Divisional: Even without UFC belt, Israel Adesanya keeps top spot
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Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer
Israel Adesanya did not look like the better fighter when he was inside the Octagon with Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
But that was just one night, and over the long haul, one bad performance does not define a fighter any more than one good performance does.
So despite Strickland now owning the UFC middleweight belt, Adesanya remains at the top of the 185-pound heap in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Strickland moves up in the top 10 — but he remains far from the top.
Among the other divisions that saw some upheaval is women’s flyweight. Rose Namajunas lost her debut in that division two weekends ago, but the two-time strawweight champ nonetheless makes her debut in the top 10 of her new weight class.
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 Sept. 13. 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: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: Nov. 4 vs. Jailton Almeida
5. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) Marcin Tybura, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Linton Vassell
10. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (SUB1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 13, 2023
Next: Nov. 4 vs. Curtis Blaydes
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
Record: 8-2
Last: W (SD) Jan Blachowicz, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Johnny Walker
5. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
9. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-18
Last: W (SD) Ryan Spann, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Phil Davis
Promotion: Bellator
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
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) Israel Adesanya, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
8. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards
9. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Roman Dolidze
10. Roman Dolidze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, March 18, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Derek Brunson
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: Nov. 17 vs. Jason Jackson
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: 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
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
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
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: 32-15
Last: L (UD) Vicente Luque, Aug. 12, 2023
Next: TBD
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: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
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
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) Ilia Topuria, June 24, 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. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) Sean O’Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
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: Nov. 17 vs. Patchy Mix
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: Nov. 17 vs. Sergio Pettis
10. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
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: 19-6
Last: W (UD) Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 17-5
Last: W (SD) Yana Santos, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Josiane Nunes
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Zarah Fairn, Jan. 21, 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
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-12
Last: L (Sub2) Tatiana Suarez, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Mackenzie Dern
6. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
7. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
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: 24-2
Last: W (UD) Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3-1
Last: L (UD) Zhang Weili, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
8. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Jessica Andrade
9. Maycee Barber
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
