UFC rankings: The Independent’s pound-for-pound fighters list

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Leon Edwards open image in gallery Leon Edwards held the welterweight title from August 2022 until July 2024 Edwards became Britain’s second UFC champion with a stunning, last-gasp knockout of Kamaru Usman in 2022. Belal Muhammad open image in gallery Belal Muhammad controlled Leon Edwards to win the welterweight title in July Muhammad has his critics – a lot of them. By narrowly winning a battle with Sean Strickland in January, the 30-year-old became South Africa’s first UFC champion, and that win was sandwiched between stoppages of former title holders Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker – two of the best fighters the division has ever seen. Jon Jones open image in gallery Jon Jones after beating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 When Jones returned to the UFC in 2023 after a three-year absence, winning the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round, many believed that the American confirmed himself as the greatest of all time.