The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is like the Super Bowl for mixed martial arts (MMA). It’s where the best fighters from all over the world come to show what they can do. Every time a fighter steps into the famous Octagon, their main goal is to prove they are the absolute best. But with so many amazing athletes in different weight classes, how do we really figure out who the best UFC fighters are right now?
It’s a tricky question, and the answer is always changing! This simple guide will help you understand how we judge greatness in the UFC and introduce you to some of the top champions and challengers ruling the sport today.
What Makes a UFC Fighter “The Best”? How We Judge Them
To understand who’s “the best” in MMA, which is a mix of many fighting styles, we look at a few key things:
Mastering All Skills: The Complete MMA Fighter
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- Great Striking: This isn’t just about punching hard. It means hitting targets accurately, having knockout power, being good at blocking punches, and using a variety of moves from boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing (like punches, kicks, knees, and elbows).
- Strong Grappling: This covers everything that happens when fighters get close or go to the ground. It includes wrestling (like taking opponents down and stopping them from taking you down) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (using special holds and chokes to make opponents give up, and controlling them on the ground).
- Smart Fighting (MMA IQ): The truly great fighters know how to smoothly combine all these different skills. They can think quickly, change their plan during a fight, make smart choices when things get tough, and always find ways to use their opponent’s weaknesses against them.
Winning Clearly: How They Get Their Victories
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- Long Winning Streaks: How many fights have they won in a row? Winning many fights in a row against other top fighters shows they are truly dominant.
- Big Finishes (Knockouts/Submissions): Do they often end fights early by knocking out or making opponents give up? This shows they have strong power or amazing technical skill.
- Beating Top Opponents: It’s great to win, but who are they beating? Constantly winning against other highly-ranked and elite fighters proves they belong at the very top.
- Clear Wins: Are their wins very clear and decisive, or are they often close fights that could have gone either way? Clear wins speak volumes about their skill.
Being a Champion: The Ultimate Proof in Their Weight Class
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- Holding a UFC Title: If a fighter has the championship belt, it means they are seen as the undisputed best in their specific weight division.
- Defending the Title: How many times have they successfully kept their championship against new challengers? Holding onto the title for a long time shows true greatness.
Staying Great: Consistency Over Time
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- Can a fighter keep performing at a high level for many years? MMA changes fast, and the best fighters learn new things and keep winning against new, strong opponents.
“Pound-for-Pound” (P4P): Who’s the Absolute Best Overall?
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- This is a fun, imaginary way to compare fighters from different weight classes. The question is: “If all fighters were the same size, who would be the most skilled and dominant?”
- P4P rankings are usually decided by a group of sports writers and experts. It’s a way to celebrate a fighter’s overall skill and impact across the entire UFC.
The Top Fighters Right Now: A Look at the Best (July 2025)
Based on recent UFC fights and official rankings (as of late July 2025), here are some of the fighters currently seen as the very best in the world, no matter their weight class:
Men’s Pound-for-Pound King: Ilia Topuria (Lightweight Champion)
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- Known as “El Matador,” Ilia Topuria has quickly become the top P4P fighter. He’s famous for his super precise and powerful boxing. He recently made history by winning two titles, becoming the Lightweight champion. His knockout power makes him a truly scary opponent.
Other Top Men’s P4P Stars:
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- Islam Makhachev: A master of grappling and a former Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is known for his incredible wrestling and Sambo skills that can completely control opponents. He’s now trying to win a second title in a higher weight class.
- Merab Dvalishvili: The current Bantamweight champion, “The Machine” is famous for his non-stop wrestling, amazing energy, and constantly getting better at striking. He’s a very tough fight for anyone.
- Alexandre Pantoja: The strong Flyweight champion, Pantoja is an aggressive and well-rounded fighter who’s great at both striking and making opponents give up. He’s defended his title many times, showing he’s truly the king of his division.
