MMA pound-for-pound rankings, July 2025: Ilia Topuria dethrones Islam Makhachev as No. 1 in the world

It turns out the moment is never too big for Ilia Topuria, who entered this past weekend seeking a title in a second weight class. Upon strolling into the Octagon at UFC 317, Topuria looked calm, poised and ready to do work — which is exactly what he did to Charles Oliveira. A crushing first-round knockout just as he predicted he would do, and just like that a true transcendent star is in the UFC’s midst.

How big will the Topuria bandwagon get for his first lightweight title defense? Let’s just keep our imaginations elastic, but in the short term Topuria is moving up in this month’s Uncrowned pound-for-pound rankings — all the way to the top!

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Also on the northbound trend is Alexandre Pantoja, who showed once again why he is reimagining the GOAT talk at flyweight by buzz-sawing right through Kai Kara-France in his fourth title defense.

One ubiquitous name that you won’t find this month is Jon Jones, who announced his retirement a couple of weeks back. The Jones era of rocking the pound-for-pound rankings is behind us, which means Tom Aspinall is the lone UFC heavyweight to make the list.

Our panel of Ben Fowlkes, Chuck Mindenhall, Shaheen Al-Shatti, Petesy Carroll, Drake Riggs, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks have ranked both the men’s and women’s pound-for-pound best, one through 10, using a weighted points system to determine the final rankings (being voted No. 1 equals 10 points, No. 2 equals nine points, down to No. 10 equaling one point).

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Our only criterion for these monthly rankings is that a fighter has competed within at least a calendar year of the publication date or has at least had a fight booked within that window. If a fighter hasn’t competed in a year and books a fight after that time, he or she is once again eligible to be voted back in. Fighters who retire are no longer eligible for the rankings.

Though most of the best fighters are currently in the UFC, these rankings are not UFC exclusive. We take into consideration all the major promotions, from Bellator/PFL conglomerate to ONE Championship.

Without further ado, the MMA pound-for-pound rankings for July!

MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Ilia Topuria — UFC Featherweight Champion (Prev: 2)

The debate raging at present is whether Topuria’s conquests of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira is the greatest three-fight run in UFC history? Without going too far out on a limb, we’ll say it is. How far can the Spaniard take all this? Let’s just say whoever he faces next, we won’t be betting against him.

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2. Islam Makhachev — UFC Lightweight Champion (Prev: 1)

The pressure is on Makhachev now to stay in lockstep with what Topuria just did when he goes up to face Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. The standard of excellence among champions right now is moving, as there are four champions who are doing historic things all at once, yet Makhachev still might be the king.

3. Merab Dvalishvili — UFC Bantamweight Champion (Prev: 3)

It’s a ridiculous notion that Merab finds himself third on a list like this, as he pulverizes, outclasses and out-dogs everyone he faces. Let the chorus kick up for a superfight with Pantoja at some point, but send the flyweight champ up at your own peril. Merab is a preternatural force … who … simply … cannot … be … stopped.

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4. Alexandre Pantoja — UFC Flyweight Champion (Prev: 4)

You know what’s great about Pantoja? He isn’t protecting his title like some long-reigning champions do, fighting cautiously so as not to make mistakes. He is attacking anyone who dares to look at it. Kara-France found that out on Saturday night. That opening sequence was bonkers. Pantoja flew in, stood in the pocket, traded, shot in on his legs, dumped “KKF” on his bum, and for the rest of the round made him survive submissions. That Joshua Van fight is going to be theater.

5. Tom Aspinall — UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion (Prev: 6)

You know who looked happy at International Fight Week? The main man from Wigam, Tom Aspinall. The Jon Jones saga is over, and now he’s the heavyweight champion of the world. Let’s face it, that Jones fiasco was a slice of existential hell, as it wasn’t any fun watching poor Tom twist in the wind for all those months. Who’s up for his first title defense? Ciryl Gane? Alex Pereira? Surely not … noooo, they can’t bring back Francis, can they? Don’t be absurd!

6. Dricus du Plessis — UFC Middleweight Champion (Prev: 5)

It’s a hell of a way to close out the summer, as du Plessis will be in the “Windy City” come August to do away with the boogeyman himself, Khamzat Chimaev. It’s a grim task, alright. “DDP” will have to ratchet up his levels of mean. Maybe play some mind games beforehand, plant some thoughts of mortality with “Borz,” as “DPP” so masterfully does. Man, what a fight that’s going to be.

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7. Magomed Ankalaev — UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Prev: 7)

Is this the most muted title run in light heavyweight history? It has to be, right? “Ank” is like a secret the UFC keeps. We wouldn’t be surprised to find out they keep him in a lair within UFC headquarters, somewhere far below in the bowels of the APEX, where a single bulb lights a dripping concrete enclosure. (But seriously, this is a muted title run!)

