MMA
Current UFC Featherweight Champion: Who’s on Top?
In this article, we will explore the current UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, and his closest contenders for his title such as Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev.
Ilia Topuria//Getty Images
The UFC featherweight division has been home to some of the most dynamic athletes in mixed martial arts. The weight class has consistently delivered thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments in recent times, such as the epic trilogy between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
This 145-pound weight class requires a perfect blend of speed, striking and grappling technique, and power, making it one of the most exciting divisions in the sport.
Currently reigning as the UFC featherweight champion is Ilia Topuria, a rising star whose undefeated record and dynamic skillset have solidified his status as a dominant force in MMA.
This article delves into Topuria’s meteoric rise in the UFC, evaluates potential challengers, and provides a data-driven analysis of the featherweight division’s current landscape.
Methodology
Rank-Based Scoring (20 points): Fighters earn points based on the rank of their defeated opponents. Wins against Top 5-ranked fighters earn the highest points, while wins against unranked fighters earn minimal points.
Title Fights and Defences (10 points): Points are awarded for wins or losses in title bouts. Title defences receive maximum points.
Recent Form (10 points): Points are based on the win streak of opponents at the time of the fight. Fighting and defeating opponents on longer win streaks increases the score.
This scoring system is integrated into the SportsBoom MetaScale to provide a fair and transparent ranking.
Critical Consensus: Ranking the Current Featherweights
Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway//Getty Images
The Critical Consensus Table combines data from Tapology and Sportskeeda, summarising each fighter’s current standing, performance, and fight history.
| Rank | Fighter | Tapology Ranking | Sportskeeda Ranking | Record | Key Achievements |
| C | Ilia Topuria | 1 | C | 16-0-0 | Undefeated, 1 title defence, victory over Max Holloway. |
| 1 | Alexander Volkanovski | 2 | 1 | 26-4-0 | Former champion, defended title multiple times. |
| 2 | Max Holloway | 3 | 2 | 26-8-0 | Former champion, legendary fights with Volkanovski. |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 4 | 5 | 18-0-0 | Undefeated, known for dominant grappling. |
| 4 | Yair Rodriguez | 5 | 4 | 19-5-0, 1 NC | Former interim champion, dynamic striker. |
| 5 | Diego Lopes | 6 | 3 | 26-6-0 | Rising star with recent victory over Brian Ortega. |
| 6 | Arnold Allen | 7 | 7 | 20-3-0 | Strong all-around fighter, notable wins in the division. |
| 7 | Aljamain Sterling | 9 | 9 | 24-4-0 | Former bantamweight champion, now competing at featherweight. |
| 8 | Josh Emmett | 8 | 8 | 19-4-0 | Knockout artist, victory over Bryce Mitchell. |
| 9 | Brian Ortega | 10 | 6 | 16-4-0, 1 NC | Submission specialist, fought for the title twice. |
| 10 | Calvin Kattar | 11 | 10 | 23-8-0 | Consistent performer, known for his boxing skills. |
- Tapology Ranking reflects the current official rankings of the UFC featherweight division.
- Sportskeeda Ranking includes detailed fighter insights based on their latest performance and streaks
SportsBoom MetaScale: Refining the Rankings
The SportsBoom MetaScale provides a refined ranking of UFC Featherweight contenders, based on Win Streaks, Title Fights, and Recent Opponent Form. The rankings are designed to evaluate a fighter’s overall competitiveness, with an emphasis on their recent performances and matchups in the UFC.
| Rank | Fighter | Rank-Based Scoring (20) | Title Fight Scoring (10) | Recent Form (10) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Ilia Topuria | 20 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
| 2 | Alexander Volkanovski | 20 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 15 | 0 | 10 | 25 |
| 4 | Max Holloway | 20 | 5 | 10 | 35 |
| 5 | Yair Rodriguez | 20 | 10 | 5 | 35 |
| 6 | Diego Lopes | 15 | 0 | 5 | 20 |
| 7 | Arnold Allen | 15 | 0 | 10 | 25 |
| 8 | Aljamain Sterling | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| 9 | Josh Emmett | 15 | 0 | 5 | 20 |
| 10 | Brian Ortega | 15 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
1. Ilia Topuria
With one title defence already under his belt, and back-to-back wins over featherweight legends (Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway), Ilia Topuria has set himself for a remarkable run as the featherweight king.
Key Achievements: Undefeated, 1 title defence, victory over Max Holloway.
2. Alexander Volkanovski
Despite suffering back-to-back losses, Alexander Volkanovski still has plenty of time to get back on track and mount an attack to reclaim his featherweight title.
