Sunday, December 22, 2024
Sports

Divisional: Alex Pereira is still No. 2 … but in a different weight class

Alex Pereira used to be No. 2 in the ESPN rankings. Now he is … No. 2 in the ESPN rankings.

The previous ranking was at middleweight, the UFC division Pereira ruled for several months after dethroning Israel Adesanya last November. But after Adesanya took the title back in April, Pereira opted to move up to light heavyweight.

And after making his 205-pound debut a success with a split-decision victory over former light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 last weekend, Pereira now sits in the second spot in those rankings, behind UFC champ Jamahal Hill and ahead of Blachowicz.

The other notable move in the latest ESPN divisional rankings: Raquel Pennington moves up a spot to No. 1 at women’s bantamweight because the previous top-ranked fighter, Julianna Peña, is newly ineligible because she has not competed in over a year.

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 Aug. 2. 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.

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
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. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) Marcin Tybura, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Tai Tuivasa

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


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
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2 at middleweight
Record: 8-2
Last: W (SD) Jan Blachowicz, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Jan Blachowicz

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Johnny Walker


5. Vadim Nemkov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Nikita Krylov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Magomed Ankalaev


9. Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 36-18
Last: L (UD) Johnny Walker, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Phil Davis

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Corey Anderson, June 16, 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. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Israel Adesanya


3. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Marvin Vettori

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Paulo Costa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Khamzat Chimaev


7. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards


8. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 27-5
Last: W (TKO2) Abus Magomedov, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Derek Brunson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Roman Dolidze

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, March 18, 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: Oct. 21 vs. Paulo Costa


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: TBD


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: Oct. 21 vs. Charles Oliveira


2. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Islam Makhachev


3. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD


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: Sept. 23 vs. Mateusz Gamrot


8. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Rafael Fiziev


9. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) Joaquim 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: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: TBD


5. A.J. McKee

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Calvin Kattar

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
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. Rob Font


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: Aug. 5 vs. Cory Sandhagen


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
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Demetrious Johnson

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
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. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Holly Holm

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Sara McMann

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023

Next: TBD


8. Pannie Kianzad

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-5
Last: W (SD) Yana Santos, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Karol Rosa, July 1, 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: 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

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