UFC Featherweight Rankings 2025 – Yahoo Sports

The UFC featherweight rankings showcase some of the best fighters in the complete sport. Where light-weight was once thought of the deepest weight class in MMA, 145 kilos has caught up and become one of the premier divisions in the UFC.

With that in thoughts, here is the official Sportsnaut prime 10 for the group’s featherweight class.

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10. Youssef Zalal (18-6-1)

After going winless in four-straight, Youssef Zalal was cut from the UFC 4 years in the past and had to combat his means back into the company. He did that and entered UFC 320 on an spectacular seven-fight win streak. In his powerful scrap on the important card of a PPV, he dominated and scored a first-round submission win on a top-10 stalwart, Josh Emmet.

The big victory landed him his first headlining spot when he took on former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer was ready to outwork him. Ending his win streak at eight straight.

9. Steve Garcia (19-6)

After dropping two of his first three inside the Octagon and seeming on the verge of being cut, veteran Steve Garcia caught fire over the last 4 years. In that time, he won seven straight, with all but one coming by choice. In his last 4 victories, three were first-round knockouts.

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It is why he earned a featured alternative at UFC Freedom 250 against two-time title challenger Diego Lopes. However, “Mean Machine” was not up to the problem of elite competitors and suffered a second-round TKO loss.

8. Arnold Allen (21-4)

A few years in the past, England’s Arnold Allen was primed to be a future title contender after profitable 10 straight to begin his UFC profession. However, then he began to face the elites of the division and saw what the deep finish of the water at featherweight was, as he lost two straight.

While he is still nicely outside the title photos, he has won two of his last three. His newest was a workman-like effort as he scored a choice win against Melquizael Costa in a important occasion scrap in May.

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7. Yair Rodriguez (20-5)

After a period where he battled accidents and some powerful losses, there was doubt as to whether Yair Rodriguez would ever attain his potential. He quieted all the uncertainty with large wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290.

He then adopted that up with another decisive loss in his home nation to Brian Ortega in February. He entered UFC 314 in a must-win state of affairs if he ever wished to combat for UFC gold again. In a large combat welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, “El Pantera” posted a dominant win to get his title back in the championship dialog.

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6. Aljamain Sterling (26-5)

After an excellent run at bantamweight that should land him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, Aljamain Sterling made the leap to featherweight in 2024. While he break up his first two at 145 kilos, his lone loss came against the division’s prime contender, Movsar Evloev.

Since that defeat, he has won two straight, including an April important occasion victory over one of the division’s hottest fighters, Youssef Zalal.

5. Lerone Murphy (17-1-1)

England’s Lerone Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. “The Miracle” had won 9 straight inside the Octagon and seemingly set himself up for a title combat in his next bout with his win at UFC 319.

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However, instead, he was given the unsolvable puzzle that is Movsar Evloev in March. Unfortunately, he was the Russian’s newest decision-loss sufferer. Murphy is still one of the best featherweights in the world, but a title shot in 2026 is now unlikely.

4. Movsar Evloev (20-1)

Since he entered the UFC in 2019, former M1 star Movsar Evloev has been a drawback that fighters at featherweight have had critical bother making an attempt to resolve. To start his run in the Octagon, the Russian went 9-0 and scored wins over prime expertise like Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling, and Arnold Allen.

Evloev pretty earned a long-awaited title shot at UFC 333 against division legend Alexander Volkanovski. He discovered there are ranges to this sport and was soundly overwhelmed by the 38-year-old. He will need to win at least a couple of fights before he gets another shot at UFC gold.

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3. Jean Silva (18-3)

After incomes his UFC contract in 2023 on DWCS, Jean Silva has emerged as the featherweight division’s most thrilling fighter after scoring finishes in his first 5 bouts. However, when he took a large step up in competitors against Diego Lopes last 12 months, he discovered out the competitors at the prime of the division is critical.

Since the loss, “Lord” has won two straight, including a hard-fought third-round rear-naked choke victory over Jose Delgado in September.

2. Diego Lopes (28-8)

After making his UFC debut in a very troublesome short-notice conflict with Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has had an spectacular run inside the Octagon. He is 7-3 in the UFC, with his setbacks coming against elite competitors. However, in that time, he has scored some large wins, including over Brian Ortega and Jean Silva.

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After coming up short in a second attempt at UFC gold, Lopes returned at UFC Freedom 250. In a matchup with another prime 10 expertise, the man who calls Mexico home scored a second-round TKO win over Steve Garcia that despatched a robust message he stays one of the division’s best.

1. Alexander Volkanovski (29-4)

Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, journeys up in weight for a second title and the rise of Ilia Topuria led to three straight losses for “The Great” and hypothesis that his best days were behind him.

However, he has quieted the doubters since with three straight spectacular performances. The newest came at UFC 333 when, despite a large measurement distinction, he soundly outskilled Movsar Evloev to rating his first knockout win in three years (fifteenth total). At 38, the Aussie is still one of the best fighters in the world.