The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials have released an updated UFC rankings update June 2025 that reflects significant changes emerging from UFC 318, held in New Orleans last weekend. Key moments included the retirement of Dustin Poirier, following his unanimous decision loss to reigning BMF champion Max Holloway, which notably altered the landscape at lightweight.
Additionally, Patricio Pitbull, a renowned Bellator MMA fighter, made an impactful debut in the featherweight rankings by defeating Dan Ige on the UFC 318 main card. Meanwhile, Daniel Rodriguez took the spot of Kevin Holland on the welterweight list after a close victory, intensifying competition at 170 pounds.
How UFC Rankings Are Determined
The UFC rankings are formulated by a panel of media members who vote on the top fighters within each weight class and for the pound-for-pound list. Eligibility for ranking requires fighters to maintain active status within the UFC. Fighters can be ranked simultaneously in multiple divisions if they compete across weight classes.
Champions and interim champions hold fixed top positions and are excluded from voting within their weight divisions, although they remain eligible for pound-for-pound consideration. This presents a dynamic picture of UFC talent, ensuring the rankings reflect active competition and recent results precisely.
“Rankings are generated by a voting panel made up of media members. The media members were asked to vote for who they feel are the top fighters in the UFC by weight-class and pound-for-pound. A fighter is only eligible to be voted on if they are in active status in the UFC. A fighter can appear in more than one weight division at a time. The champion and interim champion are considered to be in the top positions of their respective divisions and therefore are not eligible for voting by weight-class. However, the champions can be voted on for the pound-for-pound rankings.”
—UFC Official Explanation
Highlights from the Updated Men’s Pound-for-Pound Standings
Ilia Topuria now leads the men’s pound-for-pound rankings, followed by Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili. Notably, Dricus Du Plessis and Alexandre Pantoja share the fourth spot tied, illustrating a competitive middle ground among elite fighters. Other prominent names include Alexander Volkanovski, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jack Della Maddalena occupying top spots, demonstrating the ever-shuffling hierarchy among UFC’s finest.
Breakdown of Key Weight Divisions and Recent Changes
Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja remains the champion with Joshua Van and Brandon Moreno holding the top contender positions.
Bantamweight: Merab Dvalishvili defends his champion status, with Sean O’Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov ranked just behind him.
Featherweight: Champion Alexander Volkanovski holds steady, with new addition Patricio Pitbull entering the rankings at #11 after his win, and Dan Ige dropping to #14.
Lightweight: Ilia Topuria leads the division, now without Dustin Poirier following his retirement, which opened a window for others like Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira to climb higher. Max Holloway moved up one spot as well.
Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena stands as champion, while Daniel Rodriguez’s win earned him entry at #14, replacing Kevin Holland.
Middleweight: Dricus Du Plessis defends his top position, but intense competition remains from contenders such as Nassourdine Imavov and Sean Strickland.
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev reigns at the summit, with Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka closely following in the rankings.
Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall is champion, with Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov positioned in the top three contenders.
Women’s Divisions Show Continued Stability and Emerging Movement
The women’s pound-for-pound rankings remain dominated by Valentina Shevchenko at number one, with Zhang Weili and Kayla Harrison following as top contenders.
Strawweight: Zhang Weili still commands the division, closely pursued by Virna Jandiroba and Tatiana Suarez.
Flyweight: Champion Valentina Shevchenko is followed by Natalia Silva and Manon Fiorot, highlighting a competitive field.
Bantamweight: Kayla Harrison maintains her championship, with Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington ranked directly behind, showcasing a deep level of talent.
Upcoming Event Expected to Influence Future Rankings
Looking ahead, the UFC Abu Dhabi event scheduled for July 26, 2025, at Etihad Arena on Fight Island is highly anticipated to shake up the middleweight division even further. The headlining bout featuring Robert Whittaker versus Reinier De Ridder promises intense competition that could result in dramatic ranking changes.
This forthcoming card, broadcast on ESPN+, is expected by many enthusiasts and analysts to provide clarity on title contention and divisional hierarchies into the second half of the year.
Impact of Dustin Poirier’s Retirement and Patricio Pitbull’s Entry
Dustin Poirier’s retirement reverberates across the lightweight division and the UFC as a whole. Known as “The Diamond,” Poirier’s departure signifies the end of a prolific career and opens room for new contenders to rise, intensifying battles for the title.
Meanwhile, Patricio Pitbull’s successful entry into the featherweight rankings brings fresh excitement from Bellator’s talent pool, suggesting UFC’s division is ready for new challengers. His victory over Dan Ige marked the beginning of a potential career trajectory that fans eagerly watch unfold.
Additional Notable Ranking Adjustments
Daniel Rodriguez’s replacement of Kevin Holland at welterweight highlights how performance at recent events can alter rankings quickly. Other fighters making progress include Marcus McGhee moving up in bantamweight and Grant Dawson entering the lightweight top 15. On the women’s side, Amanda Lemos holds the #15 spot in the strawweight division, while veteran Juliana Pena remains a key challenger in bantamweight.
Anticipating the Next Rankings Revision
As the UFC rankings update June 2025 illustrates, significant movement is driven by competition outcomes and fighter statuses such as retirements or debuts. The upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi event will act as a critical juncture, likely shifting positioning and setting new narratives across several weight classes.
Fans, fighters, and analysts alike will be watching closely, as the rankings post-fight will reveal new contenders and potentially set up title fights that maintain the UFC’s intensity and excitement heading into the latter part of 2025.