UFC pound-for-pound fighter rankings: Dricus du Plessis refuses to give up on breaking into top five
If there is such a thing as calculated weird behavior, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has it in abundance.
Add to that relentless power, a never-stopping gas tank, and the heart of a champion, and you have a pound-for-pound-ranked fighter who can’t be denied.
No, Du Plessis, a 30-year-old native of South Africa, isn’t the most graceful technical fighter in the UFC today. But he’s an adaptable student of the game who’s getting better with each bout. And, as Israel Adesanya discovered at UFC 305 in August, DDP is also a physical force that can’t easily be denied when the moment calls for the dramatic.
Du Plessis took the best shots from the 35-year-old Adesanya, who seemed visibly energized by the former champion’s performance. But once Du Plessis, with an iron-chinned chin, ate a spinning back elbow like it was nothing and kept moving forward, even though his cardio was running low, he somehow found a way to break Adesanya and put him down to win via fourth-round submission (face crank).
When he first came to the UFC four years ago, Du Plessis looked like a loose-limbed, hard charger who lacked defense or sophistication. But that all changed quickly, especially when he made a brilliant adjustment to win the title by defeating Robert Whittaker in 2023.
But now that he can add Adesanya to a deadly set of five consecutive victories that includes stopping Darren Till, Derek Brunson and Whittaker, as well as a hard-earned split decision win over another former champion in Sean Strickland to capture the title at UFC 297 in January, it’s no longer possible to deny DDP’s skill, intangibles and results.
Du Plessis is a unique fighter in many ways and will probably never become a defensive master like someone like Strickland, who is adept at moving his head to avoid punches at close range. But DDP is also very comfortable in firefights, which is what most of his bouts are about. And with six stoppage wins in eight UFC outings, he has consistently shown how to take out top-level opponents when it matters most.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Islam Makhachev – Lightweight Champion
Record: 26-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
A closer-than-expected win over future Hall of Famer Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June did little to dislodge Makhachev from the top spot in the rankings. Despite suffering an elbow to his left eye, Makhachev held off a late rally and put Poirier to sleep in Round 5. Makhachev’s win, which extends his streak to 14 (two short of Anderson Silva’s UFC record), also ties him for the most title defenses (3) in lightweight history.
2. Jon Jones – Heavyweight Champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 2
Jones’ first title defense at heavyweight, scheduled for last November against former champion Stipe Miocic, was canceled after “Bones” suffered a pectoral tear in training. Jones, who will turn 37 this summer, is expected to return this November against Miocic, despite critics who say Jones, who has threatened retirement, is deliberately avoiding interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
3. Alex Pereira – Light Heavyweight Champion
Record: 11-2 | Last ranking: 3
The 36-year-old Brazilian slugger not only made headlines by defeating former champion Jamahal Hill at the biggest event in history at UFC 300 in April, but he was called up again (despite suffering a broken toe) to replace Conor McGregor at UFC 303 in July. In the main event of International Fight Week, Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka in their rematch. Next up is Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.
4. Ilya Topuria – Featherweight Champion
Record: 15-0 | Last ranking: 5
The changing of the guard at the top of the 145-pound division at UFC 298 in February could produce the sport’s next breakout star. Topuria did everything he said he would against Alexander Volkanovski, including finishing him in the first two rounds. A spectacular title defense awaits Topuria against former champion Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.
5. Dricus du Plessis – Middleweight Champion
Record: 22-2 | Last ranking: 9
Whatever you say about his heavy-handed and often raw forward-pressing style, the South African native has produced tremendous results during eight undefeated trips to the Octagon. The reigning 185-pound champion added Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August to his hit list, which also includes fellow former middleweight kings Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker. Simply put: DDP is on fire.
6. Max Holloway – Featherweight
Record: 26-7 | Last ranking: 5
Don’t call it a comeback, Holloway has been one of the top P4P fighters for several years. But winning three fights in a row at the age of 32 is very encouraging for him. Two years ago, after his third loss to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway’s future was in doubt. Now, he is the current BMF champion after knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and will next try to regain his 145-pound title against Topuria in October.
7. Belal Muhammad – Welterweight Champion
Record: 24-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 6
Now is not the time to doubt or underestimate Muhammad’s world-class skills, having remained unbeaten in 11 fights since beating Leon Edwards to win the welterweight title in July at UFC 304. At 36, the proud Palestinian-American from Chicago also became the oldest fighter to win a UFC title at 170 pounds or less.
8. Sean O’Malley – Bantamweight Champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 7
“Suga Sho” put on perhaps the best performance of his career in his first title defense, dominating Marlon Vera over five rounds at UFC 299. O’Malley avenged the only loss of his pro career, but now faces a tough challenge as he is scheduled to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at The Sphere in Las Vegas in September.
9. Alexandre Pantoja – Flyweight Champion
Record: 28-5 | Last ranking: 8
After relying more on his willpower than his P4P skills to win the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno last summer, the Brazilian submission specialist has been busy defending the title twice against Brandon Royval (in their rematch) and Steve Erceg. Pantoja’s passion and determination have become his calling cards of late as his title reign continues to grow.
10. Leon Edwards – Welterweight
Record: 21-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 10
Fighting in his hometown of England, Edwards did little to counter the brilliant boxing and relentless pressure of Belal Muhammad as “Rocky’s” inspirational 170-pound title reign came to an end at UFC 304. Edwards blamed the early morning start for his poor performance, though he rallied to outpoint Muhammad late in Round 5.
dropped out: nobody
just missed: Merab Dvalishvili, Robert Whittaker, Tom Aspinall, Sean Strickland, Alexander Volkanovski
Women’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Zhang Weili – Strawweight Champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Zhang improved to 9-0 against everyone other than Rose Namajunas in the UFC when she defeated Chinese countrywoman Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 and did so by relying on her cardio, IQ and superior grappling to nearly earn early finishes twice. However, her toughest test is still to come in the form of Tatiana Suarez.
2. Alexa Grasso – Flyweight Champion
Record: 16-3-1 | Last ranking: 2
The Mexico native teamed up with former champion Valentina Shevchenko to rematch the Noche UFC title in a thrilling and tactical bout. The result was a split draw as defending champion Grasso took advantage of a controversial 10-8 final round to narrowly escape defeat. Both fighters coached against each other on “The Ultimate Fighter” this spring ahead of September’s trilogy fight at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
3. Valentina Shevchenko – Flyweight
Record: 23-4-1 | Last ranking: No. 3
The future all-time great nearly regained her flyweight title from Alexa Grasso in their rematch in September. The result was a controversial draw, after which Shevchenko openly considered appealing. Now, at age 36, after coaching with Grasso on TUF, Shevchenko is set for a third meeting at UFC 306 in September.
4. Manon Fiorot – Flyweight
Record: 12-1 | Last ranking: 4
A five-round shutout decision over the red-hot Erin Blanchfield appears to be the final hurdle the 34-year-old France native must overcome to win the title. Fiorot’s takedown defense and ability to avoid danger on the ground set the perfect stage for her precise striking to shine. For now, Fiorot will have to wait for the Grasso-Shevchenko rivalry to die down.
5. Tatiana Suarez – Strawweight
Record: 10-0 | Last ranking: 5
Despite missing nearly four years of her best years due to chronic injuries, Suarez is coming back in a big way. Her spectacular submission of former champion Jessica Andrade in August was enough to put Suarez back in the 115-pound title race. Few can match her wrestling ability alone, and even fewer can match the relentless competitive streak that fuels her determination.
dropped out: nobody
just missed: Kayla Harrison, Erin Blanchfield, Rose Namajunas, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Pena
