If you walked away from the screen for a few months and just came back, the list of UFC current title holders probably looks like a fever dream. Chaos. That’s the only way to describe what happened to the divisional hierarchies over the last year. We’ve seen established legends fall off a cliff and young lions like Joshua Van and Khamzat Chimaev absolutely tear through the old guard.
The sport moves fast. You blink and the "unbeatable" champion is suddenly a "former" champion.
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, the landscape is a mix of dominant Dagestani wrestling, Brazilian "Poatan" power, and some seriously weird interim title situations that have fans arguing on every forum from Reddit to X. Honestly, if you're trying to keep track of who actually owns the gold, you've got to look past the marketing and see who's actually holding the leverage.
The Men’s Divisions: A Changing of the Guard
Let's start at the top, or well, the bottom of the scale. The flyweight division is weird right now. Alexandre Pantoja held that belt with a death grip until Joshua Van—a kid who was barely on the radar a couple of years ago—snatched it at UFC 323. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Van is the youngest champion on the roster, and his rise has basically retired a few veterans who realized they just can't keep up with that pace anymore.
Then you look at bantamweight. Petr Yan is back. Most people thought Yan was done after that rough skid, but he reclaimed the throne by beating Merab Dvalishvili in a tactical masterclass. It’s a shark tank, though. With guys like Umar Nurmagomedov and a resurgent Sean O'Malley circling, Yan's second reign feels like it’s constantly under siege.
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The Middle and Heavy Weights
Khamzat Chimaev. Love him or hate him, "Borz" finally did it. He decimated Dricus Du Plessis to take the middleweight title and, frankly, it didn't look competitive. Chimaev’s wrestling is a problem that nobody in the 185-pound division has solved yet. He’s the most terrifying person on this list of UFC current title holders because he doesn't just win; he mauls.
Up at Light Heavyweight, Alex Pereira is still the man. "Poatan" is basically carrying the promotion's schedule on his back at this point. He recently defended against Magomed Ankalaev, proving that even elite wrestling might not be enough to stop that left hook. However, there’s constant talk about him vacating to chase a third belt at Heavyweight.
Speaking of the big boys, Tom Aspinall is the undisputed king. The Jon Jones era is officially in the rearview mirror. Aspinall represents the "new breed"—a heavyweight who moves like a middleweight and can submit you as easily as he can knock you out. His recent win over Ciryl Gane solidified that he isn't just a placeholder; he’s the standard.
The Women’s Divisions and the "Paramount+" Era
The move to Paramount+ has changed how the UFC does business, but it hasn't changed the dominance of Valentina Shevchenko. "Bullet" is still the flyweight queen. She recently fought Zhang Weili in a "superfight" and reminded everyone why she’s arguably the greatest of all time.
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The bantamweight situation is a bit of a mess, though. Kayla Harrison is the champion, but she’s currently sidelined with a neck injury. She was supposed to fight the returning Amanda Nunes at UFC 324, but that’s been pushed back. In the meantime, the division is essentially on ice.
Current Champions at a Glance
- Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall (The undisputed leader of the new era)
- Light Heavyweight: Alex Pereira (Still hunting for more history)
- Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev (The most dominant force at 185)
- Welterweight: Islam Makhachev (Moved up and took the belt from Jack Della Maddalena)
- Lightweight: Ilia Topuria (Holding the undisputed, though Gaethje and Pimblett fight for interim soon)
- Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski (The GOAT is back on top after the Topuria move)
- Bantamweight: Petr Yan (The "No Mercy" comeback story)
- Flyweight: Joshua Van (The youngest star in the game)
The Interim Problem: Why the Titles Feel "Sorta" Real
You’ve probably noticed that we’re talking about interim titles a lot lately. At UFC 324, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett are fighting for an interim lightweight belt because Ilia Topuria is taking a break for personal reasons.
This is where fans get annoyed.
When you have too many belts, the "undisputed" tag starts to lose its shine. But from a business perspective, the UFC needs a trophy on the line for these big Paramount+ cards. If you're a bettor or a hardcore fan, you know the "real" champion is the one who didn't lose it in the cage, but Paddy "The Baddy" winning a version of the 155-pound gold would be a massive marketing win for Dana White, regardless of how "legit" the hardcore's think it is.
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What’s Next for the UFC Current Title Holders?
The next six months are going to be a gauntlet. We have Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title against Diego Lopes at UFC 325. That’s a legacy-defining fight. If Volk wins, he cements his status as the greatest 145-pounder ever. If Lopes wins, the "New Wave" has officially completed its takeover.
Also, keep an eye on the BMF title. Max Holloway is defending it against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. While it’s not a "real" world title, in 2026, the BMF belt often carries more weight with the fans than the divisional titles do. It’s about the violence, not the rankings.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Track the "New Wave": Fighters like Joshua Van and Lerone Murphy are the ones to watch. The era of the "legend" is fading.
- Follow the Broadcast Shifts: With the Paramount+ deal, title fights are being scheduled differently. Expect more frequent "Interim" tags to keep main events' stakes high.
- Watch the Weight Jumps: Champions like Makhachev and Pereira are no longer satisfied with one belt. Multi-division dominance is the new goal for any UFC current title holders looking for a Hall of Fame lock.
The rankings will shift again by summer. That’s just the nature of the beast. But for now, these are the men and women at the top of the mountain.
Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the results of UFC 324 on January 24th. The winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett will likely face Ilia Topuria in a massive unification bout by the end of the year. Additionally, watch the medical updates on Kayla Harrison; if her surgery keeps her out past June, we might see another interim belt created for the women’s bantamweight division.