UFC championships currently hold unparalleled significance.

While it`s long been understood that a UFC title signifies being the top fighter in a division, the emergence and prominence of other major promotions like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship historically created space for discussion regarding who was truly the global number one.

Fighters like Fedor Emelianenko were seen as heavyweight kings outside the UFC. Demetrious Johnson, upon moving to ONE, was considered the world`s best flyweight. Bellator stars such as Johnny Eblen, Patchy Mix, and Patricio Pitbull were seen as credible threats to UFC champions. And pioneers like Cris Cyborg, Megumi Fujii, and Ronda Rousey proved their dominance outside the octagon before the UFC`s women`s divisions existed.

Looking at the current rankings, nearly every division has a unanimously recognized No. 1 champion. Heavyweight is the exception, with Francis Ngannou still receiving a vote despite his move to PFL (where he hasn`t lost his UFC belt and has fought more recently than current UFC champ Tom Aspinall). However, Tom Aspinall seems poised to solidify his top spot with a successful undisputed title defense.

This brings up the question: could anyone else reasonably claim the No. 1 spot in their division? Consider the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. An injury prevented him from challenging Belal Muhammad for the welterweight belt, and now he watches from the sidelines as new champ Jack Della Maddalena is set to face Islam Makhachev.

How about Movsar Evloev? He`s also undefeated but seems to need another fight to secure a title shot. Despite his 8-0 UFC record, he was overlooked for the vacant featherweight title match after Ilia Topuria moved divisions, with Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes getting the opportunity instead.

A case *could* be made that Ilia Topuria isn`t the definitive lightweight king despite his knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 (though his spectacular finish makes that argument difficult). Arman Tsarukyan also recently beat Oliveira and boasts a more extensive track record in the lightweight division.

While it`s challenging to argue that the current 11 UFC champions aren`t the top fighters in their weight classes, their positions aren`t guaranteed. Dricus du Plessis faces a significant challenge against Khamzat Chimaev in August at UFC 319. Kayla Harrison must overcome the legendary Amanda Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female champion. And Jack Della Maddalena faces the formidable Islam Makhachev soon.

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it`s possible the top champions remain the same by year`s end. However, given the competitive landscape, no one would be surprised if the rankings see significant changes before the year concludes.

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Heavyweight (HWT)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 7 Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev, Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. No. 9 Serghei Spivac, No. 12 Phil De Fries def. Arkadiusz Wrzosek

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich vs. No. 8 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23), No. 12 Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija (UFC Paris, Sept. 9), No. 15 (tied) Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira (UFC Nashville, July 12)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Anatoly Malykhin (2), Rizvan Kuniev (1)

Falling Out of the Rankings (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 3 Jon Jones (retirement)

Light Heavyweight (LHW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 8 Khalil Rountree def. No. 7 Jamahal Hill, No. 13 Azamat Murzakanov def. Brendson Ribeiro

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 5 Corey Anderson vs. Denis Goltsov (heavyweight bout) (PFL Africa, July 19), No. 13 Nikita Krylov vs. No. 15 Bogdan Guskov (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26), No. 14 Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Anatoly Malykhin (2), Phil Davis (1), Roman Dolidze (1), Dovlet Yagshimuradov (1), Zhang Mingyang (1)

Middleweight (MW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 15 Fabian Edwards def. Josh Silveira

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 1 Dricus du Plessis vs. No. 2 Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 3 Nassourdine Imavov vs. No. 6 Caio Borralho (UFC Paris, Sept. 9), No. 7 Robert Whittaker vs. No. 10 Reinier de Ridder (UFC Baku, July 26), No. 8 Anthony Hernandez vs. No. 13 Roman Dolidze (UFC Vegas 109, Aug. 9), No. 9 Johnny Eblen vs. Costello van Steenis (PFL Africa, July 26), No. 11 Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 12 Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori (UFC 318, July 19), No. 14 Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov (UFC 317, June 28), No. 15 Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta (PFL 10, Aug. 21)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Roman Kopylov (2), Abus Magomedov (2), Gregory Rodrigues (1), Michael Page (1), Marvin Vettori (1)

