Thursday, November 21, 2024
Sports

MMA divisional rankings: Jack Della Maddalena cracks top 5 in stacked welterweight class

Jack Della Maddalena was on the verge of having his 16-fight winning streak halted. Down on two of the three scorecards midway through the final round of his UFC 299 bout with Gilbert Burns last weekend, Della Maddalena was being controlled on the canvas by the elite grappler. Even if he avoided a submission, the Aussie could not afford to finish the round on bottom.

So he found a way out from under Burns, scampered to his feet and, within seconds, earned a spectacular finish. Della Maddalena landed a knee to the face, knocking Burns to the canvas, and finished him with ground-and-pound to keep his run of success alive.

With the victory, Della Maddalena enters the latest Brett Okamoto rankings for ESPN in a big way, jumping all the way into the welterweight top five.

That is the most dramatic movement in these rankings, but far from the only lingering effect from UFC 299. No one has newly taken charge of a weight class, but Sean O’Malley solidified his spot as the No. 1 men’s bantamweight. Maycee Barber elevated her standing among the 125-pound women.

Among those dropping out of the rankings are heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Nikita Krylov, both of whom have been idle for over a year and are ineligible.

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 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.

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

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jailton Almeida, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 13-3, 3 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Curtis Blaydes, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Vadim Nemkov

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 5 at light heavyweight
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Tai Tuivasa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: March 16 vs. Marcin Tybura


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 9-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill


2. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic


3. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1
Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Jan Blachowicz

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


5. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: March 22 vs. Karl Moore


6. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-19
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-8
Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 37-19
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Bogdan Guskov, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Ryan Spann

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 21-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Anthony Smith, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6
Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Marvin Vettori

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Brendan Allen


7. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (SD) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Marvin Vettori


10. Jack Hermansson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-7
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Colby Covington

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Jason Jackson

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Ray Cooper III, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-1
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-0
Last: W (SD) vs. Geoff Neal, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan


3. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway


4. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Benoit Saint Denis, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira


6. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Dan Hooker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Jalin Turner

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje


4. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Patricio Freire

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: March 22 vs. Jeremy Kennedy


7. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Giga Chikadze

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O’Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar


4. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Henry Cejudo

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 16-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Patchy Mix

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: May 17 vs. Magomed Magomedov


8. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean O’Malley, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Sergio Pettis

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 23-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt


MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Demetrious Johnson

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


5. Amir Albazi

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Adriano Moraes

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Matheus Nicolau

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0,1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Perez, March 2, 2024
Next: TBDMarch 2


WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Ketlen Vieira

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


3. Holly Holm

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison


4. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Sara McMann

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie


7. Pannie Kianzad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: March 16 vs. Macy Chiasson


8. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Miesha Tate

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-9
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3-1
Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Erin Blanchfield


4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Manon Fiorot


5. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: April 4 vs. Juliana Velasquez


6. Maycee Barber

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez


8. Katlyn Cerminara

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Maycee Barber, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Amanda Ribas


10. Viviane Araujo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan


2. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili


4. Tatiana Suarez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Loopy Godínez


6. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade


7. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez


8. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Rose Namajunas


10. Luana Pinheiro

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD

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