The Best Fighters Mixed Martial Arts Has to Offer
This is the ultimate list of MMA fighters with enough skill, talent, and persistence to earn a spot in the UFC Pound for Pound rankings. This 30-fighter roster represents the crème de la crème of the UFC; athletes who excel both in and outside their weight divisions.
These fighters are the best at what they do, and they deserve to be recognized out of all the fighters from every weight class in the UFC.
The Best Men's and Women's Pound for Pound Fighters in the UFC
They have exceptional skills, talent, an impressive professional record, or a combination of all three. Keep scrolling to see the best UFC pound for pound fighters below.
The Top 15 Women's P4P Rankings
Sometimes overlooked, even today, the Women's division of the UFC has evolved into an exciting pool of talent. The Top 15 pound for pound fighters each have their own style, technique, and award-worthy professional records.
These are how the top fighters would rank if you look at fighters based on skill regardless of their weight classes. This helps emphasize skill and performance.
Each of the women below have impressive records with spectacular performances in the UFC.
#1 Women's P4P Fighter - Valentina Shevchenko
Professional MMA Record: 24-4-1
Valentina "Bullet" Shevchenko is a p4p-ranked fighter, and the Women's Flyweight Champion. Shevchenko's second fight against Alexa Grasso ended in a draw after 5 rounds.
At UFC 306 in September 2024, Shevchenko fought Grasso for the third time to settle the trilogy, winning by unanimous decision.
Shevchenko was declared the winner by unanimous decision and Grasso relinquished the Championship belt. Follow Valentina on Instagram @bulletvalentina.
#2 Women's P4P Fighter - Zhang Weili
Professional MMA Record: 25-3
Zhang Weili is the number 2 Women's p4p fighter and current Women's Strawweight Champion. Zhang "Magnum" Weili has an impressive 11 first-round finishes with 8 wins by submission.
Weili faced off against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 and successfully defended her Strawweight Champion title.
#3 Women's P4P Fighter - Alexa Grasso
Professional MMA Record: 16-4-1
Alexa Grasso is the number 3 Women's pound for pound fighter in the UFC. Grasso lost her latest fight against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306.
Grasso is also the #1 ranked Women's Flyweight.
#4 Women's P4P Fighter - Julianna Peña
Professional MMA Record: 12-5
Julianna Peña is "The Venezuelan Vixen" and Women's Bantamweight Champion. So far, she has won 6 of her fights by submission.
Peña defeated Raquel Pennington during her last fight in October 2024, winning by split decision. Peña will defend her Championship belt during her next fight, which has not been announced.
#5 Women's P4P Fighter - Manon Fiorot
Professional MMA Record: 13-1
Manon "The Beast" Fiorot competes in the Women's Flyweight division. 6 of her professional 11 wins have come by way of knockout.
In March 2024, Fiorot defeated Erin Blanchfield at UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot. Fiorot was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
#6 Women's P4P Fighter - Rose Namajunas
Professional MMA Record: 13-6
"Thug" Rose Namajunas is a fan favorite and Women's Flyweight fighter. Her professional record of 12 wins and 6 losses includes 5 first-round finishes.
Namajunas faced off against Amanda Ribas in March 2024 at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada and Namajunas won by unanimous decision after going the distance.
#7 Women's P4P Fighter - Erin Blanchfield
Professional MMA Record: 12-2
Erin Blanchfield competes in the Women's Flyweight division and is currently on an impressive 9-fight winning streak. "Cold Blooded" Blanchfield won a "Most Memorable Submissions" award for her performance against Jéssica Andrade in 2023.
Blanchfield's latest fight in March 2024, ended after 5 rounds where Manon Fiorot won by unanimous decision.
#8 Women's P4P Fighter - Raquel Pennington
Professional MMA Record: 16-8
Raquel Pennington became the Women's Bantamweight Champion at UFC 297 after defeating Mayra Bueno Silva in a 5 round championship title fight. "Rocky" Pennington was on a 6-fight winning streak until Julianna Peña claimed the Bantamweight belt at UFC 307.
Pennington's next fight has not been announced, but we will keep you posted as more updates are released.
#9 Women's P4P Fighter - Kayla Harrison
Professional MMA Record: 18-1
Kayla Harrison won her first fight in the UFC after defeating Holly Holm with a rear-naked choke submission. Harrision's win came in the middle of Round 2.
Before joining the UFC, Harrison was a long-time Olympic Judoka and PFL fighter.
