Russia has claimed the No. 1 spot in ESPN's latest MMA World Power Index, a first for the nation. The ranking, determined by a 10-person panel assessing champions, ranked fighters, prospect pipelines, and overall representation in top promotions, places Russia ahead of the United States and Brazil. Russia boasts four UFC/PFL champions and 11 ESPN-ranked fighters, including top pound-for-pound talents Islam Makhachev and Petr Yan. Their fighters are noted for their dedication and professionalism.

The United States, which held the top spot in 2024 and 2025, drops to second despite having the most ranked fighters with 24. While the U.S. has two champions and significant depth, it lacks the same number of top-tier pound-for-pound contenders as Russia. Brazil remains at No. 3, tying the U.S. with 24 ranked fighters, and continues to produce world-class talent, aiming to recapture the glory of its past golden era.

England climbs to No. 4, up from No. 6, driven by the continued development of its top athletes like Tom Aspinall, the No. 1 heavyweight. Australia sits at No. 5, led by Alexander Volkanovski, while Georgia falls to No. 6 following recent setbacks for its top fighters, Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvili. France makes a significant jump into the rankings at No. 7, bolstered by the success of Ciryl Gane.