Divisional rankings: Sergei Pavlovich moves within striking distance of the top
Sergei Pavlovich has established a trend.
His first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday was his sixth victory in a row — all by knockout and all in the first round.
This latest TKO, which came 3:08 into the bout after Pavlovich dropped Blaydes with a right hand for the second time, elevates the Russian in the latest ESPN heavyweight rankings.
Now Pavlovich sits behind only UFC champion Jon Jones in the top 10. The UFC made no announcement about the heavyweight division’s immediate future following Saturday’s fight, but Pavlovich has an idea. “Hey, where’s my belt?” he said through an interpreter in his postfight interview.
Another fighter scored a first-round knockout in a Saturday main event — and earned two belts for it. Patchy Mix knocked out Raufeon Stots at Bellator 295 to capture the promotion’s interim bantamweight title and the championship of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. The win also gave Mix a spot in the ESPN top 10 at 135 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 April 25. 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. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.
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. Jon Jones 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Sergei Pavlovich 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ciryl Gane 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-10
Last: W (TKO1) Alexandr Romanov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO1) Chris Daukaus, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Jailton Almeida
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: June 16 vs. Yoel Romero
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: June 16 vs. Phil Davis
8. Rob Wilkinson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, April 1, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
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. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (TKO2) Alex Pereira, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: July 8 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
4. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (UD) Roman Dolidze, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (SD) Sean Strickland, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (TKO2) Derek Brunson, March 4, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Robert Whittaker
7. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
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: July 1 vs. Abus Magomedov
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: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Kamaru Usman, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (MD) Leon Edwards, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, April 8, 2023
Next: May 6 vs. Belal Muhammad
5. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Sean Brady, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Gilbert Burns
6. Yaroslav Amosov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
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
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: June 10 vs. Beneil Dariush
3. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4-1
Last: W (UD) Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Charles Oliveira
4. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: L (MD) Justin Gaethje, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
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: July 8 vs. Yair Rodriguez
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 24-7
Last: W (UD) Arnold Allen, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) Josh Emmett, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-5
Last: W (UD) Kleber Koike Erbst, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: June 16 vs. Sergio Pettis
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: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
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, Dec. 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. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (SD) Marlon Vera, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8-1
Last: L (SD) Cory Sandhagen, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO1) Adrian Yanez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Song Yadong
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Cory Sandhagen, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: April 29 vs. Ricky Simon
10. Dominick Cruz
Promotion: UFC
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: July 8 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
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: June 3 vs. Amir Albazi
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: July 8 vs. Brandon Moreno
7. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Rogerio Bontorin
Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 16-5, 2 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Yuki Motoya, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (KO3) Alessandro Costa, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: June 3 vs. Kai Kara-France
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: June 10 vs. Julianna Peña
2. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Amanda Nunes
3. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: May 20 vs. Irene Aldana
4. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (UD) Yana Santos, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (KO3) Macy Chiasson, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: May 20 vs. Raquel Pennington
7. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub4) Valentina Shevchenko, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-10
Last: L (Sub2) Erin Blanchfield, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: May 6 vs. Yan Xiaonan
6. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
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: May 6 vs. Virna Jandiroba
6. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Jessica Andrade
7. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (MD) Yan Xiaonan, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Angela Hill
8. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 14, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Marina Rodriguez
