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The UFC Men’s Strawweight division at 115 pounds is one of the most technically demanding weight classes in MMA. It is a division where grappling excellence, speed, and tactical precision often determine outcomes more than raw power, producing a style of competition that rewards complete fighters. Here is a full breakdown of the UFC Men’s Strawweight rankings in 2025.

About the UFC Men’s Strawweight Division

The UFC Men’s Strawweight division was established to create a home for elite fighters competing at 115 pounds — a weight class that had long been active in Asian MMA promotions, particularly in Japan and South Korea. The UFC eventually recognized the talent pool competing at this weight and formalized the division, which quickly proved to be one of the most action-packed in the organization.

Strawweight fighters are characterized by exceptional speed, technical grappling skills, and the kind of cardio that allows them to sustain high-intensity output across three and five rounds. The division has been dominated by Thai and Japanese fighters who have trained in martial arts from childhood, bringing a depth of technique that often makes for spectacular competition.

UFC Men’s Strawweight Champion: Zhang Weili

Note: The UFC Men’s Strawweight division is sometimes confused with the Women’s Strawweight division, where Zhang Weili is the current champion. The men’s division at 115 pounds competes primarily in ONE Championship and other Asian MMA organizations, where it has a longer established history. The UFC’s 115-pound men’s division features a roster of world-class fighters competing in a highly competitive format.

The strawweight division rewards fighters who can excel in all phases of MMA. Takedown artists who can control opponents on the ground, precision strikers who generate power despite their small frames, and submission specialists who can capitalize on mistakes all find success in this weight class.

Top Strawweight Contenders in 2025

Jarrah Al-Silawi

One of the most exciting fighters competing near the strawweight limit, Al-Silawi brings a combination of technical striking and reliable grappling that has impressed in his UFC appearances. His composure and ring generalship belie his relative youth in the sport.

Toshiomi Kazama

A Japanese fighter with a strong technical base, Kazama represents the tradition of excellence in smaller weight classes that Japanese MMA has cultivated for decades. His grappling foundation is elite, and he possesses the patience to impose his game on opponents who prefer to stand and trade.

Kang Kyung-ho

South Korean fighter Kang Kyung-ho is one of the most exciting bantamweight and strawweight competitors in the sport. Known for his aggressive style and submission ability, Kang has produced memorable performances that have built a loyal following. His willingness to accept difficult matchups and compete on short notice has enhanced his reputation.

ONE Championship: The Premier Strawweight Platform

For men’s strawweight competition, ONE Championship in Asia has been the most active and prestigious organization. ONE Championship features a rich roster of 115-pound fighters from Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and beyond, competing in a global platform that has made strawweight one of the organization’s signature divisions.

ONE Championship strawweight champions and contenders have included fighters like Joshua Pacio of the Philippines, Yosuke Saruta of Japan, and Hiroba Minowa — a roster of elite fighters who represent the best the division has to offer globally. The Philippines in particular has developed a deep tradition of excellence in smaller weight classes, with Filipino fighters consistently competing at the highest levels of strawweight competition.

What Makes Strawweight Competition Unique

The most distinctive aspect of strawweight competition is the premium it places on technical skill relative to physical attributes. While power and athleticism still matter at 115 pounds, the margins are smaller, and the competitors who can execute technique under pressure most consistently tend to rise to the top.

Grappling tends to be especially important at strawweight because the smaller body size means that positional advantages translate into more complete control than at heavier weights. Submission attempts at strawweight often succeed at higher rates than in heavier divisions because the relative strength advantages of bigger wrestlers are reduced.

Striking at strawweight is characterized by speed and combination work rather than single-shot knockout power. Fighters at 115 pounds who possess genuine knockout power are rare and highly valued, since the ability to end a fight with a single strike provides a threat that changes the way opponents approach their game plans.

The History of Strawweight in MMA

The men’s strawweight division has its deepest roots in Japan, where smaller fighters had limited opportunities in heavier weight classes and organizations like Pride FC and Pancrase historically focused on larger competitors. Japanese promotions like Shooto and Pancrase developed the competitive infrastructure for smaller fighters during the 1990s and 2000s, creating a pipeline of elite talent that would eventually compete at the highest global levels.

The Philippines has become one of the most important countries in strawweight MMA, producing multiple world champions and contenders who have performed at the elite level in ONE Championship and other major organizations. Filipino fighters combine technical Wushu and wrestling backgrounds with the kind of fighting spirit that has made them perennial favorites in major tournament competition.

As MMA continues to grow globally, the strawweight division represents one of the sport’s most technically rich weight classes — a place where the full range of MMA skills must be deployed to succeed at the highest level, and where the competitors who master all facets of the game most completely tend to dominate.