ESPN has apparently sparked a huge debate with its latest list of the top 30 MMA fighters under the age of 30. The publication put together the ranking to highlight the young stars taking over the sport as some of its biggest legends move toward the next chapter of their careers. However, several of the picks and their placements have not exactly gone down well with fans.
There are currently 34 fighters under the age of 30 ranked in the UFC’s official rankings across 11 different weight classes. For starters, the list is topped by Joshua Van, the current UFC flyweight champion, who has already defended his title twice at just 24 years old.
The Burmese fighter recently beat Alexandre Pantoja in a decisive five-round banger at UFC 331, further strengthening his case as the future of the 125lbs division. Van’s other recent outings have also helped his stock skyrocket.
His UFC 317 fight against Brandon Royval and his UFC 328 clash with Tatsuro Taira were both genuine Fight of the Year contenders. That run helped him move from No. 3 on last year’s list to the top spot this year.
While some fans can understand Van being at No. 1, the placement of Usman Nurmagomedov at No. 2 has raised plenty of eyebrows. The PFL champion sits ahead of Ilia Topuria, who is ranked third, and that is where many fans really started questioning the list.
Fans Slam Arman Tsarukyan Snub and Question Usman Nurmagomedov’s Resume Without UFC Experience
Fans pointed out that while Nurmagomedov is an undefeated 22-0 champion and one of the most dominant fighters outside the UFC, he has yet to compete inside the Octagon. Meanwhile, Topuria is already a two-division UFC champion and owns consecutive knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
The difference in their resumes is a major reason why fans have struggled with ESPN’s ranking. Topuria topped the list last year, while Nurmagomedov was ranked outside the top five at No. 7. And despite Topuria suffering a shocking loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year, many fans still believe he should be ahead of the undefeated Russian.
Famous MMA creator and journalist Jack Slack MMA wrote on X, “Usman at 2 and Hughes at 21 lmao.” The comment referenced the fact that Hughes gave Nurmagomedov a serious challenge in both of their PFL lightweight title bouts, making the huge gap between the two on the list a surprise to many.
Andy Hickey MMA was even more blunt, writing, “Looks like a list down by an ESPN employee who has never seen a fight.” Meanwhile, Veluta MMA argued that Topuria still deserves the top spot, writing, “Ilia is still number 1.”
Another user commented, “Usman ahead of Ilia, I stopped looking after that.” Some fans also took aim at ESPN itself, with one user trolling the publication by writing, “@espn used to know ball.”
Usman Nurmagomedov ranks ABOVE Ilia Topuria in ESPN’s 2026 MMA 30 Under 30 rankings 👀🔥
HERE’S THE FULL LIST:
1. Joshua Van
2. Usman Nurmagomedov
3. Ilia Topuria
4. Michael Morales
5. Dakota Ditcheva
6. Song Yadong
7. Josh Hokit
8. Ian Machado Garry
9. Natalia Silva
10.… pic.twitter.com/emSVQPklG1— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 3, 2026
ALSO READ: Renato Moicano Pitches Himself as the Perfect Comeback Opponent for Ilia Topuria
The omission of Arman Tsarukyan was another major talking point. The UFC lightweight contender did not make the list at all, despite spending much of the past two years being viewed as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. One user pointed out the omission, writing, “Usman above Ilia and no Arman? What a joke. Do better, ESPN.”
Gable Steveson’s inclusion at No. 22 also drew plenty of criticism. The Olympic gold medalist recently suffered a shocking 12-second loss to Sean Sharaf in his second UFC fight. To make matters worse for some fans, Sharaf had not even recorded a win inside the Octagon before their UFC 331 matchup.
One fan highlighted the issue, writing, “Besides all the valid points everyone else has made, having Gable Steveson in there at 22 is absurd. And no Arman. I repeat: Steveson against all other 8 guys, no Arman.”
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However, the list isn’t short on talented young fighters, either. Dakota Ditcheva sits at No. 5, Ian Garry is ranked No. 8, UFC 332 headliner Natalia Silva comes in at No. 9, UFC newcomer Salahdine Parnesse lands at No. 16, while self-proclaimed third Diaz brother Tommy McMillen is ranked No. 26.
Still, with several major names missing and some surprising placements, ESPN’s list has certainly given MMA fans plenty to argue about.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
