Brendan Miller
By maintaining his serve among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja achieved something more in his UFC 301 title defense against Steve Erceg last Saturday.
The 34-year-old Pantoja has brought much-needed stability to the top of the 125-pound division.
Conceived in 2012 and fueled by a four-man tournament to decide the first champion, the men’s flyweight division has been a showcase for future Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson to evolve his legendary game en route to a record 11 defenses. title. Henry Cejudo’s short-lived reign was next, although he might have mostly managed to bring in enough star power to prevent the UFC from completely doubling the weight class.
But in recent years at flyweight the title has jumped like a hot potato over the course of a memorable four-fight series between Brandon Moreno and Deveison Figuereido, where the title constantly changed hands.
Enter Pantoja, a long-standing, respected finishing threat who took advantage of the last 10 months to completely take control by overcoming Moreno for the title last summer before two successive defenses.
Although Pantoja has always been skilled, it was his aggressiveness and veteran courage that allowed him to remain at the top. It was also his grappling, especially against Erceg, that allowed him to silence his opponent’s attack long enough to win close rounds due to control timing and main game offense.
For a division so known for its parity as of late, Pantoja appears to be on track to potentially carve out his own era in the division’s history. And the only surprise about him becoming champion was that it happened so late in his career, about 31 fights into his professional career and 13 into his UFC career.
For updated divisional rankings from CBS Sports, Click here.
Men’s weight-by-weight classification
1. Islam Makhachev – Lightweight Champion
Record: 25-1 | Previous Ranking: #1
Two title defenses against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, including a head knockout in their UFC 294 rematch, helped Makhachev win the 2023 fighter of the year award. The 32-year-old will return on June 1 at UFC. 302 when it welcomes former interim titleholder Dustin Poirier.
2. Jon Jones – heavyweight champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC | Previous rating: 2
Jones’ first heavyweight title defense, scheduled for last November against former champion Stipe Miocic, was canceled after Jones suffered a torn chest during training. An eight-month recovery is expected for Jones, who turns 37 this summer, as the UFC remains firm that Miocic, not interim champion Tom Aspinall, will be next.
3. Alex Pereira – Light Heavyweight Champion
Record: 10-2 | Previous rating: 3
Not only did the 36-year-old Brazilian slugger headline the biggest event in the promotion’s history, UFC 300, in April, but he also submitted former champion Jamahal Hill with the first significant punch he ever landed. In just eight fights in the UFC, “Poatan” has already earned a unique place in history. And now he’s teasing a possible move up to heavyweight.
4. Leon Edwards – welterweight champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC | Previous rating: 4
Edwards followed up his UFC 286 trilogy victory over Kamaru Usman with a second title defense in December against longtime contender Colby Covington. The only thing in doubt regarding Edwards is when he will return and who, like Belal Muhammed and Shavkat Rakhmonov, he will continue to compete against for position.
5. Ilia Topuria – featherweight champion
Record: 15-0 | Previous rating: 5
A changing of the guard at the top of the 145-pound division at UFC 298 in February could have produced the sport’s next superstar. Topuria did everything he said he would do against Alexander Volkanovski, including submitting him in the first two rounds. His accuracy was only surpassed by the power of a punch as Topuria patiently dismantled one of the best fighters in history.
6. Max Holloway – featherweight
Record: 26-7 | Previous rating: 6
Don’t call it a comeback, Holloway has been among the P4P elite for years. But it was that three-fight winning streak at the age of 32 that was so rejuvenating. Two years ago, after his third loss to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway’s future was in doubt. Now, he is the current BMF champion after knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and a two-division title contender.
7. Sean O’Malley – bantamweight champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC | Previous rating: 7
The “Suga Show” had possibly the best striking of his career in five rounds when he dominated Marlon Vera at UFC 299 to make his first title defense. O’Malley avenged the only loss of his professional career, but will have a tough challenge ahead as he is set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili this fall.
8. Alexandre Pantoja – Flyweight Champion
Record: 28-5 | Previous rating: 7
After relying far more on his iron will than his P4P skills to win the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno last summer, the Brazilian submission specialist has kept busy since then with two title defenses against Brandon Royval ( in their rematch) and Steve Erceg. Pantoja’s passion and dogged determination have become his calling card of late as his title reign continues to grow.
9. Dricus du Plessis – middleweight champion
Record: 21-2 | Previous rating: 9
Undefeated in his seven trips to the Octagon, the proud South African native can now call himself champion after defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297 in January. Du Plessis, who called up former champion Israel Adesanya next, has evolved at an alarming rate to combine technique and a deep gas tank with his great power and takedown threat.
10. Merab Dvalishvili – bantamweight
Record: 17-4 | Previous rating: 10
By improving his winning streak to 10 fights, Dvalishvili finally secured a title shot thanks to his victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. The victory now gives Dvalishvili three consecutive victories over former UFC champions. Dvalishvili, 33, has a gas tank like no other and remains a problem for any style of opponent he will face in his title campaign.
Give up: None
It has been lost: Alexander Volkanovski, Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Aljamain Sterling, Dustin Poirier
Women’s weight-for-weight classifications
1. Zhang Weili – strawweight champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous Ranking: #1
Zhang improved to 9-0 in the UFC against everyone not named Rose Namajunas when she outpointed fellow Chinese Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 and did so by relying on her cardio, IQ and improved grappling after nearly scoring two early submissions. Her toughest test may yet be to come, in the form of Tatiana Suarez.
2. Alexa Grasso – flyweight champion
Record: 16-3-1 | Previous rating: 2
The Mexican teamed up with former champion Valentina Shevchenko to co-author an exciting and tactical 125-pound title rematch at Noche UFC. The result was a split draw as defending champions Grasso benefited from a controversial 10-8 final round score to narrow the defeat. The two fighters will train head-to-head on “The Ultimate Fighter” this spring before a trilogy fight in the fall.
3. Valentina Shevchenko – flyweight
Record: 23-4-1 | Previous ranking: #3
The future all-time great nearly regained the flyweight title from Alexa Grasso in their September rematch. The result was a hard-fought draw, with Shevchenko openly considering an appeal afterwards. Now 36, Shevchenko will train alongside Grasso on TUF before a likely third meeting at Noche UFC this fall.
4. Manon Fiorot – flyweight
Record: 12-1 | Previous rating: 4
A five-round decision over the sizzling Erin Blanchfield appears to be the final hurdle the 34-year-old Frenchman will have to overcome on his way to a title shot. Fiorot’s takedown defense and ability to avoid danger on the ground created the perfect setting for his precise striking to shine. For now, Fiorot will need to wait for the Grasso-Shevchenko rivalry to end.
5. Tatiana Suarez – strawweight
Record: 10-0 | Previous classification: NR
Despite missing almost four years of his prime due to chronic injuries, Suarez is back on the scene in a big way. Her dominant finish over former champion Jessica Andrade in August could be all Suarez needs to immediately return to 115-pound title contention. Few can match her fighting prowess alone, and even fewer can match the relentless competitive streak that fuels her determination.
Give up: None
It has been lost: Kayla Harrison, Erin Blanchfield, Rose Namajunas, Raquel Pennington, Julianna Pena
