Combat Sports Power Rankings: Van, Usyk, and Yod-IQ Surge in September

The combat sports landscape doesn't pause for anyone to catch their breath. September 2026 has been an absolute meat grinder for the pound-for-pound elite, with belts defended in Los Angeles, vacant crowns seized in Bangkok, and the boxing hierarchy finally settling into a post-Terence Crawford reality. The overarching theme across all disciplines is activity: the champions sitting at the top of the rankings aren't just holding belts—they're actively clearing out the contenders.[5][6]

At UFC 331 on September 19, Joshua Van proved his flyweight reign is built on iron. Facing former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a high-stakes rematch at Crypto.com Arena, the 24-year-old champion walked through the fire to retain his 125-pound strap. Van (17-2) ate heavy pressure early and survived a fourth-round knockdown, but his relentless striking volume in the middle frames secured a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring it 49-46, 48-47, and 50-45.[1][2]

The victory marks Van's second consecutive title defense, proving that his injury-TKO win over Pantoja last December was no fluke. The win solidifies his standing in the algorithmic Meta UFC Rankings, where Islam Makhachev currently holds the No. 1 men's pound-for-pound spot. The UFC 331 co-main event delivered equal violence, as Arman Tsarukyan crushed Mauricio Ruffy with a pair of brutal elbows against the fence at 4:56 of the first round. The knockout cements Tsarukyan as the undeniable No. 1 contender at lightweight, putting a massive target on the back of the division's elite.[1]

Halfway across the world, ONE Championship’s Lumpinee Stadium residency completely rewired the bantamweight Muay Thai division. On September 11 at The Inner Circle 30, 24-year-old phenom Yod-IQ Or Pimolsri seized the vacant 26-pound gold strap. Yod-IQ picked apart Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon over five rounds, utilizing a distinct reach advantage and thudding left body kicks to push his staggering professional record to 128-36. With Rambolek missing weight prior to the bout, Yod-IQ was the only man eligible for the belt—and he fought exactly like a fighter who knew the stakes.[3]

The ink on Yod-IQ’s championship contract was barely dry before a challenger emerged. At The Inner Circle 31 on September 18, Russian striker Kiamran Nabati went to war with Nontachai Jitmuangnon, securing a unanimous decision in a bloody firefight. Nabati improved to 23-1 and immediately set his sights on the new champion, demanding a rematch with Yod-IQ—the only man to ever hand him a defeat.[4]

Meanwhile, the boxing world has finally found consensus at the top of the mountain. Following Terence Crawford’s retirement in late 2025, the pound-for-pound debate has narrowed to a two-horse race, with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) pulling ahead of Japanese monster Naoya Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs). Major editorial boards, including Boxing News and The Independent, have consolidated Usyk at No. 1 this month.[5][6][7]

As Alex Pattle of The Independent wrote this week regarding the post-Crawford landscape: "Crawford went out on top, an unbeaten, modern great... But there are others, remarkably, who come close to his level and legacy." Usyk is currently the man proving that statement true. The Ukrainian's unified heavyweight status and pristine resume make him the undeniable apex predator of the squared circle, while Inoue and David Benavidez (32-0, 25 KOs) round out the podium.[5]

The next quarter will test these newly minted rankings, as Tsarukyan cashes in his title shot and Yod-IQ faces his first challenger. The numbers on the scorecards will ultimately dictate who survives the winter. In a sport where a single punch can rewrite the hierarchy, the only certainty is that the current kings will have to fight to keep their crowns.[1][3]