MMA divisional rankings – Charles Oliveira rises at lightweight; three fighters join top 10s

Charles Oliveira won the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 262 on Saturday. That earned him to right to succeed Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired undefeated last fall, as the world’s top 155-pounder.

The exciting second-round TKO of Michael Chandler also enabled Oliveira to succeed Dustin Poirier as the top fighter in the ESPN lightweight rankings.

Poirier will have a chance to regain his No. 1 spot on July 10 when he completes his trilogy with Conor McGregor.

The other fighter to make a big rise in the rankings is light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka, who rose five spots on the strength of his second-round knockout of Dominick Reyes on May 1.

Beyond that, there are newly ranked fighters in three men’s divisions: Gregor Gillespie at lightweight, Edson Barboza at featherweight and Rogerio Bontorin at flyweight.

There were no changes in the women’s rankings.

For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of May 19.

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. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Derrick Lewis


2. Stipe Miocic

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Derrick Lewis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) Curtis Blaydes, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Francis Ngannou


4. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-0
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: June 26 vs. Alexander Volkov


5. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Alexander Volkov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-8
Last: W (TKO2) Alistair Overeem, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: June 26 vs. Ciryl Gane


7. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Ciryl Gane, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: June 5 vs. Augusto Sakai


8. Alistair Overeem  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Ryan Bader  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson


10. Shamil Abdurakhimov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Sept. 7, 2019
Next: TBD


Jan Blachowicz has a UFC light heavyweight title defense under his belt after defeating middleweight champ Israel Adesanya on March 6. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Jon Jones  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8, 2020
Next: TBD


2. Jan Blachowicz  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-8
Last: W (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 6, 2021
Next: Sept. 4 vs. Glover Teixeira


3. Glover Teixeira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-7
Last: W (Sub3) Thiago Santos, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: Sept. 4 vs. Jan Blachowicz


4. Jiri Prochazka  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-3-1
Previous ranking: 10
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Aleksandar Rakic  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Vadim Nemkov  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) Phil Davis, April 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson


7. Dominick Reyes  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Corey Anderson  

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 15-5
Last: W (TKO3) Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Ryan Bader


9. Ryan Bader  

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson


10. Thiago Santos  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-9
Last: L (UD) Aleksandar Rakic, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: L (UD) Jan Blachowicz, March 6, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Marvin Vettori


2. Robert Whittaker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Paulo Costa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: Aug. 21 vs. Jared Cannonier


4. Yoel Romero  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD


5. Jared Cannonier  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: Aug. 21 vs. Paulo Costa


6. Marvin Vettori  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4-1
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, April 10, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Israel Adesanya


7. Derek Brunson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Darren Till  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD


9. Jack Hermansson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Edmen Shahbazyan


10. Gegard Mousasi  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 47-7-2
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Kamaru Usman  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (KO2) Jorge Masvidal, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Colby Covington


2. Colby Covington  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tyron Woodley, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: TBD vs. Kamaru Usman


3. Douglas Lima  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 32-8
Last: L (UD) Gegard Mousasi, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: June 11 vs. Yaroslav Amosov


4. Leon Edwards  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: NC Belal Muhammad, March 13, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Nate Diaz


5. Gilbert Burns  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: L (TKO3) Kamaru Usman, Feb. 13, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Stephen Thompson


6. Stephen Thompson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Geoff Neal, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: July 10 vs. Gilbert Burns


7. Michael Chiesa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: W (UD) Neil Magny, Jan. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Vicente Luque  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Tyron Woodley, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Jorge Masvidal  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Rory MacDonald  

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-6-1
Last: W (Sub1) Curtis Millender, April 29, 2021
Next: June 17 vs. TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 31-8, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Michael Chandler, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Dustin Poirier  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Conor McGregor, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Conor McGregor


3. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD


4. Michael Chandler  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (TKO2) Charles Oliveira, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Dan Hooker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-10
Last: L (TKO1) Michael Chandler, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Rafael dos Anjos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD


8. Islam Makhachev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub3) Drew Dober, March 6, 2021
Next: July 17 vs Thiago Moises


