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The UFC Heavyweight division at 265 pounds is the sport’s glamour weight class — where the biggest, most powerful fighters on the planet compete for the sport’s most prestigious title. Jon Jones currently holds the championship, having transitioned from light heavyweight to claim the ultimate prize. The contender pool includes former champions, elite strikers, and athletes who combine elite power with sophisticated technique. Here are the current heavyweight rankings for April 2026.

Champion: Jon Jones

Jon Jones claimed the UFC Heavyweight Championship by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023 — his first fight in over two years and his first fight at heavyweight. The performance was dominant, Jones using his wrestling to control Gane and secure a first-round submission. Jones brought to heavyweight the same physical gifts — exceptional reach, elite technique, and championship experience — that made him unbeatable at light heavyweight. He remains the GOAT conversation’s strongest argument and the division’s most feared presence.

No. 1 (Interim Champion): Tom Aspinall

Tom Aspinall is the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and the division’s most exciting talent in years. The British heavyweight combines exceptional grappling from an elite BJJ background with crisp, powerful striking that has finished eight consecutive opponents. His ability to end fights from multiple positions makes him genuinely dangerous at every range. His interim title creates an inevitable Jones vs. Aspinall unification fight that the division — and the sport — desperately wants to see.

No. 2: Ciryl Gane

Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane is the most technically sophisticated striker in heavyweight history — a French kickboxer whose footwork, combinations, and body kick-based offense operate at a level of refinement that most heavyweights can’t approach. Despite his losses to Stipe Miocic (by submission in an interim title fight) and Jon Jones (by submission in their championship bout), Gane remains one of the division’s most dangerous fighters and is capable of beating anyone standing up.

No. 3: Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic is the greatest heavyweight champion in UFC history by title defenses — three successful defenses during his second championship reign, including wins over Daniel Cormier twice and Francis Ngannou. The Cleveland firefighter’s combination of elite boxing, underrated wrestling, and championship durability made him the gold standard for modern UFC heavyweight performance. Though his most recent fights against Ngannou and Jones ended in defeats, his legacy as the division’s all-time great remains secure.

No. 4: Sergei Pavlovich

Sergei Pavlovich emerged as one of the division’s most feared finishers with a string of spectacular first-round knockouts against top competition. The Russian’s punch power is genuinely elite even by heavyweight standards, and his ability to finish fights quickly against ranked opponents — including wins over Tai Tuivasa and Curtis Blaydes — established him as a title contender. He suffered a setback against Jones but remains among the division’s most dangerous strikers.

No. 5: Alexander Volkov

Alexander Volkov is a technically skilled heavyweight whose striking and ground game have made him a consistent top-10 presence for several years. The Russian’s height and reach create difficult problems for compact heavyweights, and his submission defense has improved substantially. He’s beaten Alistair Overeem, Walt Harris, and Tom Aspinall (in their first meeting) to maintain his position in the division’s upper tier.

No. 6: Curtis Blaydes

Curtis “Razor” Blaydes is one of the division’s elite wrestlers, with a takedown game built on American football athleticism and a wrestling background. He uses repeated takedowns and ground-and-pound to wear down opponents, and his durability allows him to stay competitive deep into fights. His knockout losses to Ngannou and Derrick Lewis have raised questions about his chin against elite power, but his grappling-based approach remains highly effective against most heavyweights.

No. 7: Jailton Almeida

Jailton “Malhadinho” Almeida is one of the UFC’s most exciting rising heavyweights — a Brazilian grappler whose combination of elite BJJ submission skills and physical strength has produced impressive finishes against top-15 competition. He’s submitted multiple opponents who came in with solid grappling credentials, suggesting his BJJ operates at a genuinely elite level. If he continues developing his striking, he could become a championship-level threat.

No. 8: Derrick Lewis

Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis is the UFC’s all-time record holder for most knockouts in heavyweight history. His right hand is one of combat sports’ most dangerous weapons — a single punch that has ended fights against elite opponents in the late rounds when Lewis appeared to be losing. His style is minimalist but his punch power is so legitimate that it creates upset potential in any fight he enters. He’s finished Curtis Blaydes, Ryan Spann, and Alexander Volkov among others.

No. 9: Tai Tuivasa

Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa is one of the division’s most popular fighters — an Australian heavyweight known for his power, aggressive style, and post-fight beer can shoeys. He’s landed impressive knockout wins against multiple ranked opponents including Augusto Sakai, Ben Rothwell, and Greg Hardy. His ceiling may be below the championship level, but he creates exciting fights and has legitimate top-10 quality.

No. 10: Marcin Tybura

Marcin Tybura is a durable, well-rounded Polish heavyweight who has consistently performed against quality competition over many years in the UFC. His combination of solid striking and grappling defense makes him a competitive opponent for anyone in the division, and his longevity in the top 10 speaks to his competitive quality at the elite level.

Division Outlook

The heavyweight division’s most compelling story is the Jones-Aspinall unification fight — when the undisputed GOAT meets the interim champion who has done everything asked of him and deserves his shot. Below that marquee matchup, the division’s depth creates compelling mid-card and contender fights that keep the weight class active and entertaining. The Jon Jones era at heavyweight is still defining itself, and the outcomes of his upcoming fights will shape where he ultimately ranks in the sport’s all-time history.