8. Khamzat Chimaev — UFC Middleweight Contender (Prev: 10)

The countdown to Chimaev’s return to the States is on, and prayers up that everything goes down as it should. Chimaev’s path to a title shot has been a crazy one. We saw him rush out of the gates and terrify everyone in the vicinity. We’ve seen him fall ill with Covid, and nearly walk away. There were the visa issues, the bad cuts, unsavory Hasbulla associations, the whole bit. But breaking Robert Whittaker’s jaw was a reminder of what a menace this man is.

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9. Alexander Volkanovski — UFC Featherweight Champion (Prev: NR)

Quietly back atop the throne is “Volk,” and quietly he awaits the first title defense of his second reign. If the UFC were to do the right thing, it would wait to see if Movsar Evloev can get through Aaron Pico when they square off in late July. If Evloev wins, that will bring his record to a perfect 20-0 and he’d be an undeniable challenger. And you know what? Volkanovski would love to snatch that zero.

10. Jack Della Maddalena — UFC Welterweight Champion (Prev: NR)

People love to sleep on “JDM.” He’s like a Posturepedic mattress. Belal Muhammad was stacking up bodies when Jack Della showed up to Montreal like a kid ready to confront a bully. And come this fall, when Islam Makhachev comes banging on his door to take his title, here’s guessing Australia’s most unsung champ will be seen taping up his hands while uttering the words, “Over my dead body.”

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(Others receiving votes: Alex Pereira, Francis Ngannou, Arman Tsarukyan.)

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Zhang Weili — UFC Strawweight Champion (Prev: 1)

If ever there was a time for Zhang to make the move to flyweight and try to capture a second title, it’s now. It’s true that Virna Jandiroba is right there as a viable next defense for Zhang, and it’s hard to deny her … but Valentina Shevchenko is 37 years old and coming off a huge title defense. Strike while the iron is hot, we say. The chance may never be there again.

2. Valentina Shevchenko — UFC Flyweight Champion (Prev: 2)

It was a thankless task beating Manon Fiorot, a savage from Nice who had every motivation to overthrow the queen. Don’t be duped by her age. Shevchenko is 37 years old, which is (traditionally) the red zone for fighter decline, yet if the Fiorot fight told us anything it’s that she has plenty left in the tank. If we can’t make the Zhang fight, a battle with Natalia Silva is a fine consolation.

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3. Kayla Harrison — UFC Bantamweight Champion (Prev: 3)

One of the fun subplots to this year’s UFC Hall of Fame ceremony was the induction of Amanda Nunes, the consensus GOAT of women’s MMA. Yet if anybody could be heard screaming “not so fast,” it was Harrison — the new bantamweight queenpin. She has Nunes circled to put an exclamation mark on her own legacy, and — whenever that fight happens — it promises to be one hell of a crossroads.

4. Cris Cyborg — PFL Super Fights Women’s Featherweight Champion (Prev: 4)

She turns 40 next week. You hear that, Donn Davis? Cyborg turns 40 next week. Please book her into a fight. We don’t know how long we’ll have Cyborg, but keeping her on a shelf feels like a shame at this juncture of her career.

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5. Dakota Ditcheva — PFL Women’s 2024 Flyweight Tournament Champion (Prev: 5)

Is Dakota the single most coveted fighter that the UFC can’t get? We’ve seen the Patricio Pitbulls and Patch Mixes cross over lately, with Aaron Pico on deck, but none of these can/could create the kind of mega-buzz Ditcheva would generate. She’s not just destroying whoever the PFL puts in front of her, she’s begging them to find her better competition (no offense Sumiko Inaba). Let’s face it, she has that superstar glow.

6. Natalia Silva — UFC Flyweight Contender (Prev: 6)

There was a point in time about a decade ago when Silva was a modest 3-4-1 in her MMA career. Since then she’s been a savage, with a 16-1 record and a 13-fight win streak. She is 7-0 in the UFC, and she left little doubt of how dominant she has gotten in her recent fight against former champ Alexa Grasso. A showdown with Valentina is the ultimate truth-teller, though, and that’s all that’s on her mind.

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7. Virna Jandiroba — UFC Strawweight Contender (Prev: 7)

Jandiroba’s come a long way from that version of herself who lost to Mackenzie Dern in 2020. Five wins in a row, with a steady escalation of competition. Her last conquest was Yan Xiaonan, and right now it’s title shot or bust because … well, Jandiroba just celebrated her 37th birthday at the end of May. The window to win a title is narrower than what might be considered optimal.

