Divisional: Ground control rockets Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko to top

September 19, 2024 ndowd

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterSep 18, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
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- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- Analyst for “MMA Live”
- Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun

Last weekend’s UFC 306 transformed the ESPN divisional rankings into a game of leapfrog.

Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko both went into their title fights ranked No. 2 in their weight classes behind the defending champions. And now, after Dvalishvili took the men’s bantamweight belt away from Sean O’Malley and Shevchenko dethroned Alexa Grasso at women’s flyweight, the new champs sit at the top of their divisions in the rankings.

The winning strategies of Dvalishvili and Shevchenko were similar: Both utilized their ground games to dominate. Dvalishvili, the UFC’s active leader in takedowns with 85 in his Octagon career, scored six takedowns on 15 attempts, piling up over 10 minutes of control time. Shevchenko was even more efficient, landing eight of her 12 takedown tries and controlling position for 16:04 of her 25 minutes inside the cage.

Saturday’s fights at Sphere in Las Vegas also boosted some other fighters in the rankings. Diego Lopes makes his debut in the featherweight top 10 on the strength of defeating Brian Ortega, a onetime title challenger. And Norma Dumont moves up into the top five at women’s bantamweight after beating Irene Aldana.

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 Sept. 18. 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: Dec. 7 vs. Dominick Reyes

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: Oct. 19 vs. Fabian Edwards

6. Nassourdine Imavov

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

7. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Caio Borralho, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Khamzat Chimaev

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

10. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, 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. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Ian Machado Garry

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

8. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Colby Covington

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

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: Nov. 16 vs. Michael Chandler

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

7. Beneil Dariush

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

8. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexander Shabliy, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Mateusz Gamrot

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

10. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 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: 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. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 26-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Yair Rodriguez

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

7. Patricio Freire

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 36-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 18-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean O’Malley, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Oct. 12 vs. Tatsuro Taira

3. Brandon Moreno

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

4. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
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: Oct. 12 vs. Brandon Royval

7. Steve Erceg

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

8. Manel Kape

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

9. Alex Perez

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

10. Matheus Nicolau

Promotion: UFC
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. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD

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. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 24-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 16-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

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

6. Natalia Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Taila Santos

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

8. Liz Carmouche

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

9. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Rose Namajunas

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

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
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Jessica Andrade, April 13, 2024
Next: Oct. 5 vs. Iasmin Lucindo

7. Mackenzie Dern

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

8. Amanda Ribas

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

9. Loopy Godínez

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

10. Tabatha Ricci

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD

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