The Story of Greatness: 12 Years of UFC’s Pound-for-Pound Kings

In 2013, the UFC introduced its official pound-for-pound rankings and set the stage for an endless debate. Who is the best in the world, regardless of weight class? Over the past 12 years, we've seen legends rise, champions fall, and eras be defined by some of the most dominant fighters in the world.  

Let’s take a walk-through history and look at those fighters who conquered the very top of the pound-for-pound rankings. While also checking out some of the history you can own from these amazing fighters.  

2013-2014: The Reign of Jon ‘Bones’ Jones 

We begin with the first and one of the most dominant pound-for-pound number ones we have ever seen, Jon Jones. When the rankings were introduced, a 25-year-old Jones had already dominated the light-heavyweight division and defended his title four times. 

During his time as number one, Jones went on to defend his belt another four times and cemented himself as the best in the world. However, his untouchable aura came into question when outside-the-cage controversy led to a temporary fall from grace.  

The Jones period was marked by domination, now you can own a piece of his story today!  

2015-2016: ‘Might Mouse’ Dominance 

Jon Jones being sidelined left the door open for a new dominant pound-for-pound number one to rise in his place, Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. His reign over the flyweight division was nothing short of spectacular, setting the record for the most consecutive title defences in UFC history.  

Demetrious Johnson’s skills in the Octagon made him one of the most complete fighters and arguably the epitome of what it meant to be a mixed martial artist.

Be the first to know when the latest Demetrious Johnson product drops!  

2016-2017: The Notorious Era?  

During 2016 a new name entered the conversation for the best pound-for-pound athlete on the planet, Conor McGregor. The “Notorious” one was on a collision course with stardom in 2016 as he captured featherweight championship late on in 2015. A new goal was in the mind of McGregor in 2016, to become the first person to hold two belts simultaneously.  

This dream became a reality in November of 2016 when McGregor beat Eddie Alavarez to be crowned the lightweight champion via knockout. Despite walking land no athlete had ever touched before in the sport, this achievement only warranted McGregor a number two spot in the rankings thanks to Mighty Mouse’s continued domination.  

Now you have the opportunity to own a piece of this amazing achievement and celebrate the career of Conor McGregor.  

2017-2019: DJ, Cormier, and the Khabib Factor 

2017 was a continuation of previous years, with Demetrious Johnson proving that he was still the untouchable pound-for-pound king. However, when 2018 came along the picture was changed thanks to the achievements of one, Daniel Cormier, who was aiming to become the next fighter to conquer the double champion status.  

On July 7, 2018, Daniel Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic in round one of their bout to be crowned the heavyweight champion, and the second fighter to be double champion. This amazing achievement boosted him up into the number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.  

During this time, Khabib Nurmagomedov was making his own claim as one of the greatest, dominating opponents en route to a flawless 29-0 record. Khabib then went on to become the number one in 2019.  

Celebrate these legendary fighters and take-home official memorabilia from Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.  

2020-2022: Kamaru Usman and Alexander Volkanovski  

In 2020, the pound-for-pound number one Khabib Nurmagomedov hung the gloves up in an emotional retirement announcement. This allowed Kamaru Usman to step into the place in his absence and his crusade over the welterweight division cemented his place at number one.  

However, in 2022 Usman was beaten by Leon Edwards via a last-minute knockout and the number one had yet again fallen. The pound-for-pound rankings wait for no one, and the new king was the dominant Australian featherweight, Alexander Volkanovski.  

These worthy champions deserve to be remembered for their achievements. So secure exclusive pieces of Kamaru Usman’s and Alexander Volkanovski’s illustrious UFC story.

2023-Present: The Rise of a New Era?  

In 2023, the pound-for-pound number one and number two went head-to-head in a lightweight title fight which could have dictated the direction of the rankings. On Saturday February 11, 2023, Islam Makhachev took on Alexander Volkanovski for the lightweight title.  

The bout was won by Islam Makhachev by unanimous decision following one of the closest bouts in UFC history. This brought Islam to the undisputed pound-for-pound number one status, to which he still holds to do this day.  

Celebrate the new era of pound-for-pound greatness with the Islam Makhachev collection.