MMA divisional rankings: A change at No. 1 and several new arrivals highlight latest movement

MMA

Francis Ngannou has taken over the No. 2 spot in ESPN’s heavyweight rankings, thanks to the recent retirement of former UFC champion Daniel Cormier.

At light heavyweight, Dominick Reyes has grabbed the second spot after the August defeat of ex-Bellator champ Ryan Bader.

Those represent the highest level of flux in the rankings, but there’s also a new entrant in the men’s bantamweight top 10 whom you might have heard of: Frankie Edgar. The former UFC lightweight champ earned his spot in a new division with an Aug. 22 win over Pedro Munhoz, who drops one spot in the rankings.

In addition to Cormier, other fighters to fall out of the rankings include unbeaten strawweight Tatiana Suarez and Nina Ansaroff, neither of whom has competed since they met in June 2019.

For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Sept. 9.

HeavyweightLight heavyweightMiddleweightWelterweight
LightweightMen’s featherweightMen’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight
Women’s bantamweightWomen’s flyweightStrawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Stipe Miocic

Record: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 15
Next: TBD


2. Francis Ngannou

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-3
Last: W (KO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 9
Next: TBD


3. Curtis Blaydes

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkov, June 20
Next: Nov. 28 vs. Derrick Lewis


4. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 11-1
Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Aug. 15
Next: TBD


5. Derrick Lewis

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Aleksei Oleinik, Aug. 8
Next: Nov. 28 vs. Curtis Blaydes


6. Alistair Overeem

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 47-18, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO5) Augusto Sakai, Sept. 5
Next: TBD


7. Junior dos Santos

Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-8
Last: L (TKO2) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Aug. 15
Next: TBD


8. Alexander Volkov

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 31-8
Last: L (UD) Curtis Blaydes, June 20
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Walt Harris


9. Ryan Bader

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21
Next: TBD


10. Augusto Sakai

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-2-1
Last: L (TKO5) Alistair Overeem, Sept. 5
Next: TBD


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Jon Jones

Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


2. Dominick Reyes

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 12-1
Last: L (UD) Jon Jones, Feb. 8
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Jan Blachowicz


3. Jan Blachowicz

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-8
Last: W (KO1) Corey Anderson, Feb. 15
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Dominick Reyes


4. Thiago Santos

Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-7
Last: L (SD) Jon Jones, July 6
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Glover Teixeira


5. Corey Anderson

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-5
Last: L (KO1) Jan Blachowicz, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


6. Glover Teixeira

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 31-7
Last: W (TKO5) Anthony Smith, May 13
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Thiago Santos


7. Vadim Nemkov

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) Ryan Bader, Aug. 21
Next: TBD


8. Ryan Bader

Previous ranking: 2
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21
Next: TBD


9. Aleksandar Rakic

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) Anthony Smith, Aug. 29
Next: TBD


10. Jiri Prochazka

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 27-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Volkan Oezdemir, July 11
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya

Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, March 7
Next: Sept. 26 vs Paulo Costa


2. Robert Whittaker

Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Darren Till, July 25
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Jared Cannonier


3. Paulo Costa

Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, Aug. 17
Next: Sept. 26 vs Israel Adesanya


4. Yoel Romero

Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7
Next: TBD


5. Jared Cannonier

Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO2) Jack Hermansson, Sept. 28
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Robert Whittaker


6. Jack Hermansson

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-5
Last: W (SUB1) Kelvin Gastelum, July 18
Next: Dec. 5 vs. Darren Till


7. Darren Till

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-3-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, July 25
Next: Dec. 5 vs. Jack Hermansson


8. Derek Brunson

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) Edmen Shahbazyan, Aug. 1
Next: TBD


9. Kelvin Gastelum

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-6, 1 NC
Last: L (SUB1) Jack Hermansson, July 18
Next: TBD


10. Ronaldo Souza

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 26-8 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Nov. 16
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Kamaru Usman

Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, July 11
Next: Dec. 12 vs. Gilbert Burns


2. Colby Covington

Record: 15-2
Last: L (TKO5) Kamaru Usman, Dec. 14
Next: Sept. 19 vs. Tyron Woodley


3. Douglas Lima

Record: 32-7
Last: W (UD) Rory MacDonald, Oct. 26
Next: TBD vs. Gegard Mousasi


4. Leon Edwards

Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20
Next: TBD


5. Gilbert Burns

Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Tyron Woodley, May 30
Next: Dec. 12 vs. Kamaru Usman


6. Jorge Masvidal

Record: 35-14
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, July 11
Next: TBD


7. Rory MacDonald

Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26
Next: TBD


8. Tyron Woodley

Record: 19-5-1
Last: L (UD) Gilbert Burns, May 30
Next: Sept. 19 vs. Colby Covington


9. Stephen Thompson

Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) Vicente Luque, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


10. Michael Chiesa

Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Record: 28-0
Last: W (SUB3) Dustin Poirier, Sept. 7
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Justin Gaethje


2. Justin Gaethje

Record: 22-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tony Ferguson, May 9
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov


3. Tony Ferguson

Record: 25-4
Last: L (TKO5) Justin Gaethje, May 9
Next: TBD


4. Dustin Poirier

Record: 26-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Hooker, June 27
Next: TBD


5. Dan Hooker

Record: 20-9
Last: L (UD) Dustin Poirier, June 27
Next: TBD


6. Paul Felder

Record: 17-5
Last: L (SD) Dan Hooker, Feb. 22
Next: TBD


7. Michael Chandler

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-5
Last: W (KO1) Benson Henderson, Aug. 7
Next: TBD


8. Conor McGregor

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


9. Charles Oliveira

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: W (SUB3) Kevin Lee, March 14
Next: TBD


