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The UFC Middleweight division at 185 pounds has undergone a championship revolution in recent years, with the South African Dricus du Plessis establishing himself as champion and a deep contender pool that includes multiple former champions and elite strikers. The division’s technical level is exceptional — the 185-pound fighters represent some of the sport’s most skilled all-around athletes. Here are the current middleweight rankings for April 2026.

Champion: Dricus du Plessis

Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis became UFC Middleweight Champion at UFC 297 in January 2024 by defeating Sean Strickland via split decision in a tactical middleweight fight. The South African’s combination of pressure striking, dangerous submission grappling, and exceptional cardio created a new type of middleweight champion. He backed up the Strickland win with a submission victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, removing any doubts about his championship quality. Du Plessis represents the current generation’s middleweight benchmark.

No. 1: Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland is one of combat sports’ most genuinely unfiltered personalities — a fighter whose blunt, sometimes offensive public persona belies the exceptional technical boxer who upsets everyone’s expectations. He shocked the world by defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 via unanimous decision, using his high-volume jab and relentless forward pressure to outwork the stylish champion. His technical boxing is among the best in the middleweight division, and his chin and cardio make him dangerous in all phases of a fight.

No. 2: Israel Adesanya

Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya was the middleweight champion for much of the division’s most exciting recent period, defending the title five times before losses to Strickland and du Plessis. His technical kickboxing — built on an elite understanding of distance, timing, and counter-striking — represented a new standard for striking sophistication at middleweight. Despite losing the title, he remains one of the world’s most skilled fighters and a legitimate contender for the championship he held so impressively.

No. 3: Robert Whittaker

Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker is a two-time middleweight champion and one of the division’s most consistent elite performers. The Australian’s combination of solid boxing, excellent wrestling defense, and championship experience make him a threat to any middleweight on the roster. His wins over Jacare Souza, Yoel Romero, and Kelvin Gastelum represent a resume of quality competition, and he remains competitive at the championship level despite being in the division for many years.

No. 4: Paulo Costa

Paulo “Borrachinha” Costa is one of the division’s most physically imposing fighters — a Brazilian with exceptional knockout power and the physical conditioning to back up his aggressive approach. His fights against Adesanya and Marvin Vettori were divisional highlights even if the results didn’t go his way, and he’s beaten Uriah Hall and Yoel Romero to validate his top-tier status. His power and aggression make him dangerous in exchanges against anyone.

No. 5: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev is one of the most physically dominant fighters in UFC history — a Swedish-Chechen fighter whose combination of elite wrestling and powerful striking has overwhelmed most opponents. His wins over Li Jingliang, Gilbert Burns, and Kevin Holland displayed a smothering, complete style that suggests a future champion if he can maintain his health and competitive focus. His 2023 fight with Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 demonstrated he belongs at the elite welterweight-middleweight crossover.

No. 6: Marvin Vettori

Marvin Vettori is an Italian-American middleweight with a well-rounded game built on wrestling, durable chin, and effective striking. His fights against Adesanya — two losses in consecutive encounters — showed he belongs in the elite tier, and his wins over Kevin Holland and Jack Hermansson have kept him in title contention. His physicality and wrestling create problems for strikers who can’t handle sustained pressure.

No. 7: Roman Dolidze

Roman Dolidze is a Georgian fighter who has proven himself a dangerous middleweight presence with impressive knockout wins against credible opposition. His physicality and power-based style create upset potential, and his performances at UFC Fight Night events have established him as a legitimate top-10 fighter who is capable of beating anyone on a given night.

No. 8: Jared Cannonier

Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier is one of middleweight’s most powerful strikers — a former heavyweight and light heavyweight who dropped to 185 and found his best fighting weight. His combination of power, athleticism, and submission grappling has produced impressive finishes against quality opponents. His wins over David Branch, Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, and Derek Brunson demonstrate consistent performance in quality competition.

No. 9: Jack Hermansson

Jack Hermansson is a Swedish submission specialist whose guillotine choke threat and overall grappling game have made him a consistent top-15 presence at middleweight. His wins over Kelvin Gastelum, David Branch, and Chris Curtis speak to a solid top-10 career, even if his ceiling appears to fall short of the championship level.

No. 10: Kevin Holland

Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland is one of the division’s most entertaining and unpredictable fighters — a long, rangy striker who moves between middleweight and welterweight with physical elite attributes. His personality and finishing ability have made him a fan favorite, and his fights — win or lose — are typically among the most entertaining on any card.

Division Outlook

The middleweight division’s current era is defined by du Plessis’ physical and mental toughness at the top, Adesanya’s technical brilliance seeking a title return, and Strickland’s blue-collar determination. The division’s former-champion-heavy contender pool ensures that any championship fight carries significant narrative weight, and the stylistic contrasts at the top — du Plessis’ pressure versus Adesanya’s technique versus Strickland’s volume — should continue producing compelling fights for years.