Divisional: UFC champ Du Plessis moves up at middleweight
ad held his UFC championship through more than twice as many title
defenses as any other current champ. His reign at men’s featherweight
extended all the way back to 2019, when he dethroned Max Holloway. Volkanovski went on to defeat Holloway, an all-time great, two more
times, and he fended off challenges by Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung.
Over time, it began to appear that Volkanovski was unbeatable at 145 pounds.
Then, at UFC 298 last weekend, Ilia Topuria didn’t merely beat Volkanovski, he knocked him out in the second round to
take away the title.
The undefeated 27-year-old from Spain now sits atop the men’s featherweight
top 10 in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
That is the only major change in the latest update to Brett Okamoto’s
rankings. There’s a small flip-flop at light heavyweight, and a new entry
at the bottom of the middleweight top 10. But the story of these rankings
is the change in power at 145 pounds.
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Feb. 21. To be eligible for the
rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have
an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can
be reinstated only after they compete.
Heavyweight – Light heavyweight – Middleweight – WelterweightLightweight – Men’s featherweight – Men’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight – Women’s bantamweight – Women’s flyweight – Strawweight
Tom Aspinall celebrates from the top of the heavyweight world — his spot
at least until Jon Jones returns. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-3Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023Next: TBD
2. Jon Jones
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 27-1, 1 NCLast: W (Sub1) vs. Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023Next: TBD
3. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-2Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023Next: TBD
4. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-2Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023Next: TBD
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4, 1 NCLast: L (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Jailton Almeida
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFCRecord: 37-10Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-6Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023Next: March 16 vs. Marcin Tybura
8. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-2Last: W (UD) vs. Derrick Lewis, Nov. 4, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Curtis Blaydes
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023Next: TBD
10. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 31-7, 1 NCLast: W (TKO1) vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Renan Ferreira
Khalil Rountree Jr. entered the top 10 at light heavyweight after picking
up a third-round knockout win over Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night on Dec.
9. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 9-2Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill
2. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-4-1Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
3. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 4Record: 19-1-1Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024Next: TBD
4. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 3Record: 29-10-1Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023Next: TBD
5. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: BellatorRecord: 17-2, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Bruno Cappelozza
6. Corey Anderson
Promotion: BellatorRecord: 17-6, 1 NCLast: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023Next: March 22 vs. Karl Moore
7. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFCRecord: 30-9Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023Next: TBD
8. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFCRecord: 37-19Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023Next: TBD
9. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-8Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024Next: TBD
10. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFCRecord: 37-19Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023Next: TBD
Dricus Du Plessis walked out of the cage at UFC 297 in possession of the
middleweight belt. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 21-2Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024Next: TBD
2. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-3Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023Next: TBD
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-7Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-6Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023Next: TBD
5. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFCRecord: 28-6Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-7-1Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023Next: April 6 vs. Brendan Allen
7. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 14-0Last: W (TKO3) vs. Fabian Edwards, Sept. 23, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Impa Kasanganay
8. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-0Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023Next: TBD
9. Brendan Allen
Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-5Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023Next: April 6 vs. Marvin Vettori
10. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: UnrankedRecord: 24-8Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024Next: TBD
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards beat Colby Covington by unanimous
decision in the main event at UFC 296 to retain the title. Sean M.
Haffey/Getty Images
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 22-3, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
2. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-4Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023Next: TBD
3. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-3, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023Next: TBD
4. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
5. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-0Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023Next: TBD
6. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-6Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Jack Della Maddalena
7. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
8. Jason Jackson
Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 17-4Last: W (KO3) vs. Yaroslav Amosov, Nov. 17, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Ray Cooper III
9. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-6-1Last: L (Sub2) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-6Last: L (SD) vs. Ian Garry, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
Justin Gaethje celebrates with the BMF belt after defeating Dustin Poirier
at UFC 291. Josh Hedges/Getty Images
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 25-1Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFCRecord: 34-9, 1 NCLast: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-4Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway
4. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-3Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-8, 1 NCLast: L (KO2) vs. Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Benoit Saint Denis
6. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-6-1Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023Next: TBD
7. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-2, 1 NCLast: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Sept. 23, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
8. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-8Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023Next: TBD
9. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-12Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023Next: TBD
10. Jalin Turner
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-7Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023Next: TBD
Team Topuria had reason to celebrate at the conclusion of UFC 298. Gary A.
