The UFC flyweight rankings showcase the very best fighters in the 125-pound division. While this weight class may often not get the respect it deserves, it has always featured some of the most well-rounded and fastest MMA fighters on the planet. With that in mind, here is the official Sportsnaut top 10 for the organization’s flyweight division.
10. Ramazan Temirov (20-3)
After a pair of first-round knockouts in RIZIN, Ramazan Temirov earned a UFC contract and continued his hot streak in the Octagon. As a member of the best flyweight division in the world, the native of Uzbekistan went 3-0 with two more first-round KOs. However, when swimming with the sharks at 125 pounds, you can get bit.
That happened at UFC 333 in October when he faced off with fellow top-10 talent Lone’er Kavanagh, and the man known for handing out KOs was given the first of his career.
9. Asu Almabayev (22-3)
Former M1 and Brave CF star Asu Almabayev entered the UFC having won 13 straight. He extended his hot streak inside the Octagon by winning his first four fights and scored victories over top-15 fighters Matheus Nicolau and Ode Osbourne. Unfortunately, when he took a big step up in competition against Manel Kape in March, he suffered his first loss in eight years.
However, he has bounced back from the setback with a pair of victories, including a big submission win over top-15 stalwart Alex Perez in November.
8. Kyoji Horiguchi (36-6)
After leaving the UFC nearly a decade ago, Kyoji Horiguchi had a fantastic run outside the company and has long been viewed as the best flyweight not in the UFC. Last year, he made his long-awaited return to the Octagon and scored a highlight-reel finish over Tagir Ulanbekov. He followed that up a few months later with a well-earned decision win over an elite talent in Amir Albazi.
If he had scored a win over Manel Kape in June, he might have earned a title opportunity later this year. However, despite probably being up two rounds early in the fight, the Japanese star was overcome by Kape’s speed and power and suffered a frustrating TKO loss.
7. Lone’er Kavanagh (11-2)
England’s Lone’er Kavanagh is the flyweight division’s best prospect. While he has only been in the company for a short amount of time, he has faced elite competition and has scored some big victories.
Although he suffered a tough loss to Brandon Royval at UFC 329, he bounced back from the setback a few months later by scoring an impressive KO win over Ramazan Temirov at UFC 333. The 27-year-old is fast becoming one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
6. Brandon Moreno (24-10-2)
Few flyweights have been better than Brandon Moreno. He has been in some of the greatest fights in the division’s history and is a two-time champion. However, Father Time comes for all legends, and he has been tapping on the Mexican’s shoulder in recent years as he has lost four of his last six.
Moreno was in a must-win scenario in September when he faced Joseph Morales following two straight defeats. While the rising fighter pushed the former champ over their three-round fight, the Mexican earned a badly needed W at Noche UFC.
5. Brandon Royval (18-9)
Brandon Royval has quietly been one of the best 125-pound fighters in the world for quite some time. While he has come up short in some important fights, he owns several impressive victories, including one over former division king Brandon Moreno.
However, fighting the best constantly comes with risk. At UFC 317, he took on the challenge of rising star Joshua Van and was outgunned by the future champion. Then he headlined a UFC Fight Night card against dangerous striker Manel Kape and was on the wrong end of the first knockout loss of his career.
But he showed why he is still one of the division’s elites when he bounced back from the consecutive setbacks at UFC 329 with an impressive victory over rising flyweight star Lone’er Kavanagh.
4. Tatsuro Taira (18-2)
It has been a very long time since Japan has had a fighter representing the country at the highest levels of the sport. However, former Shooto champ Tatsuro Taira has emerged as one of the best flyweights in the world by winning eight of his first nine fights in the Octagon.
The impressive run earned him a title opportunity at UFC 328. However, despite landing a bunch of takedowns on Joshua Van, he was badly outmatched on the feet and suffered the first knockout loss of his career in the fifth and final round of a close fight.
3. Alexandre Pantoja (30-7)
Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja had a long, hard road to becoming the UFC flyweight king. He toiled away inside the division for years before he was finally able to earn a title fight at UFC 290. In his first chance at being champion, he made good by scoring a second (third unofficial) win over division king Brandon Moreno. It was the start of building a legacy that has solidified him as one of the greatest flyweights of all time.
However, staying at the top isn’t easy, and the Brazilian saw his reign in 2025 due to a freak elbow injury. But at UFC 331 he got the chance to avenge that loss against Joshua Van. Unfortunately, while he had moments in the fight, he was outskilled by the new champ and may need to work his way back into a title opportunity in the future.
2. Manel Kape (23-7)
It hasn’t always been easy for Manel Kape in the UFC, but “Starboy” remains one of the division’s most exciting fighters. In his last nine fights, he is 8-1 with six finishes. His last two are the best of the bunch. In December, he took on one-time title challenger Brandon Royval and was able to stop the uber-durable flyweight in Round 1. He then followed that up with another main event opportunity when he was able to battle back from some tough rounds and score a big TKO win over Kyoji Horiguchi.
The 32-year-old looks to be in line for a title opportunity in his next fight if Alexandre Pantoja is not ready for a return to the cage.
1. Joshua Van (18-2) – Champion
Outside of a stunning knockout loss to Charles Johnson in his fourth UFC bout, Joshua Van is putting together a resume to one day put himself in the conversation as one of the greatest flyweights of all-time. He is now 11-1 inside the Octagon, has scored four knockout wins, and is arguably the division’s most exciting fighter to watch.
His latest win came at UFC 331, when he got the chance to prove his 2025 title win via injury was no fluke. In a main event clash against future Hall of Famer Alexandre Pantoja, Van showed his improved takedown defense and that his boxing is the best in the division as he scored a definitive decision win to stamp his place as the best 125er in the world.