In the world of MMA rankings, there is a saying that “Five votes on a seven-man panel guarantees you nothing, not when such ballots are filled in by cutthroats!” Okay, that might be a new saying we just made up, but it rings true for Jack Della Maddalena, the Australian welterweight champion who stole the title from Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Despite five out of seven voters including him in their top 10s, he didn’t make the cut in our scoring system.
However, we must acknowledge Della Maddalena for his impressive victory in Montreal. Well done, “JDM”! On the women’s side, Natalia Silva broke into the top 10 after her dominant performance against Alexa Grasso on the UFC 315 undercard. The women’s rankings saw some significant changes, with Grasso out, Manon Fiorot out, Silva in, and Valentina Shevchenko maintaining her position.
The rankings are determined by a panel of experts using a weighted points system, considering fighters from all major promotions. These monthly rankings require fighters to have competed within the past year or have a fight booked within that time frame to be eligible.
In the men’s pound-for-pound rankings for May, Islam Makhachev holds the top spot as the UFC lightweight champion. He showcased his skills at UFC 315, stealing the show despite not fighting on the card. Other notable fighters in the top 10 include Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja, and Dricus du Plessis.
On the women’s side, Zhang Weili retains her position as the UFC strawweight champion and sits at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. Valentina Shevchenko, Cris Cyborg, Kayla Harrison, and Julianna Peña also feature prominently in the rankings.
The article provides insights into how each voter ranked the fighters, giving a diverse perspective on the pound-for-pound best in MMA. The sport continues to evolve, with new contenders emerging and established champions defending their titles. MMA fans can expect more exciting matchups and unexpected results as the rankings continue to shift.