next, as Manon Fiorot will fight Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title later this year. She has immense potential and has shown new wrinkles in her game since dropping a decision to Fiorot last year. — Hale

10. Yan Xiaonan  

UFC strawweight
Record: 19-4, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Tabatha Ricci, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD

Yan used the momentum from her gutsy performance against champion Zhang Weili last April to turn back Ricci in November. She’ll likely need to win another fight against a top-five strawweight before getting to challenge for the title a second time. — Hale

Other fighters receiving votes: Rose Namajunas, Dakota Ditcheva and Seika Izawa.

How our panel voted

Brett Okamoto: 1. Zhang Weili; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Cris Cyborg; 4. Alexa Grasso; 5. Manon Fiorot; 6. Rose Namajunas; 7. Erin Blanchfield; 8. Kayla Harrison; 9. Larissa Pacheco; 10. Yan Xiaonan.

Andreas Hale: 1. Zhang; 2. Shevchenko; 3. Grasso; 4. Cyborg; 5. Fiorot; 6. Harrison; 7. Pacheco; 8. Namajunas; 9. Peña; 10. Blanchfield.

Megan Anderson: 1. Zhang; 2. Shevchenko; 3. Cyborg; 4. Grasso; 5. Fiorot; 6. Harrison; 7. Peña; 8. Yan; 9. Pacheco; 10. Blanchfield.

Carlos Contreras Legaspi: 1. Shevchenko; 2. Zhang; 3. Grasso; 4. Cyborg; 5. Harrison; 6. Peña; 7. Pacheco; 8. Dakota Ditcheva; 9. Fiorot; 10. Blanchfield.

Ian Parker: 1. Zhang; 2. Shevchenko; 3. Cyborg; 4. Harrison; 5. Grasso; 6. Yan; 7. Peña; 8. Pacheco; 9. Fiorot; 10. Namajunas.

Jeff Wagenheim: 1. Zhang; 2. Shevchenko; 3. Cyborg; 4. Fiorot; 5. Grasso; 6. Pacheco; 7. Harrison; 8. Yan; 9. Blanchfield; 10. Seika Izawa.