Where We Stand: Featherweight Division | February 2023

Outlook: Volkanovski came up short on the judges’ scorecards even though there are those who will say he deserved to get the nod on home soil. Regardless, it’s clear Volkanovski has the star power to match his many accolades, and his stock did not drop at all in his loss to Islam Makhachev. However, the close nature of the fight created some rematch buzz afterward, which is not what any featherweight contender wants to hear at the moment. That said, Volkanovski has a fair shout at another crack at double-champ status given how tough he fought Makhachev. With that in mind, a defense of his featherweight belt against Rodriguez is a tasty matchup as well.

Interim Champion: Yair Rodriguez

Last Fight: Submission Win vs Josh Emmett (2/11/2023)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Rodriguez had one of the more unique paths to UFC gold – one littered with inactivity, injury and poor luck – but ultimately, “El Pantera” showed he was more than up for the biggest stage of his career in Perth. Now, all that’s left is a unification fight for the undisputed belt. Rodriguez wants that fight to happen in Mexico, naturally, an idea that Volkanovski seemed open to. Regardless of where and when, Rodriguez is the next man up to attempt to end Volkanovski’s featherweight reign.

2) Max Holloway

Last Fight: Unanimous Decision Loss to Alexander Volkanovski (7/2/2022)

Next fight: vs Arnold Allen (4/15/2023)

Outlook: “Blessed” came up short for a third time against Volkanovski, so he is a bit stuck until someone unseats the Australian. In the meantime, he’ll have to stave off the hungry contenders looking for a signature win. He did so with flying colors against Calvin Kattar and Rodriguez in 2021, and he’ll look to replicate those results when he faces the surging Arnold Allen in April. It’s not the kind of flashy name Holloway is accustomed to fighting these days, but Allen is every bit the dangerous contender his rankings and record project.

3) Brian Ortega

Last Fight: TKO Loss vs Yair Rodriguez (7/16/2022)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Ortega had some sour luck in his first fight after falling to Volkanovski in his second title bid. A shoulder injury ended his main event bout with Rodriguez before it ever really got going, and we haven’t seen “T-City” since. The 31-year-old’s next move is a little murky. Coming off two losses and three in his last four, he might need to fight down the rankings before he gets himself back in the title picture. Fights against Emmett, Giga Chikadze or anyone else in the Top 10 are good opportunities for him, but he could also have a bid at the winner of Allen-Holloway.

4) Arnold Allen

Last Fight: TKO Win vs Calvin Kattar (10/29/2022)

Next fight: vs Max Holloway (4/15/2023)

Outlook: “Almighty” has methodically and quietly climbed his way up the featherweight rankings since joining the roster in 2015, and after wins over Dan Hooker and Calvin Kattar, he is firmly in the division’s Top 5. The 29-year-old was the popular pick for the dark horse of the division – so much so that he was probably disqualified from actually being considered a real dark horse. Regardless, he takes his perfect 10-0 UFC record with him against the stiffest test of his career: Max Holloway. A win over “Blessed” would certainly catapult Allen into the title fight discussion.

5) Josh Emmett

Last Fight: Submission Loss vs Yair Rodriguez (2/11/2023)

Next fight: N/A

Outlook: Emmett’s ascension up the featherweight rankings came to a disappointing stumble against Yair Rodriguez. Although Emmett’s power had Rodriguez rattled at moments, he was never really able to get on the front foot in the fight. Now, he’ll have to rebuild his case for another shot at the title, and at 37 years old, he likely needs to work quickly to make it happen. Luckily, he has yet to fight a handful of people in the Top 5: Allen (whom he was scheduled to fight in early 2020), Holloway and Ortega.

In the Mix: Giga Chikadze, Ilia Topuria, Movsar Evloev

Outlook: Featherweight is in a similar spot as the lightweight division, where those outside the Top 5 haven’t quite distinguished themselves enough to get a crack at the division’s elite, but they also debatably deserve that chance anyway. Chikadze hasn’t fought since dropping a main event to Kattar – who is out for the next year due to injury – but he should make his return sooner than later. Topuria is the flashiest riser of the bunch after his dominant win over Bryce Mitchell and his general about-that-life demeanor he takes in and out of the Octagon. Movsar Evloev had his momentum slowed by injury, and he is perhaps the man to adopt the dark horse moniker from Allen inside the Top 10.