David Brown
JUNE 2026
I’m one of the media members on the UFC rankings panel nobody knows, which is why my name or newspaper has been brought up multiple times in articles and on podcasts by various MMA pundits as an example of everything wrong with the rankings over the last 13 years. No one apparently bothered to Google me, as I’ve occasionally posted my rankings compared to the collective panel, which would have shown I didn’t vote for a lot of the things they’re complaining about.
Of course, I’m sure all arguments will end Monday, when the UFC goes full Meta and releases truly “objective” AI rankings next to the media panel’s results. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what the digital minds come up with; while I always put fighters’ performance over popularity, it’s impossible to completely remove opinion from the process.
My resume includes 41 years as a newspaper reporter, city editor, sports editor, executive editor and publisher. I’ve covered every kind of sporting event under the sun, while voting in multiple local, state and national polls. Every week there is a UFC event, I watch it live, then again the next day without commentary so the analysts don’t influence me. Combined with research, I spend 10-12 hours per week compiling the rankings of 195 fighters in 13 categories for an unpaid position. No complaints; I’m happy to play a small part in helping promote the greatest sport on the planet.
In deciding where to rank fighters, actual results are most important, not how I personally feel about the fighters nor who I think would win hypothetical matchups. I examine head-to-head bouts first, then primarily results over the last three years, giving more credence to recent matchups. The level of competition is always considered, activity is important and MMA math only plays a small part in the process. I make my votes public in the spirit of openness and transparency.
I welcome folks to look over my rankings and offer feedback so I can improve, which is why I’ve periodically put them online for public viewing. And, in case you’re wondering, no one from the UFC, Fight Metric, MMA Registry nor any other entity has ever tried to influence my votes. Email dbrown1113@msn.com or hit me up on Threads @daviddbbrown.
MEN’S POUND FOR POUND
dB rankings (as of June 21, 2026)
1. Islam Makhachev (C)
2. Tom Aspinall (C)
3. Alexander Volkanovski (C)
4. Ciryl Gane (IC)
5. Peter Yan (C)
6. Justin Gaethje (C)
7. Joshua Van (C)
8. Ilia Topuria
9. Merab Dvalishvili
10. Alexandre Pantoja
11. Alex Pereira
12. Arman Tsarukyan
13. Sean Strickland (C)
14. Carlos Ulberg (C)
15. Khamzat Chimaev
UFC rankings (as of June 15, 2026)
1. Islam Makhachev (C)
2. Alexander Volkanovski (C)
3. Peter Yan (C)
4. Justin Gaethje (C)
5. Ilia Topuria
6. Tom Aspinall (C)
7. Sean Strickland (C)
8. Alex Pereira
9. Merab Dvalishvili
10. Joshua Van (C)
11. Khamzat Chimaev
12. Ciryl Gane (IC)
13. Alexandre Pantoja
14. Charles Oliveira (BMF)
15. Arman Tsarukyan
Differences: This category is so subjective I’m not quite sure why we even vote on it other than to start arguments. I typically go by how much a fighter has separated themself from others in their own weight class in determining P4P.
FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Joshua Van
1. Alexandre Pantoja
2. Manel Kape
3. Kyoto Horiguchi
4. Brandon Royval
5. Tatsuro Taira
6. Asu Almabayev
7. Lone’er Kavanagh
8. Brandon Moreno
9. Amir Albazi
10. Steve Erceg
11. Tim Elliott
12. Tagir Ulanbekov
13. Alex Perez
14. Charles Johnson
15. Joseph Morales
UFC rankings
C: Joshua Van
1. Alexandre Pantoja
2. Manel Kape
3. Tatsuro Taira
4. Brandon Royval
5. Kyoto Horiguchi
6. Lone’er Kavanagh
7. Amir Albazi
8. Asu Almabayev
9. Brandon Moreno
10. Steve Erceg
11. Alex Perez
12. Tim Elliott
13. Tagir Ulanbekov
14. Charles Johnson
15. Edgar Chairez
Differences: Kape’s perfectly timed finish of Horiguchi on Saturday night clearly puts him in the driver’s seat to face Van next for the title, unless Pantoja has properly healed from the devastating broken arm he suffered in losing the belt and aims to get it back right away. Doesn’t make sense for the other voters to have Albazi ranked two spots ahead of Moreno, considering Albazi lost his only fight since losing to Moreno in November 2024. Elsewhere, Morales is 7-0 since 2021.
BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Petr Yan
1. Merab Dvalishvili
2. Umar Nurmagomedov
3. Sean O’Malley
4. Cory Sandhagen
5. Song Yadong
6. Mario Bautista
7. Aiemann Zahabi
8. David Martinez
9. Deiveson Figueiredo
10. Raoni Barcelos
11. Payton Talbot
12. Marlon Vera
13. Bryce Mitchell
14. Marcus McGhee
15. Farid Basharat
UFC rankings
C: Petr Yan
1. Merab Dvalishvili
2. Sean O’Malley
3. Umar Nurmagomedov
4. Cory Sandhagen
5. Song Yadong
6. Aiemann Zahabi
7. Mario Bautista
8. David Martinez
9. Deiveson Figueiredo
10. Marlon Vera
11. Payton Talbot
12. Vinicius Oliveira
13. Raul Roses Jr.
14. Raoni Barcelos
15. Marcus McGhee
Differences: Oliveira has moved up to FW, opening the door for the deserving Basharat (15-0) to get a number next to his name. Mitchell, who was ranked at FW before dropping down in weight, and McGhee have better resumes than Roses Jr.
FEATHERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Movsar Evloev
2. Lerone Murphy
3. Diego Lopes
4. Aljamain Sterling
5. Jean Silva
6. Arnold Allen
7. Youssef Zalal
8. Brian Ortega
9. Yair Rodriguez
10. Kevin Vallejos
11. Steve Garcia
12. Melquizael Costa
13. David Onama
14. Aaron Pico
15. Pat Sabatini
UFC rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Movsar Evloev
2. Diego Lopes
3. Lerone Murphy
4. Aljamain Sterling
5. Yair Rodriguez
6. Jean Silva
7. Arnold Allen
8. Youssef Zalal
9. Kevin Vallejos
10. Steve Garcia
11. Brian Ortega
12. Aaron Pico
13. Melquizael Costa
14. David Onama
15. Josh Emmett
Differences: The top-five ranking for Rodriguez – who’s 3-3 in his last six fights, has stepped into the Octagon twice in the same year just once since 2019 and lost to Ortega in 2024 – continues to surprise me. While Emmett has fought tough outs, he’s 1-5 since 2023 and hasn’t looked like himself, while Sabatini has won five of his last six, only falling to Lopes.
LIGHTWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Justin Gaethje
1. Ilia Topuria
2. Arman Tsarukyan
3. Charles Oliveira
4. Max Holloway
5. Paddy Pimblett
6. Benoit Saint Denis
7. Mauricio Ruffy
8. Dan Hooker
9. Mateusz Gamrot
10. Renato Moicano
11. Quillan Salkilld
12. Rafael Fiziev
13. Manuel Torres
14. Beneil Dariush
15. Tom Nolan
UFC rankings
C: Justin Gaethje
1. Ilia Topuria
2. Arman Tsarukyan
3. Charles Oliveira
4. Max Holloway
5. Benoit Saint Denis
6. Paddy Pimblett
7. Mauricio Ruffy
8. Mateusz Gamrot
9. Dan Hooker
10. Renato Moicano
11. Rafael Fiziev
12. Quillan Salkilld
13. Beneil Dariush
14. Tom Nolan
15. Manuel Torres
Differences: What can we say about Gaethje that hasn’t already been said? Calling him to most exciting fighter in MMA history only partly describes the joy it has been watching his career, from being an undefeated World Series of Fighting champion to becoming the BMF belt holder to capturing two interim lightweight titles to finally winning the real deal. He won’t have an easy go of it if Tsarukyan is up for his first defense; I’d like to see Topuria return against the winner of Pimblett vs. Saint Denis. Elsewhere, the rest of the panel seems to have forgotten that Hooker holds a win over Gamrot.
WELTERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Islam Makhachev
1. Michael Morales
2. Ian Machado Garry
3. Carlos Prates
4. Gabriel Bonfim
5. Jack Della Maddalena
6. Belal Muhammad
7. Sean Brady
8. Leon Edwards
9. Kamaru Usman
10. Yaroslav Amosov
11. Joaquin Buckley
12. Michael Page
13. Daniel Rodriquez
14. Mike Mallet
15. Uros Medic
UFC rankings
C: Islam Makhachev
1. Ian Machado Garry
2. Carlos Prates
3. Michael Morales
4. Jack Della Maddalena
5. Gabriel Bonfim
6. Sean Brady
7. Belal Muhammad
8. Leon Edwards
9. Kamaru Usman
10. Joaquin Buckley
11. Yaroslav Amosov
12. Mike Mallet
13. Michael Page
14. Uros Medic
15. Daniel Rodriquez
Differences: I’m fine with Machado Garry getting the next crack at Makhachev, but Morales won’t be denied for long; a No.1 contenders fight with Prates would make a lot of sense. Elsewhere, the rest of the panel seems to have forgotten that Muhammed holds a dominating win over Brady, and voters only recently put Usman behind Edwards. Usman moving up to MW next month to face former champ Du Plessis gives him a better shot at earning a crack at another UFC belt.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Sean Strickland
1. Khamzat Chimaev
2. Nassourdine Imavov
3. Dricus Du Plessis
4. Anthony Hernandez
5. Brendan Allen
6. Caio Borralho
7. Joe Pyfer
8. Israel Adesanya
9. Reinier de Ridder
10. Robert Whittaker
11. Jared Cannonier
12. Gregory Rodriquez
13. Christian Leroy Duncan
14. Bo Nickal
15. Roman Dolidze
UFC rankings
C: Sean Strickland
1. Khamzat Chimaev
2. Dricus Du Plessis
3. Nassourdine Imavov
4. Brendan Allen
5. Caio Borralho
6. Anthony Hernandez
7. Joe Pyfer
8. Reinier de Ridder
9. Israel Adesanya
10. Robert Whittaker
11. Jared Cannonier
12. Gregory Rodriquez
13. Christian Leroy Duncan
14. Roman Dolidze
15. Bo Nickal
Differences: The rising Imavov continues to be overlooked at MW, as he has only lost Strickland (and at LHW) over his last 10 fights. Elsewhere, the rest of the panel seems to have forgotten that Hernandez holds a recent win over Allen.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Carlos Ulberg
1. Magomed Ankalaev
2. Jiri Prochazka
3. Khalil Rountree Jr.
4. Paulo Costa
5. Azamat Murakanov
6. Jan Blachowicz
7. Volkan Oezdemir
8. Bogdan Guskov
9. Jamahal Hill
10. Dominick Reyes
11. Nikita Krylov
12. Alonzo Menifield
13. Johnny Walker
14. Navajo Stirling
15. Dustin Jacoby
UFC rankings
C: Carlos Ulberg
1. Magomed Ankalaev
2. Alex Pereira
3. Jiri Prochazka
4. Jan Blachowicz
5. Khalil Rountree Jr.
6. Jamahal Hill
7. Paulo Costa
8. Azamat Murakanov
9. Volkan Oezdemir
10. Bogdan Guskov
11. Dominick Reyes
12. Nikita Krylov
13. Johnny Walker
14. Aleksandar Rakic
15. Alonzo Menifield
Differences: Pereira just fought for the HW belt and says his intention is to stay with the bigger boys, so I removed him from the LHW rankings in order to make room for Stirling, who is 10-0 after knocking out the Hulk. I have Jacoby, who has won his last three in a row, ranked over Rakic, who is 0-4 wince 2022 and has his next fight booked at heavyweight.
HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Tom Aspinall
IC: Ciryl Gane
2. Alexander Volkov
3. Sergei Pavlovich
4. Josh Hokit
5. Waldo Cortes Acosta
6. Alex Pereira
7. Serghei Spivac
8. Curtis Blaydes
9. Rizvan Kuniev
10. Ante Delija
11. Derrick Lewis
12. Valter Walker
13. Brando Pericic
14. Tyrell Fortune
15. Marcin Tybura
UFC rankings
C: Tom Aspinall
IC: Ciryl Gane
2. Alexander Volkov
3. Sergei Pavlovich
4. Josh Hokit
5. Waldo Cortes Acosta
6. Serghei Spivac
7. Curtis Blaydes
8. Rizvan Kuniev
9. Tyrell Fortune
10. Ante Delija
11. Derrick Lewis
12. Marcin Tybura
13. Valter Walker
14. Brando Pericic
15. Mick Parkin
Differences: Gane proved his showing against Aspinall wasn’t a fluke. It was difficult to figure out where to slot Pereira at HW, but the former MW and LWH champ hasn’t proven yet that he deserves a spot in the top five at 265 pounds. After Hoxit’s performance at the White House – in the cage and on the mic – here’s hoping he gets fed to Pavlovich next.
WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
dB rankings
1. Valentina Shevchenko (C)
2. Kayla Harrison (C)
3. Zhang Weili
4. Natalie Silva
5. Alexa Grasso
6. Manon Fiorot
7. Erin Blanchfield
8. Mackenzie Dern (C)
9. Tatiana Suarez
10. Julianna Pena
11. Virna Jandiroba
12. Rose Namajunas
13. Yan Xiaonan
14. Maycee Barber
15. Joselyne Edwards
UFC rankings
1. Valentina Shevchenko (C)
2. Kayla Harrison (C)
3. Zhang Weili
4. Natalie Silva
5. Manon Fiorot
6. Mackenzie Dern (C)
7. Alexa Grasso
8. Erin Blanchfield
9. Julianna Pena
10. Tatiana Suarez
11. Virna Jandiroba
12. Raquel Pennington
13. Yan Xiaonan
14. Rose Namajunas
15. Maycee Barber
Differences: Amanda Nunes will have something to say about this list once Harrison heals from her neck injury, but every month this fight doesn’t take place puts it farther away from Nunes’ prime. I have dropped Pennington out of the P4P and down at WBW due to inactivity. And I expect Weili to retake the WSW belt whenever she gets around to feeling like it.
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Mackenzie Dern
1. Zhang Weili
2. Tatiana Suarez
3. Virna Jandiroba
4. Yan Xiaonan
5. Tabatha Ricci
6. Gillian Robertson
7. Amanda Lemos
8. Loopy Godinez
9. Jessica Andrade
10. Amanda Ribas
11. Fatima Kline
12. Angela Hill
13. Denise Gomes
14. Alexia Thainara
15. Piera Rodriguez
UFC rankings
C: Mackenzie Dern
1. Zhang Weili
2. Tatiana Suarez
3. Virna Jandiroba
4. Yan Xiaonan
5. Gillian Robertson
6. Amanda Lemos
6. Loopy Godinez
8. Tabatha Ricci
9. Jessica Andrade
10. Amanda Ribas
11. Fatima Kline
12. Angela Hill
13. Denise Gomes
14. Alexia Thainara
15. Mizuki Inoue
Differences: Few here, as Rodriguez and Inoue are a coin flip. Elsewhere, Ricci has a win over Robertson from 2024.
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Natalia Silva
2. Alexa Grasso
3. Manon Fiorot
4. Erin Blanchfield
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Maycee Barber
7. Tracy Cortez
8. Jasmine Jasudavicius
9. Miranda Maverick
10. Karine Silva
11. Casey O’Neill
12. Gabriella Fernandes
13. Wang Cong
14. Eduarda Moura
15. Veronica Hardy
UFC rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Natalia Silva
2. Manon Fiorot
3. Alexa Grasso
4. Erin Blanchfield
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Maycee Barber
6. Jasmine Jasudavicius
8. Tracy Cortez
9. Miranda Maverick
10. Karine Silva
11. Casey O’Neill
12. Wang Cong
13. Eduarda Moura
14. JJ Aldrich
15. Gabriella Fernandes
Differences: As Natalie Silva waits for Shevchenko, the rest of this division will try to figure out the contenders’ order. I still don’t get that other voters have Cong ranked three spots above Fernandes, who finished her just a couple of fights ago.
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Kayla Harrison
1. Julianna Pena
2. Joselyne Edwards
3. Norma Dumont
4. Irene Aldana
5. Yana Santos
6. Ailin Perez
7. Bia Mesquita
8. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
9. Raquel Pennington
10. Michelle Montague
11. Luana Santos
12. Macy Chiasson
13. Karol Rosa
14. Nora Cornolle
15. Miesha Tate
UFC rankings
C: Kayla Harrison
1. Julianna Pena
2. Raquel Pennington
3. Joselyne Edwards
4. Norma Dumont
5. Ailin Perez
6. Irene Aldana
7. Yana Santos
8. Karol Rosa
9. Macy Chiasson
10. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
11. Luana Santos
12. Nora Cornolle
13. Bia Mesquita
14. Michelle Montague
15. Miesha Tate
Differences: Edwards’ win over Dumont has her in line to fight the winner of Harrison vs. Nunes, although that could still be a long wait. Few fighters at WBW have been able to roll off a long winning streak, so keep your eye on Mesquita, who has the kind of finishing ability not seen in this weight class since Ronda Rousey took her talents to the WWE and MVP.
UPCOMING MATCHUPS WITH RANKED FIGHTERS
June 27 – UFC Fight Night 280
Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres
Asu Almabayev vs. Charles Johnson
July 11 – UFC 329
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
Nikita Krylov vs. Robert Whitaker
Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong
July 18 – UFC Fight Night 281
Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline
Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan