The latest UFC rankings update sees Asu Almabayev climb to seventh in the flyweight division. Ikram Aliskerov has entered the middleweight top 15, while Rafael Fiziev returns to the lightweight top 10.
Three fighters from different corners of the globe picked up meaningful ground in the latest UFC rankings update, with Asu Almabayev, Ikram Aliskerov, and Rafael Fiziev each moving in their respective divisions as of June 30, 2026.
Almabayev, the 32-year-old Kazakhstani flyweight known as "Zulfikar," climbs to eighth in the 125-pound rankings carrying a 24-3 record. Fighting out of DAR Pro Team, the orthodox grappler is one of the division's most active takedown artists, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes while landing significant strikes at a 50 percent clip. His combination of wrestling and striking volume has steadily made him a fixture in flyweight title conversations.
Aliskerov breaks into the middleweight top 15 for the first time, a notable milestone for the 33-year-old Russian southpaw. Training out of KHK MMA, he holds an 18-2 record and brings an elite striking profile to the 185-pound division — landing 6.86 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 64 percent accuracy rate. At six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, he has the physical tools to trouble anyone in a stacked middleweight landscape.
Fiziev, also from Kazakhstan and known as "Ataman," returns to the lightweight top 10 at number seven on the back of a 14-5 record. The Tiger Muay Thai product is a switch-stance striker who lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up fighters in the 155-pound division.
Why it matters
- Almabayev's climb puts him within striking distance of the flyweight title picture
- Aliskerov's top-15 entry opens the door to higher-profile middleweight matchmaking
- Fiziev's return to the lightweight top 10 re-establishes him as a contender at 155 pounds after a difficult stretch on his record
