The UFC has finally unveiled its updated men’s pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings—and the shake-up has fans buzzing. Jack Della Maddalena saw his stock rise, while Belal Muhammad took a surprising hit. But the real controversy surrounds one unexpected name: Alexandre Pantoja. Despite a dominant run in the flyweight division, the reigning champion finds himself sitting at #10—a ranking many fans see as a blatant snub. ‘The Cannibal’ has torn through his competition, yet the UFC’s list doesn’t seem to reflect his reign. So, what’s going on here? Let’s dive into the drama.
According to data released by the UFC and shared by John Morgan following UFC 315, Australian slugger Jack Della Maddalena has made his debut in the pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings, breaking into the top 10 by ousting Belal Muhammad. The welterweight champion now holds the #9 position, while Belal Muhammad has slipped six spots to #13. However, he remains the number one contender for the welterweight title.
What’s shocked fans is the fact that, despite Alexandre Pantoja’s dominant reign in the flyweight division, he has yet to rise past 9th place in the P4P rankings. Riding a seven-fight winning streak, Pantoja has defended his title three times against top contenders. Interestingly, his last opponent was the bantamweight champion of Rizin, Kai Asakura, who failed to defeat Pantoja, who secured a second-round submission over him.
New welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena makes big impact on latest official pound-for-pound list, debuting at No. 9 following #UFC315.
Former champ Belal Muhammad is now No. 1 contender at 170 pounds and drops six spots to No. 13 on P4P list.
Arman Tsarukyan departs list. pic.twitter.com/PXcG5ArkWQ
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) May 13, 2025
In addition to that, Pantoja has held the title since 2023 and reigns supreme in his division. However, the P4P rankings have consistently failed to rank him higher. Many within the community believe that the level of competition is drastically different for Pantoja, which is why he hasn’t moved up. It must be noted that for years, the fans have voiced their frustrations with the UFC rankings, questioning the consistency and criteria behind the numbers.
When Islam Makhachev became the #1 pound-for-pound fighter, surpassing Jon Jones to claim the top spot, Dana White was furious. He even said, “I have to get rid of these clowns!” referring to the collaborative effort of MMA media outlets in determining the rankings. The UFC CEO also mentioned that they might switch to AI-driven rankings if this situation persists. The latest rankings have caught the fans off guard, who have called out the ranking system for deliberately placing Pantoja lower than everyone.
Fans demand an answer as P4P rankings disrespect Alexandre Pantoja yet again
The pound-for-pound (P4P) controversy is nothing new, as many fighters have criticized the system as baseless. The UFC ranking system is determined by a panel of individuals with a strong understanding of the sport. However, critics argue that the selection of panelists and the criteria used are not clearly defined, leading to questionable rankings. As the P4P debate reignites, one fan added, “Pantoja can’t catch an ounce of respect man.”
Another example of the lack of transparency in the ranking system is the fact that Charles Oliveira remains ranked #15 in the pound-for-pound rankings, while Arman Tsarukyan, who defeated Oliveira at UFC 300, was removed from the rankings following UFC 315. Looking at this, a fan wrote, “Still don’t understand how Arman isn’t on but Charles is.”
Furthermore, another fan added, “My heart bleeds for Pantoja.” In a perfect world, Pantoja should have been ranked in the top five, especially considering that he has dominantly defeated all of his contenders. His last three victories came against Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, and Brandon Royval. Another pointed out, “Disrespect to Pantoja man.” The comment section was flooded with responses like this: “Putting Pantoja at #10 wtf are we doing..these p4p rankings are a fk– joke.”
Last but not least, a social media user claimed that if Della Maddalena emerges victorious against Islam Makhachev, he might be ranked No. 1 on the pound-for-pound list.“If JDM beats Islam, bros had the quickest speed run to the top of PFP list” It’s worth noting that since Della Maddalena emerged victorious in his bout against Belal Muhammad, it’s likely that Islam Makhachev will ask Dana White for a fight against Maddalena for the welterweight title, especially with ongoing rumors surrounding this potential matchup.
According to the fans, Alexandre Pantoja should have ranked higher in the P4P list. Given that, what is your opinion on this? Should ‘The Cannibal’ ask for a re-check? Is the flyweight division being overlooked by the UFC? State your opinion in the comments below.
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