Dec 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Darren Till (red gloves) during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC Middleweight Rankings – Aftermath Of UFC 312 As Dricus Du Plessis Puts A Beatdown On Sean Strickland To Retain The UFC Middleweight Title!

UFC 312 Updates: Dricus Du Plessis retains his middleweight throne, shaking up rankings with Strickland, Chimaev, and more!

Looking at the shakeup in the UFC‘s middleweight division after UFC 312, one thing is crystal clear. Dricus Du Plessis remains the king of the mountain. The South African champion successfully defended his title in a thrilling rematch against Sean Strickland (via unanimous decision), solidifying his spot at the top of the rankings.

Du Plessis’s journey to the belt has been nothing short of remarkable, from being relatively unknown just a few years ago to dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297, and now defending his crown in enemy territory at UFC 312 in Sydney.

UFC Middleweight Ranking For February 2025 (Post UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland)

Here are the rankings for the middleweight division after UFC 312.

Ranking	Fighter
Champion	Dricus Du Plessis (C)
#1	Sean Strickland
#2	Nassourdine Imavov
#3	Khamzat Chimaev
#4	Israel Adesanya
#5	Robert Whittaker
#6	Caio Borralho
#7	Jared Cannonier
#8	Marvin Vettori
#9	Brendon Allen
#10	Roman Dolidze
#11	Paulo Costa
#12	Anthony Hernandez
#13	Michel Pereira
#14	Roman Kopylov
#15	Bo Nickal

Also Read: Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira End Rivalry As The Former Middlweight Champions Pose Cheekily At UFC 312!

What’s Next For The UFC’s Middleweight Division?

With Khamzat Chimaev in the mix and him probably getting the next title shot, the middleweight division is very exciting right now. Champion Dricus Du Plessis has proven he’s no flash in the pan, but he is got a lineup of hungry challengers eager to test his mettle. Nassourdine Imavov’s rise to #2 puts him squarely in the title conversation, especially after his recent performances have turned heads.

Biggest bullshit is this fight 🥱🥱🥱
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) February 9, 2025

Israel Adesanya, now at #4, needs to rebuild his momentum after a string of tough losses. A fight against someone like Robert Whittaker or Jared Cannonier could be just what the doctor ordered. The division’s dark horse has to be Bo Nickal, who just cracked the top 15. While he is still green in MMA terms, his wrestling pedigree and finishing ability make him a potential fast-riser. The UFC might want to test him against more experienced opponents before throwing him to the wolves at the top. The next few months should give fans clarity about who gets the next crack at Du Plessis’s crown.

The middleweight division feels so much more unpredictable since these last few years, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes it so exciting right now. Who would have thought a year ago that fans would be looking at rankings where neither Adesanya nor Whittaker held one of the top three spots? Fight game, you never cease to amaze.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Israel Adesanya

Khamzat Chimaev

Nassourdine Imavov

Robert Whittaker

Sean Strickland

UFC 312

UFC middleweight rankings

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!