10. Diego Ferreira

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-2
Last: W (SUB2) Anthony Pettis, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Record: 22-1
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11
Next: TBD


2. Max Holloway

Record: 21-6
Last: L (SD) Alexander Volkanovski, July 11
Next: TBD


3. Brian Ortega

Record: 14-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Max Holloway, Dec. 8
Next: Oct. 17 vs. Chan Sung Jung


4. Patricio Freire

Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD vs. Pedro Carvalho


5. Zabit Magomedsharipov

Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Yair Rodriguez


6. Calvin Kattar

Record: 22-4
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, July 15
Next: TBD


7. Yair Rodriguez

Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov


8. Chan Sung Jung

Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Frankie Edgar, Dec. 21
Next: Oct. 17 vs. Brian Ortega


9. Josh Emmett

Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20
Next: TBD


10. Shane Burgos

Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Josh Emmett, June 20
Next: TBD


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Petr Yan

Record: 15-1
Last: W (TKO5) Jose Aldo, July 11
Next: TBD


2. Marlon Moraes

Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (SD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


3. Aljamain Sterling

Record: 19-3
Last: W (SUB1) Cory Sandhagen, June 6
Next: TBD


4. Cody Garbrandt

Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) Raphael Assuncao, June 6
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo


5. Jose Aldo

Record: 28-7
Last: L (TKO5) Petr Yan, July 11
Next: TBD


6. Cory Sandhagen

Record: 12-2
Last: L (SUB1) Aljamain Sterling, June 6
Next: TBD


7. Frankie Edgar

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-8-1
Last: W (SD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 22
Next: TBD


8. Pedro Munhoz

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Frankie Edgar, Aug. 22
Next: TBD


9. Raphael Assuncao

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 27-8
Last: L (KO2) Cody Garbrandt, June 6
Next: TBD


10. Jimmie Rivera

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 23-4
Last: W (UD) Cody Stamann, July 16
Next: TBD


MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Demetrious Johnson

Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12
Next: TBD vs. Adriano Moraes


2. Deiveson Figueiredo

Record: 19-1
Last: W (SUB1) Joseph Benavidez, July 18
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Cody Garbrandt


3. Brandon Moreno

Record: 16-5-1
Last: W (UD) Kai Kara-France, Dec. 14
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Alex Perez


4. Joseph Benavidez

Record: 28-7
Last: L (SUB1) Deiveson Figueiredo, July 18
Next: TBD


5. Alex Perez

Record: 24-5
Last: W (TKO2) Jussier Formiga, June 6
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Brandon Moreno


6. Askar Askarov

Record: 12-0-1
Last: W (UD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 18
Next: TBD


7. Alexandre Pantoja

Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Askar Askarov, July 18
Next: TBD


8. Kai Kara-France

Record: 21-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tyson nam, Feb. 23
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Brandon Royval


9. Jussier Formiga

Record: 23-8
Last: L (TKO1) Alex Perez, June 6
Next: TBD


10. Rogerio Bontorin

Record: 16-2
Last: L (UD) Ray Borg, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Amanda Nunes

Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Felicia Spencer, June 6
Next: Dec. 12 vs. Megan Anderson


2. Germaine de Randamie

Record: 9-4
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


3. Aspen Ladd

Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7
Next: TBD


4. Julianna Peña

Record: 9-3
Last: W (UD) Nicco Montaño, July 13
Next: TBD


5. Irene Aldana

Record: 12-5
Last: W (KO1) Ketlen Vieira, Dec. 14
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Holly Holm


6. Holly Holm

Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Irene Aldana


7. Ketlen Vieira

Record: 10-1
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


8. Raquel Pennington

Record: 11-8
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, June 20
Next: TBD


9. Yana Kunitskaya

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 13-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Julija Stoliarenko, Aug. 8
Next: TBD


10. Sara McMann

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO3) Katlyn Chookagian, Feb. 8
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Jennifer Maia


2. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Kate Jackson, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


3. Katlyn Chookagian

Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) Antonina Shevchenko, May 30
Next: TBD


4. Jennifer Maia

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-6-1
Last: W (SUB1) Joanne Calderwood, Aug. 1
Next: Nov. 21 vs. Valentina Shevchenko


5. Joanne Calderwood

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-5
Last: L (SUB1) Jennifer Maia, Aug. 1
Next: TBD


6. Cynthia Calvillo

Previous ranking: 5
Record: 9-1-1
Last: W (UD) Jessica Eye, June 13
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Lauren Murphy


7. Lauren Murphy

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, June 20
Next: Oct. 24 vs. Cynthia Calvillo


8. Liz Carmouche

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-7
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Aug. 10
Next: TBD vs. Mandy Bohm


9. Jessica Eye

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo
Next: TBD


10. Viviane Araujo

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Montana De La Rosa, Sept. 5
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
Next: TBD


2. Rose Namajunas

Record: 9-4
Last: W (SD) Jessica Andrade, July 11
Next: TBD


3. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7
Next: TBD


4. Jessica Andrade

Record: 20-8
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, July 11
Next: TBD


5. Carla Esparza

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-6
Last: W (SD) Marina Rodriguez, July 25
Next: TBD


6. Claudia Gadelha

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-4
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, May 16
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Yan Xiaonan


7. Michelle Waterson

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 17-8
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, May 9
Next: Sept. 12 vs. Angela Hill


8. Marina Rodriguez

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 12-1-2
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, July 25
Next: TBD


9. Yan Xiaonan

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Feb. 23
Next: Sept. 26 vs. Claudia Gadelha


10. Tecia Torres

Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-5
Last: W (UD) Brianna Van Buren, June 20
Next: TBD

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