Alex Pereira, despite lingering whispers and doubts regarding his age and a perceived decline at 38, delivered a resounding statement last Saturday, reclaiming the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. His dominant performance not only silenced critics but also significantly impacted the latest pound-for-pound fighter rankings, reaffirming his status as one of the sport’s most compelling figures.

Seven months prior, Pereira had suffered a decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, a setback that had fueled speculation about his longevity and ability to perform under duress. However, the immediate rematch at UFC 320 showcased a vastly different "Poatan." Reports indicated that Pereira had battled a broken hand and norovirus during their initial encounter, factors that severely hampered his preparation and in-cage performance. For the rematch, a fully healthy Pereira, free from the distractions of short-notice fights or training through injuries, demonstrated his true potential. He overwhelmed Ankalaev with relentless pressure and the constant threat of his signature one-punch knockout power, culminating in an 80-second TKO victory.

This redemptive win not only restored Pereira’s standing as arguably the biggest star in the UFC but also propelled him back up the critical pound-for-pound rankings. His renewed focus was evident, stemming from a decision to forgo worldwide travel and ambassadorial duties between fights. Instead, Pereira hunkered down at his Connecticut gym, training rigorously alongside his long-time mentor and former UFC champion, Glover Teixeira. This dedicated camp paid dividends from the opening bell at UFC 320, as Pereira aggressively closed the distance, pressuring Ankalaev and forcing him onto the defensive. The breakthrough came with a single mistake from Ankalaev, which Pereira capitalized on with a rocket right cross, dropping his opponent. Pereira swiftly followed up with elbows and hammer strikes from top position, forcing the referee to halt the bout.

In less than four years as a UFC fighter, Alex Pereira has amassed an impressive resume that rivals many Hall of Famers’ entire careers. "Poatan" holds a 10-2 record within the UFC, boasting seven victories against current or former champions and appearing in eight title bouts across just 12 total fights. Notably, he maintains the unique distinction of having defeated every fighter he has faced inside the Octagon. Despite approaching 40 and having a lengthy and decorated kickboxing career, which included two GLORY titles and induction into its Hall of Fame, Pereira’s age appears to be no immediate barrier to his ambitions. He is now openly pursuing a move up to the heavyweight division.

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Following the Ankalaev rematch, Pereira will require time to recover from what appeared to be a broken foot suffered during the fight. However, his sights are already set on future challenges. He has expressed interest in a superfight against former long-reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones, potentially at a UFC event planned for the White House next June in Washington, D.C. An even more significant opportunity looms with a potential shot at the winner of the October heavyweight title bout between Tom Aspinall and Cyril Gane. Such a fight would offer Pereira the historic chance to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. Pereira’s remarkable ability to mask his perceived weaknesses on the ground has been a cornerstone of his historic success. Should he replicate this success in a third weight class, there is a legitimate possibility for "Poatan" to retire as one of the greatest and most accomplished fighters in the history of mixed martial arts.

Men’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings

1. Ilia Topuria — Lightweight Champion
Record: 18-0 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Ilia Topuria solidified his position as a potential new face of the promotion by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, capturing the vacant lightweight title. As the first unbeaten, two-division champion in UFC history, Topuria’s technical and explosive boxing skills are widely regarded as among the best the Octagon has ever witnessed. His trajectory suggests he could become the sport’s biggest star since Conor McGregor. A potential matchup against Justin Gaethje is anticipated for early 2026.

2. Merab Dvalishvili — Bantamweight Champion
Record: 21-4 | Previous ranking: No. 3
At 34 years old, "The Machine" Merab Dvalishvili continues to demonstrate improvement as his 135-pound title reign progresses. Five months after outpointing the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov despite a back injury, Dvalishvili submitted former champion Sean O’Malley in their June rematch at UFC 316. He secured a third title defense of 2025 in October, outpointing Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili’s unparalleled cardio is a distinguishing factor, potentially unmatched in UFC history.

3. Islam Makhachev — Welterweight
Record: 27-1 | Previous ranking: No. 2
Islam Makhachev recently vacated his 155-pound title, opting to pursue championship gold in a second weight class despite the presence of former featherweight king Ilia Topuria moving into his division. At 33, Makhachev aims to further enhance his legendary resume. He is set to challenge new welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena this fall, with an opportunity to equal Anderson Silva’s UFC record of 16 consecutive wins at November’s UFC 322 card in New York.

4. Alex Pereira — Light Heavyweight
Record: 12-3 | Previous ranking: No. 8
Alex Pereira’s recent comeback victory stands as a testament to his resilience. After a sluggish decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev in March, the 37-year-old Brazilian slugger vowed to return at full health. He wasted no time in finishing Ankalaev in their October rematch at UFC 320, regaining the light heavyweight title and publicly calling for a move up to heavyweight to pursue a third divisional title.

5. Khamzat Chimaev — Middleweight Champion
Record: 15-0 | Previous ranking: No. 4
Despite years marked by inactivity due to injury, illness, and various setbacks, Khamzat Chimaev definitively proved his dangerous capabilities when fully healthy at UFC 319 in August. He addressed critics questioning his five-round cardio by utterly dominating Dricus du Plessis on the ground, securing a shutout decision. While some fans perceived Chimaev’s gameplan against DDP as conservative, the performance delivered a stern message to the middleweight division, signaling the commencement of a new era.

