Following his defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, Khamzat Chimaev has fallen seven positions in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. The updated top ten shows Islam Makhachev retaining the number one spot, with Ilia Topuria second and Alex Volkanovski third. Alex Pereira holds fourth position, while Petr Yan sits at fifth. Tom Aspinall occupies sixth place, with both Merab Dvalishvili and Sean Strickland tied at seventh. Joshua Van rounds out the top ten at ninth, with Chimaev now positioned at tenth after previously holding a higher ranking.
The UFC's pound-for-pound rankings have been reshuffled following UFC 328 on May 9, with Khamzat Chimaev tumbling seven spots to tenth place after suffering a loss to Sean Strickland at the event.
Strickland, now 31-7-0, enters the pound-for-pound top ten tied at seventh after his middleweight championship win over Chimaev. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is a relentless volume striker who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the orthodox southpaw-beater has built a reputation on pressure and output, posting a 42 percent striking accuracy across his career.
Islam Makhachev retains the number one pound-for-pound position. The 34-year-old Russian welterweight champion carries a 28-1-0 record and remains one of the sport's most complete fighters, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 58 percent of his significant strikes. Ilia Topuria sits second, Alex Volkanovski third, and Alex Pereira fourth, with Petr Yan rounding out the top five. Tom Aspinall occupies sixth, while Merab Dvalishvili is tied with Strickland at seventh.
One of the more eye-catching names in the updated rankings is Joshua Van, who holds ninth place. The 24-year-old flyweight champion from Myanmar is 17-2-0 and fights out of 4oz. Fight Club. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, Van lands a remarkable 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most efficient offensive fighters across any weight class.
Why it matters
- Chimaev's seven-place drop reflects how heavily the pound-for-pound list weighs recent results, particularly championship-level losses
- Strickland's entry into the top ten at seventh reinforces his standing as the active middleweight champion following UFC 328
- Van's ninth-place ranking highlights the growing recognition of flyweight as a pound-for-pound competitive division
- Makhachev's hold on the number one spot cements his position as the sport's dominant force heading into the summer
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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Saturday, May 9, 2026
