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The UFC Featherweight division at 145 pounds is one of the organization’s most exciting and talent-rich weight classes, headlined by Georgian knockout artist Ilia Topuria who claimed the title with a stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024. The division features multiple former champions, elite strikers, and the kind of depth that guarantees the title picture will remain compelling. Here are the current featherweight rankings for April 2026.

Champion: Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria became UFC Featherweight Champion at UFC 298 in February 2024 with a second-round knockout of the seemingly unbeatable Alexander Volkanovski — the Georgian-Spanish fighter’s right hand finding a pathway through Volk’s guard to score the finish. Topuria entered undefeated and backed his pre-fight confidence with a knockout performance that ended Volkanovski’s 13-fight winning streak. At just 27 years old at the time, Topuria has the tools and the mentality to enjoy a long championship reign.

No. 1: Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski remains the division’s most formidable competitor despite his title losses to Topuria and Makhachev. The Australian’s combination of elite wrestling, precise boxing, and exceptional cardio made him one of the UFC’s greatest champions during his 3-year reign. He defended the title seven times against quality opposition and is still young enough to recapture the belt. His record defeats over Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, and others underscore his position as a fighter who belongs in any discussion of the division’s all-time greats.

No. 2: Max Holloway

Max “Blessed” Holloway remains one of the most feared featherweights in the sport despite his losses to Volkanovski. The Hawaiian’s volume striking — some of the highest punch output in UFC history — and championship mentality make him a constant threat in title conversations. His 2023 BMF title fight win over Justin Gaethje at 155 pounds demonstrated his ability to compete at higher weights, but featherweight is where he’s most dangerous. His 13-fight winning streak at featherweight remains a benchmark of divisional dominance.

No. 3: Brian Ortega

Brian “T-City” Ortega is one of the sport’s most dangerous submission fighters and a proven title contender. His 2021 fight with Volkanovski was one of featherweight’s best in years — Ortega had the champion hurt and threatened his title with multiple submission attempts before Volkanovski rallied to win. His submission record against featherweight competition is exceptional, and his ability to finish opponents through multiple methods makes him a nightmare opponent.

No. 4: Yair Rodriguez

Yair Rodriguez is one of the sport’s most creative and exciting strikers — a Mexican fighter whose spinning attacks, unorthodox timing, and willingness to attempt techniques that others would not have produced some of MMA’s most memorable moments. His elbow finish of Chan Sung Jung with one second remaining in the fight remains one of the sport’s most spectacular finishes. His wins over Brian Ortega and Dan Hooker have validated his top contender status.

No. 5: Movsar Evloev

Movsar Evloev has emerged as one of the division’s rising stars with an unbeaten UFC record that includes wins over Dan Ige, Arnold Allen, and Bryce Mitchell. The Russian’s wrestling-based approach and physical strength create the same Dagestani pressure that has proven effective across the UFC’s weight classes. His ceiling remains high and he is positioned for a title shot with a few more impressive wins.

No. 6: Arnold Allen

Arnold Allen is a technically polished British featherweight who compiled a remarkable nine-fight winning streak — one of the longest in the division’s history — before a setback against Giga Chikadze. His combination of clean boxing, solid wrestling defense, and fight IQ make him a consistent top-10 performer. He represents a high floor of competitive quality even if his ceiling hasn’t quite reached championship level.

No. 7: Josh Emmett

Josh Emmett is a powerful puncher and one of featherweight’s most dangerous finishers. His right hand is legitimately fight-ending power at 145 pounds, and his ability to absorb shots and land his own makes him dangerous in any exchange. His wins over Ricardo Lamas, Mirsad Bektic, and Shane Burgos demonstrate top-10 quality, and he remains capable of delivering upset results against any opponent in the division.

No. 8: Sodiq Yusuff

Sodiq Yusuff is an explosive Nigerian-American featherweight with excellent athleticism and finishing power. His combination of speed and heavy hands has produced spectacular knockouts, and he’s beaten quality competition including Andre Fili and Calvin Kattar. A few more wins against top competition would put him firmly in title contention.

No. 9: Dan Ige

Dan Ige is a durable, tough featherweight who has consistently competed against elite opposition. The Hawaiian’s heart and work rate make him competitive against the best in the division, and his submission defense has allowed him to survive dangerous grappling exchanges. He won’t get the flashy wins that push fighters up rankings, but he’s a legitimate top-10 presence.

No. 10: Giga Chikadze

Giga Chikadze is a Georgian Karate Combat champion who brought a technically precise, hard-hitting style to featherweight that produced impressive early knockout victories. After a setback against Calvin Kattar, he has rebuilt and remains one of the division’s more intriguing and technically distinct fighters.

Division Outlook

The featherweight division’s deep talent pool ensures that Topuria faces legitimate challenges from multiple directions. Volkanovski’s rematch aspirations, Holloway’s continued excellence, and Ortega’s submission danger create a contender landscape that will generate compelling title fights. The division’s tradition of exciting, technical performances makes it among the UFC’s most watchable weight classes regardless of who holds the championship.