9. Paul Felder  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-6
Last: L (SD) Rafael dos Anjos, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Gregor Gillespie  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD


MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-1
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11, 2020
Next:
TBD vs. Brian Ortega


2. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Patricio Freire  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 32-4
Last: W (Sub1) Emmanuel Sanchez, April 2, 2021
Next: TBD vs. A.J. McKee


4. Brian Ortega  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Chan Sung Jung, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: TBD vs. Alexander Volkanovski


5. Zabit Magomedsharipov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD


6. Calvin Kattar  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18, 2019
Next: TBD


8. Chan Sung Jung  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Brian Ortega, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: June 19 vs. Dan Ige


9. Josh Emmett  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Edson Barboza  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 22-9
Last: W (KO3) Shane Burgos, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Aljamain Sterling  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: L (DQ4) Aljamain Sterling, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (KO1) Frankie Edgar, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD vs. TJ Dillashaw


4. Cody Garbrandt  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) Raphael Assuncao, June 6, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Rob Font


5. Rob Font  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO1) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Cody Garbrandt


6. Jose Aldo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: W (UD) Marlon Vera, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD


7. Frankie Edgar  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-9-1
Last: L (KO1) Cory Sandhagen, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Pedro Munhoz  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jimmie Rivera, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Marlon Moraes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-1
Last: L (TKO1) Rob Font, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Raphael Assuncao  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: L (KO2) Cody Garbrandt, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD


Adriano Moraes’ knockout win over Demetrious Johnson on April 7 boosted the One Championship titlist into the men’s flyweight rankings. One Championship

MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1-1
Last: D (MD) Brandon Moreno, Dec.12, 2020
Next: June 12 vs. Brandon Moreno


2. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5-2
Last: D (MD) Deiveson Figueiredo, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: June 12 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo


3. Adriano Moraes  

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Demetrious Johnson  

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Askar Askarov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Alex Perez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


7. Alexandre Pantoja  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Manel Kape, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Kai Kara-France  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Brandon Moreno, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Rogerio Bontorin  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Matt Schnell, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


Amanda Nunes owns two UFC championships, and after her latest title defense on March 6, the question is: What woman has what it takes to dethrone her? Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Amanda Nunes  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (Sub1) Megan Anderson,, March 6, 2021
Next: Aug. 7 vs. Julianna Peña


2. Germaine de Randamie  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD


3. Julianna Peña  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (Sub3) Sara McMann, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: Aug. 7 vs. Amanda Nunes


4. Aspen Ladd  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7, 2019
Next: July 24 vs. Macy Chiasson


5. Holly Holm  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD


6. Irene Aldana  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD


7. Yana Kunitskaya  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Ketlen Vieira, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Irene Aldana


8. Ketlen Vieira  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: Aug. 28 vs. Sara McMann


9. Raquel Pennington  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 11-8
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Macy Chiasson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: July 24 vs. Aspen Ladd


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3
Last: W (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9
Last: L (TKO2) Valentina Shevchenko, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Katlyn Chookagian  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Jennifer Maia  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


5. Joanne Calderwood  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (UD) Jessica Eye, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Lauren Murphy


6. Lauren Murphy  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (Sub2) Liliya Shakirova, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: June 12 vs Joanne Calderwood


7. Juliana Velasquez  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD


8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD


9. Cynthia Calvillo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-2-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: W (Sub3) DeAnna Bennett, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD


Rose Namajunas celebrates winning the UFC strawweight championship on April 24 as referee Keith Peterson attends to Zhang Weili. AP Photo/Gary McCullough

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Rose Namajunas  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 10-4
Last: W (KO1) Zhang Weili, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Zhang Weili  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1
Last: L (KO1) Rose Namajunas, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Joanna Jedrzejczyk  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD


4. Carla Esparza  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (SD) Marina Rodriguez, July 25, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Yan Xiaonan


5. Yan Xiaonan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Claudia Gadelha, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Carla Esparza


6. Marina Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1-2
Last: W (UD) Michelle Waterson, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub1) Nina Nunes, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Claudia Gadelha  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD


9. Michelle Waterson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-9
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Tecia Torres  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (TKO1) Sam Hughes, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD

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