Islam Makhachev leads the latest monthly ranking of the top Russian MMA fighters, compiled by 32 journalists, bloggers, and experts. Petr Yan is second, followed by Khamzat Chimaev in third, with Alexander Volkov and Vadim Nemkov tied fourth. Anatoly Makhachev re-entered the rankings at 14th after knocking out Umar Khan in a rematch, though he will not appear in 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 currently a champion competing at welterweight. Fighting out of Eagles MMA and operating from a southpaw stance, the Dagestani standout is also the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the verified rankings. He lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate and adds 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat in every phase of a fight.
Petr Yan follows in second place, with Khamzat Chimaev ranked third. Alexander Volkov and Vadim Nemkov are tied at fourth. Volkov, nicknamed Drago, is 37 years old and holds a 40-11 record in the heavyweight division, where he sits as the number-one contender. The six-foot-seven Russian generates 4.78 significant strikes per minute, one of the higher output figures among active heavyweights in the database.
Separately, Anatoly Makhachev re-entered the rankings at 14th after finishing Umar Khan by knockout in a rematch. However, he will not appear in future editions of the list after announcing his retirement from competition.
Why it matters
- Islam Makhachev's top ranking cements his status as Russia's most decorated active fighter across both domestic and global metrics.
- Volkov's fourth-place tie keeps the veteran heavyweight visible in national rankings despite operating in one of MMA's thinner divisions.
- Anatoly Makhachev's brief return and immediate retirement closes a chapter for one of the sport's emerging Russian prospects.
