MMA Pound for Pound Rankings

Men’s Divisions
Heavyweight (265)Light Heavyweight (205)Middleweight (185)Welterweight (170)Lightweight (155)Featherweight (145)Bantamweight (135)Flyweight (125) – Pound-4-Pound

Women’s Divisions
W-Featherweight (145+)W-Bantamweight (135)W-Flyweight (125)W-Strawweight (115) – Pound-4-Pound

#FighterORGOVRLast 3 FightsNext Fight
1Islam Makhachev26-1W-Dustin Poirier (SUB)
W-Alex Volkanovski (KO)
W-Alex Volkanovski (DEC)
2Ilia Topuria16-0W-Max Holloway (KO)
W-Alex Volkanovski (KO)
W-Josh Emmett (DEC)
3Alex Pereira12-2W-Khalil Rountree (TKO)
W-Jiri Prochazka (TKO)
W-Jamahal Hill (KO)
4Alex Volkanovski26-4L-Ilia Topuria (KO)
L-Islam Makhachev (KO)
W-Yair Rodriguez (TKO)
5Dricus Du Plessis22-2W-Israel Adesanya (SUB)
W-Sean Strickland (DEC)
W-Robert Whittaker (TKO)
6Max Holloway26-8L-Ilia Topuria (KO)
W-Justin Gaethje (KO)
W-Chan Sung Jung (KO)
7Merab Dvalishvili18-4W-Sean O'Malley (DEC)
W-Henry Cejudo (DEC)
W-Petr Yan (DEC)
8Belal Muhammad24-3W-Leon Edwards (DEC)
W-Gilbert Burns (DEC)
W-Sean Brady (TKO)
9Leon Edwards22-4L-Belal Muhammad (DEC)
W-Colby Covington (DEC)
W-Kamaru Usman (DEC)
10Khamzat Chimaev14-0W-Robert Whittaker (SUB)
W-Kamaru Usman (DEC)
W-Kevin Holland (SUB)
11Sean O'Malley18-2L-Merab Dvalishvili (DEC)
W-Marlon Vera (DEC)
W-Aljamain Sterling (TKO)
12Sean Strickland29-6W-Paulo Costa (DEC)
L-Dricus Du Plessis (DEC)
W-Israel Adesanya (DEC)
13Israel Adesanya
24-4L-Dricus Du Plessis (SUB)
L-Sean Strickland (DEC)
W-Alex Pereira (KO)
14Tom Aspinall15-3W-Curtis Blaydes (KO)
W-Sergey Pavlovich (KO)
W-Alexander Volkov (SUB)
15Arman Tsarukyan22-3W-Charles Oliveira (DEC)
W-Beneil Dariush (KO)
W-Joaquim Silva (TKO)
Ineligible for Rankings
* Suspension
* Inactivity>15 months
Francis Ngannou17-3 W-Cyril Gane (DEC)
W-Stipe Miocic (KO)
W-Jairzinho Rozenstruik (KO)
Jon Jones27-1W-Ciryl Gane (SUB)
W-Dominick Reyes (DEC)
W-Thiago Santos (DEC)
MMA World Rankings FAQ
MMA World Rankings are comprised of all fighters, regardless of promotion. These rankings are sometimes referred to as "Global Rankings" or "Overall Rankings." RankingMMA has been publishing MMA world rankings since 2006.

So, how do we compile our rankings? What separates us from other web sites that formulate rankings?

We are the only source that uses computerized analytics rankings system & actual fight footage to determine rankings similar. The reason we do this is to avoid ranking bias. By using analytics, fighters are scored no matter the promotion they are in. From there, tiers are created and fighters are ranked from within those tiers.

Here is the rankings criteria that encompasses a fighter ranking:
- Most recent performance
- Performance against top competition
- Estimated ability against future competition
- Strength of competition
- Activity in the last 3 years
- Last 5 fights

There are many fighters sporting undefeated records from developing fight scenes, especially abroad. Something we take into consideration is the strength of competition they have faced. If a fighter has compiled a bunch of wins against competition that is lackluster they will likely have a difficult time moving up in the rankings until they face stiffer competition in order for us to accurately predict how they would perform against exceedingly tougher competition.

If a fighter has fought elite competition and fallen short, we factor in how they performed. If a fighter fairs well against a higher-ranked adversary, they could still move up in the rankings.

Actual fight footage is reviewed, regardless of promotion in order to formulate these rankings.

= Fighter moves up in the rankings after recent fight
= Fighter moves down in the rankings after recent fight

Reasons a fighter is ineligible for Non-UFC Rankings (* = Not Ranked)
= Inactivity over 15 months
= Changing weight classes. A fighter must debut in their new weight class in order to officially be ranked there. Upon their debut, they will be removed from their former weight class. If the fighter temporarily competed outside of their division, they will be ranked in their primary division of choice.
= Suspension. Should a fighter be suspended for performance enhancing substances or fighter conduct, they will be removed from the rankings.
10 Comments on this post.
  • Patrick o’lEARY
    30 November 2020 at 12:18 PM
    Leave a Reply

    There should be a seperate P4P list for Women.

    How can Nunes be the 3rd best p4p fighter on the planet. How many 135/145 men in the UFC can she beat? O

  • Alex St-Amant
    27 September 2020 at 3:13 PM
    Leave a Reply

    Where is Dustin Poirier ??
    Should definitely be above Tony Fergusson imo

  • Jonnie
    12 August 2013 at 11:29 AM
    Leave a Reply

    Jose Aldo should be 3rd, not Weidman.
    Aldo have defended his title many times and Weidman just conquered it recently.

    • D.C. Ross
      12 August 2013 at 8:43 PM
      Leave a Reply

      I definitely agree. The only reason I have Weidman ranked higher is because I don’t want to rank Anderson Silva any lower.

  • monty
    8 July 2013 at 9:01 AM
    Leave a Reply

    I think vitor is the p4p best non-champ but thats just my opninion, and why isnt ronda rousey top10? shes the champ yet non-champs are placed above her.

    • D.C. Ross
      8 July 2013 at 7:13 PM
      Leave a Reply

      Vitor is definitely working his way back up the P4P rankings. Rousey isn’t Top 10 because the ufc.com/rankings doesn’t rank here there. I am sure once she defends her title a couple more times, she will be Top 10.

  • Dave Barnes
    12 September 2012 at 11:22 AM
    Leave a Reply

    How can you have DC over Overeem?!? I have just lost all faith in your ranking system,

    • admin
      12 September 2012 at 10:50 PM
      Leave a Reply

      Overeem has a lot to prove still. Werdum was a solid test for Overeem, and though he did win, he struggled to let his hands go. DC just took out Josh Barnett and Antonio Silva. It’s close, but factoring in Overeem’s recent inactivity, DC gets the nod.

      • Adam Locke
        26 October 2020 at 7:22 PM
        Leave a Reply

        Jones is the goat hands down. Best pound for pound. Khabib fought LW (soft divison) the fact he is even on the list with 3 title defenses is sad.
        Fought 10 nobodies out of his 13 ufc fights.
        Usman would eat khabib alive if they were the same weight.
        Dudes a great LW thats it.

        • sulaiman
          30 October 2020 at 3:49 AM
          Leave a Reply

          The fact that you called it soft division is evidence enough of your stupidity hahah. LW is currently the most stacked division according to anyone who knows UFC. Khabib made the likes of Barboza, MJ, Porrier, AL, Greggor and Gaethji look levels below him. Just look at the desperation in their faces in the fights. Not only did Khabib win but he pretty much won every round and he never bled or even got hurt in the octagon.

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