Key Achievements: Former champion, had five successful title defences.
3. Movsar Evloev
Movsar Evloev has been ducked by many in the featherweight division because he is such a handful with his relentless pressure and grappling, which has led to him remaining undefeated.
Key Achievements: Undefeated contender with big wins over Diego Lopes and Arnold Allen.
4. Max Holloway
Max Holloway is a fan favourite because of his exciting fighting style which features high output of punches and kicks from round one all the way to round five.
Key Achievements: Former featherweight champion who had an extraordinary trilogy with Alexander Volkanovski.
5. Yair Rodriguez
Yair Rodriguez has built a reputation in MMA because of his flashy striking techniques which are rarely seen in the sport. He's also a strong grappler.
Key Achievements: He is a former interim featherweight champion with a key win over top contender Brian Ortega.
6. Diego Lopes
Diego Lopes is one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the UFC because of his explosive style of striking and grappling, which is always guaranteed a finish.
Key Achievements: He is a rising star with eyes on the title after a recent win over Brian Ortega.
7. Arnold Allen
With all the hype surrounding Evloev and Lopes, Arnold Allen seems to go under the radar. Yet, he is a young promising fighter with a very well-rounded skill set.
Key Achievements: A top ten contender in the UFC with wins over MMA veterans such as Dan Hooker, Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze.
8. Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling has already proven his ability at bantamweight, having won the bantamweight title. Now, with a win in his featherweight debut over Calvin Kattar, he'll be looking to become a two-weight UFC champion.
Key Achievements: Former bantamweight champion and current top featherweight contender.
9. Josh Emmett
Josh Emmett's fights are always a must-watch because of the heavy power he carries in both hands. He is one of few fighters in the lower divisions that can turn anybody's lights out with one punch.
Key Achievements: Top featherweight contender with an impressive victory over Bryce Mitchell and Calvin Kattar.
10. Brian Ortega
Brian Ortega is known for his exceptional submission skills, sometimes attempting flying submission attempts. He also has solid stand-up which makes him all-action wherever the fight goes.
Key Achievements: A two-time featherweight title challenger, losing both of his attempts.
SportsBoom Suggests
Ilia Topuria leads the division with an undefeated record, and his recent victory over Max Holloway cements his status as champion. The Georgian fighter became the first man to not just knock down Holloway in his illustrious career, he knocked him unconscious, highlighting just how powerful and explosive Topuria's boxing skills truly are.
Topuria has devastating knockout power in both of his hands, and although he doesn't regularly use leg kicks, when he throws one, they have a ton of power behind them. The champion also has a Greco-Roman style of wrestling, which is great to have in his locker because not only can he powerfully get his opponents down to the ground, he can also work his boxing skills in the clinch
Alexander Volkanovski, the former champion, remains a strong contender with proven ability at the top level. The Australian went on a tear between 2019 and 2023, successfully defending the title five times before running into the rising star Topuria. Despite suffering back-to-back knockout defeats (one at lightweight), you wouldn't count against Volkanovski reclaiming his featherweight title in 2025.
Movsar Evloev, with his undefeated record and dominant grappling, is a potential threat to the title. The Russian has tremendous strength to go with his grappling technique, meaning he can take everybody down and grind out victories. He currently has the third-most takedowns in UFC featherweight history (36), in just seven featherweight bouts.
Rising stars like Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen and established names like Max Holloway ensure that the featherweight division remains one of the most competitive in the UFC.
Many people believe Lopes is the man to dethrone Ilia Topuria because of his electric fighting style. That being said, because of his aggression, a potential matchup for the title will be interesting to watch because it would also leave gaps in his defence that a power puncher like Topuria can exploit. On the other hand, Lopes does have strong grappling, and he could look to take down the champion in a future bout in order to limit the threat of his knockout power.
Arnold Allen is arguably the most measured and well-rounded fighter out of the rising contenders (Evloev, Lopes, Allen), because he can win fights in various ways. He can score knockouts, he can wrestle and scramble in grappling exchanges, and he has an exceptional output in his striking.
As for Max Holloway, he will always be considered as a top contender in the featherweight division for his epic brawls over the years. However, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Hawaiian native permanently move up to the lightweight division, given his recent fight there ended with him rendering Justin Gaethje unconscious in the final few seconds of the fight.
The UFC Featherweight division is at an exciting juncture, with Ilia Topuria standing tall as the reigning champion. His blend of skill, confidence, and undefeated record positions him as a dominant force. However, with a lineup of elite contenders, including Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes, and former champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, the road ahead promises yet more fierce battles and unforgettable moments as we head into 2025.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp