The meteoric rise of the UFC has been imperative for mixed martial arts, which has nestled amongst the likes of boxing and pro wrestling as one of the globe’s elite combat sports across the past few decades.

With the UFC the crème de la crème of the organisations that dominate the MMA market, fighter popularity has soared, with stars emerging as superstars on the global stage.

Each week, the ranking systems for the 12 individual weight divisions fluctuate with the vigorous schedule seeing Fight Nights and Championship events occur almost every weekend.

The most esteemed, devastating fighters on the roster are merged into pound-for-pound rankings to determine the sport’s most feared fighter, and The Independent have decided to try its hand at curating its own list and compiled its own top 10 men’s athletes.

P4P rankings are often hard to accurately determine, with a multifaceted sport offering many different elements to analyse and consider, but here are the 10 fighters they went with!

10. Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier has proved to be one of the best strikers and most malleable fighters in the sport after an extensive and illustrious career.

Dustin Poirier at a UFC weigh-in
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 10: Dustin Poirier poses on the scale during the UFC 269 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 10: Dustin Poirier poses on the scale during the UFC 269 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

With notable victories over Conor McGregor, Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje, Poirier boasts a formidable CV and might just add to it in the near future.

9. Colby Covington

One of the sport’s most controversial and entertaining fighters, Colby Covington talks the talk and walks the walk with a complete skillset that provides the template to beat any opposition thrown at him.

8. Stipe Miocic

Without question, Stipe Miocic is the UFC’s heavyweight GOAT. His monumental title story saw him destroy all in his path, including many of the sport’s most iconic names.

He dismantled current champion Francis Ngannou before succumbing to his power in the rematch, but his pedigree at heavyweight simply cannot be undervalued.

UFC 226: Miocic v Cormier
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (R) kicks Stipe Miocic during their heavyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (R) kicks Stipe Miocic during their heavyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

7. Petr Yan

Petr Yan arrived at the UFC with a lot of murmuring about his potential, and he certainly did not disappoint.

Casting each opponent aside, his varied skillset sets him right at the top of bantamweight, and he will be anxious to reclaim his belt after losing to Aljamain Sterling last time out.

6. Robert Whittaker

An all-time fan favourite, Whittaker’s ability in the cage has proved the downfall of many fighters across the past eight years, with his two defeats in this period at the hands of Israel Adesanya.

Despite coming short both times, Whittaker is still a top fighter in the sport and possess all the tools to craft a path back to the belt once again.

5. Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 20: Francis Ngannou enters the octagon for his fight against Stipe Miocic in their Heavyweight Championship fight during UFC 220 at TD Garden on January 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Francis Ngannou

Quite simply the most terrifying man to ever step into the Octagon. Ngannou sits atop the heavyweight throne and possesses striking power that even the most durable of fighters succumb to after feeling its brutal might.

4. Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira has been a well-known name in the UFC for many years, but has only recently discovered his potential and ascended to the conversation at the top.

With underrated punching power and a ground game resembling a boa constrictor, Oliveira rightfully deserves a spot in the top five after finally clinching UFC gold last year and riding an 11-fight win streak.

3. Israel Adesanya

Undefeated at middleweight and one of the deadliest and most intelligent strikers the game has ever known, Adesanya is the ostensible face of the UFC and one of the top attractions at present.

Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya is regarded as one of the greatest fighters of his generation

Adesanya is close to clearing out the current crop of top contenders, and has done so with supreme style and grace as he dismantles his foe each time he enters the cage.

2. Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman appeared out of nowhere and used his immense strength and unrivalled ground game to ease to six successive title victories, crushing all in his wake.

To add further fuel to the fire, Usman is one single win away from tying the legendary Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive victories in the organisation - not bad company!

1. Alexander Volkanovski

With several fighter’s worthy of clinching the crown at the pinnacle of the P4P list, selecting one appears a taxing issue, but Alexander Volkanovski certainly eases the burden with a rise to the top so commanding and assured that it proves difficult not to recognise his current domination.

After recently completing a sensational triad of victories over Max Holloway, imperious in his own right, the featherweight king’s reign seems set in stone for a long time to come with four title defences to date.