Tom Aspinall is doing to the UFC’s heavyweight division what the proverbial bull does in the china shop. Not only is he shattering all the merchandise, but he is also making the division quake down to the studs. In this case, we mean the greatest stud of them all—Jon Jones, who holds the actual heavyweight title.
All Aspinall did to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 this weekend was withstand a couple of ominous flurries, load up a short right hand, and then pounce on Blaydes’s flailing body once he had him hurt. The whole thing lasted exactly a minute, but it gave Manchester a reason to celebrate in the wee hours of the night. Interim heavyweight champ Aspinall avenged his only loss in the UFC (he is now 8-1 overall since debuting in 2020—all finishes), making it blatantly clear that the only suitable opponent for him next is Jones.
That is, if Jones can get by Stipe Miocic in November, when the two are rumored to fight. Talk about your complex conditions.
In any case, Aspinall moves up in this special late-July edition of The Ringer’s pound-for-pound rankings, but the bigger surprise on the list is Belal Muhammad.
Muhammad went into enemy territory to face Birmingham’s Leon Edwards—a staple of the P4P list for a long time—and put on one of the most dominant performances we’ve ever seen from such a sizable underdog in a title fight. Was it pretty? That’s left to the eye of the beholder, but the way Muhammad got it done is the same way he’s been doing it for years—by publicly breaking his opponent’s will through constant pressure, pace, and preternatural strength.
As always, the panel of Chuck Mindenhall, Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and fearless producer Troy Farkas—known as 3PAC on The Ringer MMA Show—have ranked both the men’s and women’s P4P best, one through 10.
Our only criterion for these monthly rankings is that a fighter has competed within at least a calendar year of the publication date, or has at least had a fight booked within that window. If a fighter hasn’t competed in a year and books a fight after that time, he or she is once again eligible to be voted back in.
Fighters who retire are no longer eligible for the rankings.
Though most of the best fighters are currently in the UFC, these rankings are not UFC exclusive. We take into consideration all the major promotions, from the Bellator/PFL conglomerate to ONE Championship.
Without further ado, the bonus Ringer MMA P4P Rankings for late July.
Men’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings
1. Alex Pereira
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 1
It was barely a year ago that the great “Poatan” Pereira debuted in his new weight class of 205 pounds. In that short year, he went 4-0, rescued several massive pay-per-views, and emerged as the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. The cool thing about achieving cult status at warp speed like that? You don’t have to fight on a big weekend to dominate the headlines. Pereira’s name was mentioned plenty at UFC 304 this past weekend, including by interim heavyweight champ Aspinall, who suggested the UFC arrange a four-man tournament for November, pitting him against Pereira to go alongside Jones-Miocic. (The pulse races just contemplating that scenario!)
2. Islam Makhachev
UFC Lightweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 2
It was a virtual lock that Makhachev would headline the UFC’s annual October visit to Abu Dhabi (UFC 308), which has become a tradition in the past couple of years—but some potentially significant news came out this past week. Makhachev revealed that he may require surgery to repair a partially torn ligament suffered in his fight against Dustin Poirier. All indications point to Arman Tsarukyan as his next title defense, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Islam can keep the appointment. If Makhachev can’t go, would the UFC slot the dateless Conor McGregor–Michael Chandler fight out on Yas Island? Or perhaps move Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria there?
3. Tom Aspinall
UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 5
“Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally,” Aspinall said moments after vanquishing Blaydes to retain his interim title. “But I just think I’m better than you. I just know I can beat you in a fight, and I’m coming for it.” Tom was sending a polite message to Jones. The crowd in Manchester let up a thunderous roar, and everybody watching from remote seats all over the world nodded in approval. In fact, the only one who hasn’t endorsed that massive unifying bout is Jones himself, who has yet to thaw on the idea of facing the greatest buzz saw to ever rip through the heavyweight picture.
4. Jon Jones
UFC Heavyweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 4
“Supply and demand at its finest; I love it.” That was Jones’s response to the Aspinall fallout and the callout. The truth is, Jones does have a fight to get through before he can fully zero in on Aspinall. The UFC has been downright stubborn in keeping Jones’s first title heavyweight defense against Miocic, who—even at 41 years old—packs one of the meanest no-nonsense punches in heavyweight history. It’s not the logical fight for Jones, but removed from all context, that Stipe bout will represent some very clear and present danger for the UFC GOAT.
