MMA pound-for-pound rankings – High-level performance elevates Alexander Volkanovski in ESPN top 10

Alexander Volkanovski has won 22 straight fights, the last 12 of them in the UFC. Last Saturday at UFC 276, the featherweight champion defeated former champ Max Holloway for the third time. It was a shockingly dominant performance by the Australian fighter, one worthy of a boost in the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings.

Volkanovski even put a dent in the supremacy of UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman, who for several months has garnered every first-place vote in the men’s top 10. One voter, Brett Okamoto, now gives Volkanovski the nod for the top spot.

“If I had to bet my life on one fighter in the world getting me a win right now, it’s easily Alex,” Okamoto said.

Another voter, Jeff Wagenheim, was so impressed by Volkanovski’s thrashing of Holloway that he moved him from a tie for No. 4 up to No. 2. “What Volk did over the weekend,” Wagenheim said, “no one does to Max.”

The voting panel also welcomes a new member, former UFC featherweight and ex-Invicta FC champ Megan Anderson, now a fight analyst for ESPN.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of July 6.

Men’s pound-for-pound rankings

1. Kamaru Usman  

UFC welterweight champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Colby Covington, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Leon Edwards

2. Alexander Volkanovski  

UFC featherweight champion
Previous ranking: Tied for 4
Record: 25-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD

T-3. Israel Adesanya  

UFC middleweight champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD

T-3. Charles Oliveira  

UFC lightweight
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 33-8, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Justin Gaethje, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD

5. Francis Ngannou  

UFC heavyweight champion
Previous ranking: Tied for 4
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD

6. Jiri Prochazka  

UFC light heavyweight champion
Previous ranking: Tied for 7
Record: 29-3-1
Last: W (Sub5) Glover Teixeira, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD

7. Deiveson Figueiredo  

UFC flyweight champion
Previous ranking: Tied for 9
Record:…