Saturday, November 2, 2024
Sports

Big performances lead to big moves for Jon Jones, Alexa Grasso

It could have been decision time, if only the timing were different.

When Jon Jones won the UFC championship on Saturday night, did that make him the best heavyweight in the world? Not according to fans of Francis Ngannou, who relinquished the title in January after fighting out his UFC contract to pursue opportunities in boxing and other MMA promotions.

Jones is widely considered the greatest ever in MMA, based on his decade of dominance at light heavyweight. Ngannou is a breathtaking knockout artist. Who’s the baddest man?

It turns out that question will not be addressed in these ESPN divisional rankings, as Ngannou is ineligible because he has not competed in over a year — his final title defense was in January 2022. So he’s out … until he books his next MMA fight.

The same is true for several other fighters who have been top-10 regulars, including another former UFC heavyweight champ, Stipe Miocic, who last fought in 2021. The UFC has said Miocic will be Jones’ first title challenger, perhaps this summer, so once that fight is on the books, he soon could be back in these rankings.

There’s also a new No. 1 at women’s flyweight, after Alexa Grasso dethroned longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. There’s some rankings movement in all but a few weight class’ top 10s.

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 March 8. In order to be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked.

HeavyweightLight heavyweightMiddleweightWelterweight
LightweightMen’s featherweightMen’s bantamweight
Men’s flyweightWomen’s bantamweightWomen’s flyweightStrawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1
Last: W (KO1) Tai Tuivasa, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Curtis Blaydes


4. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Tom Aspinall, July 23, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Sergei Pavlovich


5. Tai Tuivasa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 35-10
Last: W (TKO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, June 4, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Ryan Bader

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO1) Chris Daukaus, Dec. 10, 2022
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: April 1 vs. Thiago Santos


9. Nikita Krylov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: March 11 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: March 18 vs. Roman Dolidze


5. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (SD) Sean Strickland, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-2
Last: W (TKO2) Derek Brunson, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Paulo Costa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: TBD


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. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-5
Last: W (Sub1) Neil Magny, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: April 8 vs. Jorge Masvidal


5. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Sean Brady, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Yaroslav Amosov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-0
Last: W (Sub3) Geoff Neal, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


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: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-1
Last: L (TKO2) Belal Muhammad, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


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. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Rafael dos Anjos

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 32-14
Last: W (Sub2) Bryan Barberena, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD


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. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (Sub2) Bryce Mitchell, Ddec. 10, 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. Rob Font

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-6
Last: L (UD) Marlon Vera, April 30, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Raufeon Stots

Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-1
Last: W (SD) Danny Sabatello, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Patchy Mix


9. Song Yadong

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-7-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Cory Sandhagen, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: April 27 vs. Ricky Simon


10. Dominick Cruz

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-4
Last: L (KO4) Marlon Vera, Aug. 13, 2022
Next: TBD


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: 16-5, 2 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Yuki Motoya, Dec. 31, 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, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
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. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub4) Valentina Shevchenko, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 24-10
Last: L (Sub2) Erin Blanchfield, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Katlyn Chookagian

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: Bellator champ
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-7
Last: W (Sub2) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 21 vs. DeAnna Bennett


8. Lauren Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Taila Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: L (SD) Valentina Shevchenko, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Juliana Velasquez

Promotion: Bellator
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: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-10
Last: L (Sub2) Amanda Lemos, July 16
Next: April 8 vs. Luana Pinheiro

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