Light Heavyweight: Unpacking the Highest Elo Ratings

Our latest analysis of UFC Light Heavyweight fighters reveals Magomed Ankalaev as the current leader in our proprietary Elo rating system, holding a score of 1194. This Elo rating is a dynamic numerical measure of a fighter's skill, computed exclusively from their UFC results. Every fighter begins at 1000 points, gaining or losing points after each fight, with the magnitude of the change weighted by the opponent's rating. A higher Elo score signifies a stronger performance history against the competition faced.

To qualify for this leaderboard, fighters must have had at least three UFC fights and competed within the last two years. Out of 205 Light Heavyweight fighters on record, 38 met these criteria.

The Top Contenders

Magomed Ankalaev leads the division with an Elo rating of 1194. His UFC record stands at 13-2 across 15 fights, with his last bout on 25 Jul 2026. At 34 years old, Ankalaev's consistent performance against a range of opponents has solidified his position at the top of this metric, reflecting a strong win-loss ratio over a significant number of contests.

Following Ankalaev is Carlos Ulberg, who holds an Elo rating of 1173. Ulberg's UFC record is 10-1 from 11 fights, with his most recent appearance on 11 Apr 2026. At 36 years old, his high rating and impressive win rate, with only one loss, indicate a very strong run of form. The 21-point gap between Ankalaev and Ulberg suggests a clear, though not insurmountable, difference in their accumulated performance scores.

Dominick Reyes occupies the third spot with an Elo rating of 1117. His UFC record is 11-5 over 16 fights, and he last competed on 24 Oct 2026. At 37 years old, Reyes's rating places him firmly in the top tier, despite having more losses than the top two. His score reflects a history of competing at a high level against strong opponents.

Just below Reyes is Paulo Costa, with an Elo rating of 1114. Costa's UFC record is 8-4 from 12 fights, and his last fight was on 11 Apr 2026. At 36 years old, his rating is very close to Reyes's, indicating a similar level of performance according to the Elo system.

Rounding out the top five is Jan Blachowicz, with an Elo rating of 1107. Blachowicz has a UFC record of 12-9 across 21 fights, making him the most experienced fighter in the top 10 by number of UFC bouts. His last fight was on 01 Aug 2026. At 44 years old, his sustained presence in the top five highlights a long career of competitive performances, though it is worth noting that career totals can sometimes favor long-serving fighters who accumulate many results.

The Rest of the Top 10

A cluster of fighters follows the top five, with Elo ratings ranging from 1090 down to 1075. Alonzo Menifield is 6th with 1090 (12-6, 18 fights, last fought 19 Sep 2026, age 39), closely followed by Dustin Jacoby at 7th with 1088 (10-7, 17 fights, last fought 25 Jul 2026, age 39). Azamat Murzakanov is 8th with 1087 (6-2, 8 fights, last fought 24 Oct 2026, age 38).

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev stands out at 9th with an Elo rating of 1080. His UFC record is an undefeated 4-0 from only 4 fights, with his last bout on 24 Oct 2026. At 26 years old, this is a high rating for a fighter with a limited number of UFC appearances. While impressive, it is worth noting that Elo ratings derived from a small number of fights can be more susceptible to fluctuation due to the limited data points. Finally, Nikita Krylov is 10th with 1075 (12-11, 23 fights, last fought 24 Oct 2026, age 35).

Light Heavyweight — highest elo rating now

Fighter	Elo	UFC fights
1. Magomed Ankalaev	1194	15 fights
2. Carlos Ulberg	1173	11 fights
3. Dominick Reyes	1117	16 fights
4. Paulo Costa	1114	12 fights
5. Jan Blachowicz	1107	21 fights
6. Alonzo Menifield	1090	18 fights
7. Dustin Jacoby	1088	17 fights
8. Azamat Murzakanov	1087	8 fights
9. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev	1080	4 fights
10. Nikita Krylov	1075	23 fights

Career statistics from UFC Stats; Elo is bjjmetrics' own rating from UFC results. Updated twice a day.

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