1. Kamaru Usman, welterweight champ

In my opinion and many others, Usman is the most dominant current champion, ranking 1st in the UFC pound-for-pound (pfp) rankings. Usman’s notable wins are Colby Conington, Jorge Masivadal twice, Gilbert Burns, and Tyron Woodly. Usman’s dominance is something you rarely get to see.

      2. Valentina Shevchenko, women’s flyweight champ

Shevchenko has not been tested yet in the women’s flyweight division, dominating every opponent. Shevchenko ranks first in the women’s pfp rankings, and rightly so. Her notable wins are over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Katlyn Chookagain, Jessica Andrade, and Lauren Murphy. Shevchenko is separated from other women fighters because she will beat you at what you specialize in; for example, she will try and out grapple a wrestler or knock out someone who boxes. She takes pride in beating you at your own game.

     3. Israel Adesanya, middleweight champ

Adesanya’s flashy style has coined him the nickname “the last style bender;” with arguably the best stand-up in the UFC, Adesanya picks his opponents apart. Israel’s notable wins are over Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker twice, Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori twice. Israel’s weakness used to be grappling, but he can keep the fight where he wants it with improved takedown defense and scrambling.

    4. Amanda Nunes, women’s featherweight champ

Amanda would be the number two on this list. Still, after losing the women’s bantamweight belt, I had to drop her significantly with the women’s featherweight division’s lack of competition and unforeseen future. Still, I don’t think it’s enough to drop her too far from the top. In most people’s eyes, she is the woman’s goat and is in the conversation for goat no matter the gender. Her notable wins are over Valentina Shevchenko twice, Meisha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, and Felicia Spencer. Anyone else that people considered the goat she has beat.

    5. Francis Ngannou, heavyweight champ

Francis Ngannou has the most brutal recorded punch in history, and it shows his knockouts are something from movies. Ngannou started fighting 8 or 9 years ago, which is crazy that he has come this far in that time. His improvements from his earlier fights until now are unreal. Ngannou’s notable wins are over Alistair Overeem, Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Stipe Miocic, and Ciryl Gane. The only thing holding Francis back is how infrequently he fights; he fought one time in 2020 and one time in 2021.

    6. Alexander Volkanosvki, featherweight champ

Most people would have Volk higher on the fair list, but his split decision win over Max Holloway doesn’t sit right with me. Watching the fight, I thought it was clear Holloway won, but I don’t want to take credit away from Volks greatness in his first appearance against Holloway, I believed he won, and his dominance against other fighters is straightforward too, especially with his latest win. Volks notable wins are over Chad Mendes, Jose Aldo, Max Holloway twice, Brian Ortega, and Chan Sung Jung. Volk is making his case for the featherweight goat by beating all the past goats in Jose Aldo and Max holloway.

    7. Charles Oliveria, lightweight champ

Besides winning the world title, Charles Oliveria’s most notable achievement besides winning the belt is having the most submission wins in UFC history. Oliveria grappling is considered some of the best we’ve ever seen. The only thing keeping him from higher on this list is only having one title defense, even though it was a super impressive sub over Dustin Poirier. Charles’ most notable wins are over Jermery Stephans, Clay Guida, Kevin lee, Tony Ferguson, Michael, and Dustin Poirier.

   8. Rose Namajunas, women’s strawweight 

Thug Rose is one of the most exciting fighters to watch, and it was captured when she won the title for the second time in her career with a flashy knockout over Zhang Weili at the peak of Zhang’s dominance. Rose’s notable wins are twice over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Jessica Andrade, and Zhang Weili twice.

  9. Deiveson Figueredo, flyweight champion

Figgy is a fighter that excels at all aspects of MMA and is on his second time being champ after defeating Brandon Moreno with a unanimous decision. His ability to overcome adversity after losing to Moreno by sub is unique. He is this low because he hasn’t defended his new title yet. Figgy’s most notable wins are over Joseph Benavidez twice, Alex Perez, and Brandom Moreno.

  10. Juliana Pena, women’s bantamweight

Pena could be higher up on this list just because she has the most significant upset victory in UFC history, but I need to see more before moving her up because I need to know if it was a fluke. Penas’ most notable wins are over Jessica Rakoczy, Jessica Eye, Sara McMann, and Amanda Nunes.

   11. Glover Teixeira, light heavyweight champion

Glover is outstanding and deserves his championship belt. Still, I have him at 11 because I feel like the light heavyweight division has fallen off and is one of the weaker divisions, but it has some young talent that I believe will turn it around. Glover’s most notable wins are over Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evens, Jared Cannonier, Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Jan Blachowicz.

   12. Aljamain Sterling, bantamweight champion

Aljo is over-hated, but he doesn’t deserve the title after winning it by disqualification after taking an illegal knee while grounded. Aljo was getting dominated through and through but got bailed by Petr Yan, making a blunder. Now he did beat Yan in a split decision victory in his last fight, but I believe Yan was robbed after watching the whole fight. Now, I did gain some respect for him for putting up the fight he did when Yan usually destroys people. Aljo made it a close fight. Aljo’s most notable wins are over Cody Stamann, Pedro Munhoz, Cory Sandhagen, and Petr Yan.