Discover the latest update to the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings and find out who the best male and female MMA fighters in the world are. Get insights into the recent shake-ups and upcoming fights that will impact the rankings.
| Men’s Pound-for-Pound | Women’s Pound-for-Pound |
|---|---|
| Dricus du Plessis claims UFC middleweight championship with a split decision victory over Sean Strickland | Raquel Pennington dominates Mayra Bueno Silva to become the first UFC women’s bantamweight champion of the post-Nunes era |
| Alexander Volkanovski defends his belt against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 | Amanda Lemos faces Mackenzie Dern in a strawweight battle at UFC 298 |
The latest update to the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings has seen significant changes in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Dricus du Plessis and Raquel Pennington have emerged as champions and made their mark on the rankings. Exciting matchups are on the horizon, including Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against Ilia Topuria and Amanda Lemos facing Mackenzie Dern in a battle to reenter the strawweight title mix.
MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings
Welcome to the latest update to the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings, where our esteemed panel sorts through the noise to determine the best overall male and female MMA fighters in the world. With the first UFC pay-per-view of 2024 in the books, the start of the MMA calendar has had a significant impact on the global pound-for-pound landscape. Let’s dive into the rankings.
Men’s Pound-for-Pound
Dricus du Plessis, the latest UFC middleweight champion, has shaken up the pound-for-pound rankings. At UFC 297, du Plessis claimed the middleweight belt with a razor-close split decision victory over Sean Strickland. This victory propelled him up nine spots to the No. 10 position, while Strickland dropped to No. 15. The question now is, who will du Plessis face in his first title defense? Both Israel Adesanya (No. 17) and Khamzat Chimaev (No. 18) are potential options, and a successful defense could further elevate du Plessis’ ranking.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on UFC 298, where Alexander Volkanovski (No. 2) aims to defy Father Time as the oldest champion under 170 pounds in UFC history. He will defend his belt against the undefeated Ilia Topuria.
Women’s Pound-for-Pound
After a stagnant period, the women’s pound-for-pound ranks have seen some movement. Raquel Pennington emerged as the first UFC women’s bantamweight champion in the post-Nunes era by dominating Mayra Bueno Silva. This victory propelled Pennington up nine spots to No. 9, while Silva dropped to No. 17. Additionally, RIZIN super atomweight champion Seika Izawa climbed three spots to No. 14 after defeating Miyuu Yamamoto on New Year’s Eve.
Looking ahead, UFC 298 features a strawweight battle between Amanda Lemos (No. 20T) and Mackenzie Dern, with both fighters looking to reenter the title mix.
These rankings are determined by an eight-person voting panel consisting of MMA Fighting staff members. The rankings are updated after every UFC pay-per-view event. Fighters who do not compete within 18 months of their last bout are removed from the rankings. Retirement announcements are evaluated by the panel to determine whether a fighter should be immediately removed or maintain their position until further notice.
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