- Dricus du Plessis: The Middleweight champion from South Africa, “Stillknocks” has a unique fighting style and pushes forward with non-stop pressure. He’s had an amazing winning streak, surprising many with how tough he is.
- Alexander Volkanovski: The Featherweight champion, “The Great” is a very smart fighter with super accurate striking, great defense, and a fast pace. He recently won his title back, proving he’s still one of the best.
- Magomed Ankalaev: The Light Heavyweight champion, Ankalaev combines strong, accurate punches with powerful wrestling, making him a dominant force.
- Jack Della Maddalena: The new Welterweight champion, “JDM” is a striking star known for his smooth boxing and surprisingly good defense against takedowns. He’s quickly moving up the ranks.
- Tom Aspinall: The Heavyweight champion, Aspinall is a fast and athletic big man with quick hands and impressive grappling skills for someone his size.
Women’s Pound-for-Pound Queen: Valentina Shevchenko (Flyweight Champion)
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- “Bullet” is widely seen as one of the most dominant female fighters ever. Her precise striking, strong grappling, and smart fighting have made her a champion for a long time.
Other Top Women’s P4P Stars:
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- Zhang Weili: The Strawweight champion, “Magnum” is known for her incredible power, aggressive striking, and always-improving grappling. She’s won her title twice and always puts on exciting fights.
- Kayla Harrison: The new Bantamweight champion, Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo. She brings amazing grappling skills to the UFC and has made a big impact very quickly.
Champions in Each Weight Class: Who Holds the Belts Right Now?
Beyond the overall “Pound-for-Pound” rankings, each weight class has its own champion. These fighters are considered the absolute best in their specific division:
Men’s Divisions:
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- Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall
- Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev
- Middleweight: Dricus du Plessis
- Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena
- Lightweight: Ilia Topuria
- Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski
- Bantamweight: Merab Dvalishvili
- Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja
Women’s Divisions:
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- Bantamweight: Kayla Harrison
- Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko
- Strawweight: Zhang Weili
These champions have shown they are truly elite by beating the toughest challengers in their divisions.
Rising Stars: The Next Big Names in UFC
The UFC is always changing, with new talented fighters coming up and challenging the top spots. Keep an eye out for these types of fighters who are likely to be future stars:
- Undefeated Prospects: Fighters who haven’t lost a professional fight yet and are quickly moving up the rankings. They often finish fights in exciting ways (like Shavkat Rakhmonov or Umar Nurmagomedov).
- Exciting Challengers: Highly-ranked fighters who always put on thrilling performances, often winning “Fight of the Night” awards, and are very close to getting a chance at a title.
- The “Next Big Thing”: Some fighters just have that special something – a mix of great skill, a fun personality, and exciting fights that creates a lot of buzz. These are the ones who could become future champions and huge stars.
Why “The Best” Is Always Changing: The Excitement of MMA
It’s important to remember that who is “the best” in the UFC is always moving and changing:
- Always Evolving: UFC rankings are never set in stone. They change after almost every event, depending on who wins, who loses, or if a fighter is out for a while due to injuries.
- Injuries and Time Off: If a top fighter is out for a long time because of an injury, their ranking might drop. This opens the door for other fighters to move up.
- Everyone Has an Opinion: In the end, deciding who’s “the best” is always a matter of personal opinion and fun discussions among fans, commentators, and experts. There’s no single, perfect way to measure it.
This constant change, the rise and fall of champions, and the endless debates are all part of what makes the UFC so incredibly exciting, unpredictable, and fun to watch for millions of fans around the world!
Conclusion
The UFC truly has an amazing collection of talent. Its roster is full of the most skilled, dominant, and exciting mixed martial artists on the planet. While figuring out “the best” is an ongoing conversation, driven by great performances and the ever-changing world of MMA, the champions and top “Pound-for-Pound” fighters we talked about here are definitely at the very top right now.
To really enjoy their amazing skills, the best thing you can do is watch their fights, follow their careers, and decide for yourself who you think are the best UFC fighters in the world.
