MMA pound-for-pound rankings, May 2025: Does Jack Della Maddalena make the list after UFC 315?

There’s an old saying about rankings such as these. “Five votes on a seven-man panel guarantees you nothing, not when such ballots are filled in by cutthroats!”

Okay, that’s actually a new saying that we just made up. But it’s particularly true in this case for Jack Della Maddalena, the crook-nosed Australian who forcibly took the welterweight title from Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Though five of the seven voters for the May pound-for-pound rankings had the great Giacomo in their top 10s (two No. 9 votes and three No. 10), the new champ didn’t make the cut under our scoring system.

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It's all good. We will give Della Maddalena his flowers within this preamble, as that was impressive work he did in Montreal. Nicely done, "JDM"!

You know who did break into the top 10 on the women’s side? Natalia Silva, who put on a clinic against Alexa Grasso on the UFC 315 undercard. There’s some big-time shuffling going on within the women’s ranks, as Grasso’s out, Manon Fiorot's out, Silva’s in, and Valentina Shevchenko holds firm.

The panel of Ben Fowlkes, Chuck Mindenhall, Shaheen Al-Shatti, Petesy Carroll, Drake Riggs, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks have ranked both the men’s and women’s pound-for-pound best, one through 10, using a weighted points system to determine the final rankings (being voted No. 1 equals 10 points, No. 2 equals nine points, down to No. 10 equaling one point).

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Our only criterion for these monthly rankings is that a fighter has competed within at least a calendar year of the publication date or has at least had a fight booked within that window. If a fighter hasn’t competed in a year and books a fight after that time, he or she is once again eligible to be voted back in. Fighters who retire are no longer eligible for the rankings.

Though most of the best fighters are currently in the UFC, these rankings are not UFC exclusive. We take into consideration all the major promotions, from Bellator/PFL conglomerate to ONE Championship.

Without further ado, the MMA pound-for-pound rankings for May!

MEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Islam Makhachev — UFC lightweight champion (Prev: 1)

Islam pulled off a neat trick at UFC 315 — he became the star of a pay-per-view he wasn’t even fighting on. Now that Jack Della Maddalena has won the title, it looks like we know what’s in store for the lightweight king: A move up to welterweight for the chance to become a two-division champion. Bigger question is, does he vacate the 155-pound belt or just store it away in a Dagestani cupboard?

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2. Ilia Topuria — UFC featherweight champion (Prev: 2)

Topuria was the second-most interested party at UFC 315, as the former featherweight champion was hoping to challenge Makhachev for his own two-weight champ status. As a consolation it looks like he’s in line for a date with Charles Oliveira, which should be an incredible fight. Problem is, it’s not the fight fans wanted.

3. Merab Dvalishvili — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 3)

We’re less than a month until Merab rematches Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, and if we’re being honest, this fight is sneaking up on tiptoe. No big noises out of “Suga” Sean. No lampooning videos from Merab (yet). Perhaps the respect level is to Merab’s liking, as there’s nothing that drives him crazier than a perceived lack of respect. (Take note, Umar.)

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4. Alexandre Pantoja — UFC flyweight champion (Prev: 4)

It perhaps speaks to the stepchild nature of the flyweights that the one title fight we know for sure is happening at International Fight Week doesn’t seem nearly enough. Pantoja is taking on Kai Kara-France in what will be his fourth title defense at UFC 317. Fanfare or not, with a victory “The Cannibal” will become one of the longest-tenured champions going.

5. Dricus du Plessis — UFC middleweight champion (Prev: 5)

A looming fight with Khamzat Chimaev not only strikes a serious chord of interest for fight fans, but — in this day and age of champions jumping divisions like hobos jumping trains — it feels organic. Sneakily, this is one of those fights that carries serious intrigue, if only because we’ve waited so long for Chimaev’s coronation and … well … du Plessis is the rudest party host we’ve seen in a long time.

6. Tom Aspinall — UFC interim heavyweight champion (Prev: 6)

Last July, The Mirage in Las Vegas closed for good. Somebody took a shot at Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. And 32 teams in the NFL reported to camp to kick off a long season in which the Philadelphia Eagles eventually won the Super Bowl. It was also way back then when Aspinall defended his interim title. The unification bout with Jon Jones? Let’s just say it can’t be seen with ordinary binoculars.

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7. Magomed Ankalaev — UFC light heavyweight champion (Prev: 8)

A month removed from winning the title, things are still quiet on the eastern front. Ankalaev muted the buzz over Alex Pereira by winning a hard-fought, if lackluster decision at UFC 313, and right now it’s all about the rematch. People keep talking about Pereira not putting his best foot forward in the initial meeting, but — let’s be real here — Ankalaev feels he can do better too.

8. Jon Jones — UFC heavyweight champion (Prev: 7)

As everyone waits for Jones to sign on to fight Aspinall, a singular man at large, the lineal champ’s mind is elsewhere. Recently Jones said he’d lead the charge in the 100 men vs. one gorilla hypothetical that went around, and it produced one of the loudest collective sighs the fight game has ever heard. You’re exhausting us, “Bones.”

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9. Alex Pereira — Former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion (Prev: 9)

Was he hacked when that tweet went out about contemplating retirement after the UFC did him dirty? Intuitions on that run the gamut. But the one thing we know for sure is that “Poatan” deserves whatever he commands for that rematch with Ankalaev, because: A) no other fighter is going to elevate interest in a Big Ank fight quite like Pereira, and, B) he saved the UFC’s a$$ (many times) in 2024.

10. Francis Ngannou — PFL super fights heavyweight champion (Prev: 10)

When the PFL announced its Champions Series date for Cape Town, South Africa in July, a lot of people wondered why Ngannou wasn’t on it. Right now, it’s anyone’s guess when (and in what form) we’ll see one of the world’s greatest heavyweights return. The personal things he’s going through right now (namely, the tragic motorbike accident that happened in Africa) doesn’t help matters, either.

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(Others receiving votes: Jack Della Maddalena, Alexander Volkanovski, Arman Tsarukyan, Khamzat Chimaev)

WOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Zhang Weili — UFC strawweight champion (Prev: 1)

If ever there was a time for Zhang to make the move to flyweight and try to capture a second title, it’s now. It’s true that Virna Jandiroba is right there as a viable next defense for Zhang, and it’s hard to deny her … but Valentina Shevchenko is 37 years old and coming off a huge title defense. Strike while the iron is hot, we say. The chance may never be there again.

2. Valentina Shevchenko — UFC flyweight champion (Prev: 2)

Vegas oddsmakers made Shevchenko the betting underdog for her first title defense (of her second title run) against Manon Fiorot. Honestly, it was the right call. Shevchenko had gone 2-1-1 over her past four fights, with one of those wins — a split decision against Taila Santos — perhaps being an act of judge’s generosity. So, what did she do as the ’dog? Why she shut Fiorot down, naturally, as if to let all the haters know the queen ain’t going anywhere.

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3. Cris Cyborg — PFL super fights women’s featherweight champion (Prev: 3)

We said it for the past few months of these rankings — she’s 39 years old and doesn’t have a ton of time left. The PFL could match Cyborg against Maria LaHonkydonk and we’d be fine with it at this point, but — for the sake of everything holy — don’t just leave her on the shelf.

4. Kayla Harrison — UFC bantamweight contender (Prev: 4)

The countdown is on to UFC 316 in Newark, which is when Harrison will take on Julianna Peña for the 135-pound title. Harrison has been chomping at the bit, as they say, ready to crash through Peña and realize the dream of winning titles in two promotions. It’s been a long time since a challenger has entered a title fight as a 6-to-1 favorite.

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5. Julianna Peña — UFC bantamweight champion (Prev: 6)

The sass-factor has kicked up a notch — and heading into her title defense at UFC 316, it’s the “Venezuelan Vixen” against the world. But you know what? Peña might be onto something when she says she’s going to make chalk gamblers eat their tickets. She did beat Amanda Nunes a few years ago to win the belt the first time, and Nunes is considered the GOAT. Adding Harrison would have people reassessing Peña's career.

6. Dakota Ditcheva — PFL women’s 2024 flyweight tournament champion (Prev: 8)

Dakota had heard from her critics aplenty over the no-name status of her conquests, a thing she did away with when she finished Taila Santos to close out 2024. So, what’s her reward? A fight against …checking our notes here … oh yes, Hawaii’s own Sumiko Inaba. You know what? Doesn’t matter who she’s facing. Ditcheva is the A-side to all of women’s MMA right now. We're just happy to see her competing.

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7. Virna Jandiroba — UFC strawweight contender (Prev: 10)

The fun-loving Brazilian contender has now amassed five straight wins, including back-to-back dubs over recent title challengers Yan Xiaonan and Amanda Lemos. Jandiroba has come a long way from that version of herself who lost to Mackenzie Dern in 2020. At 36 years young, she has a healthy dose of that no-quit dawg to her. It’s title shot or bust for the No. 1 contender, but will circumstances break in her favor?

