The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2024 continues to showcase an incredible array of talent across various weight categories. From seasoned champions to emerging contenders, the landscape of UFC is ever-evolving, with athletes pushing the boundaries of martial arts. This article provides an insight into the current standings in each weight category, highlighting the reigning champions, key competitors, and the names to look out for in the coming year.
Here are the 2024 UFC Athlete Standings
Women’s Strawweight [ 2024 UFC Athlete Standings ]
Zhang Weili (Champion): A formidable force, Weili is known for her striking power and resilience.
Yan Xiaonan & Tatiana Suarez (In The Mix): Both athletes have showcased impressive skills, with Xiaonan known for her striking and Suarez for her grappling.
Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas, Loopy Godinez (Names to Watch For in 2024): These fighters are rapidly rising, each with unique strengths like Dern's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Ribas' all-around game.
Women’s Flyweight
Alexa Grasso (Champion): Grasso has risen swiftly, impressing with her boxing skills.
Valentina Shevchenko, Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot (In The Mix): These athletes are top contenders, each with distinct fighting styles, from Shevchenko's versatile skill set to Blanchfield's grappling prowess.
Maycee Barber, Rose Namajunas, Natalia Silva, Ariane Lipski, Tracy Cortez (Names to Watch For in 2024): A mix of experienced and new talents, each bringing diverse skills to the table, like Namajunas' striking and grappling balance.
Women’s Bantamweight
Champion to be crowned: This category is poised for a new champion, making it highly competitive.
Julianna Peña, Mayra Bueno Silva, Raquel Pennington, Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana (In The Mix): These athletes have been strong contenders, with Peña known for her grappling and Aldana for her boxing.
Karol Rosa, Pannie Kianzad (Names to Watch For in 2024): Emerging talents, both showing great potential with Rosa's striking and Kianzad's well-rounded skill set.
Flyweight
Alexandre Pantoja (Champion): Pantoja is known for his aggressive fighting style and submission skills.
Amir Albazi, Brandon Moreno, Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France (In The Mix): A mix of fast-paced strikers and grappling experts, with Moreno known for his heart and determination.
Brandon Royval, Matheus Nicolau, Muhammad Mokaev, Tagir Ulanbeknov, Tatsuro Taira (Names to Watch For in 2024): Young and dynamic fighters, each with unique skills like Royval's submission ability and Mokaev's wrestling.
Bantamweight
Sean O’Malley (Champion): O'Malley is known for his striking, range, and charismatic personality.
Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen, Henry Cejudo (In The Mix): A blend of experienced and tactical fighters, with Cejudo being a former Olympic wrestler.
Petr Yan, Deiveson Figueiredo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Yadong Song (Names to Watch For in 2024): Exceptional athletes, each with a strong background like Yan's boxing and Figueiredo's power.
Featherweight
Alexander Volkanovski (Champion): Known for his incredible cardio and versatile striking.
Ilia Topuria, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, Max Holloway (In The Mix): Diverse fighters with skills ranging from Sterling's wrestling to Holloway's striking volume.
Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez, Movsar Evloev (Names to Watch For in 2024): These fighters are known for their tenacity and unique fighting styles, like Kattar's boxing and Ortega's jiu-jitsu.
Lightweight
Islam Makhachev (Champion): A grappling specialist, known for his control and Sambo background.
Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Dustin Poirier (In The Mix): Highly skilled and diverse, with Oliveira's submission skills and Gaethje's striking.
Benoît Saint Denis, Jalin Turner, Mateusz Gamrot (Names to Watch For in 2024): Emerging fighters with a lot to prove, like Turner's reach advantage and Gamrot's well-roundedness.
Welterweight
Leon Edwards (Champion): Edwards combines striking precision with tactical fighting.
Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Gilbert Burns (In The Mix): Strong contenders, with Muhammad known for his endurance and Burns for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Sean Brady, Ian Machado Garry, Jack Della Maddalena (Names to Watch For in 2024): Up-and-comers with impressive skills, like Brady's grappling and Garry's striking.
Middleweight
Sean Strickland (Champion): A well-rounded fighter, known for his striking and grappling.
Dricus Du Plessis, Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier, Khamzat Chimaev (In The Mix): A mix of power and technique, with Whittaker's striking and grappling balance.
Paulo Costa, Brendan Allen (Names to Watch For in 2024): Both are strong, aggressive fighters, with Costa known for his power.
Light Heavyweight
Alex Pereira (Champion): Pereira is recognized for his striking prowess, particularly his powerful left hook.
Jamahal Hill, Jiri Procházka, Magomed Ankalaev, Aleksandar Rakic (In The Mix): Dynamic fighters, from Hill's knockout power to Procházka's unorthodox style.
Johnny Walker, Khalil Rountree Jr. (Names to Watch For in 2024): Exciting fighters with knockout power, especially Walker's dynamic striking.
Heavyweight
Jon Jones; Tom Aspinall (Interim Champion): Jones is a legendary figure in MMA, known for his technique and strategy, while Aspinall shows promise with his agility and power.
Stipe Miocic, Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, Jailton Almeida (In The Mix): Seasoned and powerful, with Miocic's wrestling and boxing, and Gane's kickboxing background.
Curtis Blaydes, Serghei Spivac, Derrick Lewis, Alex Pereira (Names to Watch For in 2024): Heavy hitters, with Blaydes known for his wrestling and Lewis for his knockout power.
The UFC in 2024 is brimming with extraordinary talent and potential. Each weight category is filled with skilled athletes who are ready to claim glory or defend their titles. As the year progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these standings evolve and which fighters rise to the top, proving their prowess in the octagon. Stay tuned for a year full of intense matchups, thrilling victories, and the emergence of future champions.