​Hello everyone, and welcome back for another week of UFC rankings. We’re fresh off a holiday weekend, and I’m genuinely excited for this weekend’s fight card. UFC 329 in Las Vegas promises an electric lineup, with the main event featuring the comeback of Conor McGregor against Max Holloway. Since Holloway appears on this list, there’s a real possibility he could drop off next week if he loses. That said, let’s dive into this week’s rankings and see who earned their spot. Have a fantastic day, and may the fights be with you.
MORE: Rafael Fiziev vs. veteran contender, and more matchups to consider after UFC Baku. Joshua Van has climbed back to the tenth spot, even after surviving Tatsuro Taira’s first-round onslaught that led to a late fifth-round knockout. With that dominant performance, he now faces the man he won the belt from, Alexandre Pantoja. It’s a lot to unpack, but like Thanos, the inevitable outcome is this rematch. However, with Manel Kape defeating Kyoji Horiguchi, Kape could step in ahead of Pantoja as the next challenger for the champ.
Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday to become the sole Lightweight Champion in the world. This win earns Gaethje a debut at number nine on my list, following the upset of the seemingly invincible Topuria. It’s not just that victory, but also his win over Paddy Pimblett, that convinced me Gaethje deserved recognition for his accomplishments.
Max Holloway is set to fight Conor McGregor this Saturday in the UFC 329 main event. With so much on the line for both fighters, this bout could be pivotal if McGregor wins. I mention it because McGregor has a chance to become a three-division champion if he defeats Holloway. That won’t be an easy task, though, as Holloway remains an active fighter who isn’t returning from rehab. Regardless, this match could go down as one of the biggest battles of the year, if not all time.
Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira has captured the BMF title after dismantling Max Holloway at UFC 326. Recently, Oliveira has expressed interest in a rematch with Justin Gaethje, this time with the title on the line. That could spell trouble for Gaethje, who was knocked out the last time they fought.
Alex Pereira faced UFC history at UFC Freedom 250 and came up short. Pereira looked sharp until a jab cracked him, and Ciryl Gane surged, finishing Pereira. One might expect Pereira to hold this spot, but given Pereira’s history, he falls to sixth on my list.
Ilia Topuria has slipped to fifth on this list after a disappointing loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, a result that’s adjusted this ranking and SEO positioning as well.