Following recent high-profile UFC events, significant movement has occurred in the MMA Pound-for-Pound rankings. Jack Della Maddalena and Alexander Volkanovski are notable climbers after securing crucial victories.
Both Della Maddalena and Volkanovski successfully handled their respective challenges at UFC 315 and UFC 314. Della Maddalena dethroned welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, while Volkanovski became a two-time featherweight champion with a hard-fought win over Diego Lopes for the vacant title.
These results directly impacted the men`s P4P list for May. Belal Muhammad, who was ranked No. 5 heading into UFC 315, dropped sharply by eight spots to No. 13 after his title defense attempt. In contrast, Jack Della Maddalena made a dramatic leap from unranked all the way to the No. 9 position, securing his 18th consecutive win and first UFC title. The new champion hasn`t experienced a professional loss since starting his career 0-2 in 2016 and now has potential high-profile matchups ahead, including a possible bout against Islam Makhachev later this year.
Alexander Volkanovski`s victory propelled him from No. 13 to No. 8, marking his highest ranking since July 2024 – a significant rebound. After his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298, there was speculation he might continue to fall in the rankings. However, his resilient performance against Lopes not only regained him a UFC title but also solidified his place back among the pound-for-pound elite for the foreseeable future.
Other notable shifts include former welterweight champion Leon Edwards suffering a significant drop. Following a lopsided defeat to Sean Brady, Edwards fell completely out of the rankings from his previous spot at No. 12. While Brady received votes from multiple ballots, he did not yet enter the official list. Jon Jones also continues to drop in the standings, prompting calls for his return to active competition.Women`s Rankings Also Shift
The women`s Pound-for-Pound rankings also saw considerable changes thanks to impressive performances from Natalia Silva and Virna Jandiroba. These Brazilian fighters continued to build their cases for championship opportunities, potentially impacting discussions around a Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili superfight.
Natalia Silva earned a clear decision victory over former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso at UFC 315, while Virna Jandiroba extended her winning streak to five with a decision win against recent strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314.
Their strong outings resulted in significant climbs on the P4P list. Silva soared 11 spots, tying for No. 5 with Manon Fiorot. Jandiroba ascended seven spots to No. 11. Their rise highlights their readiness for top contention and adds depth to the championship picture in their respective divisions.
