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Brett Okamoto
Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight at UFC 318 was an emotional powerhouse, so perhaps it’s fitting that the weekend’s main event in New Orleans had an impact on not one but two weight classes in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Since Poirier is walking away from competition, he drops out of the lightweight rankings. Who replaces him? It’s the man who defeated him, Max Holloway — which leaves an opening at featherweight, where Holloway was previously ranked. There is a lot of shuffling in the top 10s of both divisions.
The PFL also had a fight card on Saturday, and it factored in changes at two weight classes. Corey Anderson, who knocked out Denis Goltsov, returns to the light heavyweight rankings, and Johnny Eblen falls from the middleweight top 10 after losing for the first time in his career. Eblen was choked out by Costello van Steenis.
Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.
Results are current; rankings as of July 22. 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 | Featherweight | Men’s bantamweight
Men’s flyweight | Women’s bantamweight | Women’s flyweight | Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Tom Aspinall  
Promotion: UFC 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. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Curtis Blaydes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD
5. Alexander Volkov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Sergei Pavlovich  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
7. Jailton Almeida  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
8. Renan Ferreira  
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, June 7
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Sergei Pavlovich
10. Marcin Tybura  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Ante Delija
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Magomed Ankalaev  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Pereira, March 8
Next: TBD
2. Alex Pereira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
Next: TBD
3. Jirà Procházka  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
4. Carlos Ulberg  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
Next: TBD
5. Khalil Rountree Jr.  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
Next: TBD
6. Aleksandar Rakić  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Dominick Reyes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: TBD
8. Jamahal Hill  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD
9. Volkan Oezdemir  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD
10. Corey Anderson  
Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Dricus du Plessis  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 8
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
2. Khamzat Chimaev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
3. Sean Strickland  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
4. Nassourdine Imavov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Caio Borralho
5. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
6. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Reinier de Ridder
7. Caio Borralho  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov
8. Jared Cannonier  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael “Venom” Page
9. Roman Dolidze  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony Hernandez
10. Anthony Hernandez  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Brendan Allen, Feb. 22
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Roman Dolidze
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Jack Della Maddalena  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: TBD vs. Islam Makhachev
2. Belal Muhammad  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: TBD
3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Sean Brady  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22
Next: TBD
5. Leon Edwards  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: TBD
6. Kamaru Usman  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD
7. Ian Machado Garry  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: TBD
8. Michael Morales  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD
9. Joaquin Buckley  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Carlos Prates
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: TBD vs. Jack Della Maddalena
2. Ilia Topuria  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: TBD
4. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2 at featherweight
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD
6. Paddy Pimblett  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
7. Dan Hooker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
8. Usman Nurmagomedov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
9. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: TBD
10. Mateusz Gamrot  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: TBD
FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD
2. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD
3. Diego Lopes  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva
4. Brian Ortega  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling
5. Movsar Evloev  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Lerone Murphy  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD
7. Patricio Pitbull  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Aljamain Sterling  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 24-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega
10. Josh Emmett  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-4
Last: W (TechSub3) vs. Sean O’Malley, June 7
Next: TBD
2. Sean O’Malley  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Marcus McGhee
4. Umar Nurmagomedov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3
Next: TBD
6. Mario Bautista  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7
Next: TBD
7. Song Yadong  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
8. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Cory Sandhagen, May 3
Next: TBD
9. Patchy Mix  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, June 7
Next: TBD
10. Henry Cejudo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van
2. Joshua Van  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja
3. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: TBD
4. Brandon Moreno  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD
5. Kai Kara-France  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD
6. Muhammad Mokaev  
Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Tatsuro Taira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi
8. Manel Kape  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: TBD
9. Steve Erceg  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: TBD
10. Kai Asakura  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Tim Elliott
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Kayla Harrison  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: TBD
2. Julianna Peña  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD
5. Norma Dumont  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Macy Chiasson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
Next: TBD
8. Ailin Perez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
9. Karol Rosa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Nora Cornolle
10. Mayra Bueno Silva  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10
Next: TBD
2. Manon Fiorot  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, May 10
Next: TBD
3. Natalia Silva  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD
5. Dakota Ditcheva  
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD
6. Alexa Grasso  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: TBD
7. Jasmine Jasudavicius  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 10
Next: TBD
8. Taila Santos  
Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Rose Namajunas  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche  
Promotion: PFL
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Elora Dana, June 20
Next: Aug. 15 vs. Jena Bishop
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
2. Virna Jandiroba  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12
Next: TBD
3. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD
4. Amanda Lemos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, March 8
Next: TBD
5. Tatiana Suarez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
6. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: TBD
7. Gillian Robertson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: TBD
8. Amanda Ribas  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11
Next: TBD
9. Loopy GodÃnez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Jessica Andrade
10. Iasmin Lucindo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Angela Hill