Tapology has implemented a new feature displaying an opposition level rating for UFC fighters in their profiles. The rating ranges from 1 to 99 and is calculated using a specific formula based on a fighter's last six UFC bouts. Fights in other organizations are not included in the calculation. For UFC 328, Sean Strickland leads with a rating of 74, followed by Khamzat Chimaev at 69 and Alexander Volkov at 67. The lowest-rated fighters on the card include Baysangur Susurkaev and Ozzie Diaz, both at 4.
Tapology has rolled out a new opposition strength rating system for UFC fighters, giving fans a data-driven look at the caliber of competition each athlete has faced throughout their recent Octagon career.
The feature appears directly on fighter profile pages and assigns a score between 1 and 99 based on a fighter's last six UFC bouts exclusively. Fights contested outside the UFC are excluded from the calculation entirely. The debut snapshot comes from the UFC 328 card, scheduled for May 9, 2026.
At the top of that card's ratings sits middleweight champion Sean Strickland with a score of 74. The 35-year-old American trains out of Xtreme Couture and carries a 31-7-0 professional record. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland is one of the highest-volume strikers in the sport, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute while working from an orthodox stance.
Khamzat Chimaev slots in second at 69, with heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov third at 67. Volkov, nicknamed Drago, is ranked number one in the heavyweight division and brings a remarkable 40-11-0 record into the event. The 37-year-old Russian stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and connects on 57 percent of his significant strikes, the highest accuracy figure among the three top-rated fighters on the card.
At the opposite end of the scale, Baysangur Susurkaev and Ozzie Diaz both receive ratings of 4, reflecting shorter UFC tenures against less established opposition.
Why it matters
- The system offers a standardized, UFC-only lens for evaluating how difficult a fighter's recent path has been.
- High scores for Strickland and Volkov reinforce that both veterans have been consistently tested at the top of their divisions.
- Fighters with low scores like a 4 rating are flagged clearly as early-career prospects still building their résumés, which could influence how fans and analysts interpret their upcoming performances.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
