970x125
Brett OkamotoJul 29, 2025, 08:00 AM ETCloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.Reinier de Ridder has come a long way in less than a year. Last summer, he left his longtime fight promotion, One Championship, where he had once been a double champion, reigning in both the 205-pound and 225-pound weight classes simultaneously. In September, he signed with the UFC.De Ridder made his Octagon debut in November, choking out Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight bout. He followed that with three more victories, one being a finish of previously unbeaten prospect Bo Nickal. But de Ridder’s most impressive win came Saturday, when he earned a split decision over former UFC champion Robert Whittaker.At 4-0 in the UFC, de Ridder has quickly become a top contender in the 185-pound division. And he now owns a spot in the ESPN middleweight rankings, bumping Whittaker down a couple of spots in the top 10.That is the only change in these latest rankings.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 29. 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 | WelterweightLightweight | Featherweight | Men’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight | Women’s bantamweight | Women’s flyweight | StrawweightTom Aspinall already was ESPN’s No. 1 heavyweight, but now the UFC belt he’s carrying around no longer has an “interim” tag. Richard Sellers/PA via APHEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)1. Tom Aspinall Promotion: UFC championRecord: 15-3Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024Next: Oct. 25 vs. Ciryl Gane2. Francis Ngannou Promotion: PFL Super Fights championRecord: 18-3Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBD3. Ciryl Gane Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-2Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024Next: Oct. 25 vs. Tom Aspinall4. Curtis Blaydes Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-5, 1 NCLast: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21Next: TBD5. Alexander Volkov Promotion: UFCRecord: 38-11Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024Next: Oct. 25 vs. Jailton Almeida6. Sergei Pavlovich Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-3Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1Next: Aug. 23 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta7. Jailton Almeida Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-3Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18Next: Oct. 25 vs. Alexander Volkov8. Renan Ferreira Promotion: PFL championRecord: 13-4, 3 NCLast: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBD9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-1Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, June 7Next: Aug. 23 vs. Sergei Pavlovich10. Marcin Tybura Promotion: UFCRecord: 27-9Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22Next: Sept. 6 vs. Ante DelijaMagomed Ankalaev ascended to the top of the light heavyweight division at UFC 313. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCLIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)1. Magomed Ankalaev Promotion: UFC championRecord: 21-1-1, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Alex Pereira, March 8Next: Oct. 4 vs. Alex Pereira2. Alex Pereira Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-3Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8Next: Oct. 4 vs. Magomed Ankalaev3. Jirí Procházka Promotion: UFCRecord: 31-5-1Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18Next: Oct. 4 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.4. Carlos Ulberg Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-1Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22Next: TBD5. Khalil Rountree Jr. Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-6, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21Next: Oct. 4 vs. Jirí Procházka6. Aleksandar Rakić Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-5Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024Next: Oct. 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov7. Dominick Reyes Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-4Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12Next: TBD8. Jamahal Hill Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21Next: TBD9. Volkan Oezdemir Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-8Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024Next: TBD10. Corey Anderson Promotion: PFLRecord: 19-6-1Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19Next: TBDDricus du Plessis tightened his grip on the middleweight belt at UFC 312. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty ImagesMIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)1. Dricus du Plessis Promotion: UFC championRecord: 23-2Last: W (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 8Next: Aug. 16 vs. Khamzat Chimaev2. Khamzat Chimaev Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-0Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024Next: Aug. 16 vs. Dricus Du Plessis3. Sean Strickland Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-7Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8Next: TBD4. Nassourdine Imavov Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4, 1 NCLast: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1Next: Sept. 6 vs. Caio Borralho5. Israel Adesanya Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-5Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1Next: TBD6. Caio Borralho Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 7Record: 17-0, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024Next: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov7. Reinier de Ridder Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: UnrankedRecord: 21-2Last: W (SD) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 26Next: TBD8. Robert Whittaker Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 6Record: 26-9Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26Next: TBD9. Jared Cannonier Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 8Record: 18-8Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael “Venom” Page10. Roman Dolidze Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 9Record: 15-3Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony HernandezJack Della Maddalena has the welterweight belt in hand after dethroning Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCWELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)1. Jack Della Maddalena Promotion: UFC championRecord: 18-2Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10Next: TBD vs. Islam Makhachev2. Belal Muhammad Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10Next: TBD3. Shavkat Rakhmonov Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-0Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024Next: TBD4. Sean Brady Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-1Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22Next: TBD5. Leon Edwards Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-5, 1 NCLast: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22Next: TBD6. Kamaru Usman Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-4Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14Next: TBD7. Ian Machado Garry Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-1Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26Next: TBD8. Michael Morales Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17Next: TBD9. Joaquin Buckley Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-7Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14Next: TBD10. Geoff Neal Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-6Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024Next: Aug. 16 vs. Carlos PratesIlia Topuria had vacated the featherweight title before UFC 317, but winning the lightweight belt provided a glorious photo op. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCLIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)1. Islam Makhachev Promotion: UFCRecord: 27-1Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18Next: TBD vs. Jack Della Maddalena2. Ilia Topuria Promotion: UFC championRecord: 17-0Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28Next: TBD3. Charles Oliveira Promotion: UFCRecord: 35-11, 1 NCLast: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28Next: TBD4. Max Holloway Promotion: UFCRecord: 27-8Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19Next: TBD5. Justin Gaethje Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-5Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8Next: TBD6. Paddy Pimblett Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-3Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12Next: TBD7. Dan Hooker Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-12Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD8. Usman Nurmagomedov Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 19-0, 1 NCLast: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25Next: TBD9. Beneil Dariush Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-6-1Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28Next: TBD10. Mateusz Gamrot Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-3, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31Next: TBDAlexander Volkanovski recaptured the featherweight belt by beating Diego Lopes at UFC 314. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLCFEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)1. Alexander Volkanovski Promotion: UFC championRecord: 27-4Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12Next: TBD2. Yair Rodriguez Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-5, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12Next: TBD3. Diego Lopes Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-7Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva4. Brian Ortega Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling5. Movsar Evloev Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-0Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024Next: TBD6. Lerone Murphy Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-0-1Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5Next: Aug. 16 vs. Aaron Pico7. Patricio Pitbull Promotion: UFCRecord: 37-8Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19Next: TBD8. Arnold Allen Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-3Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024Next: TBD9. Aljamain Sterling Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-5Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega10. Josh Emmett Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-5Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5Next: TBDMerab Dvalishvili successfully defended his men’s bantamweight title, defeating Sean O’Malley a second time, at UFC 316. Elsa/Getty ImagesMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Merab Dvalishvili Promotion: UFC championRecord: 20-4Last: W (TechSub3) vs. Sean O’Malley, June 7Next: Oct. 4 vs. Cory Sandhagen2. Sean O’Malley Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-3, 1 NCLast: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7Next: TBD3. Petr Yan Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-5Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26Next: TBD4. Umar Nurmagomedov Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-1Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18Next: TBD5. Cory Sandhagen Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-5Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3Next: Oct. 4 vs. Merab Dvalishvili6. Mario Bautista Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-2Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7Next: TBD7. Song Yadong Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-7-1, 1 NCLast: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22Next: TBD8. Deiveson Figueiredo Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-5-1Last: L (TKO2) vs. Cory Sandhagen, May 3Next: TBD9. Patchy Mix Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-2Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, June 7Next: TBD10. Henry Cejudo Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-5Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22Next: TBDMen’s flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has made four title defenses — more than any other UFC champion. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Alexandre Pantoja Promotion: UFC championRecord: 30-5Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van2. Joshua Van Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-2Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja3. Brandon Royval Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-8Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28Next: TBD4. Brandon Moreno Promotion: UFCRecord: 23-8-2Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29Next: TBD 5. Kai Kara-France Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-12, 1 NCLast: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28Next: TBD6. Muhammad Mokaev Promotion: Brave CFRecord: 14-0, 1 NCLast: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024Next: TBD7. Tatsuro Taira Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-1Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024Next: Aug. 2 vs. HyunSung Park8. Manel Kape Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-7Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1Next: TBD9. Steve Erceg Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-4Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29Next: TBD10. Kai Asakura Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-5Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024Next: Aug. 16 vs. Tim ElliottKayla Harrison is the new women’s bantamweight champion after defeating Julianna Pena at UFC 316. Vincent Carchietta/Imagn ImagesWOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Kayla Harrison Promotion: UFC championRecord: 19-1Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7Next: TBD2. Julianna Peña Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-6Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7Next: TBD3. Raquel Pennington Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-9Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024Next: Sept. 13 vs. Norma Dumont4. Ketlen Vieira Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-4Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31Next: TBD5. Norma Dumont Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-2Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024Next: Sept. 13 vs. Raquel Pennington6. Irene Aldana Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-8Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD7. Macy Chiasson Promotion: UFCRecord: 10-4Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31Next: TBD8. Ailin Perez Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-2Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18Next: TBD9. Karol Rosa Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-7Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18Next: Aug. 2 vs. Nora Cornolle10. Mayra Bueno Silva Promotion: UFCRecord: 10-5-1, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1Next: TBDRose Namajunas put on a vintage performance against Miranda Maverick at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta on June 14. Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY SportsWOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Valentina Shevchenko Promotion: UFC championRecord: 25-4-1Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10Next: TBD2. Manon Fiorot Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-2Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, May 10Next: Oct. 18 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius3. Natalia Silva Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-5-1Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10Next: TBD4. Erin Blanchfield Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-2Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024Next: TBD5. Dakota Ditcheva Promotion: PFL championRecord: 15-0Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19Next: TBD6. Alexa Grasso Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-5-1Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10Next: TBD7. Jasmine Jasudavicius Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-3Last: W (Sub1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 10Next: Oct. 18 vs. Manon Fiorot8. Taila Santos Promotion: PFLRecord: 22-4Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024Next: TBD9. Rose Namajunas Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-7Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14Next: TBD10. Liz Carmouche Promotion: PFLRecord: 24-8Last: W (UD) vs. Elora Dana, June 20Next: Aug. 15 vs. Jena BishopZhang Weili was already sitting on top of the MMA world before UFC 312, but a dominant win solidified her position. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCSTRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)1. Zhang Weili Promotion: UFC championRecord: 26-3Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8Next: TBD2. Virna Jandiroba Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-3Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12Next: TBD3. Yan Xiaonan Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-5, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12Next: TBD4. Amanda Lemos Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-4-1Last: W (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, March 8Next: Sept. 13 vs. Tatiana Suarez5. Tatiana Suarez Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-1Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8Next: Sept. 13 vs. Amanda Lemos6. Mackenzie Dern Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-5Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11Next: TBD7. Gillian Robertson Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-8Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3Next: TBD8. Amanda Ribas Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-6Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11Next: TBD9. Loopy Godínez Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-5Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29Next: Aug. 16 vs. Jessica Andrade10. Iasmin Lucindo Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-6Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8Next: Aug. 9 vs. Angela Hill
970x125
970x125