Vasquez/USA Today Sports
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC championPrevious ranking: 5Record: 15-0Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
2. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 1Record: 26-4Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
3. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 2Record: 25-7Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje
4. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 3Record: 15-4, 1 NCLast: L (TKO3) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brian Ortega
5. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator championPrevious ranking: 4Record: 35-7Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Jesus Pinedo
6. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-4Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
7. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-3Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024Next: TBD
9. Giga Chikadze
Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-3Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023Next: TBD
10. Bryce Mitchell
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-2Last: L (KO1) Josh Emmett, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
Sean O’Malley upset the balance of power in the UFC men’s bantamweight
division. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 17-1, 1 NCLast: W (TKO2) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Marlon Vera
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-4Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O’Malley, Aug. 19, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar
3. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
4. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-5Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Song Yadong
7. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 19-1Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023Next: TBD
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-8-1Last: W (UD) vs. Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Sean O’Malley
9. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: BellatorRecord: 23-6Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023Next: TBD
10. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-3-1Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt
Alexandre Pantoja recorded his first UFC men’s flyweight title defense with
a win over Brandon Royval in the co-main event at UFC 296. Cooper
Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 27-5Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-7-2Last: L (SD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs.Brandon Royval
3. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship championRecord: 25-4-1Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023Next: TBD
4. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-1Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023Next: TBD
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-11, 1 NCLast: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023Next: TBD
6. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One ChampionshipRecord: 20-5Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023Next: TBD
7. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-7Last: L (UD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 16, 2023Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brandon Moreno
8. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-3-1Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023Next: TBD
9. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-6Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023Next: TBD
10. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-0Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Dec. 3, 2022Next: March 2 vs. Alex Perez
Raquel Pennington filled the UFC’s championship vacancy at women’s
bantamweight with a rugged win on Jan. 20. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty
Images
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 16-8Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024Next: TBD
2. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-3Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023Next: TBD
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-7Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-7Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023Next: TBD
5. Sara McMann
Promotion: BellatorRecord: 14-7Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023Next: TBD
6. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFCRecord: 10-2Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie
7. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-7Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023Next: March 16 vs. Macy Chiasson
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-6Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD
9. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-8, 1 NCLast: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023Next: TBD
10. Miesha Tate
Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-9Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023Next: TBD
Erin Blanchfield scored her sixth straight UFC victory on Aug. 26 in
Singapore. Suhaimi Abdullah/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 16-3-1Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-4-1Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-1Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023Next: March 30 vs. Erin Blanchfield
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-1Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023Next: March 30 vs. Manon Fiorot
5. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 20-7Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023Next: TBD
6. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-12Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
7. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-6Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023Next: March 23 vs. Amanda Ribas
8. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-6Last: L (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Karine Silva
9. Maycee Barber
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-2Last: W (TKO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023Next: March 9 vs. Katlyn Chookagian
10. Viviane Araujo
Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-6Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024Next: TBD
Tatiana Suarez beat Jessica Andrade by submission at UFC Fight Night on
Aug. 5. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC championRecord: 24-2Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan
2. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-3-1Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
3. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-3, 1 NCLast: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-0Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023Next: TBD
5. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-3Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023Next: March 30 vs. Loopy Godínez
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-3-2Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade
7. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-12Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
8. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-5Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-4Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023Next: March 23 vs. Rose Namajunas
10. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-2Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023Next: TBD
Source: Brett Okamoto looks across every promotion to determine the best of the best in UFC, Bellator, PFL and beyond.
