| Rank | Fighter | Record | Last 3 Results | ||
| #1 | Jon Jones | 27-1 | W-W-W | ||
| #2 | Sergei Pavlovich | 18-1 | W-W-W | ||
| #3 | Ciryl Gane | 11-2 | L-W-L | ||
| #4 | Stipe Miocic | 20-4 | L-W-W | ||
| #5 | Curtis Blaydes | 20-3 | L-W-W | ||
| #6 | Alexander Volkov | 36-10 | W-W-L | ||
| #7 | Tom Aspinall | 12-3 | W-W-W | ||
| #8 | Tai Tuivasa | 14-5 | L-L-W | ||
| #9 | Jailton Almeida | 19-2 | W-W-W | ||
| #10 | Sergey Spivak | 16-3 | W-W-W |
Related: UFC Tonight – Fight card, betting odds, and watch times for the next UFC event
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 from the most powerful fighters in the sport. However, unlike generations past, the current crop of elite heavyweights are 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.com UFC heavyweight rankings.
10. Sergey Spivak (16-3)
After losing two of his first three in the organization, Sergey Spivak has rounded into a very talented competitor in the UFC heavyweight division. Scoring notable wins over battle-tested veterans like Augusto Sakai and Alexey Oleynik during a run of five victories in six bouts.
The Moldovan extended that streak at UFC Vegas 68 with the biggest win of his career when he completely manhandled Derrick Lewis with his wrestling and made the former title challenger tap in the opening round. It proved that the “Polar Bear” is a serious talent and only getting better.
He will get his greatest test yet in September when he faces former interim champ, Ciryl Gane.
- Next Fight: vs. Ciryl Gane on September 2
9. Jailton Almeida (19-2)
Jailton Almeida is the next big thing in the heavyweight division. Even before he competed on a 2021 edition of The Contender Series, the Brazilian won eight straight, all by finishes. He has continued that white-hot run with five more wins and finishes in the fabled UFC Octagon.
That also includes the utter domination of top-15 heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Charlotte. It was “Malhadinho’s” first main event opportunity and he delivered with a submission win in less than two minutes. He has some of the best grappling in a division that always has a lack of it.
In the fall he will get a chance to jump to the front of the contender line when he battles one of the few other strong grapplers in the weight class, Curtis Blaydes.
- Next Fight: vs. Curtis Blaydes on November 4
8. Tai Tuivasa (14-5)
Tai Tuivasa is one of the most well-liked fighters in the UFC heavyweight division. The Aussie is never in a boring fight, and after a three-fight skid between 2018 and 2019, he rose back up the rankings and into legitimate title contender status. However, back-to-back knockout losses to the division’s elite, including at UFC Orlando to Sergei Pavlovich, have sent “Bam Bam” down a few pegs in our UFC heavyweight rankings.
- Next Fight: TBD
7. Tom Aspinall (12-3)
Englishman Tom Aspinall is one of the hottest fighters in the division having won nine straight, and five in the UFC — all finishes. His UFC London easy-work win over Alexander Volkov sent a clear message to the industry. At July’s follow-up London card he faced his first bad luck in a long time when he suffered a serious knee injury just seconds into his bout with Curtis Blaydes.
While it’s listed as a loss on his record, Aspinall’s tough luck does not diminish his place in the division as an elite talent and fast-rising star. He will get a chance to bounce back from that unfortunate event at home in England when he takes on fellow top 10 fighter Marcin Tybura in a major matchup in July.
- Next Fight: vs. Marcin Tybura on July 22
6. Alexander Volkov (36-10)
Alexander Volkov has been a top-level MMA heavyweight for a long time. He proved it once again with a destructive victory over a man thought to be a better striker in Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Vegas 56. At UFC Vegas 71 he made his return to the Octagon and topped his last performance with a destructive first-round TKO of top-15 talent Alexander Romanov.
The Russian may never be a UFC champion, but he remains one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world and a serious challenge for any competitor who faces him.
- Next fight: TBD
5. Curtis Blaydes (17-4)
Curtis Blaydes held on to his spot in the top five at UFC Columbus and once again proved why he is one of the most underappreciated elite talents at heavyweight. He is a complete fighter with uncanny cardio and it takes the best the weight class has to offer to beat him. And that has consistently been his downfall.
Whenever he does face the best-of-the-best, as he did at UFC Vegas 71 in Sergei Pavlovich, he can’t overcome that last hurdle to a title opportunity. His KO loss in April added a new layer to a stigma that has now followed him for much of his UFC career.
In his return to the Octagon, he will get the chance to dash a rising stars title hopes when faces red-hot fight Jailton Almeida in November.
- Next Fight: vs. Jailton Almeida on November 4
4. Stipe Miocic (20-4)
Without a shadow of a doubt, Stipe Miocic is the greatest heavyweight in UFC history. He has a career hit list that is second to none and his two recent victories over company legend Daniel Cormier solidified that fact. However, his inconsistent schedule is part of why he is not higher in our UFC heavyweight rankings after competing only three times in the last five years.
But he will have a chance to jump right back into the top spot if he can upend division king Jon Jones and become a three-time heavyweight champion in November.
- Next Fight: vs. Jon Jones at UFC 295 on Nov. 11
3. Ciryl Gane (11-2)
Ciryl Gane is the best heavyweight in the world not named Jon Jones of Francis Ngannou.
The Frenchman proved it once in an impressive display of his amazing striking talents against Tuivasa in the UFC Paris main event and showcased why he is a special competitor. He also showed his heart by legitimately getting knocked down and hurt, but fighting back ferociously.
However, when it came time to truly prove he is the best in the division, he was dispatched easily by the new warden of heavyweight, Jon Jones, at UFC 285. After two major title losses, “Bon Gamin” will need to win several fights before sniffing a title opportunity again.
- Next Fight: vs. Sergey Spivak on September 2
2. Sergei Pavlovich (18-1)
Following a difficult UFC debut loss to Alistair Overeem four years ago, Sergei Pavlovich has been the hottest fighter in the division ever since. Earning six-straight knockouts, with the latest coming against an elite talent in Curtis Blaydes at UFC Vegas 71
The Russian has the longest active KO streak in the company and he is worthy of a title fight next with champion Jon Jones. However, his lack of big-name value could be the major holdup in booking a scrap with the MMA GOAT.
- Next Fight: TBD
1. Jon Jones (27-1)
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.
The submission finish was his first fight-ender since 2018 and put the sport on notice that a motivated Jon Jones is still a terrifying talent inside the Octagon. He may hold on to this title for a very long time as well unless division icon Stipe Miocic can rip it away from him in a highly anticipated clash at UFC 295 in November.
- Next Fight: vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on Nov. 11