6. Alexandre Pantoja — Flyweight Champion
Record: 31-5 | Previous ranking: No. 5
Aging with increasing prowess, the 35-year-old Brazilian native recorded his fourth title defense with a submission victory over Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 in June. This win moved Pantoja into first place for most victories, finishes, and submissions in flyweight history. A showdown against red-hot contender Joshua Van is anticipated next, as Pantoja continues to build his legacy during this late-career resurgence.

7. Alexander Volkanovski — Featherweight Champion
Record: 27-4 | Previous ranking: No. 6
A 14-month layoff proved beneficial for the 36-year-old Alexander Volkanovski, who rebounded from a pair of knockout losses to two of the world’s top fighters. He brilliantly outpointed Diego Lopes to capture the vacant 145-pound title at UFC 314 in April. Now a two-time champion, Volkanovski demonstrated that even late in his career, superior skills, fight IQ, and timing can overcome youth and raw power. A title defense against the unbeaten Lerone Murphy is expected in December.

8. Jack Della Maddalena — Welterweight Champion
Record: 24-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: No. 9
Despite a 14-month layoff and close victories in his three preceding fights, the Australian slugger ascended to the pinnacle of the 170-pound division with a hard-fought decision win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May. Della Maddalena showcased elite boxing and footwork, but his takedown defense played a pivotal role in conquering a deep division. His first title defense is scheduled against Islam Makhachev in November at UFC 322.

9. Dricus du Plessis — Middleweight
Record: 22-3 | Previous ranking: No. 10
While Dricus du Plessis’s initial nine trips to the Octagon were impressive, he quickly found himself without answers in yielding his middleweight title to the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. Du Plessis struggled significantly with Chimaev’s ground game, appearing overwhelmed despite displaying toughness and a willingness to continue fighting. A late rally in the closing seconds, aided by two referee stand-ups, was insufficient to mitigate a one-sided dismantling.

10. Tom Aspinall — Heavyweight Champion
Record: 15-3 | Previous ranking: NR
The 32-year-old British slugger, known for some of the fastest hands in the division, finally earned undisputed champion status when Jon Jones vacated his title and briefly retired earlier this year. Aspinall, who previously defended his interim title last summer, is scheduled to defend the undisputed belt against Cyril Gane in October at UFC 321. The stalling and injury breaks from Jones’s tenure had inadvertently stalled Aspinall’s career; it is now his opportunity to make up for lost time.

Dropped out: Magomed Ankalaev
Just missed: Ankalaev, Umar Nurmagomedov, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Lerone Murphy, Reinier de Ridder

Women’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings

1. Valentina Shevchenko — Flyweight Champion
Record: 24-4-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
The future Hall of Famer further cemented her legacy at UFC 315 in May, outpointing the highly-rated Manon Fiorot over five rounds. The 37-year-old Shevchenko, who improved her UFC record for female title wins to 10, also achieved her eighth title defense by making crucial championship adjustments when it mattered most. A superfight against strawweight queen Zhang Weili is slated for UFC 322 in New York.

2. Zhang Weili — Strawweight Champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous ranking: No. 2
Zhang Weili improved her UFC record to 10-0 against all opponents not named Rose Namajunas, dominating the unbeaten Tatiana Suarez over five rounds at UFC 312 in February. At 35, Zhang continues to round out her formidable game and plans to demonstrate this by moving up to 125 pounds in hopes of becoming a two-division champion. Zhang will challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title at UFC 322 in November.

3. Kayla Harrison — Bantamweight Champion
Record: 19-1 | Previous ranking: No. 3
Despite enduring an extreme weight cut to make the championship weight of 135 pounds, Kayla Harrison dominated two-time champion Julianna Pena at UFC 316 in June to capture the women’s bantamweight title. A showdown against former champion and teammate Amanda Nunes appears to be the next step, with MMA’s female G.O.A.T. potentially returning to the sport at age 37. Regardless, Harrison’s inspirational story of perseverance provided a significant feel-good moment for the sport.

4. Manon Fiorot — Flyweight
Record: 12-2 | Previous ranking: No. 4
The 35-year-old French native saw her impressive 7-0 start to her UFC career halted, coming up just short in a close decision loss to champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 315 in June. Fiorot, who rebounded from a challenging first round where her nose was battered, relied on her size and clinch work against Shevchenko in a tactical chess match. She aims to bounce back in October when she faces the streaking Jasmine Jasudavicius in Vancouver.

5. Natalia Silva — Flyweight
Record: 19-5-1 | Previous ranking: No. 5
Unbeaten in seven trips to the Octagon, Natalia Silva secured a decision victory in May at UFC 315 against former champion Alexa Grasso, positioning the 28-year-old Brazilian native for a potential title shot. The dynamic striker has won 13 consecutive fights overall since a 2017 loss on the regional scene to Marina Rodriguez and remains a formidable challenge for any flyweight, owing to her speed, feints, and accurate strikes.

Dropped out: None
Just missed: Virna Jandiroba, Erin Blanchfield, Julianna Pena, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez

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