Divisional: Kara-France knocks down the entry door at flyweight

August 21, 2024 ndowd

Aug 20, 2024, 02:00 PM ET

Kai Kara-France had not fought in over a year, and his two most recent trips inside the Octagon had not gone well for him — a knockout loss and then an agonizing split-decision defeat that mired him in his first UFC losing streak. His assignment at UFC 305 last weekend in Perth, Australia, was a fight against Steve Erceg, who was coming off a men’s flyweight title fight and would be fighting in his hometown.

So, the deck was stacked against Kara-France. But he rose to the occasion in a big way, knocking out Erceg in the first round.

As a result, Kara-France returns to Brett Okamoto’s divisional rankings, staking his place in the 125-pound top five.

Dan Hooker also used a high-flying UFC 305 performance — an upset win over Mateusz Gamrot — as a springboard for a rise in the lightweight rankings.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Aug. 20. 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 (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Alexander Volkov

3. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-10
Last: W (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, June 22, 2024
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ciryl Gane

5. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-3, 3 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Francis Ngannou

7. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Alexandr Romanov, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Vadim Nemkov

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

10. Derrick Lewis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento, May 11, 2024
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Alexandr Romanov

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, June 29, 2024
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

2. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-5-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1
Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Aleksandar Rakic

4. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 10-2
Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Pereira, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (TKO) vs. Jiří Procházka, April 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Magomed Ankalaev

7. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-19
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Alex Pereira

8. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Johnny Walker, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-20
Last: L (UD) vs. Roman Dolidze, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-2
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Israel Adesanya, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Dricus du Plessis, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-6
Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ikram Aliskerov, June 22, 2024
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Khamzat Chimaev

5. Johnny Eblen

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

6. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 8, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, June 8, 2024
Next: Aug. 24 vs. Caio Borralho

8. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Robert Whittaker

9. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Paulo Costa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 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
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024
Next: Sept. 7 vs. Sean Brady

7. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael “Venom” Page, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Colby Covington

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

9. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: Sept. 7 vs. Gilbert Burns

10. Stephen Thompson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Joaquin Buckley

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-1
Last: W (Sub5) vs. Dustin Poirier, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-10, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: L (KO5) vs. Max Holloway, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Dan Hooker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Beneil Dariush

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

8. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 24-2, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Dan Hooker, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Rafael Fiziev

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

10. Jalin Turner

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Renato Moicano, April 13, 2024
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: Oct. 26 vs. Max Holloway

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: 26-7
Last: W (KO5) vs. Justin Gaethje, April 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ilia Topuria

4. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Diego Lopes

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: 36-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Oct. 5 vs. Aljamain Sterling

9. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Calvin Kattar, April 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Movsar Evloev

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: Sept. 14 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

2. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Sean O’Malley

3. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Petr Yan

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

6. Henry Cejudo

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

7. Jose Aldo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Jonathan Martinez, May 4, 2024
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Mario Bautista

8. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Patchy Mix

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024
Next: Nov. 16 vs. Leandro Higo

10. Kyoji Horiguchi

Promotion: Rizin champion
Record: 33-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Sergio Pettis, June 9, 2024
Next: TBD

MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, May 4, 2024
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. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 25-11, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: None
Record: 13-0,1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Manel Kape, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Alex Perez, June 15, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Steve Erceg

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Kai Kara-France, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Muhammad Mokaev, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Alex Perez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 25-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Matheus Nicolau

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-5-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Perez, April 27, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Oct. 5 vs Julianna Peña

2. Kayla Harrison

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Holly Holm, April 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Ketlen Vieira

3. Holly Holm

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Norma Dumont

5. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Germaine de Randamie, April 6, 2024
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Irene Aldana

7. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Pannie Kianzad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Macy Chiasson, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, Aug. 10, 2024
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: Sept. 14 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: Sept. 14 vs. Alexa Grasso

3. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, March 30, 2024
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Rose Namajunas

5. Maycee Barber

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Taila Santos

Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Liz Carmouche, Aug. 2, 2024
Next: TBD vs. Dakota Ditcheva

7. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, April 13, 2024
Next: Sept. 7 vs. Natalia Silva

9. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Tracy Cortez, July 13, 2024
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Erin Blanchfield

10. Katlyn Cerminara

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

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Virna Jandiroba, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 26-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, April 13, 2024
Next: Sept. 7 vs. Natalia Silva

6. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 17-4-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Jessica Andrade, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Angela Hill

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-13
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Luana Pinheiro, May 18, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Loopy Godínez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

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