The UFC heavyweight rankings are one of the most popular lists in the sport. Despite the big guys not being the quickest and most technical, the weight class remains a favorite. Because of the consistent knockouts that come.

However, unlike generations past, the current crop of elite heavyweights is some of the most talented that the industry has ever seen. With that in mind, let’s take a look at where the best of the best land in the official Sportsnaut UFC heavyweight rankings.

Related: UFC Tonight – Fight card, betting odds, and watch times for the next UFC event

1. Jon Jones (28-1) Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Well, after dominating the light heavyweight division for just over a decade, it did not take long for Jon Jones to usurp control at heavyweight. At UFC 285, the MMA legend jumped into the division for the first time and needed less than three minutes to beat former interim champion Ciryl Gane and become the new division king.

In his long-awaited follow-up at UFC 309, he needed three rounds to make his first successful defense of the title. But over those nearly 15 minutes, he showed he was levels above division icon Stipe Miocic and stopped him with a vicious body kick. Hate it or love it, Jones is the best heavyweight in the world.

Also Read: Jon Jones next fight – When will the MMA GOAT be back in action?

2. Tom Aspinall (14-3)

Englishman Tom Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the UFC. While the current title he holds is an interim belt, with all due respect to lineal champion Jon Jones, Aspinall has beaten many of the best fighters in the division for the last three years, instead of a great win in one fight.

His lone defeat in the company came after he tore his knee ligament against Curtis Blaydes. He definitively avenged that at UFC 304 when he handed “Razor” a Round 1 TKO loss. The win solidified his case to be considered the best heavyweight on Earth.

3. Ciryl Gane (13-2)

Ciryl Gane is a fantastic athlete and the most technical heavyweight MMA striker in the world. It is why he is consistently in the title discussion. However, his wrestling deficiencies continue to be a problem, and they showed up again at UFC 310. Russian Alexander Volkov gave him a lot of trouble in the grappling department and which is why many felt he lost that fight. However, the judges saw it differently, and “Bon Gamin” escaped with a shocking win in December.

4. Alexander Volkov (38-11)

Alexander Volkov has been a top-level MMA heavyweight for a long time. While he has been unable to earn a UFC title shot, he has remained a stalwart of the top 10 for years. He seemed to be one win away from a long-sought-after championship opportunity after he moved his win streak to four straight when he scored an impressive victory over former interim title challenger Sergei Pavlovich in June.

And to many who watched UFC 310, he scored that victory against Ciryl Gane. However, the judges did not score it his way, and he suffered a crushing defeat to the Frenchman. Nevertheless, he holds on to his spot in our latest rankings.

5. Curtis Blaydes (18-4)

While there have been some very tough losses in the career of Curtis Blaydes, he has remained a top-five level heavyweight for much of the last half-decade. At UFC 299, he had an opportunity to finally right his big-fight wrongs and did so in a major way when he handed Jailton Almeida his first loss in the Octagon.

The win moved “Razor” in a UFC 304 title fight against Tom Aspinall. Unfortunately, his big fight curse returned and after a strong start suffered a TKO loss in Round 1. Where he goes next is unclear.

6. Jailton Almeida (22-3)

Jailton Almeida seemed the next big thing in the heavyweight division. Even before he competed in a 2021 edition of The Contender Series, the Brazilian won eight straight, all by finishes. However, reality finally set in at UFC 299 when his vaunted grappling failed him and led to a definitive loss to Curtis Blaydes. In one moment, his likely title hopes for 2024 were dashed.

But he has bounced back from that setback with a pair of first-round submission wins. The most recent one came against Sergei Spivac at UFC 311. The Brazilian has quickly gotten himself back into title contention to start 2025.

7. Sergei Pavlovich (19-3)

Sergei Pavlovich has been an absolute crushing machine during much of his UFC career. After a loss to Alistair Overeem in his debut, he reeled off six straight wins and all of those victories came by way of a devastating knockout. However, a two-fight losing stopped all of his momentum. He entered UFC Riyadh badly in need of a victory. And while it wasn’t flash and included highlight-reel moments, he scored a decisive decision victory over Jairzinho Rozenstruik to kick off his 2025 schedule.

8. Marcin Tybura (27-9) Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Marcin Tubura has quietly been a mainstay of the UFC heavyweight rankings over the last half-decade. While he owns a 14-8 record in the company, he has grown immensely as a fighter in the last few years. He is 10-3 in his last 12 with his only losses coming to elite talents Alexander Volkov, Serghei Spivac, and current interim heavyweight king Tom Aspinall.

In March, he picked up a hard-fought win over Aspinall’s trainer partner and one of the better rising prospects in the division, Mick Parkin.

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Dominican big man Waldo Cortes Acosta has quietly become a serious force in the heavyweight division. Following a frustrating decision loss to Marcos Rogério de Lima two years ago, “Salsa Boy” has reeled off five straight wins, with his biggest coming in June when he scored a decision win over top 10 stalwart Serghei Spivac. The victory moved his record to 7-1 inside the Octagon.

10. Derrick Lewis (28-12) Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports

A three-fight losing streak knocked Derrick Lewis out of the top 10 for the first time in a few years. However, He has won two of his last three. And moved his UFC knockout record to 23 with a nasty victory in May. While he may never get a title shot again, his scary power is still elite and returns him to the rankings of the 10 best heavyweights in the world.

After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos