The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is continuing to evolve in 2026, although all indications suggest that Francis Ngannou will not be part of the organization moving forward. After years of a distinctive season and playoff setup, the PFL shifted gears last year by introducing multiple district champions across various weight divisions.
Highlights from recent title bouts include Usman Nurmagomedov defeating Paul Hughes to secure the lightweight championship, Costello van Steenis submitting Johnny Evren to claim the middleweight belt, Corey Anderson achieving what the UFC never did by capturing the light heavyweight title, and Vadim Nemkov overcoming Renan Ferreira in a heavyweight championship contest. Despite these crowning moments, several divisions still lack official champions. At the same time, the PFL is aligning more closely with the UFC’s structure by debuting its inaugural fighter rankings.
Recently, PFL has undergone significant leadership changes with Peter Murray departing after John Martin took over as CEO, and founder Don Davis stepping down. Davis had been a proponent of the league’s polarized season format, but following his exit, the organization moved further away from this system by launching official rankings. These rankings feature a top 10 in each weight class along with a men’s pound-for-pound list led by the undefeated 20-0 lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. An independent entity called Combat Registry compiles and releases the rankings, based on votes from MMA journalists and experts whose identities remain undisclosed.
John Martin, the PFL CEO, stated, “These rankings give a clear and objective snapshot of where each division stands.” He added that partnering with independent data providers like Combat Registry enhances transparency and trust for fans and fighters alike by reflecting performance inside the PFL cage. Notably absent from these rankings is heavyweight star Francis Ngannou, who is missing from both the heavyweight and pound-for-pound lists amid uncertainties about his future with the league. Ngannou has one fight left on his existing contract, and Martin hints at something “really special” planned for what could be his second and final PFL bout.
Moving beyond the old season and playoff format, the PFL has fully embraced a traditional divisional system with formal rankings. Fans can view the complete fighter rankings, which include names like Dakota Dicheva and Johnny Eblen earning highly ranked contender positions in their respective divisions.
Men’s Pound-for-Pound Top 10:
- Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1NC)
- Vadim Nemkov (20-2)
- Corey Anderson (20-6, 1NC)
- Costello van Steenis (17-3)
- Shamil Musaev (20-0-1)
- Johnny Eblen (16-1)
- Thad Gene (11-0)
- AJ McKee (23-2)
- Sergio Pettis (25-7)
- Paul Hughes (14-3)
[Additional complete rankings across bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, and women’s flyweight divisions have been established, with champions clearly identified in several classes.]
Fan Take:
This strategic move by the PFL to adopt rankings and a more conventional divisional hierarchy marks a significant milestone for the promotion, enhancing legitimacy and fan engagement by providing clear points of reference for competition. The exclusion of a high-profile fighter like Francis Ngannou amidst contract uncertainties adds intrigue, underscoring the ever-evolving dynamics in MMA and leaving fans eager to see what the future holds for both the PFL and its rising stars.
