Islam Makhachev tops the latest monthly ranking of the best Russian MMA fighters across all weight classes, compiled by 32 journalists, bloggers, and experts. Petr Yan sits second, followed by Khamzat Chimaev, Alexander Volkov, and Vadim Nemkov tied fourth. Anatoly Malykhin re-entered the rankings at 14th after knocking out Umar Khan in their rematch, but will be excluded from future editions following his retirement announcement.
Islam Makhachev has claimed the top spot in the latest monthly ranking of Russia's best active MMA fighters, a list compiled by a panel of 32 journalists, bloggers, and industry experts and published on July 1, 2026.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and is the reigning welterweight champion, currently ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Eagles MMA in a southpaw stance, the Dagestan native brings a precise and well-rounded game to the cage, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Petr Yan sits second in the Russian rankings, with Khamzat Chimaev third. Alexander Volkov, who carries the nickname "Drago," is tied fourth alongside Vadim Nemkov. Volkov, 37, competes in the heavyweight division and enters as the number-one-ranked contender with a 40-11 record. The towering six-foot-seven Russian has one of the more active striking outputs among heavyweights, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
The most notable movement in the rankings came at the bottom of the list, where Anatoly Malykhin re-entered at 14th following a knockout victory over Umar Khan in their rematch. However, Malykhin's return will be brief. Following his retirement announcement, the panel confirmed he will be excluded from all future editions of the rankings.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's continued dominance of Russia's cross-divisional ranking reflects his status as both a titleholder and the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter.
- Volkov's presence in the top five underlines the heavyweight division's depth among Russian fighters, with a number-one contender ranking to his name.
- Malykhin's retirement closes the book on one of the more decorated Russian champions of recent years, removing a significant name from future rankings conversations.