8. Larissa Pacheco — PFL Featherweight Contender (Prev: 8)

If you’ve information as to the whereabouts of Larissa Pacheco, please contact the Uncrowned offices immediately. Repeat, if you’ve information as to the whereabouts of Larissa Pacheco, 5-foot-6, dark hair, cut short, with visible tattoos on her neck, please contact the Uncrowned offices immediately. We just want to make sure she is still an active fighter.

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9. Seika Izawa — Rizin Super Atomweight Champion (Prev: 9)

If Naoya Inoue is the standard for excellence in men’s combat sports in Japan, then Izawa is that on the women’s side. Just 27 years old, she is a dervish of harnessed primal instinct, especially when a fight hits the mats. Her finish of Lucia Apdelgarim at RIZIN 49 on New Year’s Eve was her fifth submission victory in six fights. It’s been a long time since the “Supernova” has competed, though, and we’re jonesing.

10. Manon Fiorot — UFC Strawweight Contender (Prev: 10)

All is not lost for Fiorot — she had her moments against Shevchenko, yet it hurt to leave Montreal without the women’s 125-pound title. Sometimes you take more in a loss than you can in a victory, which is a hollow silver lining when you’re 35. Still, if she can rebound with a big win, here’s guessing she won’t be very far from that pole position, as she’s already beaten a slew of top contenders.

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(Others receiving votes: Julianna Pena, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Erin Blanchfield, Alexa Grasso.)

Here’s how we voted:

SHAHEEN AL-SHATTI

MEN

1. Ilia Topuria

2. Islam Makhachev

3. Alexandre Pantoja

4. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Dricus Du Plessis

7. Magomed Ankalaev

8. Alex Pereira

9. Alexander Volkanovski

10. Jack Della Maddalena

WOMEN

1. Kayla Harrison

2. Zhang Weili

3. Valentina Shevchenko

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Larissa Pacheco

6. Seika Izawa

7. Dakota Ditcheva

8. Virna Jandiroba

9. Natalia Silva

10. Jasmine Jasudavicius

CONNER BURKS

MEN

1. Ilia Topuria

2. Islam Makhachev

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Dricus Du Plessis

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6. Tom Aspinall

7. Alexander Volkanovski

8. Magomed Ankalaev

9. Khamzat Chimaev

10. Jack Della Maddalena

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Kayla Harrison

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Dakota Ditcheva

6. Natalia Silva

7. Larissa Pacheco

8. Virna Jandiroba

9. Manon Fiorot

10. Julianna Pena

PETESY CARROLL

MEN

1. Ilia Topuria

2. Islam Makhachev

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Alex Pereira

8. Dricus Du Plessis

9. Khamat Chimaev

10. Francis Ngannou

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Kayla Harrison

4. Dakota Ditcheva

5. Cris Cyborg

6. Natalia Silva

7. Manon Fiorot

8. Virna Jandiroba

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9. Jasmine Jasudavicius

10. Julianna Pena

BEN FOWLKES

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Dricus Du Plessis

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Francis Ngannou

9. Jack Della Maddalena

10. Khamzat Chimaev

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Kayla Harrison

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Dakota Ditcheva

6. Virna Jandiroba

7. Natalia Silva

8. Jasmine Jasudavicius

9. Manon Fiorot

10. Erin Blanchfield

ERIC JACKMAN

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Khamzat Chimaev

6. Dricus du Plessis

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Magomed Ankalaev

9. Jack Della Maddalena

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10. Arman Tsarukyan

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Kayla Harrison

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Virna Jandiroba

6. Natalia Silva

7. Larissa Pacheco

8. Jasmine Jasudavicius

9. Dakota Ditcheva

10. Manon Fiorot

CHUCK MINDENHALL

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Dricus du Plessis

8. Alexander Volkanovski

9. Jack Della Maddalena

10. Khamzat Chimaev

WOMEN

1. Kayla Harrison

2. Zhang Weili

3. Valentina Shevchenko

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Dakota Ditcheva

6. Manon Fiorot

7. Virna Jandiroba

8. Natalia Silva

9. Jasmine Jasudavicius

10. Erin Blanchfield

DRAKE RIGGS

MEN

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1. Ilia Topuria

2. Islam Makhachev

3. Alexandre Pantoja

4. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Dricus du Plessis

6. Tom Aspinall

7. Francis Ngannou

8. Magomed Ankalaev

9. Jack Della Maddalena

10. Alexander Volkanovski

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Seika Izawa

3. Valentina Shevchenko

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Kayla Harrison

6. Natalia Silva

7. Virna Jandiroba

8. Larissa Pacheco

9. Dakota Ditcheva

10. Alexa Grasso