MMA pound-for-pound rankings, January 2025: How high should Merab Dvalishvili rise?

It wasn’t an ideal setup at UFC 311. Islam Makhachev was asked to trade targets from Arman Tsarukyan to Renato Moicano just 30 odd hours before the fight, a thankless task given how much he had to lose. Yet he didn’t hesitate to say bring it on.

And on Saturday night, when Makhachev made quick work of Moicano to remind everyone why he is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, it served as a notice to everyone who hasn’t been paying attention. Right now there is Makhachev and a yawning gulf between him and the nearest competitor in the lightweight ranks. He solidifies his spot atop the men’s pound-for-pound rankings this week.

Meanwhile, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is hot on his tail. After withstanding everything Umar Nurmagomedov had in the early portions of the fight on Saturday night, Dvalishvili took over. He overwhelmed the Dagestani challenger with preternatural pace and pressure, and in the end showed why he is a freak of nature.

"The Machine" makes a big leap up the rankings to kick off the new year.

The panel of Ben Fowlkes, Chuck Mindenhall, Shaheen Al-Shatti, Petesy Carroll, Drake Riggs, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks have ranked both the men’s and women’s pound-for-pound best, one through 10, using a weighted points system to determine the final rankings (being voted No. 1 equals 10 points, No. 2 equals nine points, down to No. 10 equaling one point).

Our only criterion for these monthly rankings is that a fighter has competed within at least a calendar year of the publication date or has at least had a fight booked within that window. If a fighter hasn’t competed in a year and books a fight after that time, he or she is once again eligible to be voted back in. Fighters who retire are no longer eligible for the rankings.

Though most of the best fighters are currently in the UFC, these rankings are not UFC exclusive. We take into consideration all the major promotions, including PFL and ONE Championship.

Without further ado, the MMA pound-for-pound rankings for January!

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev — UFC lightweight champion (Prev: 1)

This cat’s cold. The UFC had a decent Plan B by sticking Moicano into the main event at UFC 311, and from a fan’s perspective there was enough competitive balance there to make it compelling. Thing was, it was all smoke and mirrors. Makhachev nullified the threat and brushed his hands off after a first-round submission.

2. Alex Pereira — UFC light heavyweight champion (Prev: 2)

The visual of Hasbulla knocking Pereira down with a headbutt was cute, as "Poatan" continues to show up as a cult hero at all the big UFC events. The good news is that he has another fight on the horizon, and it’s a doozy: Magomed Ankalaev. A slab of humorless threats who might just answer a million questions.

3. Ilia Topuria — UFC featherweight champion (Prev: 3)

First thing Topuria did after Makhachev defended his title was jump on X and declare that he could knock Makhachev out whenever he wanted. “See you soon,” he said, which makes you wonder if discussions of a move up to lightweight are already underway. Man, talk about a mega-fight…

4. Merab Dvalishvili — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 6)

In the end, the oddsmakers were the story on Dvalishvili's first title defense. Installing him as a 2-to-1 underdog against Nurmagomedov was a slap in his face, yet here’s guessing he won’t be so disrespected again. Dvalishvili's performance wasn’t virtuoso so much as terrifying. Dude … just … keeps … coming.

5. Alexandre Pantoja — UFC flyweight champion (Prev: 5)

After he smoked Kai Asakura with one of the deftest finishing sequences of 2024, Pantoja got on the microphone and called out the flyweight GOAT, Demetrious Johnson. We know, we know, that’s a Hail Mary of a shout, but can you imagine? Seriously, though, the UFC needs to bury the hatchet with Muhammad Mokaev.

6. Jon Jones — UFC heavyweight champion (Prev: 4)

Tick, tick, tick. The clock is moving, and it will continue to move as Jones negotiates with the UFC for a big pay day for the big heavyweight unification with Tom Aspinall. You wonder if Dana White’s declaration of Makhachev as the best pound-for-pound fighter is a tell that those negotiations are going sideways.

7. Tom Aspinall — UFC interim heavyweight champion (Prev: 7)

The ticking of the clock is even louder for the interim champion Aspinall, who finds himself in a helpless situation where he must sit and wait. Or does he? How long will Aspinall stay sidelined as Jones and the UFC try to get on the same page? And does he risk everything by taking another fight if a deal isn’t struck soon?

