Divisional rankings: Alexandre Pantoja's takeover is among big changes
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Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer
Alexandre Pantoja had defeated Brandon Moreno twice before, but last Saturday at UFC 290, Moreno really put Pantoja to the test in their men’s flyweight title bout.
Pantoja passed the best, though by the slimmest of margins, in a split-decision victory that made him the champion.
With that ascension, Pantoja also takes over the top spot among 125-pound men in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
There’s also a change at the top of the women’s bantamweight top 10, caused by the retirement of Amanda Nunes, who reigned in that UFC division as well as featherweight. With “The Lioness” gone, everyone else in the rankings moves up a spot. Julianna Peña takes over at No. 1, and Pannie Kianzad claims the final spot.
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 July 12. 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: Nov. 11 vs. Stipe Miocic
2. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Serghei Spivac
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: July 22 vs. Marcin Tybura
7. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Ciryl Gane
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. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (SUB1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9-1
Last: D (SD) Magomed Ankalaev, Dec.10, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-18
Last: L (UD) Johnny Walker, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Phil Davis
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Corey Anderson, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Spann
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8
Last: L (Sub1) Nikita Krylov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (TKO2) Alex Pereira, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Dricus Du Plessis
2. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, April 8, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Jan Blachowicz
3. Dricus du Plessis 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Israel Adesanya
4. Robert Whittaker 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Jube 17, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Ikram Aliskerov
8. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards
9. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-5
Last: W (TKO2) Abus Magomedov, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
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. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
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: 22-6
Last: L (UD) Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
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: July 29 vs. Michel Pereira
9. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Ian Garry
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: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Dustin Poirier
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Justin Gaethje
6. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD vs. Conor McGregor
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. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) Joachim Silva, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-14
Last: W (Sub2) Bryan Barberena, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: Aug. 12 vs. Vicente Luque
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-2
Last: W (TKO3) Yair Rodriguez, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: W (UD) Arnold Allen, April 15, 2023
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Chan Sung Jung
3. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-6
Last: L (UD) Sergio Pettis, June 16, 2023
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: July 30 vs. Patricky Freire
7. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Calvin Kattar
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-3
Last: W (SD) Henry Cejudo, May 6, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Sean O’Malley
2. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Aljamain Sterling
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (SD) Marlon Vera, March 25, 2023
Next: Aug. 5 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Patricio Freire, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Patchy Mix
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8-1
Last: L (SD) Cory Sandhagen, March 25, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Pedro Munhoz
9. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO1) Adrian Yanez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Sergio Pettis
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Manel Kape
7. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) David Dvorak, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Kai Kara-France
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: July 22 vs. Pannie Kianzad
4. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-6
Last: W (UD) Yana Santos, March 25, 2023
Next: July 15 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
5. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, April 22, 2023
Next: July 15 vs. Chelsea Chandler
10. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-6
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, April 26, 2022
Next: July 22 vs. Ketlen Vieira
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: Sept. 16 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 16. vs. Alexa Grasso
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Rose Namajunas
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11
Last: L (KO1) Yan Xiaonan, May 6, 2023
Next: Aug. 5 vs. Tatiana Suarez
6. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
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. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Jennifer Maia
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9-1
Last: W (UD) Casey O’Neill, March 18, 2023
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: Aug. 19 vs. Amanda Lemos
2. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2-1
Last: W (TKO3) Marina Rodriguez, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (TKO2) Maycee Barber, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-11
Last: L (SD) Luana Pinheiro, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
