MMA divisional rankings: New women's bantamweight champion takes the top spot

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  • Brett OkamotoJun 10, 2025, 11:02 AM ET

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      Brett Okamoto has reported connected mixed martial arts and boxing astatine ESPN since 2010. He has covered each of the biggest events successful combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names specified arsenic Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was besides a shaper connected the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked backmost astatine the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives successful Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer successful his spare time.

Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic golden medalist successful judo and two-time PFL lightweight champion, present has a steadfast clasp connected the UFC women's bantamweight loop aft she finished Julianna Peña with a beauteous second-round Kimura successful the co-main lawsuit of UFC 316 connected Saturday. Harrison moves up into the apical spot successful ESPN's divisional rankings, but retired erstwhile champion Amanda Nunes says she is coming backmost to situation Harrison next.

Peña, meanwhile, falls to No. 2 successful the rankings.

In the men's bantamweight championship bout, Merab Dvalishvili shocked the satellite by submitting Sean O'Malley successful the 3rd circular of their title rematch. It was the champion's archetypal UFC triumph by submission and lone the 2nd of his nonrecreational MMA career. "The Machine" has present beaten the No. 2 (twice), No. 3, No. 4 and No. 10 bantamweights successful ESPN's rankings since March 2023.

Dvalishvili called retired fifth-ranked Cory Sandhagen successful his postfight interrogation Saturday, and that seems similar his astir logical adjacent defense.

No. 9 bantamweight Patchy Mix did not look similar himself successful his UFC debut versus Mario Bautista, but helium retains spot successful the rankings ... for now.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of existent UFC champions successful each value classes.

Results are current; rankings arsenic of June 10. To beryllium eligible for the rankings, a combatant indispensable person competed implicit the past 12 months oregon indispensable person an upcoming combat booked. Fighters who person been dropped for inactivity tin beryllium reinstated lone aft 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 interim 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. Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024
Next: June 21 vs. Rizvan Kuniev


6. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: TBD


8. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


9. Renan Ferreira

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


10. Serghei Spivac

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


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. Jirí 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. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-3
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Jan. 18
Next: June 21 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.


6. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: June 21 vs. Jamahal Hill


7. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: TBD


9. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
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: TBD


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. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: PFL Champions Series champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Costello van Steenis


8. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


10. Roman Dolidze

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: TBD


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. Joaquin Buckley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 14, 2024
Next: June 14 vs. Kamaru Usman


6. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD


9. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: June 14 vs. Joaquin Buckley


10. Geoff Neal

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: TBD vs. Jack Della Maddalena


2. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 35-10, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: June 28 vs. Ilia Topuria


3. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD


4. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Max Holloway


5. Paddy Pimblett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD


6. Dan Hooker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Renato Moicano

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-6-1
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18
Next: June 28 vs. Beneil Dariush


8. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


9. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Dan Hooker, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: May 31 vs. Ludovit Klein


10. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: June 28 vs. Renato Moicano


FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: June 28 vs. Charles Oliveira


2. Alexander Volkanovski

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


3. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Dustin Poirier


4. Yair Rodriguez

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


5. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: TBD


6. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Lerone Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD


9. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Yair Rodriguez, April 12
Next: TBD


10. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
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: TBD


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: 29-5
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Kai Asakura, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: June 28 vs. Kai Kara-France


2. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: June 28 vs. Manel Kape


3. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD


4. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-11, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: June 28 vs. Alexandre Pantoja


5. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0,1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi


7. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: June 28 vs. Brandon Royval


8. Steve Erceg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: TBD


9. Kai Asakura

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Alex Perez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024
Next: TBD


WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Kayla Harrison

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: TBD


2. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC champion
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: 14-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: May 31 vs. Macy Chiasson


5. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024
Next: May 31 vs. Ketlen Vieira


8. Ailin Perez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


9. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


10. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: 14-0
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Taila Santos, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Sumiko Inaba


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. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Record: 23-8
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Ilara Joanne, April 11
Next: June 20 vs. Elora Dana


10. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: June 14 vs. Miranda Maverick


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 Godínez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29
Next: TBD


10. Iasmin Lucindo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8
Next: TBD

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