Global Combat Sports Power Rankings: Van and Tsarukyan Crash the Top 10

The October 2026 combat sports form guide is officially written, and the old guard is making room. Across mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and boxing, the pound-for-pound landscape has violently shifted over the last month. The biggest winners are the sport's surging technicians, with Joshua Van and Arman Tsarukyan officially crashing the ESPN top 10.[1][2]

"The additions mark a shift in how the sport's best are evaluated across weight classes," noted the latest rankings update, which saw established names forced out to accommodate the new blood. Tsarukyan’s inclusion follows a ruthless climb through the lightweight ranks, where a string of victories against top contenders has positioned him as an undeniable threat.[1][2]

Van’s rise is equally meteoric. The flyweight standout has strung together an 18-2 record, recently securing a unanimous decision victory over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 to capture the divisional crown. That September performance was enough to vault him into the elite tier of the sport's absolute best, proving that activity and strength of schedule are being rewarded.[2][7]

At the very top of the MMA mountain, however, the king remains undisturbed. Islam Makhachev holds the number one pound-for-pound spot across multiple major ranking panels, boasting a 29-1 record and a stranglehold on the welterweight division. Alexander Volkanovski and Justin Gaethje trail closely behind him in the second and third slots.[5][7]

Kickboxing Crowns a New King

The striking world saw an even more dramatic reshuffling this month. Chico Kwasi has officially taken the number one pound-for-pound throne in global kickboxing. Kwasi defeated Teodor Hristov by unanimous decision to successfully defend his GLORY welterweight title for the fifth consecutive time, cementing his status as the de facto ruler across two competitive weight divisions.[4]

Kwasi takes the top spot just as other elite kickboxers transition away from the sport or falter under the lights. Right behind him, however, is a familiar name making massive waves. Ryujin Nasukawa has claimed the number three pound-for-pound spot after a grueling extension-round split decision win over Kazuki Osaki.[4]

That victory earned the 20-year-old Nasukawa the RISE -53kg World title, proving he possesses the same generational talent that made his brother a global superstar. Nasukawa is now competing in ONE Championship alongside RISE, giving him an immediate platform to challenge Kwasi for the absolute top spot before the year is out.[4]

The Boxing Landscape Settles

In the squared circle, the dust has finally settled from a turbulent summer. Naoya Inoue currently sits atop the boxing pound-for-pound list with a flawless 33-0 record and 27 knockouts. Inoue seized the number one ranking after outlasting a fiercely game Junto Nakatani in Tokyo, a brutal bout that left Nakatani with a fractured orbital bone.[6]

Inoue displaced former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who dropped to second after giving up his remaining titles in search of one final career-defining opponent. Shakur Stevenson rounds out the boxing top three, holding the WBO light welterweight strap and a pristine 25-0 record.[6]

Down at the lighter boxing weight classes, Oscar Collazo is making a historic leap. After scoring a second-round knockout over Neider Valdez, the undefeated Puerto Rican is skipping two weight classes to challenge unified flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval on October 10. Collazo currently sits at number 12 on the pound-for-pound list, but a victory in Chicago would instantly propel him into the single digits.[6]

Women's Divisions See Major Movement

The women’s pound-for-pound landscape also saw critical movement this week. Valentina Shevchenko broke back into the ESPN top 10 overall list, a testament to her enduring technical brilliance and grappling dominance. Shevchenko currently leads the Combat Press women’s flyweight rankings, sitting just ahead of Natalia Silva and Alexa Grasso.[1][3]

Silva’s own stock is at an all-time high following her recent vacant flyweight title clash against Wang Cong at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. The Brazilian entered the October bout with a perfect 8-0 octagon record and 14 consecutive victories overall, systematically clearing out former champions to earn her championship opportunity.[3]

The kickboxing heavyweight division is also providing massive firepower to the global rankings. Tariq Osaro climbed to the number two spot after stopping Errol Zimmerman in the second round, a dominant performance that featured four separate knockdowns. With Levi Rigters leaving the rankings to transition to MMA, Osaro is now the undeniable next man up for the heavyweight crown.[4]

The form guide across all three disciplines tells the same story: momentum is currently favoring the active, technical strikers who are willing to clear out their divisions. With UFC 332 just setting a modern record of 11 knockouts in a single night, the lower half of the MMA rankings is already primed for another massive shakeup.[3]

For now, the targets are painted squarely on the backs of Makhachev, Kwasi, and Inoue. The next few months of matchmaking will determine whether this new generation of surging contenders can actually dethrone the established kings, or if the current pound-for-pound rulers are truly untouchable.