MMA divisional rankings: Where does Jon Jones fit among the top heavyweights?

November 20, 2024 ndowd

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterNov 20, 2024, 07:53 AM ET
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- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- Analyst for “MMA Live”
- Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun

Heavyweight has traditionally been the glamor division in the fight game. But while heavyweight boxing has thrived in recent years, heavyweight MMA has been in flux.

When Stipe Miocic was dethroned as UFC champion by Francis Ngannou in 2021, it appeared that the division was in good hands — good, heavy hands. But by the end of 2022, Ngannou was gone from the sport, off to try those dangerous hands at boxing. To fill the void, Jon Jones moved up from light heavyweight, where he had dominated for a decade, and won the UFC belt early last year. But it would be his only fight in nearly five years.

During this time came the emergence of Tom Aspinall. Since Miocic lost the title, Aspinall has fought five times and won them all with first-round finishes. He is the UFC interim champion.

The real champ, Jones, fought on Saturday for the first time in more than a year and a half and beat up Miocic at UFC 309. With that return, along with the recent return to MMA by Ngannou in a PFL fight, heavyweight seems to be sorting itself out.

Jones is back in the heavyweight top 10, and that is the biggest change to the ESPN divisional 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 Nov. 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. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Alexander Volkov

5. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 38-10
Last: W (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, June 22, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ciryl Gane

7. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Alexandr Romanov, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 17-4
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Aleksandar Rakic, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka

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

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. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Johnny Walker, June 22, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Carlos Ulberg

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. Sean Strickland

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

3. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Israel Adesanya

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

5. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Brendan Allen, Sept. 28, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Caio Borralho

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

9. Jared Cannonier

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

10. Roman Dolidze

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Kevin Holland, Oct. 5, 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. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ian Machado Garry

4. Jack Della Maddalena

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

5. Sean Brady

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

6. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael “Venom” Page, June 29, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov

7. Gilbert Burns

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

8. Colby Covington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Joaquin Buckley

9. Joaquin Buckley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stephen Thompson, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Colby Covington

10. Geoff Neal

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

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: 35-10, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 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
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Renato Moicano

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-5-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Benoît Saint Denis, Sept. 28, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Beneil Dariush

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

9. Usman Nurmagomedov

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

10. Michael Chandler

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 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: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Diego Lopes

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

5. Brian Ortega

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

6. Yair Rodriguez

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

7. Patricio Freire

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

8. Josh Emmett

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

9. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Aljamain Sterling

10. Arnold Allen

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

2. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC
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: Nov. 23 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

6. Henry Cejudo

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

7. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Petr Yan

8. Mario Bautista

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

9. José Aldo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Patchy Mix

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 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: Dec. 7 vs. Kai Asakura

2. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Brave CF
Record: 13-0,1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Manel Kape, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Dec. 14 vs. Bruno Silva

9. Alex Perez

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

10. Matheus Nicolau

Promotion: None
Record: 19-5-1
Last: L (UD) Asu Almabayev, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Kayla Harrison

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Holly Holm

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

6. Norma Dumont

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

7. Irene Aldana

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

8. Macy Chiasson

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

9. Karol Rosa

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

10. Pannie Kianzad

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

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

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

2. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC
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: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD

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: Nov. 29 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: 13-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2, 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: Nov. 23 vs. Tabatha Ricci

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: 17-5-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Mackenzie Dern

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

8. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Mackenzie Dern

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: Nov. 23 vs. Yan Xiaonan

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