As we head into spring, we are seeing signs of rebirth throughout the UFC landscape. The UFC’s heavyweight division has Josh Hokit and Gable Steveson crashing the party, and on the women’s side of the ledger Alexa Grasso and Tatiana Suarez have shot back into the discussion.
And by discussion, we mean the greater discussion of Uncrowned’s pound-for-pound rankings, in which Suarez and Grasso are showing up on the radar. Grasso turned back the clock by earning one of the great finishes in UFC history against Maycee Barber in Seattle, while Suarez showed some serious mettle in beating Loopy Godinez in Miami.
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Both received some love within the women’s ranks this month, yet neither could break into the top 10 with this stubborn group of voters.
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.
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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, from Bellator/PFL conglomerate to ONE Championship.
Without further ado, here are Uncrowned’s MMA pound-for-pound rankings for April 2026!
When will Islam Makhachev fight next?
(Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Islam Makhachev — UFC welterweight champion (Prev: 1)
Is it true that Ilia Topuria turned down a fight with Makhachev at the UFC White House event after asking for an unreasonable payday? That’s Islam’s side of the story and he’s sticking to it. That fight would’ve been fun … and by fun, we mean historic, mind-blowing, awesome beyond words. Maybe later in the year we can revisit?
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2. Ilia Topuria — UFC lightweight champion (Prev: 2)
Speaking of Topuria, he seemed fine with whatever the UFC came up with for a fight against Justin Gaethje at the White House. Did you see the promo for the card? With Topuria carrying his belt over his shoulder, the Washington Monument in the background, while the soothing sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” plays?
3. Khamzat Chimaev — UFC middleweight champion (Prev: 3)
You know you’re a divisional powerhouse when people don’t give your opponent a snowball’s chance in H-E-L-L, and that’s the setup for UFC 328. It’s true that Sean Strickland has shocked the world before — the Israel Adesanya upset still feels unreal — but Chimaev’s demonic wrestling is why Strickland’s odds are so long.
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4. Alexandre Pantoja — Former UFC flyweight champion (Prev: 4)
It was good to see Pantoja up and about and smiling at UFC 327 in Miami. Will it be painful for him to watch Joshua Van defend the flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira next month? Excruciating. The good news is that Pantoja is all but waiting in the wings to restore the title picture back to its original form.
5. Alexander Volkanovski — UFC featherweight champion (Prev: 5)
It’s a little disarming that one of the most vocal advocates for Movsar Evloev getting a title shot is the man who holds the belt himself, Alexander Volkanovski. It means “Volk” rather likes his chances against the undefeated featherweight, and he’s chomping at the bit to snatch up the Russian’s 0.
6. Petr Yan — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 7)
Right now all’s quiet on the western front, yet Petr Yan is getting antsy to fight as the 135-pound champion. It would seem that the Merab Dvalishvili trilogy fight would make the most sense, given that Merab gave the UFC three title defenses in 2025. The man who stood in Dvalishvili’s way of getting No. 4 just so happens to be without mercy.
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7. Tom Aspinall — UFC heavyweight champion (Prev: 6)
With Eddie Hearn operating behind the scenes at Team Aspinall, things could get interesting as the year rolls along. It seems as though Aspinall’s sight is improving, and that he’ll likely be ready to take on the winner of the interim heavyweight title fight between the long-fingered Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira. Yet seems is the operative word.
8. Alex Pereira — UFC light heavyweight champion (Prev: 8)
Speaking of seems, it seems like forever since Alex Pereira last fought, and the truth is six months — by his own standards — is an eternity. Since “Poatan” came into the UFC four and a half years ago, he has fought a dozen times, with eight of those involving a title. We won’t have to wait much longer, though, as we’re only two months out from Pereira’s bid to become the UFC’s first ever three-division champion.
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9. Merab Dvalishvili — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 9)
Similar as it is with Pereira, it’s lonely without a Merab fight on the calendar. After fighting in four title fights in 2025, the former bantamweight champion is ready to get back to being a cardio bulldozer. As far as he’s concerned, Yan is masquerading around with his title, which he can’t help but find a little cute.