Welterweight (WW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

Kamaru Usman def. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley, Thad Jean def. No. 10 Jason Jackson

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 11 Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 12 Michael Page vs. Jared Cannonier (middleweight bout) (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 14 Thad Jean vs. Logan Storley (PFL 8, Aug. 1)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Carlos Prates (4), Stephen Thompson (3), Kevin Holland (2), Jason Jackson (2), Shamil Musaev (2), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1)

Lightweight (LW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

Ilia Topuria def. No. 3 Charles Oliveira, No. 9 (tied) Beneil Dariush def. No. 14 Renato Moicano, No. 9 (tied) Mateusz Gamrot def. Ludovit Klein, No. 11 Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 4 Max Holloway vs. No. 7 Dustin Poirier (UFC 318, July 19), No. 15 A.J. McKee vs. Akhmed Magomedov (featherweight bout) (PFL Africa, July 19)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Gadzhi Rabadanov (3), Benoit Saint Denis (1), Jalin Turner (1)

Falling Out of the Rankings (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 1 Islam Makhachev (moving to welterweight)

Featherweight (FW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

N/A

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 2 Movsar Evloev vs. No. 10 Aaron Pico (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26), No. 3 Diego Lopes vs. No. 7 Jean Silva (Noche UFC, Sept. 13), No. 4 Brian Ortega vs. No. 8 Aljamain Sterling (UFC Shanghai, Aug. 23), No. 12 Patricio Pitbull vs. No. 14 Dan Ige (UFC 318, July 19), No. 15 (tied) Jesus Pinedo vs. Movlid Khaybulaev (PFL 8, Aug. 1)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Movlid Khaybulaev (2), Razhabali Shaydullaev (2), Calvin Kattar (1), Chepe Mariscal (1)

Bantamweight (BW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 1 Merab Dvalishvili def. No. 3 Sean O’Malley, No. 10 Mario Bautista def. No. 5 Patchy Mix, No. 11 Sergio Pettis def. Raufeon Stots, No. 15 Magomed Magomedov def. Sarvarjon Khamidov

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 5 Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Montel Jackson (3), Magomed Magomedov (2), Henry Cejudo (1), Marcus McGhee (1)

Flyweight (FLW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 1 Alexandre Pantoja def. No. 6 Kai Kara-France, Joshua Van def. No. 2 (tied) Brandon Royval), No. 9 Muhammad Mokaev def. Thomas Assis

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 8 Amir Albazi vs. No. 9 Tatsuro Taira (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2), No. 11 Alex Perez vs. No. 12 Steve Erceg, No. 13 Asu Almabayev vs. No. 15 Ramazan Temirov (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Kai Asakura (2), Matheus Nicolau (2), Charles Johnson (1), Hiromasa Ougikubo (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)

Women`s Bantamweight (WBW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 1 Kayla Harrison def. No. 2 Julianna Peña, No. 4 Ketlen Vieira def. No. 5 (tied) Macy Chiasson

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 10 Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle (UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Joselyne Edwards (2), Nora Cornolle (1)

Women`s Flyweight (WFLW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

No. 8 Liz Carmouche def. Elora Dana, No. 10 Rose Namajunas def. No. 15 Miranda Maverick, Tracy Cortez def. No. 13 Viviane Araujo

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 5 Dakota Ditcheva vs. Sumiko Inaba (PFL Africa, July 19), No. 8 Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop (PFL 9, Aug. 15), No. 13 Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci (strawweight bout) (UFC Abu Dhabi, July 26)

Fighters Also Receiving Votes (Number of Ballot Appearances Shown):

Jena Bishop (2), Jessica Andrade (1), Karine Silva (1), Ariane da Silva (1)

Women`s Strawweight (WSW)

Recent Results for Ranked Fighters (Previous Ranking Shown):

N/A

Upcoming Bouts Featuring Ranked Fighters:

No. 5 Jessica Andrade vs. No. 11 Loopy Godinez (UFC 319, Aug. 16), No. 8 Iasmin Lucindo vs. No. 13 Angela Hill (UFC Vegas 109, Aug. 9), No. 10 Amanda Ribas vs. No. 12 Tabatha Ricci (UFC 318, July 19)