Based mostly on wins and not on performance or should haves (i.e. controversial decisions). John Salter retired in March 2023 (rank 18). Jotko took LHW bout in April 2023 (rank 17). Kelvin Gastelum returned to WW (July 2023, rank 19).
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1
- Dricus Du Plessis
- "Stillknocks"
- 21-2-0
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The UFC Middleweight champion. Du Plessis won the title at UFC 297 when he defeated Sean Strickland by split decision.
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2
- Sean Strickland
- "Tarzan"
- 28-6-0
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Strickland made his first title defense at UFC 297 against Dricus Du Plessis. He lost the fight by split decision. He will make his return against Paulo Costa at UFC 302.
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3
- Israel Adesanya
- "The Last Stylebender"
- 24-3-0
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Adesanya lost his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 when he was defeated by unanimous decision after five rounds.
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4
- Robert Whittaker
- "The Reaper"
- 25-7-0
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Whittaker faced Marvin Vettori at UFN 209. He won the fight by unanimous decision. He faced Dricus Du Plessis next at UFC 290. He lost the fight by TKO due to punches in the second round. Whittaker faced Paulo Costa at UFC 298. He won the exciting back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. Whittaker will headline his next event against Khamzat Chimaev.
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5
- Jared Cannonier
- "Killa Gorilla"
- 17-6-0
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Cannonier faced Derek Brunson at UFC 271. He won the fight by knockout in the second round. He faced Israel Adesanya at UFC 276 for the UFC Middleweight title. He lost a unanimous decision after five rounds. Cannonier returned against Sean Strickland at UFN 216. He won the fight by split decision after five rounds. Cannonier headlined UFC on ESPN 47 against Marvin Vettori. He dominated Vettori for five rounds to win a unanimous decision.
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6
- Johnny Eblen
- "Pressure"
- 15-0-0
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The Bellator Middleweight champion. Eblen took the title when he faced Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 for the Bellator Middleweight title. He won the fight by unanimous decision after five rounds to pull off the upset victory. He made his first title defense at Bellator 290 against Anatoly Tokov. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Eblen made his first defense against Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299. He won the fight by knockout in the third round. Eblen faced Impa Kasanganay at PFL vs. Bellator. He won the fight by split decision.
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7
- Marvin Vettori
- "The Italian Dream"
- 19-6-1
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Vettor returned to the middleweight division against Robert Whittaker at UFN 209. He dropped all three rounds to Whittaker losing a unanimous decision. He returned against Roman Dolidze at UFC 286. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Vettori faced Jared Cannonier next at UFC on ESPN 47. He lost the one sided fight by unanimous decision after five rounds. Vettori was set to return against Brendan Allen, however, he withdrew from the bout.
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8
- Derek Brunson
- "The One"
- 24-9-0
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Brunson faced Jared Cannonier at UFC 271. He lost to Cannonier by knockout in the second round. He was set to face Jack Hermansson next, however, he withdrew from the bout. Brunson instead returned at UFC 285 against Dricus Du Plessis. He lost the fight by TKO in the second round. He was set to fight Roman Dolidze at UFC 295, however, the bout fell through and he departed from the UFC. Brunson made his PFL debut at PFL 10: 2023 PFL World Championship against Ray Cooper III. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
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9
- Fabian Edwards
- "The Assassin"
- 13-3-0
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Edwards fought Gegard Mousasi at 296. He dominated Mousasi to an unanimous decision win. Edwards faced Johnny Eblen at Bellator 299 for the Bellator Middleweight title. He was knocked out in the third round. Edwards returned against Aaron Jeffery at Bellator Champions Series. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
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10
- Brendan Allen
- "All In"
- 24-5-0
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Allen was set to face Jack Hermansson next but the bout fell through. He instead faced Bruno Silva at UFC on ABC 5. He won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke. Allen took on Paul Craig next at UFN 232. He won the fight via submission in the third round. Allen was set to face Marvin Vettori at UFN 240, however, Vettori withdrew. He instead rematched Chris Curtis at the event. He was victorious this time around, winning a split decision.
