Sidekick Ranks: Top 5 UFC Pound-For-Pound Fighters

The UFC is home to some of the best mixed martial artists on the planet. So it is no surprise that fans often debate how the elite fighters compare to one another. Alongside its weekly-updated rankings for each weight class, the UFC has its own pound-for-pound rankings, containing 15 names.

However, we at Sidekick Boxing are starting with our own series of Top 5 pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC. Take a look at it below:

Top 5 P4P fighters in UFC

#5 Tom Aspinall

Tom Aspinall, 31, was considered to be the future of heavyweight MMA, now he is the present in many ways. He is a remarkable athlete who moves like a lightweight while hitting like his predecessors.

Aspinall holds the record for the shortest average fight time for an athlete with five or more UFC bouts. Barring his early injury in a fight with Curtis Blaydes in 2022, he has won them all. In fact, he avenged that loss with a first-minute KO of Blaydes this July, retaining the interim title. While he waits for a title shot against Jon Jones, he has earned every right to be amongst the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and is ranked No.5 in our list.

#4 Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria spoke ‘arrogantly’ of his chances against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in February, only for his words to prove true. Topuria, brutally knocked out the Australian in the second round, taking the 145lb title. In the process, becoming the first UFC champion to represent Spain or Georgia.

That win also kept Topuria unbeaten, moving him to 15-0. He improved that record with his first title defence, a third-round knockout of Max Holloway in October. That victory showed off his unforgiving power, as he became the first man to knock out the former champion.

Topuria is more than just a heavy-handed, tidy boxer. In fact, while six of his wins have come via knockout, eight have come via submission, thanks to his fine wrestling and under-rated jiu-jitsu. Topuria displayed those skills in a dominant points win over Josh Emmett and a submission victory over grappling specialist Bryce Mitchell in the past.

#3 Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira fought for the vacant title, beating another ex-champ in Jiri Prochazka to secure two-weight-champion status in record time earlier this year. Pereira secured that victory with a second-round TKO, before knocking out yet another former title holder, in the main event of UFC 300, he stopped Jamahal Hill early.

Then, at UFC 303, Pereira stepped up on two weeks’ notice to defend the title again. This time, knocking out Prochazka in the second round for the second time in seven months. Finally, for his great year, he overcame a tricky start against Khalil Rountree Jr to stop the American in October.

#2 Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev banished any doubt in 2022 when he submitted Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight title, suggesting he would have done the same to most in the division. Next, Makhachev made it to 13 straight wins by beating then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice in eight months, retaining his UFC lightweight title in both fights.

In February 2023, Makhachev outpointed Makhachev in Perth, then in October, he knocked him out with a head kick in the first round. Those victories saw Makhachev rise to No 1 in the UFC rankings, a position he solidified with his submission of lightweight great Dustin Poirier in June. However, he is ranked No. 2 in our rankings

#1 Jon Jones

When Jom Jones returned to the UFC in 2023 after a three-year absence, winning the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round, many in the MMA world believed that the American confirmed himself as the greatest of all time. Many felt that he should go straight to the top of any pound-for-pound list.

Most recently, Jones stepped inside the octagon against Stipe Miocic. He proved to much for the greatest heavyweight of all time and secured a stoppage victory. As a result, we believe it solidifies Jones as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC currently.