#10 Women's P4P Fighter - Tatiana Suarez
Professional MMA Record: 10-0
At UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Font, Tatiana Suarez beat Jéssica Andrade by submission in Round 2. Suarez has won 6 of her fights by submission.
Suarez competes in the Women's Strawweight division and is currently ranked number 2 for her weight class.
#11 Women's P4P Fighter - Yan Xiaonan
Professional MMA Record: 18-4
Yan Xiaonan is currently ranked number 1 in the Women's Strawweight division and is set to fight Zhang Weili at UFC 300. Xiaonan has 8 first-round finishes and 8 wins by KO.
At UFC 300, Xiaonan fought Zhang Weili, but lost after 5 championship rounds.
#12 Women's P4P Fighter - Virna Jandiroba
Professional MMA Record: 21-3
Before Virna Jandiroba started making a name for herself in the UFC, she became the Invicta Fighting Championship Strawweight champion. Jandiroba used an armbar submission to earn a victory over Amanda Lemos at UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba.
Jandiroba was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus and the victory marks Jandiroba's fourth win in a row.
#13 Women's P4P Fighter - Natália Silva
Professional MMA Record: 18-5
Natália Silva fought Jéssica Andrade at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady and won by unanimous decision. Silva was awarded a Fight of the Night bonus for her performance.
Silva is also ranked as a Top 10 Women's Flyweight.
#14 Women's P4P Fighter - Jéssica Andrade
Professional MMA Record: 26-13
Jéssica "Bate Estaca" Andrade has a total of 39 professional MMA fights. 8 of her wins have come by way of submission and 10 by way of knockout.
Most recently, Andrade fought and lost to Natália Silva in September 2024. Andrade lost by unanimous decision after 3 rounds of MMA action.
#15 Women's P4P Fighter - Amanda Lemos
Professional MMA Record: 14-4-1
Amanda Lemos competes in the Women's Strawweight division and currently holds the number 3 spot in the weight class. Lemos lost her most recent fight against Virna Jandiroba in July 2024 at UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba.
Her next fight has not been announced.
The Top 15 Men's P4P Rankings
The Men's Pound for Pound section showcases the Top 15 UFC fighters as they would rank if weight divisions did not exist. Analyzing fighters when weight is not a factor emphasizes their skill, performance, and influence on the sport.
Across various weight classes, each of these MMA athletes display their mastery of mixed martial arts, with impressive records and spectacular performances inside the Octagon.
#1 Men's P4P Fighter - Islam Makhachev
Professional MMA Record: 25-1
Islam Makhachev is the number 1 men's pound for pound fighter and Lightweight UFC Champion. Makhachev has won 13 fights in a row and most recently defeated Alexander Volkanovski by head kick KO.
With 11 wins by submission and only one professional loss, Makhachev is an exciting fighter to watch.
#2 Men's P4P Fighter - Alex Pereira
Professional MMA Record: 11-2
Alex Pereira's quick rise to a two-division Championship title holder happened after just 11 professional MMA fights. At UFC 295, Pereira defeated fellow Light Heavyweight Jiří Procházka and became the new Light Heavyweight Champion.
Pereira previously held the Middleweight Title before being beaten by Israel Adesanya after their second Middleweight bout in 2023. At UFC 303 in June 2024, Pereira fought Jiří Procházka for the second time, winning by technical knockout.
#3 Men's P4P Fighter - Jon Jones
Professional MMA Record: 27-1
Jon "Bones" Jones has 10 wins by knockout and 7 wins by submission. When Jones is active, he competes in the UFC Heavyweight Division.
Jones earned his latest victory in 2023 at UFC 285 by submission against Ciryl Gane.
#4 Men's P4P Fighter - Ilia Topuria
Professional MMA Record: 15-0
Ilia Topuria defeated Alex Volkanovski at UFC 298 to become the new Men's Featherweight Champion. His impressive boxing for MMA has led to an undefeated record with 5 wins by KO.
Topuria will defend the Featherweight title during his next fight, which has not been scheduled.
#5 Men's P4P Fighter - Belal Muhammad
Professional MMA Record: 24-3
Belal "Remember the Name" Muhammad claimed the Welterweight Championship belt after securing a victory against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. This was the second time Belal fought Edwards in the Octagon.
As of now, Muhammad has 5 wins by KO and 1 win by submission.
