Tuesday, 6 August 2024

MMA DIVISIONAL RANKINGS: NURMAGOMEDOV CRACKS TOP TIER AT BANTAMWEIGHT


Umar Nurmagomedov showed over the weekend that he is a force to be reckoned with.

His unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen on Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, put the undefeated Dagestani with the MMA royalty last name at the head of the line of contenders for the UFC men's bantamweight championship.

Sean O'Malley will defend the belt against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 next month, and the winner should soon have Nurmagomedov standing across the cage from him.

Beyond the shuffling in Brett Okamoto's ranking of 135-pound men, there also was movement among the 125-pound women. Taila Santos moves into the flyweight rankings on the strength of Friday's victory over Liz Carmouche in the semifinals of the PFL playoffs. Santos will go for the $1 million championship in the fall against unbeaten prospect Dakota Ditcheva.

At strawweight, Tatiana Suarez drops out of the top 10 because her inactivity makes her ineligible.

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. 6. 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. 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: TBD


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: 16-4

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023

Next: Aug. 10 vs. Marcin Tybura


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: TBD


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: TBD


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: W (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: TBD


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: 21-2

Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Israel Adesanya


2. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 24-3

Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Dricus du Plessis


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: TBD


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: 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: 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. 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: Aug. 17 vs. Dan Hooker


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: Aug. 17 vs. Mateusz Gamrot


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: TBD


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: 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: 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

Previous ranking: Unranked

Record: 18-0

Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD


4. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 3

Record: 17-5

Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD


5. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 4

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. Jose Aldo  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 32-8

Last: W (UD) vs. Jonathan Martinez, May 4, 2024

Next: TBD


8. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 24-3-1

Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024

Next: TBD


9. Patchy Mix  

Promotion: Bellator champion

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 20-1

Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024

Next: Nov. 16 vs. Leandro Higo


10. Kyoji Horiguchi  

Promotion: Rizin champion

Previous ranking: Unranked


Record: 33-5, 1 NC

Last: W (UD) vs. Sergio Pettis, June 9, 2024


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. Steve Erceg  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-2

Last: L (UD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, May 4, 2024

Next: Aug. 17 vs. Kai Kara-France


5. Muhammad Mokaev  

Promotion: UFC

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. Manel Kape  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-7

Last: L (UD) vs. Muhammad Mokaev, July 27, 2024

Next: TBD


8. Alex Perez  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 25-9

Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024

Next: TBD


9. Matheus Nicolau  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-5-1

Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Perez, April 27, 2024

Next: TBD


10. Tim Elliott  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-13-1

Last: W (TechSub1) vs. Sumudaerji, Dec. 9, 2023

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: TBD


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. Pannie Kianzad  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-8

Last: L (Sub1) vs. Macy Chiasson, March 16, 2024

Next: TBD


8. Karol Rosa  

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-6

Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023

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: 14-8, 1 NC

Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023

Next: Aug. 10 vs. Chelsea Chandler


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: TBD


5. Taila Santos  

Promotion: PFL

Record: 22-3

Last: W (UD) vs. Liz Carmouche, Aug. 2, 2024

Next: TBD vs. Dakota Ditcheva


6. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 22-8

Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024

Next: TBD


7. Maycee Barber  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 14-2

Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024

Next: TBD


8. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 26-12

Last: W (SD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, April 13, 2024

Next: Sept. 7 vs. Natalia Silva


9. Rose Namajunas  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 13-6

Last: W (UD) vs. Tracy Cortez, July 13, 2024

Next: TBD


10. Katlyn Cerminara  

Promotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 9

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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