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11
- Gegard Mousasi
- "The Dreamcatcher" | 49-9-2
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Mousasi looked to defend his title against Johnny Eblen at Bellator 282. He failed to defend his title when he lost to Eblen by unanimous decision after five rounds. Mousasi returned at Bellator 296 against Fabian Edwards. He lost to Edwards by unanimous decision.
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12
- Nassourdine Imavov
- "Russian Sniper" | 13-4-0, 1 NC
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Imavov headlined UFN 235 against Roman Dolidze. He won the fight by majority decision after five rounds.
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13
- Roman Dolidze
- "The Caucasian" | 12-3-0
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Dolidze fought Jack Hermansson at UFC on ESPN 42. He won the fight by TKO in the second round. He made a quick turnaround when he faced Marvin Vettori at UFC 286. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Dolidze faced Nassourdine Imavov next at UFN 235. After five rounds he lost a majority decision. He will face Anthony Hernandez at UFC 302.
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14
- Jack Hermansson
- "The Joker" | 24-8-0
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Hermansson faced Chris Curtis at UFN 208. He defeated Curtis by unanimous decision. Hermansson was set to face Derek Brunson next, however, Brunson withdrew from the bout. He instead faced Roman Dolidze at the event. He lost to Dolidze by TKO in the second round. He was set to face Brendan Allen next, however, the bout was cancelled. He returned against Joe Pyfer at UFN 236. He won the fight by unanimous decision after five rounds.
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15
- Paul Craig
- "Bearjew" | 17-7-1
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Craig made his middleweight debut at UFN 224 against Andre Muniz. He won the fight by TKO in the second round. Craig faced Brendan Allen next at UFN 232. He lost the fight via submission in the third round. Craig will take on Caio Borralho at UFC 301.
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16
- Chris Curtis
- "The Action Man" | 31-11-0, 1 NC
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Curtis faced Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 287. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Curtis faced Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 289. They fought to a No Contest after a clash of heads left Curtis with a huge cut. He faced Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 297. He won the fight by split decision. Curtis fought a rematch against Brendan Allen at UFN 240. He lost this time around, losing a split decision after five rounds.
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17
- André Muniz
- "Sergipano" | 24-6-0
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Muniz fought Brendan Allen next at UFN 220. He tapped for the first time in his career, submitting to a rear-naked choke. Muniz welcomed Paul Craig to the middleweight division at UFN 224. He lost to Craig by TKO in the second round. He rebounded against Jun Yong Park at UFN 233, winning a split decision. Muniz will return against Ikram Aliskerov.
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18
- Paulo Costa
- "The Eraser" | 14-3-0
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Costa finally made his return at UFC 298 against Robert Whittaker. He lost to Whittaker by unanimous decision. Costa will fight Sean Strickland at UFC 302.
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19
- Shara Magomedov
- "Bullet" | 12-0-0
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Magomedov made his UFC debut at UFC 294 against Bruno Silva. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
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20
- Gregory Rodrigues
- "Robocop" | 15-5-0
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Rodrigues fought Brad Tavares at UFN 236. He won the fight by TKO in the third round.
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21
- Chris Weidman
- "The All-American" | 16-7-0
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22
- Darren Till
- "The Gorilla" | 18-5-1
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Till fell four rankings after a year of inactivity (December 2023, rank 12). He fell another two rankings (April 2024, rank 19).
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23
- Bruno Silva
- "Blindado" | 23-11-0
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24
- Brad Tavares
- 20-9-0
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25
- Joe Pyfer
- "Bodybagz" | 12-3-0
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26
- Jun Yong Park
- "The Iron Turtle" | 17-6-0
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27
- Michel Pereira
- "Demolidor" | 30-11-0, 2 NC
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28
- Jacob Malkoun
- "Mamba" | 8-3-0
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29
- Andre Petroski
- 10-3-0
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30
- Magomedrasul Gasanov
- 20-2-0
My Summary