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
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
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
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
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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