Heavyweight MMA is weird. Honestly, it’s the only division where a guy can look like a world-beater for four minutes, get winded, and then lose to a single looping haymaker from a guy who looks like he just finished a shift at a tire shop. That’s the charm. But as we sit here in early 2026, the list of ufc heavyweight fighters looks a lot different than it did just eighteen months ago. We’ve moved past the "is he or isn't he retired" saga of the mid-2020s and into a strange, fractured era where the crown is undisputed but the line of succession is a total mess.
The big story right now? Tom Aspinall.
He’s the undisputed king, but his 2025 ended in a way that feels like a bad movie script. After Jon Jones finally "hung up the gloves" (mostly) and Aspinall was promoted to undisputed champ, he faced Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. First round. Eye poke. No contest. Now, the best heavyweight on the planet is sidelined waiting for his vision to clear while the rest of the sharks are circling. It’s frustrating.
The Current Hierarchy: Who’s Actually Running the Show?
If you look at the official rankings today, you’ll see some familiar names and a few that might surprise you if you haven't been paying attention to the International cards lately.
Tom Aspinall sits at the top as the champion. He’s basically the gold standard for modern heavyweights—fast, nimble, and actually knows how to use his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Behind him, the list of ufc heavyweight fighters gets crowded. Ciryl Gane is still the number one contender despite the controversy of the Aspinall fight. Gane is basically a middleweight trapped in a giant’s body. He’s technical, he’s rarely hit, and he makes other heavyweights look like they’re moving through molasses.
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Then you have Alexander Volkov. This guy is 37 years old and somehow better than ever. He beat Jailton Almeida last year in a fight that was supposed to be his "gatekeeper" moment, but instead, he just shut the door. Drago is on a tear, winning five of his last six. He’s huge, his striking is crisp, and he’s finally learned how to keep people from just sitting on him for 25 minutes.
The Power Punchers and the Grapplers
- Sergei Pavlovich: He had a rough patch where people thought he’d lost his "touch of death," but 2025 was a bounce-back year. He took decision wins over Rozenstruik and Waldo Cortes-Acosta. He hasn't had a knockout since 2023, though. Fans are itching for that old Sergei to come back.
- Curtis Blaydes: Still the wrestling litmus test. If you can’t stop a double-leg from Blaydes, you don't belong in the top five. Period.
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta: The most active guy in the division. He fought five times in 2025. Five. He just knocked out Shamil Gaziev in Doha on 21 days' notice. He’s facing Derrick Lewis at UFC 324, and honestly, that’s going to be fireworks.
The New Blood You Need to Watch
The "old" heavyweight division was criticized for being a bunch of 40-year-olds hitting each other. That’s changing. Look at Mario Pinto. He’s a Dana White’s Contender Series alum from the Class of '24 and he’s currently 11-0. He’s based in London, trains at a high level, and just dismantled Jhonata Diniz in Rio. People are calling him the next big thing because he actually has an "outlook" on the sport—he’s not just there to collect a paycheck; he’s a technician.
Then there’s Tallison Teixeira. He’s sitting at the bottom of the top 15 right now, but he’s a giant. Literally. He’s one of those "new breed" guys who has been training MMA since he was a kid rather than transitioning from wrestling or football.
And we can't talk about heavyweights without mentioning the Alex Pereira factor. The light heavyweight champ has been teasing a move up for years. Recently, Jon Jones (who is technically a "One to Watch" but mostly inactive) responded to Pereira’s call-outs, telling him to "be careful." If "Poatan" actually enters the list of ufc heavyweight fighters, the entire division gets flipped on its head. He has the power to put anyone’s lights out, but can he handle a 260-pounder like Jailton Almeida trying to take his back?
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Why the Rankings Feel Like a Puzzle Right Now
The UFC’s recent deal with Paramount+ and the rumors of a "White House Card" in June 2026 have everyone jockeying for position. Jon Anik recently mentioned he wants Aspinall vs. Gane 2 to headline that DC show. It makes sense. We need a definitive end to that rivalry.
But there’s a bottleneck.
Because the top guys are so dangerous, they don’t fight often. You have guys like Jailton Almeida who are incredibly talented but struggled against Volkov because they couldn't get the finish. Almeida is a grappling wizard, but if he can't transition to a finish, the fans (and the judges) get restless.
Meanwhile, Derrick Lewis is still there. He’s the "Knockout King." He’s 40. He doesn't care. He will probably be in the top 10 until he’s 50 because his power is the last thing to go. He’s the ultimate wild card in this list of ufc heavyweight fighters. You can be winning for 14 minutes and 50 seconds, and then you're waking up wondering what happened.
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Navigating the Future of the Big Boys
If you're trying to keep track of where this is going, look at the matchups scheduled for the first half of 2026.
- Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis (UFC 324): This is a massive "passing of the torch" or "gatekeeper" moment.
- Tom Aspinall's Recovery: The division moves at his pace. If his eye isn't 100% by summer, we might see an interim title... again.
- The Rise of Valter Walker: Brother of Johnny Walker, he’s starting to make waves. He’s more of a traditional heavyweight than his brother, but he has that same unpredictable energy.
Honestly, the heavyweight division is in a healthy spot, even if it feels chaotic. We have a dominant, young champ in Aspinall, a highly technical challenger in Gane, and a bunch of terrifying prospects like Mario Pinto coming up the rear.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the European and Brazilian prospects. The days of the American wrestler dominating the heavyweight ranks are fading. The new list of ufc heavyweight fighters is global, faster, and much more well-rounded. If you're betting on the future, look for the guys who can go five rounds without gasping for air by the end of the second. Those are the ones who will actually hold the belt.
Your next move? Go watch the tape on Mario Pinto’s last fight against Diniz. It’ll show you exactly why the "old guard" of heavyweights should be nervous. After that, keep an eye on the UFC 324 weigh-ins to see if Waldo Cortes-Acosta looks as fresh as he claims after his insane 2025 schedule.