MMA divisional rankings: Petr Yan climbs back to top at flyweight and isn’t the only new No. 1

Brett OkamotoDec 9, 2025, 03:15 PM ET
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The latest ESPN divisional rankings feature many changes — some of them the result of fighters competing, others from fighters not competing and even one from a fighter walking away from the fight game.

There were seven ranked fighters on Saturday’s UFC 323, including all four participants in the main event and co-main title bouts. The headline fight, in which Petr Yan dethroned Merab Dvalishvili as men’s bantamweight champion, had a definitive result, so it will come as no surprise that Yan, a second-time champion, rises to the top of the ESPN men’s bantamweight rankings.

The co-main event, on the other hand, had a murky outcome, as Alexandre Pantoja injured his left elbow less than half a minute into his men’s flyweight defense and the bout was waved off, with Joshua Van declared champion. Did that make Van the top 125-pounder in the ESPN universe, or is Pantoja still the king? Read on to find out.

One flyweight who did move up is Tatsuro Taira, who knocked out former champion Brandon Moreno on Saturday and enters the top five.

Henry Cejudo also fought at UFC 323, then confirmed that he is retiring. So he drops out of the men’s bantamweight rankings.

Also dropping out are three fighters who are newly ineligible because they have not competed in over a year: welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov, featherweight Movsar Evloev and women’s flyweight Taila Santos.

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 Dec. 9. 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 champion
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

2. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct.25
Next: TBD

3. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD

4. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 39-11
Last: W (SD) vs. Jailton Almeida, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

5. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

6. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

7. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (KO1) vs. Shamil Gaziev, Nov. 22
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Derrick Lewis

8. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov

9. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Ante Delija

10. Derrick Lewis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

2. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-5-1
Last: W (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 4
Next: TBD

4. Carlos Ulberg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

5. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Azamat Murzakanov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Aleksandar Rakić, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

7. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

8. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

9. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD

10. Corey Anderson

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

2. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

3. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

4. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: Feb. 21 vs. Anthony Hernandez

5. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

6. Anthony Hernandez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
Next: Feb. 21 vs. Sean Strickland

7. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

8. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

9. Reinier de Ridder

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

2. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Islam Makhachev, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

3. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, Nov. 22
Next: TBD

4. Michael Morales

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sean Brady, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

5. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 24-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Nov. 22
Next: TBD

6. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD

7. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Michael Morales, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

8. Carlos Prates

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 23-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Leon Edwards, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

9. Joaquin Buckley

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Gabriel Bonfim

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Randy Brown, Nov. 8
Next: TBD

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD

2. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Dan Hooker, Nov. 22
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-11, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
Next: March 7 vs. Max Holloway

4. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: March 7 vs. Charles Oliveira

5. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Paddy Pimblett

6. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
Next: Feb. 7 vs. Alfie Davis

7. Paddy Pimblett

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Justin Gaethje

8. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

9. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Mauricio Ruffy

10. Benoît Saint Denis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Nov. 15
Next: Feb. 1 vs. Dan Hooker

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Diego Lopes

2. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Alexander Volkanovski

3. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD

4. Lerone Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-0-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

5. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 25-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

6. Youssef Zalal

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

7. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD

8. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

9. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

10. Steve Garcia

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-5
Last: W (TKO1) vs. David Onama, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 20-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

2. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

3. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Song Yadong

4. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 19-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 25
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

5. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Mario Bautista

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

7. Song Yadong

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Sean O’Malley

8. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

9. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-11-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Aiemann Zahabi

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Marlon Vera, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

2. Joshua Van

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

2. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 30-6
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Joshua Van, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

3. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Manel Kape

4. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Brandon Moreno, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

5. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 23-9-2
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

6. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD

7. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: Brave CF champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-0, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Gerard Burns, Nov. 7
Next: TBD

8. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Brandon Royval

9. Steve Erceg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ode’ Osbourne, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Kai Asakura

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

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: Jan. 24 vs. Amanda Nunes

2. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD

3. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (SD) vs. Norma Dumont, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

5. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Yana Santos, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

7. Ailin Perez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

8. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD

9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Nov. 8
Next: TBD

10. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-6-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti, Nov. 8
Next: TBD

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

2. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
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: 14-2
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tracy Cortez, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

5. Maycee Barber

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karine Silva, Dec. 6
Next: TBD

6. Dakota Ditcheva

Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: Feb. 7 vs. Denise Kielholtz

7. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Rose Namajunas

8. Jasmine Jasudavicius

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-4
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

9. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Alexa Grasso

10. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL
Record: 25-8
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 15
Next: TBD

2. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

3. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

4. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD

5. Tatiana Suarez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

6. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Sept. 13
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Gillian Robertson

7. Gillian Robertson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Amanda Lemos

8. Loopy Godínez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

9. Iasmin Lucindo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Tabatha Ricci

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
Next: TBD

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