UFC Light Heavyweight Rankings: Magomed Ankalaev Earns Alex Pereira Title Fight With Win At UFC 308
By Jason Burgos,
5 days ago
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The UFC light heavyweight rankings showcase some of the very best 205-pound fighters in the world. The division has often been a home of pound-for-pound talent and is that perfect middle ground between heavyweight-level power and well-rounded skills.
With that in mind, here is the official Ringside Intel top-10 for the UFC’s light heavyweight class.
Carlos Ulberg stumbled in his 2021 UFC debut but has caught fire since then. He has won six straight inside the Octagon, including finishes in all but one of those victories. His most impressive yet came in May when he scored a KO win over Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds. “Black Jag” is a fighter to watch at 205 pounds.
9. Aleksandar Rakic (14-5)
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Aleksandar Rakic is a talented 205-pound fighter who is worthy of a spot in our rankings. However, he lands near the back of our top 10 after suffering three straight losses to three of the best light heavyweights on the planet. His most recent came at UFC 308 against Magomed Ankalaev. While he was very competitive in those losses, it has shown he is a very good but not elite competitor in the weight class.
9. Azamat Murzakanvo (13-0)
Russian Azamat Murzakanov has quietly climbed up the 205-pound division in the UFC over the last few years. The heavy-hitter remains unbeaten inside the Octagon after four fights and owns a sparkling 13-0 record overall. If he can score a big win over Nikita Krylov in November, he will push his name into serious title contention early in 205.
It wasn’t long ago that Khalil Rountree had lost three of four and his career seemed to be sputtering into mediocrity. However, since his last defeat in January of 2021, he has won five straight, with four of those wins coming by knockout.
His most recent — and most important — victory came in December at UFC Vegas 83 when he handed top-10 stalwart Anthony Smith a second-round knockout loss. Surprisingly, the victory earned him a title fight in October despite a failed PED test. At UFC 307 he was very competitive early against Alex Pereira. However, the champ’s jab and constant pressure wore him down. He went out on his shield in Round 4 by TKO. The performance helps him keep his spot at No. 7.
After losing two straight, Ukrainian Nikita Krylov has racked up three straight wins. The most recent was a definitive first-round submission of uber-talented light heavyweight Ryan Spann. For much of his career, “The Miner” has always seemed like a nice but never very good fighter. However, he may be evolving into his best version and could move into title contention in 2025 with the right booking.
Even at an advanced age, Jan Blachowicz remains an elite-level talent in the light heavyweight division. Over the last three years, he has lost just twice in nine fights and that came to former title challenger Thiago Santos and recent champion Glover Teixeira. The one-time champion’s draw with Magomed Anakalaev in 2022 was a major setback for both as it threw them into a bit of limbo.
He tried to free himself from that tough spot at UFC 291 and possibly set up another title fight, however, by split decision in a highly competitive bout with former middleweight champ Alex Pereira. Where the one-time division king goes next is anyone’s guess.
While “Denisa” may not be the current champion, he is still viewed by many as one of the best fighters in the division. A serious shoulder injury derailed what could have been a memorable title run in 2023. After months of recovering, the Czech star returned at UFC 295 in an attempt to regain his belt, however, former middleweight king Alex Pereira blocked his return to the top.
Despite a bounce-back win earlier this year, he again came up short in a second crack at the Brazilian at UFC 303 in June.
3. Jamahal Hill (12-2)
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Following a serious injury that forced him to vacate the title, Jamahal Hill was given a chance to regain his belt at UFC 300 versus Alex Pereira. However, he ended up being the latest victim in the rampage the Brazilian has undertaken since joining the promotion. It will be interesting to see who “Sweet Dreams” gets in his next fight as he tries to reclimb the light heavyweight ladder.
Magomed Anakalaev has been outstanding during his run in the promotion. He has just one surprise loss in 15 appearances and has scored wins over several of the division’s best, including Volkan Oezdemir, Anthony Smith, and mostly recently Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. Fans have been calling for him to get a title fight throughout 2024. After his most recent victory, he likely locked up a scrap with division king Alex Pereira in 2025.
1. Alex Pereira (12-2)
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Alex Pereira’s UFC story is becoming legendary. After nine fights, he became a two-division champion and scored destructive wins over some of the best fighters of this era, middleweight and light heavyweight. The 37-year-old has been a revelation for the company and connected with the MMA fanbase with an approach to fighting similar to cage-fighting icon Fedor Emelianenko.
At UFC 307 he showed his championship magic when he battled through early adversity from Khalil Rountree, wore his foe down, and earned another spectacular TKO finish. The Brazilian is the best light heavyweight in the world by far.
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