UFC heavyweight rankings just shifted again. Tom Aspinall still holds the belt, but the title picture stays unsettled after his no contest with Ciryl Gane. Gane sits at number one, and three fighters climbed the ladder this month. Here is the full breakdown, plus one detail most rankings articles skip.
Tom Aspinall Still Owns the Belt
Tom Aspinall remains the UFC heavyweight champion. His record stands at 15-3-0. He faced Ciryl Gane in October 2025, but the fight ended early. An accidental eye poke stopped the bout, and the result went down as a no contest. Aspinall has not defended his belt since that night.
Ciryl Gane Holds the Number One Spot
Ciryl Gane ranks first among the contenders. His record stands at 14-2-0. He already shared the cage with Aspinall once, and most fans expect a full rematch soon. Gane’s footwork and cardio make him the clearest threat to the champion right now. No official rematch date exists yet.
Full UFC Heavyweight Rankings Right Now
Here is the complete top 15, current as of July 16, 2026, based on the official voting panel used by UFC.com.
- Ciryl Gane (14-2-0)
- Alexander Volkov (40-11-0)
- Sergei Pavlovich (21-3-0)
- Josh Hokit (10-0-0)
- Waldo Cortes Acosta (17-3-0)
- Serghei Spivac (18-6-0)
- Curtis Blaydes (19-6-0)
- Rizvan Kuniev (12-3-1)
- Tyrell Fortune (18-3-0)
- Ante Delija (26-8-0)
- Derrick Lewis (29-14-0)
- Marcin Tybura (27-11-0)
- Valter Walker (15-1-0)
- Brando Peričić
- Mick Parkin (10-1-0)
The Fighter Everyone Is Underrating
Josh Hokit is the name to watch. He sits at number four with a perfect 10-0-0 record. Most casual fans have never heard his name. He earned the spot through finishes, not reputation, and the panel rewarded that pattern this year.
This matters because Aspinall stayed inactive for months. Voting panels lean toward fighters who stay busy during a champion’s layoff. Hokit fought and won while bigger names sat on the sidelines. That pattern explains his climb, and most rankings articles never mention it.
Where This Leaves the Title Picture
Aspinall needs a confirmed next opponent soon. Gane earned the first shot through the no contest result at UFC 321. Volkov and Pavlovich both have real cases if Gane gets delayed or hurt. Fans can track every fight update on Sportsgotec’s UFC page as new bookings get announced.
The division also runs deeper than most fans give it credit for. Lewis and Tybura keep grinding through the back half of the top 15. Newer names like Walker and Parkin are climbing fast. For more breakdowns like this one, visit Sportsgotec for full sports coverage.
The Bottom Line
Aspinall is still champion, but the belt feels unsettled right now. Gane earned the top contender spot fair and square. Hokit’s rise proves the rankings reward activity over reputation. Watch this division closely over the next few months. The heavyweight picture could look very different before 2026 ends.