10. Arman Tsarukyan — UFC lightweight contender (Prev: 10)
Maybe Dana White is thawing on Arman just a little bit, as recently he said he liked his problem child plenty. He just wants Arman to stop doing goofy stuff, like punching fans and headbutting opponents during faceoffs. In the meantime, Arman has emerged as a the face of RAF, appearing on just about every card.
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(Others receiving votes: Jack Della Maddalena)
(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)
(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)
Valentina Shevchenko (left) remains the pound-for-pound queen more than two decades after her MMA debut.
(Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Valentina Shevchenko — UFC flyweight champion (Prev: 1)
It’s too bad Ronda Rousey isn’t still in the UFC. After Rousey’s OnlyFans jab at today’s UFC queen, Valentina Shevchenko, it would be top theater to see that fight play out. As it stands there are some good options for Shevchenko’s next title defense, led by Natalia Silva. (More on that in a moment.)
2. Kayla Harrison — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 2)
Harrison was at UFC 327 and got a nice pop when they showed her on the jumbotron, Then again, so did Amanda Nunes, whom Harrison will defend her bantamweight title against in the near future. The postponement of their superfight has only served added dimension to the inevitable clash.
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3. Zhang Weili — Former UFC strawweight champion (Prev: 3)
There’s still a strong suspicion that Zhang will move back to the division she ruled after her lark at flyweight, which would almost certainly mean a clash with current champ Mackenzie Dern. Timetables may come into play here, especially now that Tatiana Suarez has reannounced her authority at 115 pounds, but Zhang has no reason to compete in non-title situations.
4. Cris Cyborg — PFL featherweight champion (Prev: 4)
There’s got to be a pang of envy for the 40-year-old Cyborg in watching Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano being labeled the pioneers of the women’s ranks by MVP. Cyborg of course belongs in that conversation, too, as it was her who sent Carano packing to Hollywood with that infamous 2009 beatdown.
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5. Dakota Ditcheva — PFL flyweight contender (Prev: 5)
After fighting four times in 2024 and emerging as one of MMA’s breakout stars, Ditcheva has competed just once in the past 18 months. That was a unanimous decision victory over Sumiko Inaba last summer. She was supposed to fight in February, but a hand injury kept her out. Momentum is dwindling, but if anybody is capable of making up for lost time it’s “Dangerous” Dakota.
Natalia Silva (right) is on the doorstep of a title shot after her January win over Rose Namajunas.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
6. Natalia Silva — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 6)
At one point in time, in 2017, the 21-year-old Natalia Silva sported a pedestrian 6-5-1 record. Eight-and-a-half years later, at the prime age of 29, she is 20-5-1. That’s 14 straight victories, including the last eight in the UFC. Her work against former champions Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso should be more than enough to earn her a title shot.
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7. Manon Fiorot — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 7T)
It’s not ideal for a 36-year-old contender like Manon to be put on a six-month hold after knocking out someone as tough as Jasmine Jasudavicius, yet things move super slowly in the women’s ranks. With Alexa Grasso’s incredible showing in Seattle, a contender’s bout between Fiorot and the heart of Guadalajara would carry some heat.
8. Seika Izawa — RIZIN super atomweight champion (Prev: 9)
Izawa subbed Rena Kubota at the end-of-the-year RIZIN show with a guillotine in the second round to run her record to perfect 18-0. What’s wild is that she’s scored submissions in seven of her past 10 bouts, which is why the word “phenom” is used so frequently when describing the 28-year-old champ.
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9. Mackenzie Dern — UFC strawweight champion (Prev: 7T)
Was it disconcerting to see Mackenzie Dern’s dog licking her face in an ad during UFC 327? Perhaps a little, but what you love to see is Dern enjoying herself as a UFC champion. The more time that goes by, the more you wonder if she’ll have something for Weili Zhang should the two meet. Zhang will turn 37 years old in August, which means time isn’t on her side.
