USA Today Sports just dropped its inaugural UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, and sitting on top of the mountain is Justin Gaethje. The 37-year-old lightweight champion (28-5) claimed the No. 1 spot on the back of his fourth-round TKO of Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June — the night he dethroned the man widely regarded as the best fighter in the sport.
“"Is Justin Gaethje truly the best fighter in the UFC right now, or does that crown belong to Islam Makhachev?"”
It was one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Gaethje walked into the White House event a heavy underdog, went toe-to-toe with the undefeated champion for four grueling rounds, and left with the belt after Topuria's corner stopped it — two broken orbital bones and a broken septum, not a broken heart.
Coming in at No. 2 is Islam Makhachev, and the margin is thin. Makhachev just broke the UFC's all-time consecutive-wins record, extending his run to 17 with a decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. The former pound-for-pound king's case is built on longevity and dominance; Gaethje's is built on the single most consequential win of the year.
Rounding out the top five are Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili, and heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane — a reminder that pound-for-pound debates will always split the room between resume and momentum. There's a real argument this could flip with one fight night.
Also notable: Joshua Van checks in at No. 7, landing in the top 10 just days before his UFC 331 flyweight title defense against Alexandre Pantoja on Saturday. A big win there, and nobody will be surprised if he's knocking on the top five by Monday morning.
Is Gaethje truly the best fighter in the UFC right now, or does the crown belong to Makhachev? That's the debate this list was built to start. But for now, the man with the lightweight belt — and the signature win of 2026 — gets the throne. Until someone takes it from him, the Highlight sits at No. 1.