5. Ilia Topuria
UFC Featherweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 6
Topuria has temporarily put aside all his fighting distractions to focus on his brand-new baby girl, whom he welcomed into the world this week. When he’s ready, Max Holloway will be waiting for him. There was some speculation (and false reporting) that Ilia and Max would square off at Sphere in Las Vegas on September 14, but that’s not happening. Because Islam’s injury leaves his status unknown for Abu Dhabi, there’s a real possibility that the fight will happen there, at UFC 308. Whenever it occurs, it promises to be a gunslinger’s delight.
6. Belal Muhammad
UFC Welterweight Champion
Previous ranking: n/a
Perhaps Muhammad should’ve been given a little more respect heading into his long-awaited title shot against Edwards. After all, he hasn’t lost a fight in over five and a half years. If people weren’t paying attention to just how good Muhammad is, they are now. From the early takedown to the final horn, Belal confounded and nullified Edwards, deflating the partisan Manchester crowd at the same time. What’s next for the new champ? He said he would like fights with Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, and Jack Della Maddalena, who are the three bruisers coming up, so there’s only one thing we can say: Respect!
7. Sean O’Malley
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 7
As expected, it was announced that O’Malley would defend the bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at Sphere in Las Vegas at UFC 306. Burning questions come along with this whole setup. Can O’Malley avoid being taken down by Merab, a relentless, 5-foot-6, grind-o-matic marauder hell-bent on planting opponents into the soft earth? Can O’Malley hang with a cardio fiend if the fight drags into the later rounds? And will the UFC do the right thing by turning the outside of Sphere into O’Malley’s colorful head of hair in the lead-up? The suspense is killing us.
8. Alexander Volkanovski
Former UFC Featherweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 8
After seeing Volkanovski fight eight times since the summer of the pandemic, these last few months have felt a little empty without him. But it’s nice that Volk is taking the break after successive knockouts in his previous two fights. He did show up in England to partake in the fan Q&A session, so he’s staying in the spotlight as best he can, and you can tell he’s champing at the bit to erase the sting of those losses. The great thing for Volk is that he is never more than a boomerang’s throw from a title shot.
9. Leon Edwards
Former UFC Welterweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 3
One of the first things Edwards pointed to after losing his title to Muhammad was that his body was tired all week. That makes sense. It was an unnatural ask for the UFC to have its fighters compete in the middle of the night at UFC 304 to accommodate the American audience. Edwards and Muhammad fought around 5 a.m. local time, and Edwards did look rather somnambulant at times. Interestingly, there was next to no mention of an automatic rematch. It looks like Edwards will have to work his way back toward gold, which might mean a tantalizing showdown with his old friend Ian Machado Garry.
10. Max Holloway
UFC Featherweight Contender, BMF Champion
Previous ranking: n/a
Holloway was hopeful that he’d be taking on Topuria at Sphere on what will be a colossal Mexican Independence Day–themed card, given all the symbolism at play. But he’ll have to wait—possibly until late October, when the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi. Wherever it is, Max will roll to the hole as a hero—the conqueror of Justin Gaethje and the BMF title and an icon of his generation.
Others receiving votes: Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili
Voting Results
Women’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings
1. Zhang Weili
UFC Strawweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 1
After defending her 115-pound title against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, the question for Zhang was: Who was out there to challenge her? The answer seems to default to Tatiana Suarez, the undefeated smashing machine of the division, who—given all the injuries and setbacks—is never a certainty. We’ve been saying it in the rankings for a long, long time, but if the UFC can make that fight, it will revive the women’s ranks in a big way. And as always, the operative word here is “if.”
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Former UFC Flyweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 2
Well, we now officially have the date of the trilogy fight with Alexa Grasso. It’ll go down (as expected) at Sphere on September 14 in what promises to be a stunningly immersive display of colorful fight-game psychedelia. If ever there’s been a series that needs to play out, it’s this one. Valentina has had Grasso in her crosshairs for what feels like a small eternity, and a giant piece of her overall legacy comes down to this rubber match.
