UFC rankings update: Almabayev, Aliskerov, and Fiziev all move up

Three fighters received significant boosts in the latest UFC rankings update released on June 30, with Asu Almabayev climbing the flyweight ladder, Ikram Aliskerov breaking into the middleweight top 15, and Rafael Fiziev returning to the lightweight top 10.

Almabayev, the 32-year-old Kazakhstani known as "Zulfikar," moves to number eight in the flyweight division carrying a 24-3 record. Fighting out of DAR Pro Team in an orthodox stance, the five-foot-four grappler is particularly dangerous on the mat, averaging 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also posts a striking accuracy of 50 percent, landing 2.31 significant strikes per minute.

Aliskerov enters the middleweight rankings for the first time, a notable milestone for the 33-year-old Russian southpaw who competes out of KHK MMA. Holding an 18-2 record, Aliskerov brings elite striking volume to the 185-pound division, averaging 6.86 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 64 percent accuracy. Standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, he presents a difficult physical profile for any opponent in the top 15.

Fiziev, also from Kazakhstan and also 33, returns to the lightweight top 10 at number seven. Fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai, the switch-stance striker known as "Ataman" carries a 14-5 record and lands 4.71 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He attempts virtually no submissions, making him a pure striker at 155 pounds.

Why it matters

• Almabayev's rise puts him within striking distance of the flyweight top five, adding pressure to contenders ranked just above him.
• Aliskerov's entry into the middleweight rankings opens the door to elite matchmaking at 185 pounds for one of the division's most accurate strikers.
• Fiziev's return to the lightweight top 10 re-establishes him as a legitimate contender in one of the UFC's most competitive divisions.