MMA divisional rankings: How big a boost was Blanchfield's stunning win?
Erin Blanchfield entered her first UFC main event on Feb. 18 as a prospect with a future. But circumstances beyond her control would not allow that future to unfold gradually.
After initially being matched up against top-10 obstacle Taila Santos, an appropriate measuring stick for a 23-year-old fighter who aspires to reach the peak of the women’s flyweight division, Blanchfield saw her stakes and challenge change dramatically when Santos pulled out and was replaced by wrecking machine Jessica Andrade, a former strawweight champion and flyweight title challenger.
But Blanchfield passed the test in a stunning way, piecing up Andrade on the feet and standing up to her power before taking the fight to the canvas and quickly getting a rear-naked choke victory.
The win might earn Blanchfield a title shot against the winner of the March 4 fight between champion Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso. If nothing else, Blanchfield earned her entry into the ESPN women’s flyweight rankings.
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. 22.
Heavyweight – Light heavyweight – Middleweight – Welterweight
Lightweight – Men’s featherweight – Men’s bantamweight
Men’s flyweight – Women’s bantamweight – Women’s flyweight – Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Francis Ngannou 
Promotion: None
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (KO3) Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (KO1) Tai Tuivasa, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Curtis Blaydes
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Tom Aspinall, July 23, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Sergei Pavlovich
6. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Serghei Spivac 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-10
Last: W (TKO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, June 4, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jiri Prochazka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-3-1
Last: W (Sub5) Glover Teixeira, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9-1
Last: D (SD) Magomed Ankalaev, Dec.10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Corey Anderson, Nov. 18, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Aleksandar Rakic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: L (TKO3) Jan Blachowicz, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 16-6, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Vadim Nemkov, Nov. 18, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Rob Wilkinson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 17-2
Last: W (TKO2) Omari Akhmedov, Nov. 25, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Feb. 25 vs. Ryan Spann
10. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-17
Last: L (TKO2) Magomed Ankalaev, July 30, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Johnny Walker
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 7-1
Last: W (TKO5) Israel Adesanya, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: April 8 vs. Israel Adesanya
2. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-2
Last: L (TKO5) Alex Pereira, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: April 8 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (SD) Sean Strickland, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (KO2) Jared Cannonier, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Dricus du Plessis
8. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) Nassourdine Imavov, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Gegard Mousasi
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 49-8-2
Last: L (UD) Johnny Eblen, June 24, 2022
Next: May 12 vs. Fabian Edwards
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO5) Kamaru Usman, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: March 18 vs. Kamaru Usman
2. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: L (KO5) Leon Edwards, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: March 18 vs. Leon Edwards
3. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, March 5, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: W (Sub1) Neil Magny, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: April 8 vs. Jorge Masvidal
6. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Sean Brady, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Yaroslav Amosov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: Feb. 25 vs. Logan Storley
8. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: W (TKO4) Kevin Holland, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO3) Vicente Luque, Aug. 6, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
10. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (Sub2) Neil Magny, June 25, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Geoff Neal
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Beneil Dariush
3. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4-1
Last: W (UD) Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Charles Oliveira
4. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub1) Charles Oliveira, May 7, 2022
Next: March 18 vs. Rafael Fiziev
6. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-6
Last: W (KO5) Rafael dos Anjos, July 9, 2022
Next: March 18 vs. Justin Gaethje
8. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-14
Last: W (Sub2) Bryan Barberena, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Jalin Turner
10. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Damir Ismagulov, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-2
Last: L (UD) Islam Makhachev, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) Josh Emmett, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Max Holloway 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 23-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, July 2, 2022
Next: April 15 vs. Arnold Allen
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 35-5
Last: W (UD) Kleber Koike Erbst, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Yair Rodriguez, July 16, 2022
Next: TBD
6. A.J. McKee
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: L (Sub2) Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TKO2) Calvin Kattar, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: April 15 vs. Max Holloway
9. Calvin Kattar
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Giga Chikadze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: L (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO2) TJ Dillashaw, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Henry Cejudo
2. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (KO4) Dominick Cruz, Aug. 13, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Cory Sandhagen
4. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Sean O’Malley, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: March 11 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
5. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) Jose Aldo, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: March 11 vs. Petr Yan
6. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (TKO4) Song Yadong, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Marlon Vera
7. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (KO4) Kyoji Horiguchi, Dec. 3, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (UD) Marlon Vera, April 30, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Raufeon Stots
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 19-1
Last: W (SD) Danny Sabatello, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Patchy Mix
10. Song Yadong
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Cory Sandhagen, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: April 27 vs. Ricky Simon
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-6-2
Last: W (TKO3) Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 31-4-1
Last: W (KO4) Adriano Moraes, Aug. 26, 2022
Next: May 5 vs. Adriano Moraes
3. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-10, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-4
Last: L (KO4) Demetrious Johnson, Aug. 26, 2022
Next: May 5 vs. Demetrious Johnson
6. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (Sub1) Alex Perez, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Askar Askarov
Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 14-1-1
Last: L (UD) Kai Kara-France, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (Sub1) Matt Schnell, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2-1
Last: W (TKO2) Matt Schnell, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin
Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Brandon Royval, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Julianna Peña, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (SD) Ketlen Vieira, May 21, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Yana Santos
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (KO3) Macy Chiasson, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: March 25 vs. Holly Holm
8. Sara McMann
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, April 16, 2022
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-3
Last: W (SD) Taila Santos, June 11, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Alexa Grasso
2. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 24-10
Last: L (Sub2) Erin Blanchfield, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champ
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-7
Last: W (Sub2) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 21 vs. DeAnna Bennett
7. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, Oct. 15, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
8. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Taila Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-1
Last: L (SD) Valentina Shevchenko, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (Sub2) Carla Esparza, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2-1
Last: W (TKO3) Marina Rodriguez, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2-2
Last: L (TKO3) Amanda Lemos, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (MD) Yan Xiaonan, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (SD) Mackenzie Dern, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-3
Last: L (SD) Katlyn Chookagian, May 14, 2022
Next: March 4 vs. Viviane Araujo
10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-10
Last: L (Sub2) Amanda Lemos, July 16
Next: April 8 vs. Luana Pinheiro
