Biggest Ranking Climbers of Early 2025
The first quarter of 2025 has already delivered seismic shifts in the MMA world, with several fighters making significant leaps in the rankings. Among them, Joaquin Buckley and Umar Nurmagomedov have emerged as standout names, redefining their respective divisions through exceptional performances and strategic career moves. These athletes are not just climbing the rankings—they’re reshaping the competitive world of modern MMA.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady (03-22-2025)
Welterweight (170)
[#2][#7DD][#10P4P][#2UFC] Leon Edwards (22-4-0, +122) vs. [#5][#5UFC] Sean Brady (17-1-0, -146)
Leon Edwards is the All-Time #5 ranked Welterweight and #31 ranked Absolute fighter.
Sean Brady is the All-Time #42 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Leon Edwards (2-1-0)
2024-07-27: L vs. [#1WW][#6DD][#7P4P] Belal Muhammad (24-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
2023-12-16: W vs. [#8WW] Colby Covington (17-5-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2023-03-18: W vs. [*] Kamaru Usman (20-4-0) via MD (48-46, 48-46, 47-47)
Last 3 Fights: Sean Brady (2-1-0)
2024-09-07: W vs. [#9WW] Gilbert Burns (22-8-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 50-45)
2023-12-02: W vs. [#17MW] Kelvin Gastelum (19-9-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 1:43 of round 3
2022-10-22: L vs. [#1WW][#6DD][#7P4P] Belal Muhammad (24-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:47 of round 2
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Sean Brady | -146 | 56.84% | |
| Elo K170 | Leon Edwards | 2392.96 | +237.48 | 79.69% |
| Elo Modified | Leon Edwards | 2324.27 | +207.69 | 76.78% |
| Glicko-1 | Leon Edwards | 2374.73 | +201.45 | 76.13% |
| WHR | Leon Edwards | 2105.13 | +83.24 | 61.76% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Leon Edwards 33.6, Sean Brady 32.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Leon Edwards 238, Sean Brady 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.
Light Heavyweight (205)
[*] Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1, +199) vs. [#10][#7UFC] Carlos Ulberg (12-1-0, -243)
Jan Blachowicz is the All-Time #10 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Jan Blachowicz (1-1-1)
2023-07-29: L vs. [#2LHW] Alex Pereira (12-3-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2022-12-10: D vs. [#1LHW][#6P4P] Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1) via Draw (Split) in 5:00 of round 5
2022-05-14: W vs. [#21LHW] Aleksandar Rakic (14-5-0) via TKO (Knee Injury) in 1:11 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Carlos Ulberg (3-0-0)
2024-11-23: W vs. [#11LHW] Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-05-11: W vs. [#23LHW] Alonzo Menifield (16-5-1) via KO (Punches) in 0:12 of round 1
2023-09-09: W vs. [#90LHW] Da Woon Jung (15-6-1) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 4:49 of round 3
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Carlos Ulberg | -243 | 67.93% | |
| Elo K170 | Jan Blachowicz | 2056.71 | +103.47 | 64.47% |
| Elo Modified | Jan Blachowicz | 2123.58 | +165.15 | 72.12% |
| Glicko-1 | Jan Blachowicz | 2218.42 | +217.42 | 77.75% |
| WHR | Jan Blachowicz | 2026.68 | +94.14 | 63.23% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Jan Blachowicz 42.1, Carlos Ulberg 34.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jan Blachowicz 602, Carlos Ulberg 119
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.
Welterweight (170)
[#27][#21UFC] Kevin Holland (26-13-0, +119) vs. [*] Gunnar Nelson (19-5-1, -143)
Last 3 Fights: Kevin Holland (1-2-0)
2025-01-18: L vs. [#20MW] Reinier de Ridder (19-2-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 3:31 of round 1
2024-10-05: L vs. [#9MW] Roman Dolidze (15-3-0) via TKO (Corner Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 1
2024-06-01: W vs. [#51MW] Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9-0) via Technical Submission (Armbar) in 1:34 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Gunnar Nelson (2-1-0)
2023-03-18: W vs. [#105MW] Bryan Barberena (18-12-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 4:51 of round 1
2022-03-19: W vs. [#430WW] Takashi Sato (16-8-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2019-09-28: L vs. [#9WW] Gilbert Burns (22-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Gunnar Nelson | -143 | 56.31% | |
| Elo K170 | Gunnar Nelson | 1923.36 | +191.41 | 75.06% |
| Elo Modified | Gunnar Nelson | 1945.14 | +189.29 | 74.83% |
| Glicko-1 | Gunnar Nelson | 2019.31 | +182.81 | 74.12% |
| WHR | Gunnar Nelson | 1906.38 | +141.71 | 69.33% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Kevin Holland 32.4, Gunnar Nelson 36.6
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Kevin Holland 63, Gunnar Nelson 735
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Kevin Holland leads 2-1
.
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