UFC pound-for-pound fighter rankings: Darius du Plessis breaks into top 10 with stunning rise to prominence
In just three years, Darius du Plessis has gone from fresh-faced UFC newcomer to middleweight champion of the world. And with that growth comes loot, including significant honors among the best pound-for-pound in the world.
Du Plessis is 7-0 since debuting in the Octagon in 2020 when he defeated Sean Strickland for the 185-pound title via split decision in their tense and technical duel over five rounds at UFC 297 in Toronto last weekend. Had captured.
A major part of Du Plessis’s spectacular progress has been the confidence he has shown from day one as the South Africa native was never short of promises that he would soon become a world champion. But this led to a rapid improvement in his overall game as he continued to climb the ladder, surpassing established veterans such as Darren Till and Derek Brunson.
However, it wasn’t until DDP delivered a massive upset to former champion Robert Whittaker last July that the fighter known as “Stillnox” truly showed that he had the calculated craft to match that. Was a combination of size and strength. But development did not stop here.
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Against Strickland, Du Plessis showed over 25 minutes that he also has a championship level gas tank, as he followed up with timely takedowns with heavy counter punches despite being heavily swollen to the face due to his opponent’s hard and accurate striking. Affected the two by combining. Three judges ruled in his favor in a thrilling title match, which could have gone either way.
Next up, Du Plessis will prioritize the biggest fight available to him in the division in the form of Israel Adesanya, who he called off after defeating Strickland. The two had previously faced off inside the cage when Adesanya, who was still champion at the time, was there for Du Plessis to harass Whittaker until a minor injury opened the door for a title shot for Strickland. Didn’t open it.
At 30 years old, Du Plessis is improving at an alarming rate and could be the first UFC athlete to fulfill the promotion’s long-awaited dream of bringing a fight card to the African continent.
Using a criteria that takes into account everything from accomplishments to current form, let’s take a closer look at the top fighters inside the Octagon.
For updated divisional rankings from CBS Sports, Click here,
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1.Islam Makhachev – Lightweight Champion
Record: 25-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Charles Oliveira’s withdrawal from their UFC 294 title rematch gave Makhachev a last-minute second chance against featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, whom he finished by knockout in the first round via head kick. The win ended any P4P debate as Makhachev controlled the action from start to finish and now has two stoppage wins in his last three bouts against higher ranked P4P foes.
2. Jon Jones – Heavyweight Champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 2
Jones’ first title defense at heavyweight, which was scheduled for UFC 295 in November against former champion Stipe Miocic, was canceled after Jones suffered a chest injury during training. Jones, who turns 37 this summer, is expected to recover in eight months. Despite further devastation from an ill-timed injury in the heavyweight title picture, Jones has vowed to return.
3. Leon Edwards – Welterweight Champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 3
If anyone thought Edwards reaching the 170-pound title was a fluke, his UFC 286 trilogy victory over Kamaru Usman silenced those doubters. His second title defense against Colby Covington in December gave Edwards another dominant win, yet Covington’s defense received considerable praise for its lack of action.
4. Alexander Volkanovski–Featherweight Champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous ranking: 4
Volkanovski’s decision to risk everything on 12 days’ notice to rematch Makhachev in Abu Dhabi proved disastrous as the 145-pound king never got out of first gear and suffered a fluke first-round knockout en route to a defeat. appeared. Volkanovski will make a quick turnaround ahead of his title defense in February against top featherweight contender Ilya Topuria.
5. Alex Pereira – Light Heavyweight Champion
Record: 9-2 | Previous ranking: 5
In just seven UFC bouts and 11 pro MMA bouts overall, “Poton” is now a two-division champion after defeating Jiri Prochazka for the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295 in November. The 36-year-old Brazilian slugger called out main rival Israel Adesanya in hopes of an MMA trilogy (and fifth fight overall).