8. Francis Ngannou — PFL super fights heavyweight champion (Prev: 8)

You wonder what’s going to happen with Ngannou now that the PFL is undergoing a facelift to its business model. As the literal kingpin of the roster, as well as a fighter ambassador, a lot of eyes are on the greatest heavyweight going. The worst possibility? Ngannou is shelved for so long that people lose interest.

9. Belal Muhammad — UFC welterweight champion (Prev: 9)

If there’s a bright side to not being able to defend his title as he was slated at the end of 2024, it’s that Muhammad now has plenty of tape on Shavkat Rakhmonov. Twenty-five minutes’ worth, to be exact. There’s still a major opportunity coming to prove that Rakhmonov is mortal, and Muhammad is just the kind of fighter to make good on it.

10. Khamzat Chimaev — UFC middleweight contender (Prev: NR)

Generally speaking, Chimaev is the man nobody wants to fight, yet after beating Kevin Holland at UFC 311, Reinier de Ridder said he’s up for the gig. That callout feels like a mix of wishful thinking and self-sabotage, as the image of Chimaev breaking Robert Whittaker’s jaw is still a little fresh in the memory banks.

(Others receiving votes: Dricus du Plessis, Alexander Volkanovski)

WOMEN

1. Valentina Shevchenko — UFC Flyweight Champion (Prev: 1)

With Alexa Grasso now in her rearview mirror, Shevchenko can get on with her regularly scheduled beatings. Who is next to stand in front of "Bullet"? All signs point to Manon Fiorot, a super-strength headache for any champion to worry about. Things are about to heat up.

2. Zhang Weili — UFC strawweight champion (Prev: 2)

There’s a real chance that Rose Namajunas did Zhang Weili the biggest solid of her career by proving that she’s mortal. Since coming back from those 2021 losses against Namajunas, Zhang has been indestructible, resolved to never taste defeat again. The fight with undefeated Tatiana Suarez is about as good as it gets.

3. Cris Cyborg — PFL super fights women’s featherweight champion (Prev: 3)

Cyborg didn’t look like a 39-year-old blunderbuss in her last fight against Larissa Pacheco (as many feared she might). Instead, she looked very much like a bounty hunter issued from the hottest section of hell. She got cut open, bloodied up and pushed to her limits, yet she persevered. And ultimately thrived. Talk about a legend.

4. Kayla Harrison — UFC bantamweight contender (Prev: 4)

As we head into the new year, never have plates of fettuccine looked so cruel as they do to Harrison, who is waiting for her title chance against Julianna Peña. Staying in whittle-range of 135 pounds is a sentence, but Harrison is as strong as an ox in both patience and in ripping people apart.

5. Alexa Grasso — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 5)

Good news for Grasso is that she’s only 31 years old and dead smack in the middle of her prime. She can rebound from her Shevchenko loss and be right back up in title contention with a victory. Not that it gets any easier. A fight with Erin Blanchfield would be a thorny proposition.

6. Manon Fiorot — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 6)

It bears repeating for those who skipped it, but that was some serious OG ish that Fiorot pulled back in March. She went into Erin Blanchfield’s backyard of Atlantic City and not only went toe-to-toe with an undefeated contender, she shut her down entirely. Now it’s title or bust!

7. Julianna Peña — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 7)

In a perfect world, Pena would take a prolonged victory lap with the belt she now once again possesses, then come back perhaps second quarter healthy for a defense against Kayla Harrison. And then? Upset Harrison and welcome back arch-rival Amanda Nunes later in 2025. Too good to be true? (Answer: Probably.)

8. Larissa Pacheco — PFL featherweight contender (Prev: 8)

Pacheco has to be chomping at the bit to compete again, as it’s tough to live with a loss like she suffered against Cyborg with no way to vent. Another go at the legend might be in the cards at some point, but right now there is much murkiness in PFL’s crystal ball.

9. Dakota Ditcheva — PFL women’s 2024 flyweight tournament champion (Prev: 9)

Breakout star of 2024? For sure. After winning PFL's 125-pound tourney and becoming the first to ever finish Taila Santos, we don’t have to wonder how good England’s Ditcheva is anymore. She’s on a different level. Those body shots were naaaasty, and the fact that she’s making each fight look so easy? Big things on the horizon.

10. Tatiana Suarez — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 10)

It’s hard not to feel good for Suarez, who has been on this journey for a long, long time, facing every kind of setback, obstacle and health crisis in the book. We have wondered forever if she would become a UFC champion, and she gets her chance at UFC 312 out in Sydney. Rub a rabbit’s foot and book your tickets, the smasher from Rancho Cucamonga is finally getting her day.

(Others receiving votes : Seika Izawa, Raquel Pennington, Si Woo Park, Virna Jandiroba, Erin Blanchfield)

Here’s how we voted:

SHAHEEN AL-SHATTI

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Alex Pereira

3. Ilia Topuria

4. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Alexandre Pantoja

6. Francis Ngannou

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Belal Muhammad

9. Jon Jones

10. Dricus Du Plessis

WOMEN

1. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Zhang Weili

3. Alexa Grasso

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Cris Cyborg

6. Manon Fiorot

7. Larissa Pacheco

8. Seika Izawa

9. Tatiana Suarez

10. Dakota Ditcheva

CONNER BURKS

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3.Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alex Pereira

5. Jon Jones

6. Alexandre Pantoja

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Khamzat Chimaev

9. Dricus Du Plessis

10. Belal Muhammad

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Julianna Pena

5. Kayla Harrison

6. Manon Fiorot

7. Dakota Ditcheva

8. Alexa Grasso

9. Larissa Pacheco

10. Tatiana Suarez

PETESY CARROLL

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Alex Pereira

3. Ilia Topuria

4. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Alexandre Pantoja

7. Jon Jones

8. Francis Ngannou

9. Dricus Du Plessis

10. Belal Muhammad

WOMEN

1. Weili Zhang

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Alexa Grasso

6. Julianna Pena

7. Manon Fiorot

8. Dakota Ditcheva

9. Larissa Pacheco

10. Tatiana Suarez

BEN FOWLKES

MEN

1. Alex Pereira

2. Jon Jones

3. Ilia Topuria

4. Islam Makhachev

5. Alexandre Pantoja

6. Merab Dvalishvili

7. Francis Ngannou

8. Alex Volkanovski

9. Dricus Du Plessis

10. Tom Aspinall

WOMEN

1. Weili Zhang

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Alexa Grasso

6. Raquel Pennington

7. Julianna Pena

8. Manon Fiorot

9. Larissa Pacheco

10. Tatiana Suarez

ERIC JACKMAN

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Alex Pereira

4. Khamzat Chimaev

5. Merab Dvalishvili

6. Alexandre Pantoja

7. Jon Jones

8. Dricus Du Plessis

9. Belal Muhammad

10. Tom Aspinall

WOMEN

1. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Cris Cyborg

3. Zhang Weili

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Larissa Pacheco

6. Julianna Peña

7. Tatiana Suarez

8. Manon Fiorot

9. Dakota Ditcheva

10. Virna Jandiroba

CHUCK MINDENHALL

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Alex Pereira

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Ilia Topuria

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Jon Jones

7. Francis Ngannou

8. Khamzat Chimaev

9. Belal Muhammad

10. Alexandre Pantoja

WOMEN

1. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Zhang Weili

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Manon Fiorot

6. Tatiana Suarez

7. Dakota Ditcheva

8. Julianna Pena

9. Erin Blanchfield

10. Larissa Pacheco

DRAKE RIGGS

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Merab Dvalishvili

3. Ilia Topuria

4. Belal Muhammad

5. Alex Pereira

6. Alexandre Pantoja

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Dricus Du Plessis

9. Francis Ngannou

10. Jon Jones

WOMEN

1. Seika Izawa

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Zhang Weili

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Alexa Grasso

6. Si Woo Park

7. Larissa Pacheco

8. Kayla Harrison

9. Virna Jandiroba

10. Dakota Ditcheva