For decades, the company led by Dana White, UFC, has been in the spotlight, not only for the quality of its fighters, but also for the large number of fights that take place every weekend. In this article, you will find the players who occupy the top 5 positions in the world ranking pound for pound of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2023.

Islam Makhachev

Makhachev, known for being a protégé and training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov, jumped to the top of the rankings thanks to his emphatic KO win over Alexander Volkanovski in Dubai just a few weeks ago. He is currently the UFC lightweight champion, in addition to having been Combat Sambo champion in 2016 in the 74 kg category. If one fight in his extensive career had to be highlighted, it would undoubtedly be the one that lifted him to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. We are referring to his recent fight in Dubai against the, so far, pound for pound number one: Alexander Volkanovski. Thanks to an accurate high kick to the ear of his opponent, Makhachev only had to see how the Australian fell to the ground and hit him with a flurry of punches at will, which made the referee immediately stop the fight in the first round.

Jon Jones

Jon “Bones” Jones is one of the most iconic and successful fighters in UFC history so far, but also one of last year’s UFC odds stars thanks to his winnings. He is a multiple-time champion in the UFC light heavyweight division and is known for his reach, aggression and versatility in the octagon. He holds the record of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history by defeating Mauricio Rua at just 23 years of age. His most notable fight was the one that took place in 2013 against Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 165), which was an epic battle that ended in unanimous decision in favor of Jones. It was one of the most competitive fights in his career and showed his ability to adapt and overcome adversity. On the other hand, one of the darkest moments of his career came in 2015 when he was suspended indefinitely after being involved in a traffic accident with casualties and leaving the scene. Although only a year later he would return to the octagon to defeat St. Preux by unanimous decision.

Alexander Volkanovski

Curious history of Volkanovski, who began his journey in MMA as a method to get in shape and give the maximum in his sport, rugby, with which he reaped several successes in his youth. However, at the age of 24, he made the definitive leap to mixed martial arts, in which he debuted at middleweight before dropping down to his current category. A stellar fight in which he participated was the one in which he faced Max Holloway (UFC 245, 2019) In this fight, “The Great” Volkanovski defeated Holloway by unanimous decision to win the title, showing an unusual ability to control the distance and use his striking effectively.

Leon Edwards

The Kingston-born Jamaican is the current UFC Welterweight champion. Edwards fulfills the classic stereotype of a successful athlete who grew up in a childhood marked by poverty, crime, violence and even the murder of his father when he was only 13 years old. He began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 17 and is now known for his striking and wrestling skills. His most stellar fight took place in 2019 against Rafael dos Anjos (UFC on ESPN 4) winning in this fight by unanimous decision.

Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira is a Brazilian fighter who has made a notable name for himself in the sport. Born on July 7, 1987, in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Pereira began his career in kickboxing, where he stood out for his powerful fighting style and technical ability. He eventually transitioned to MMA, where he has continued his upward trajectory.

One of Alex Pereira’s most notable fights in his MMA career was against Israel Adesanya (UFC 287, April 8, 2023), a matchup that attracted considerable attention due to both fighters’ prior history in kickboxing. In this bout, Pereira demonstrated his ability to control distance and use his powerful striking to dominate the octagon and knock out his opponent. His victory over Adesanya not only solidified his reputation as a formidable competitor in MMA, but also highlighted his potential to take on the best fighters in the division.

Alex Pereira’s fighting style is characterized by his impressive striking ability, a reflection of his successful kickboxing career. With a focus on powerful strikes and excellent stand-up technique, Pereira is known for his ability to finish fights with spectacular KOs.

Charles Oliveira

Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira is, without a doubt, a record man. Why do we say so? Because he currently holds the record for most submission victories in UFC history (16), most finishes (20) and most post-fight bonuses (19). If there was one thing Oliveira was known for during his youth, it was his precociousness, starting his Brazilian jiu-jitsu training when he was only 12 years old. A classic fight that had Oliveira as a protagonist was the one against Michael Chandler (UFC 262, 2021): In this title fight, Oliveira defeated Chandler by TKO in the second round to win the championship, demonstrating his ability to come back from compromising situations thanks to an extremely dangerous ground game.

Sean O’Malley

The current Bantamweight world champion has been fighting for Dana White’s organization since 2015. His story is curious, since he became known precisely in a TV Reality Show, the Dana White Contender’s Series. He debuted in the UFC professionally on December 1, 2017, defeating Terrion Ware by unanimous decision, and, since then, he has been lavished with notable success on Social Networks, where he has more than 4 million followers on Instagram. He is known as “Sugar”.