6. Charles Oliveira – Lightweight
Record: 34-9 | Previous ranking: 6
The former 155-pound champion saved his title after losing it to Benil Dariush in the first round at UFC 289. But the Brazilian’s submission threat resulted in a costly cut above his right eye, ruling him out of the title rematch at UFC 294. Makhachev. “Du Bronx” must now hope that the UFC does not pass him over for the next shot in favor of BMF Champion Justin Gaethje.
7. Alexandre Pantoja – Flyweight Champion
Record: 27-5 | Previous ranking: 7
The Brazilian submission threat relied more on his chin and sheer willpower to dispatch Brandon Moreno by split decision at UFC 290 in one of the most exciting and brutal bouts in flyweight history. At 33, Pantoja now has three wins over Moreno and he returned in December to record a hard-fought decision over Brandon Royval in his first title defense.
8. Shawn O’Malley — Bantamweight Champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 8
The “Sugar Show” is alive and on top of the sport’s deepest division after a second-round TKO of Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292. O’Malley silenced his critics by stopping Sterling by takedown and looks set to become a global superstar. His talent and charisma have been teased for a long time. A March return, scheduled for Miami at UFC 299, brings a long-awaited rematch of O’Malley’s only loss against Marlon “Chito” Vera.
9. Max Holloway – Featherweight
Record: 24-7 | Previous ranking: 9
A master of rebuilding, the 31-year-old Hawaiian star still hasn’t lost to anyone not named Volkanovski since 2013 at 145 pounds. Holloway made a big comeback in 2023 by defeating Arnold Allen in April before defeating “The Korean Zombie”. Chan Sung Jung’s August retirement fight.
10. Darius Du Plessis – Middleweight Champion
Record: 21-2 | Previous ranking: NR
Undefeated in his seven trips to the Octagon, the proud native of South Africa can now call himself champion after defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297 in January. Du Plessis, who has since called out former champion Israel Adesanya, has developed at an alarming rate thanks to his mix of technique and a deep gas tank for big power and takedown threat.
dropped out: aljamain sterling
just missed: Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Justin Gaethje, Dricus du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev
Women’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Zhang Weili – Strawweight Champion
Record: 24-3 | Previous ranking: No. 1
The first Chinese-born UFC champion reclaimed her 115-pound crown by dominating Carla Esparza via second-round submission at UFC 281. he followed it Amanda Lemos’ statistically historic defeat in August and, at 34, is at the top of his game.
2. Alexa Grasso – Flyweight Champion
Record: 16-3-1 | Previous ranking: 2
The Mexico native teamed up with former champion Valentina Shevchenko to co-write an exciting and strategic 125-pound title rematch at Noche UFC. A split draw resulted in defending champion Grasso having a 10–8 advantage in a controversial final round that narrowly avoided defeat. It remains uncertain whether or not the next trilogy fight will take place in such a crowded division.
3. Valentina Shevchenko – Flyweight
Record: 23-4-1 | Previous ranking: No. 3
The future all-time great stepped up her game at the age of 35 and nearly regained her flyweight title from Alexa Grasso in a September rematch. The result was a disputed draw, after which Shevchenko was openly considering an appeal. Either way, it’s hard to imagine that Shevchenko’s days of fighting for UFC gold are now behind her.
4. Erin Blanchfield – Flyweight
Record: 12-1 | Previous ranking: 4
The New Jersey native is 6-0 in the UFC and is closing in on a title shot after back-to-back wins over Jessica Andrade and Talia Santos. Although Blanchfield’s grappling skills remain her hallmark, her striking has improved tremendously. He also has a deadly gas tank, as evidenced by his speed on Santos.
5. Manon Fiorot – Flyweight
Record: 11-1 | Previous ranking: 5
Add Fiorot’s name to the list of those who could be next in line for the 125-pound crown. The France native is a dynamic kickboxer who is fresh off a unanimous decision win over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in September.
dropped out: nobody
just missed: Yan Xiaonan, Tatiana Suarez, Rose Namajunas, Raquel Pennington, Juliana Pena