3. Alexa Grasso
UFC Flyweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 3
Just like last year, the Mexico-born Grasso will get the bulk of the celebration at UFC 306, the UFC’s homage to Mexican Independence Day. Dana White says he’s already spent a tick north of $17 million on securing Las Vegas’s Sphere for the experience, and of the co-main and main events, Grasso is the only Mexican fighter. It’s a lot of pressure, especially when trying to ultimately overthrow one of the most decorated women’s fighters in UFC history, but there’s something unnervingly confident about Grasso’s demeanor that says she’s ready.
4. Cris Cyborg
Bellator Featherweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 4
Cyborg turned 39 this month, which means she is winding down on a storied career. Yet she’s also made herself a little scarce in her twilight years. She’s fought twice since 2022, and more than midway through 2024, there’s not much on the horizon. One would presume that a fight with Larissa Pacheco is looming out there for the PFL to make, but you get the feeling things aren’t as rosy as we all hoped they’d be between Cyborg and her new promotion.
5. Tatiana Suarez
UFC Strawweight Contender
Previous ranking: no. 5
We don’t want to say too much so as not to jinx anything. (In fact, it’s probably best to whisper in these parentheses. Here’s the thing. That fight with Zhang has to happen. It has to! Ever since Suarez beat champions such as Grasso and Carla Esparza in those pre-pandemic days of yore, we’ve been talking about how she’s the greatest thing going. “Watch out for Tatiana!” we keep saying. “She’s Khabib 2.0!” But 10 total fights in 10 years of competition as a pro have us taking nothing for granted, and we won’t speak of it anymore.)
6A. Manon Fiorot
UFC Flyweight Contender
Previous ranking: no. 6A
At least the Olympics are happening in her native France to keep her occupied, but it must be a little frustrating for Manon as she waits for a title shot. At least the date is set for Grasso-Shevchenko III. It’s possible the UFC will have Manon prepare as a backup fighter for that card (given that the card itself isn’t terrifically deep), but either way, Manon should be front and center at Sphere, ready to face off with the winner. In the meantime, for anybody unfamiliar with Fiorot’s game, check out her master class in handling Erin Blanchfield from a few months back in Atlantic City. (She’s a beast!)
6B. Kayla Harrison
UFC Bantamweight Contender
Previous ranking: no. 6B
Make the women’s bantamweight division great again, you say? With Raquel Pennington holding the title and Julianna Peña believing she’s next for a shot, you’ve got to peek at the reserves to see the full potential. You’ll notice Harrison standing there, ready to end all formalities and charades as she awaits word on her next victim. And then there’s Amanda Nunes, the GOAT of women’s MMA, all but guaranteed to come back out of retirement once the fire gets hot. Stay tuned.
8. Raquel Pennington
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 8
Is Pennington the flashiest champion? The most exhilarating to watch? Does she have the most power? Does she move the needle or sell out arenas? Would she be a favorite against any big names gunning for her? Probably not. But Rocky does have (a) a lot of heart and perseverance and (b) the title that everyone covets. She should hold that belt high enough for everyone to see, if for no other reason than to document that all of this really happened.
9. Erin Blanchfield
UFC Flyweight Contender
Previous ranking: no. 9
It’s been a little while since Blanchfield lost to Fiorot, and the tape has probably alerted her to everything she needs to fix. Hey—it’s all good when you’re 25 years old. A loss at that age is infinitely more useful than a win. The UFC tried to make a fight between Rose Namajunas and Maycee Barber for Denver this month, which ended up being a showcase for Namajunas versus Tracy Cortez. Given that Rose is running up the flyweight ranks, maybe Blanchfield will rebound by taking on the former strawweight champ.
10. Larissa Pacheco
2023 PFL Featherweight Champion
Previous ranking: no. 10
She has the quietest 10-fight win streak in the history of 10-fight win streaks, with a victory over Harrison in the scaffolding. Should she get a spotlight fight with Cyborg and defeat her, you could argue that Pacheco is right there among the superelite in women’s MMA. That résumé strength would rival just about anyone. The great thing? She’s just 29 years old and coming into her prime.
Others receiving votes: Rose Namajunas, Yan Xiaonan
