Jamahal Hill takes advantage of light heavyweight volatility
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Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer
Rankings can be topsy-turvy, with fights taking place in multiple promotions every weekend. But the volatility of the latest ESPN light heavyweight rankings had little to do with what happened inside a cage.
UFC champion Jamahal Hill has moved into the No. 1 spot — even though he hasn’t fought since winning the belt in January. He moves up from No. 2 because the previous top 205-pounder, ex-champion Jiří Procházka, has not competed in over a year. That makes him ineligible for our rankings.
Two other light heavyweights also drop out of the top 10 because of ineligibility: Aleksandar Rakic, who last fought in May 2022, and Rob Wilkinson, who was suspended following his last PFL fight after testing positive for a banned substance.
Also ineligible because of inactivity are a pair of women: flyweight Taila Santos and former strawweight champ Rose Namajunas.
There was some fight-related movement as well, most notably by middleweight Jared Cannonier, who moves up a spot after beating Marvin Vettori on Saturday.
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 June 20. 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.
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: TBD
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. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: July 22 vs. Marcin Tybura
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 champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 29-9-1
Last: D (SD) Magomed Ankalaev, Dec.10, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 36-18
Last: L (UD) Johnny Walker, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Phil Davis
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Corey Anderson, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Spann
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 21-8
Last: L (Sub1) Nikita Krylov, March 11, 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
2. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, April 8, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Jan Blachowicz
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: July 8 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Jube 17, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Marvin Vettori 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (TKO2) Derek Brunson, March 4, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Robert Whittaker
7. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Ikram Aliskerov
8. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards
9. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) Nassourdine Imavov, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: July 1 vs. Abus Magomedov
10. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 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: TBD
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: July 29 vs. Michel Pereira
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: July 8 vs. Jack Della Maddalena
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Dustin Poirier
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Justin Gaethje
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: TBD
8. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) Joachim Silva, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
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: 25-2
Last: L (UD) Islam Makhachev, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Yair Rodriguez
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: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) Josh Emmett, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-6
Last: L (UD) Sergio Pettis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Yair Rodriguez, July 16, 2022
Next: TBD
6. A.J. McKee
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: July 30 vs. Patricky Freire
7. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: L (Sub2) Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: June 24 vs. Ilia Topuria
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. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (Sub2) Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: June 24 vs. Josh Emmett
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: Aug. 19 vs. Marlon Vera
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. Umar Nurmagomedov
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Patricio Freire, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Patchy Mix
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 20-8-1
Last: L (SD) Cory Sandhagen, March 25, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Henry Cejudo
9. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO1) Adrian Yanez, April 8, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Song Yadong
10. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Sergio Pettis
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-6-2
Last: W (TKO3) Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
2. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (Sub1) Alex Perez, July 30, 2022
Next: July 8 vs. Brandon Moreno
5. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
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
Previous ranking: 5
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. Amanda Nunes
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, June 10, 2023
Next: Retirement
2. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: July 22 vs. Pannie Kianzad
5. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (UD) Yana Santos, March 25, 2023
Next: July 15 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, April 22, 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: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
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
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Jennifer Maia
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
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
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-2-1
Last: W (TKO3) Marina Rodriguez, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, March 4, 2023
Next: June 24 vs. Maycee Barber
9. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-11
Last: L (SD) Luana Pinheiro, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
