This year’s first UFC ranking update brought changes in five categories, marking an exciting start to 2026. Fans have plenty to anticipate, with many top UFC fighters sharing their dream matchups for the coming year. The UFC’s event schedule resumes on January 24th after a six-week break, and early milestones this year include the first fighter to pass a drug test. The latest rankings update, however, has introduced some unexpected changes that might confuse some fans.
Dana White has expressed dissatisfaction with the current UFC rankings system and has called for a new method. The rankings, determined by a media voting committee listed on UFC.com, saw Shavkat Rakhmonov move up to second place in the welterweight division, swapping spots with Ian Machado-Garcia, despite his long layoff and exclusion from the title race by coach Islam Makhachev. The updated welterweight top ten now shows Jacques Della Maddalena at number one, followed by Ian Machado Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and others.
In the flyweight division, Manel Cape, after defeating Brandon Roybal, climbed to the No. 2 contender spot, setting his sights on the champion Joshua Vann. Interestingly, Vann dropped one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings despite holding the title. Other shifts include former champions moving up in rankings, such as Tom Aspinall exchanging places with Merab Dvalishvili.
Additional UFC divisions have also seen minor adjustments, with rankings quietly shifting by one or two spots across several fighters like Peyton Talbot, Jean Silva, Kevin Vallejos, Jeff Neal, Erin Blanchfield, and Miranda Maverick.
Fan Take: These ranking updates highlight the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of MMA, stirring debate and excitement among fans. Monitoring these changes is crucial as they influence matchmaking and title contention, shaping the future landscape of the sport.
