Makhachev is the best, Pavlovich is in the top 10. P4P UFC Viewer Rating Results

Makhachev is the best, Pavlovich is in the top 10. P4P UFC Viewer Rating Results

November 28, 2023, 12:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

There are many unexpected options.

A week ago, “Championship” published for the first time a ranking of the best UFC fighters, where readers could make their own choice. It’s time to summarize the voting results and write down the key points.

Surprisingly, the top three of the rankings completely coincide with the version on the official UFC website. The undisputed leader now is Islam Makhachev, who a little over a month ago effectively eliminated all questions in his confrontation with Alex Volkanovski. The Russian moved ahead of the living legend of mixed martial arts Jon Jones. Perhaps the situation would have been different if the American had not been out for a long time due to injury. He probably would have defended his championship title in a fight with Stipe Miocic, and then Islam would have had no chance of rising to number one. Well, Alex Volkanovski, who was undefeated in the UFC before facing Makhachev, rounded out the top three. However, the Australian is the dominant featherweight champion and in three months he will have the opportunity to confirm that status in the octagon. Meanwhile, the third place in the ranking of the best fighters is well deserved.

The new holders of the UFC belt, Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall, are very close to the top 3. Both won their titles in the last tournament numbered UFC 295 and received their recognition. Pereira, apparently, completely broke this game and in seven fights reached promotion belts in two weight categories. It is interesting that, in addition to the Brazilian, there is only one fighter in the ranking who had titles in two divisions: Jon Jones. Well, Tom Aspinall justifies all the advances given to him. He now only has a temporary belt, but few doubt that the Briton will soon be a full-fledged champion. By the way, in the official UFC ranking, Pereira is in fifth place, Aspinall is in 12th place. Readers of the championship appreciate these fighters a little more.

Complete results of the ranking of the best UFC fighters

Classification

Makhachev, Jones or Volkanovski? Classification of the best UFC fighters according to the “Championship” version

Sergei Pavlovich, despite the defeat by knockout against Aspinall himself, ranked quite high, in sixth place. Russia’s power still inspires concern, so it is too early to rule it out. Next comes Khamzat Chimaev, whom readers took to seventh place. Additionally, he is one of two ranked fighters who have not fought for the title in the UFC. The second is Merab Dvalishvili, and he closes the ranking, despite the fact that he has the best winning streak in his division (even better than that of the champion of this weight, yes). There is no Pavlovich, Chimaev or Dvalishvili in the official UFC rankings.

Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman, who is on a three-game losing streak, are pretty high up. Kamaru completes the top 10 and is ahead of Leon Edwards, to whom he lost twice. And Gaethje is ahead of four current champions in the rankings. The BMF belt is rated very highly.

Israel Adesanya fell to 15th place. The former middleweight champion suffered two losses in his last three fights and took a break from competition. And his latest offender, Sean Strickland, is just one line above. The Czech Jiri Prochazka, despite the knockout of Alex Pereira, is highly rated and is even ahead of Cyril Gan, who claims the heavyweight title and is above Pavlovich in the list of the best heavyweights.

What should Pavlovich do to get back into the fight for the belt?

“He’s going to keep knocking everyone out.” We study Pavlovich’s chances of returning to the title race

Aljamain Sterling is surprisingly low, at No. 19. In the official UFC rankings, Aljo is ranked No. 11 (above Aspinall and Usman), but “Championship” readers sent the former champion down to No. 19. Let us remember that Statistically this is still the best fighter in the history of the bantamweight division, no one has made more defenses (3), and in his last 10 fights Aljo’s record is 9-1. Impressive, but as it turned out, not enough to be at least in the top 15.

These are the results of the first classification of the best UFC fighters of the “Championship”. It will be published once a month, so we will soon find out how the site’s readers’ opinions on certain fighters have changed.