Islam Makhachev leads the latest monthly Russian MMA pound-for-pound rankings compiled by 32 journalists and experts, with Petr Yan second and Khamzat Chimaev third. Anatoly Malykhin returned to the top 15 at No. 14 following his knockout victory over Umar Khan in their rematch, but will not be eligible for future rankings after announcing his retirement from MMA. Alexander Volkov and Vadim Nemkov are tied at fourth, with Arman Tsarukyan sixth and Magomed Ankalaev seventh.
Islam Makhachev has claimed the top spot in the latest monthly Russian MMA pound-for-pound rankings, compiled by a panel of 32 journalists and experts and released on July 1, 2026, with Petr Yan and Khamzat Chimaev rounding out the top three.
Makhachev, 34, enters the list as the undisputed standard-bearer for Russian MMA. The welterweight champion carries a 28-1-0 professional record and trains out of Eagles MMA. Operating from a southpaw stance, he connects at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, underscoring the all-around threat that has defined his reign at the top of the sport.
Arman Tsarukyan sits sixth and Magomed Ankalaev seventh, while fourth place is shared by Alexander Volkov and Vadim Nemkov. Volkov, known as Drago, is 37 years old and holds a 40-11-0 record competing in the heavyweight division, where he ranks first. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, the Strela Team product averages 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, making him one of the more productive volume strikers in the division.
The most notable storyline involves Anatoly Malykhin, who re-entered the rankings at No. 14 after scoring a knockout victory over Umar Khan in their rematch. The return proves bittersweet, however, as Malykhin has announced his retirement from MMA and will not be eligible for inclusion in future editions of the rankings.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's unanimous placement at the summit cements his status as Russia's most decorated active fighter heading into the second half of 2026.
- Malykhin's farewell ranking entry closes the chapter on one of Russian MMA's more decorated recent careers.
- The tie between Volkov and Nemkov at fourth signals continued depth in the upper reaches of the list beyond the established top three.
