Deiveson Figueiredo put in the work as 2020 wound down, and it has elevated him in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings — a small boost with huge symbolic significance.
Figueiredo, who became UFC men’s flyweight champion in July with a choke-out victory over longtime contender Joseph Benavidez, defended his belt on Nov. 21 and made quick work of it, submitting Alex Perez in less than two minutes.
Then, before the evening was over, the Brazilian agreed to make a second title defense just three weeks later, a record turnaround for a UFC champ.
Figueiredo’s second defense turned out to be a tougher one. On Dec. 12, he fought to a majority draw with Brandon Moreno, who sits right behind him in the ESPN men’s flyweight rankings. Figueiredo had to work for it, but he kept his strap.
On the strength of that record run, Figueiredo moved up one spot in the ESPN men’s pound-for-pound top 10. It’s a small move, but it looms large when one considers whom he leapfrogged: Demetrious Johnson, the former longtime champion, considered by many to be the greatest flyweight ever. “Mighty Mouse” has a chance to reassert himself on Feb. 24, when he challenges Adriano Moraes for the One Championship flyweight title.
Figueiredo’s short climb was the only movement in the men’s rankings, and the women’s top 10 remained intact. Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian were the only ranked females to see action since the previous rankings vote. On the UFC 255 card headlined by Figueiredo vs. Perez, Shevchenko defeated Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision to successfully defend her flyweight championship, and Chookagian beat Cynthia Calvillo. Everyone remains right where they were last time.
(For Brett Okamoto’s division-by-division rankings, go here.)
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Dec. 15.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
Record: 29-0
Weight class: Lightweight
Last: W (SUB2) Justin Gaethje, Oct. 24
Next: Announced retirement
2. Jon Jones 
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Weight class: Light heavyweight/announced move to heavyweight
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
3. Stipe Miocic
Record: 20-3
Weight class: Heavyweight
Last: W (UD) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 15
Next: TBD
Record: 20-0
Weight class: Middleweight
Last: W (TKO2) Paulo Costa, Sept. 26
Next: TBD
5. Kamaru Usman
Record: 17-1
Weight class: Welterweight
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, July 11
Next: TBD vs. Gilbert Burns
Record: 22-1
Weight class: Featherweight
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11
Next: TBD
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-1-1
Weight class: Flyweight
Last: D (MD) Brandon Moreno, Dec. 12
Next: TBD
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 30-3-1
Weight class: Flyweight
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12, 2019
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Adriano Moraes
Record: 25-6, 1 NC
Weight class: Lightweight
Last: W (UD) Dan Hooker, June 27
Next: Jan. 23 vs. Conor McGregor
10. Francis Ngannou
Record: 15-3
Weight class: Heavyweight
Last: W (KO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 9
Next: TBD
Other fighters receiving votes: Petr Yan, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Conor McGregor and Robert Whittaker
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Israel Adesanya
4. Stipe Miocic
5. Kamaru Usman
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Deiveson Figueiredo
8. Demetrious Johnson
9. Dustin Poirier
10. Max Holloway
Marc Raimondi
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Kamaru Usman
5. Israel Adesanya
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Petr Yan
8. Francis Ngannou
9. Deiveson Figueiredo
10. Robert Whittaker
Ariel Helwani
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Israel Adesanya
5. Kamaru Usman
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Dustin Poirier
8. Justin Gaethje
9. Deiveson Figueiredo
10. Conor McGregor
Jeff Wagenheim
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Demetrious Johnson
5. Israel Adesanya
6. Kamaru Usman
7. Deiveson Figueiredo
8. Alexander Volkanovski
9. Francis Ngannou
10. Dustin Poirier
1. Amanda Nunes
Record: 20-4
Weight class: Bantamweight/featherweight
Last: W (UD) Felicia Spencer, June 6
Next: TBD vs. Megan Anderson
Record: 20-3
Weight class: Flyweight
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, Nov. 21
Next: TBD
3. Cris Cyborg
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Weight class: Featherweight
Last: W (SUB2) Arlene Blencowe, Oct. 15
Next: TBD
4. Zhang Weili
Record: 21-1
Weight class: Strawweight
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
Next: TBD
Record: 9-4
Weight class: Strawweight
Last: W (SD) Jessica Andrade, July 11
Next: TBD
Record: 21-8
Weight class: Flyweight
Last: W (TKO1) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 17
Next: TBD
Record: 16-4
Weight class: Strawweight
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7
Next: TBD
Record: 10-4
Weight class: Bantamweight
Last: W (TechSUB3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
9. Holly Holm
Record: 14-5
Weight class: Bantamweight
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
Record: 15-4
Weight class: Flyweight
Last: W (UD) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 21
Next: TBD
Other fighters receiving votes: Julia Budd and Seo Hee Ham
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Zhang Weili
4. Rose Namajunas
5. Cris Cyborg
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian
Marc Raimondi
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Seo Hee Ham
Ariel Helwani
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
7. Jessica Andrade
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian
Jeff Wagenheim
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Julia Budd