8. Natalia Silva — UFC flyweight contender (Prev: NR)

Going into her big fight with former champ Alexa Grasso on Saturday night, there was a sneaking suspicion that Brazil’s own Natalia Silva was about to do work. She did. It wasn’t a masterclass of high-level striking prowess and footwork, but it was a super-charged, ceaseless array of Silva flurries that did Grasso in. Silva turned the volume up and — in so doing — catapulted into contendership.

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9. Larissa Pacheco — PFL featherweight contender (Prev: 9)

Dear reader, we come to you with our hands out. Stop. We are writing to ask if you’ve heard from one Larissa Pacheco. Stop. We last saw her busting up Cyborg about an eon ago and — though she lost that fight — we’re anxious to see her back. Stop. If you’ve information as to her whereabouts, would you be so good as to let us know? Stop. Most fondly, your Rankings Committee.

10. Seika Izawa — RIZIN super atomweight champion (Prev: NR)

If Naoya Inoue is the standard for excellence in men’s combat sports in Japan, then Izawa is that on the women’s side. Just 27 years old, she is a dervish of harnessed primal instinct, especially when a fight hits the mats. Her finish of Lucia Apdelgarim at RIZIN 49 on New Year’s Eve was her fifth submission victory in six fights. If the UFC ever introduces an atomweight division, it’ll be because of the “Supernova.”

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(Others receiving votes: Manon Fiorot, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Raquel Pennington)

Here’s how we voted:

SHAHEEN AL-SHATTI

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Dricus du Plessis

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Alex Pereira

8. Tom Aspinall

9. Alexander Volkanovski

10. Jack Della Maddalena

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Kayla Harrison

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Larissa Pacheco

6. Seika Izawa

7. Dakota Ditcheva

8. Julianna Pena

9. Virna Jandiroba

10. Natalia Silva

CONNER BURKS

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3.Merab Dvalishvili

4. Jon Jones

5. Alexandre Pantoja

6. Dricus Du Plessis

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7. Tom Aspinall

8. Alexander Volkanovski

9. Magomed Ankalaev

10. Khamzat Chimaev

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Julianna Pena

5. Kayla Harrison

6. Dakota Ditcheva

7. Natalia Silva

8. Larissa Pacheco

9. Virna Jandiroba

10. Manon Fiorot

PETESY CARROLL

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Tom Aspinall

5. Alexandre Pantoja

6. Jon Jones

7. Magomed Ankalaev

8. Alex Pereira

9. Francis Ngannou

10. Dricus Du Plessis

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Julianna Pena

6. Dakota Ditcheva

7. Natalia Silva

8. Manon Fiorot

9. Virna Jandiroba

10. Seika Izawa

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BEN FOWLKES

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Dricus Du Plessis

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Alex Pereira

8. Francis Ngannou

9. Tom Aspinall

10. Jack Della Maddalena

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Julianna Pena

6. Virna Jandiroba

7. Dakota Ditcheva

8. Natalia Silva

9. Jasmine Jasudavicius

10. Raquel Pennington

ERIC JACKMAN

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Ilia Topuria

3. Khamzat Chimaev

4. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Dricus du Plessis

6. Alexandre Pantoja

7. Tom Aspinall

8. Magomed Ankalaev

9. Jack Della Maddalena

10. Arman Tsarukyan

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

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2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Larissa Pacheco

6. Julianna Peña

7. Virna Jandiroba

8. Natalia Silva

9. Jasmine Jasudavicius

10. Dakota Ditcheva

CHUCK MINDENHALL

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Merab Dvalishvili

3. Ilia Topuria

4. Tom Aspinall

5. Jon Jones

6. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Dricus du Plessis

8. Alexander Volkanovski

9. Jack Della Maddalena

10. Francis Ngannou

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Cris Cyborg

4. Kayla Harrison

5. Dakota Ditcheva

6. Manon Fiorot

7. Julianna Pena

8. Virna Jandiroba

9. Natalia Silva

10. Jasmine Jasudavicius

DRAKE RIGGS

MEN

1. Islam Makhachev

2. Merab Dvalishvili

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3. Ilia Topuria

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Dricus du Plessis

6. Tom Aspinall

7. Francis Ngannou

8. Jon Jones

9. Magomed Ankalaev

10. Jack Della Maddalena

WOMEN

1. Zhang Weili

2. Seika Izawa

3. Valentina Shevchenko

4. Cris Cyborg

5. Natalia Silva

6. Virna Jandiroba

7. Larissa Pacheco

8. Kayla Harrison

9. Dakota Ditcheva

10. Julianna Pena