#6 Men's P4P Fighter - Dricus Du Plessis
Professional MMA Record: 22-2
Dricus Du Plessis became the UFC Middleweight Champion when he beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Before that, Du Plessis secured a victory against longtime UFC fighter, Robert Whittaker.
Du Plessis successfully defended his Middleweight title at UFC 305 after beating Israel Adesanya by face crank submission in the fourth Round.
#7 Men's P4P Fighter - Merab Dvalishvili
Professional MMA Record: 18-4
Merab Dvalishvili earned himself a spot among the pound for pound rankings and became the Men's Bantamweight Champion by beating Sean O'Malley for 5 Rounds at UFC 304. Merab is on an 11-fight win streak and has been successful against other well-known fighters including Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo.
#8 Men's P4P Fighter - Tom Aspinall
Professional MMA Record: 15-3
Tom Aspinall secured his title as the Interim Heavyweight Champ when he beat Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024. Aspinall was awarded a "Performance of the Night" bonus for his KO victory.
With 14 first-round professional finishes, Aspinall has proven himself as a fighter that's here to stay in the Heavyweight rankings.
#9 Men's P4P Fighter - Leon Edwards
Professional MMA Record: 22-4
Leon "Rocky" Edwards successfully defended his title against Colby Covington at UFC 296 in 2023, then relinquished the belt to Belal Muhammad in July 2024.
When Edwards fought Belal Muhammad for the first time (back in 2021), the fight was called a No Contest after Muhammad could no longer continue after being poked in the eye.
#10 Men's P4P Fighter - Alexander Volkanovski
Professional MMA Record: 26-4
Alexander Volkanovski competes in the Men's Featherweight Division where he currently holds the Championship belt. "The Great" Volkanovski has an impressive 13 wins by knockout.
Volk fought to defend his Featherweight title against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024 and lost by knockout due to punches.
#11 Men's P4P Fighter - Max Holloway
Professional MMA Record: 26-7
Max "Blessed" Holloway has 33 professional MMA bouts under his belt with 11 coming by way of knockout. Holloway is ranked number 1 in the Men's UFC Featherweight division.
At UFC 300 in April 2024, Holloway fought (and defeated) Justin Gaethje in an edge-of-your-set thriller at Welterweight.
#12 Men's P4P Fighter - Alexandre Pantoja
Professional MMA Record: 28-5
Alexandre "The Cannibal" Pantoja competes in the Men's Flyweight division and is the current Flyweight Champion. Panjota has an impressive 10 first-round victories.
"The Cannibal" won his most recent fight after facing off against Steve Erceg for 5 rounds at UFC 301 in May 2024.
#13 Men's P4P Fighter - Sean O'Malley
Professional MMA Record: 18-2
"Suga" Sean O'Malley won his most recent fight against Aljamain Sterling with one of the best MMA knockouts of 2023. O'Malley has 12 wins by knockout with 9 first-round finishes.
At UFC 298, O'Malley successfully defended his title for the first time and kept his championship belt after beating Marlon "Chito" Vera for 5 rounds.
#14 Men's P4P Fighter - Sean Strickland
Professional MMA Record: 29-6
When Sean Strickland fought Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024, Strickland gave up the Middleweight title. Before that, he defeated Israel Adesanya to become the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Strickland has 11 wins by knockout with 9 first-round finishes.
#15 Men's P4P Fighter - Charles Oliveira
Professional MMA Record: 34-10
Charles "Do Bronxs" Oliveira is a ranked Lightweight fighter with a staggering 21 wins by submission. 10 of "Do Bronxs" victories have come by way of knockout.
In April 2024, Oliveira faced off against Arman Tsurukyan at UFC 300, where Oliveira lost by split decision.
Did Your Favorite Fighter Make the Cut?
The men's and women's divisions of the UFC are rich with talent, discipline, and commitment to excelling at mixed martial arts. The UFC pound for pound rankings showcase fighters who've transcended the boundaries of their respective weight classes, embodying excellence in every aspect of their craft.
Each athlete on this list serves as a testament to the multifaceted nature of MMA - a sport that demands adaptability, strategic thinking, physical toughness, and an enduring spirit. Their wide-ranging skills and ability to perform under pressure are what set them apart from the rest of the fighters on the UFC's roster.
As we look towards the future, these rankings will shift and change to reflect the best of the best competing in the UFC. The journey to the top is demanding, but for those who make it, the achievement is an honor of recognition and respect in combat sports.
