The latest UFC rankings update following UFC Sao Paulo now positions Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion, as the top pound-for-pound fighter, surpassing Jon Jones, the heavyweight champion who is currently sidelined due to injury.
This achievement comes after Makhachev’s impressive victory in his recent headline bout at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he secured a first-round knockout with a high kick against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in a short-notice rematch.
Originally, Makhachev was slated to headline the highly anticipated return to the Middle East in a rematch against former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira. However, this matchup was canceled due to a severe cut above Oliveira’s right eye, which forced him out of the championship bout.
Islam Makhachev Tops The UFC’s Pound-For-Pound Rankings
Following UFC 294, Makhachev claimed the top spot in the P4P rankings, while Alexander Volkanovski dropped to the third position. Both fighters are now looking forward to their upcoming title fights in 2024, which were already scheduled.
More than two weeks after his win at UFC 294, Islam Makhachev is now ranked number 1 pound-for-pound in the UFC 👑 pic.twitter.com/5TR15Irt7S
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 7, 2023
Makhachev’s next opponent is expected to be the originally planned challenger from last fight, Charles Oliveira, who currently holds the fifth position in the pound-for-pound rankings. Oliveira withdrew from UFC 294 due to an injury.
As for Volkanovski, his next challenger for the 145-pound title is Ilia Topuria, who is currently ranked sixth in ESPN’s men’s featherweight rankings.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings 2023
1. Islam Makhachev
- UFC Lightweight Champion
- Record: 25-1
- Last Fight: Win (KO1) against Alexander Volkanovski on October 21, 2023
2. Jon Jones
- UFC Heavyweight Champion
- Record: 27-1, 1 NC
- Last Fight: Win (Sub1) against Ciryl Gane on March 4, 2023
3. Alexander Volkanovski
- UFC Featherweight Champion
- Record: 26-3
- Last Fight: Loss (KO1) against Islam Makhachev on October 21, 2023
4. Leon Edwards
- UFC Welterweight Champion
- Record: 21-3, 1 NC
- Last Fight: Win (MD) against Kamaru Usman on March 18, 2023
- Next Fight: December 16 against Colby Covington
5. Charles Oliveira
- UFC Lightweight
- Record: 34-9, 1 NC
- Last Fight: Win (TKO1) against Beneil Dariush on June 10, 2023
6. Israel Adesanya
- UFC Middleweight
- Record: 24-3
- Last Fight: Loss (UD) against Sean Strickland on September 9, 2023
- Next Fight: To Be Determined
7. Sean O’Malley
- UFC Bantamweight Champion
- Record: 17-1, 1 NC
- Last Fight: Win (TKO2) against Aljamain Sterling on August 19, 2023
8. Alexandre Pantoja
- UFC Flyweight Champion
- Record: 26-5
- Last Fight: Win (SD) against Brandon Moreno on July 8, 2023
- Next Fight: December 16 against Brandon Royval
9. Sean Strickland
- UFC Middleweight Champion
- Record: 28-5
- Last Fight: Win (UD) against Israel Adesanya on September 9, 2023
- Next Fight: January 20 against Dricus Du Plessis
10. Brandon Moreno
- UFC Flyweight
- Record: 21-7-2
- Last Fight: Loss (SD) against Alexandre Pantoja on July 8, 2023
