UFC power rankings ahead of MVP Netflix 2026

Hello everyone, and welcome back for another week of rankings in the UFC. With the MVP Netflix card this Saturday, the UFC decided to run out a lackluster fight card for UFC Vegas 117. We have a shake-up this week after one of my Top 10 fighters won their match, while another lost. That being said, let’s get to the rankings for this week. Have a great day, everyone, and may the fights be with you.

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10. Petr Yan:

Petr Yan did the unthinkable by defeating Merab Dvalishvili in their title match at UFC 323. Yan now moves up to ninth overall this week as part of the shake-up I’ve wanted to do after UFC 324 and UFC 325. However, even though Yan won the title, he will most likely be handing it back to Dvalishvili in their rematch sometime in the future. That may be a bold call, but that’s what we do in the Fight Club of Pain.

9. Joshua Van:

Joshua Van moves up to the ninth spot after surviving Tatsuro Taira’s first-round insanity, which led to him knocking out Taira late in the fifth round. With that dominant performance, he now has to defend his belt against the man he won it from, Alexandre Pantoja. I know that’s a lot to say at this point, but like Thanos, it is inevitable that this matchup happens next. Then Van’s true test will be presented to him in the form of a cannibal.

8. Max Holloway:

Max Holloway is rumored to be fighting Conor McGregor during International week at UFC 329. This fight has been in the making for years since McGregor’s injury in their last match, leaving us all wanting more. We get that this summer in what could go down as one of the best fights ever.

7. Charles Oliveira:

Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira is the new BMF Champion in the world after systematically taking apart Max Holloway at UFC 326, last Saturday. With Topuria already scheduled to fight in early summer, we have to wait and see who Oliveira’s next opponent will be. I thought maybe it would be Conor McGregor, but since Max Holloway and McGregor seem ready to lock horns, that’s highly unlikely.

6. Merab Dvalishvili:

Merab Dvalishvili lost his title to Petr Yan in the main event at UFC 323. Since then, Dvalishvili has been getting himself ready for RAF 09, on May 30th, which is a freestyle wrestling event. After that, you can expect Uncle Dana to announce Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3, for an epic rubber match between these two amazing fighters.

5. Sean Strickland:

Making his debut on my list is Sean Strickland. I know I’ll anger a lot of people by moving all the way up to fifth, but here’s the reason why. Not only did Strickland upset the world by defeating Khamzat Chimaev for the Middleweight Championship of the world, but he also beat Anthony Hernandez along the way.

These two wins are not only this year’s most impressive wins in the UFC, but they also show the level that Strickland is fighting on right now. Love him, we hate him, at least we know we’ll have a fighting champ.

4. Alex Pereira:

Alex Pereira’s moves stay at fifth on this list with so much more potential for him in the future. Of course, Pereira won his title back at UFC 320 by finally throwing his reverse punch, which hit Magomed Ankalaev so bad that his knees buckled immediately. For Poatan, he’ll be facing Ciryl Gane on the White House card, on June 14th, for the Interim Heavyweight Championship. CHAMA!

3. Alexander Volkanovski:

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski moves up to third as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, after defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 325. Now that we’re past that match, Volk has said that he wants to fight someone who deserves it. Right now, it looks like Movsar Evloev will be getting the next title shot after defeating Lerone Murphy at UFC London.

2. Ilia Topuria:

Ilia Topuria has slipped to second on this list after Islam Makhachev dominated Della Maddalena. However, Topuria is back and will be headlining UFC Freedom 250, which is happening at the White House on June 14th. His next opponent is none other than Justin Gaethje, who won the interim Lightweight Championship against Paddy Pimblett.

1. Islam Makhachev:

Islam Makhachev is now the number one, pound-for-pound fighter in the world, after he easily dispatched Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. Not only did he dominate JDM, but he became the 11th fighter to claim a belt in another division. Now that I’ve seen the Death Vader of the UFC smash a man, we can only hope that next year we get another super match between Makhachev and another opponent.

The rumors are out that it could be Kamaru Usman, which would be fantastic, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Morales gets the bid. Until then, let’s all hail Lord Makhachev as the best fighter in the world. SMESH!

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