10. Erin Blanchfield — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: 10)
November feels like a long time ago for Blanchfield. But at just 26 years old, she can afford to let the dust settle at the top of the flyweight division and just keep beating whoever the UFC puts in front of her. Here’s guessing she’d love to avenge that loss to Fiorot if she can’t get a title shot this year, yet at the rate the UFC books these women, who knows if that’s even possible.
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(Others receiving votes: Tatiana Suarez, Alexa Grasso, Virna Jandiroba, Liz Carmouche)
(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)
(Hassan Ahmad, Yahoo Sports)Here’s how we voted:
SHAHEEN AL-SHATTI
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Alexandre Pantoja
4. Tom Aspinall
5. Khamzat Chimaev
6. Alex Pereira
7. Alexander Volkanovski
8. Petr Yan
9. Merab Dvalishvili
10. Arman Tsarukyan
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Kayla Harrison
3. Zhang Weili
4. Cris Cyborg
5. Seika Izawa
6. Natalia Silva
7. Dakota Ditcheva
8. Tatiana Suarez
9. Mackenzie Dern
10. Alexa Grasso
CONNER BURKS
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Khamzat Chimaev
4. Petr Yan
5. Alexandre Pantoja
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Tom Aspinall
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8. Alex Pereira
9. Merab Dvalishvili
10. Carlos Ulberg
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Kayla Harrison
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Dakota Ditcheva
6. Natalia Silva
7. Manon Fiorot
8. Seika Izawa
9. Mackenzie Dern
10. Erin Blanchfield
PETESY CARROLL
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Khamzat Chimaev
4. Alexandre Pantoja
5. Tom Aspinall
6. Alex Pereira
7. Alexander Volkanovski
8. Petr Yan
9. Arman Tsarukyan
10. Merab Dvalishvili
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Zhang Weili
3. Kayla Harrison
4. Dakota Ditcheva
5. Cris Cyborg
6. Mackenzie Dern
7. Natalia Silva
8. Manon Fiorot
9. Erin Blanchfield
10. Tatiana Suarez
BEN FOWLKES
MEN
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1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Alexander Volkanovski
4. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Petr Yan
6. Merab Dvalishvili
7. Alexandre Pantoja
8. Alex Pereira
9. Tom Aspinall
10. Carlos Ulberg
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Zhang Weili
3. Kayla Harrison
4. Cris Cyborg
5. Dakota Ditcheva
6. Erin Blanchfield
7. Natalia Silva
8. Manon Fiorot
9. Alexa Grasso
10. Tatiana Suarez
ERIC JACKMAN
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Alexandre Pantoja
4. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Petr Yan
6. Merab Dvalishvili
7. Alex Pereira
8. Alexander Volkanovski
9. Arman Tsarukyan
10. Tom Aspinall
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Kayla Harrison
3. Zhang Weili
4. Cris Cyborg
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5. Manon Fiorot
6. Natalia Silva
7. Mackenzie Dern
8. Tatiana Suarez
9. Dakota Ditcheva
10. Erin Blanchfield
CHUCK MINDENHALL
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Khamzat Chimaev
4. Alexandre Pantoja
5. Alexander Volkanovski
6. Tom Aspinall
7. Petr Yan
8. Merab Dvalishvili
9. Alex Pereira
10. Arman Tsarukyan
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Kayla Harrison
3. Zhang Weili
4. Cris Cyborg
5. Dakota Ditcheva
6. Manon Fiorot
7. Erin Blanchfield
8. Tatiana Suarez
9. Natalia Silva
10. Alexa Grasso
DRAKE RIGGS
MEN
1. Islam Makhachev
2. Ilia Topuria
3. Alexandre Pantoja
4. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Petr Yan
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Tom Aspinall
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8. Alex Pereira
9. Merab Dvalishvili
10. Jack Della Maddalena
WOMEN
1. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Seika Izawa
3. Zhang Weili
4. Cris Cyborg
5. Kayla Harrison
6. Natalia Silva
7. Mackenzie Dern
8. Virna Jandiroba
9. Liz Carmouche
10. Dakota Ditcheva