MMA divisional rankings: Alex Pereira powers his way back to top at light heavyweight

Brett OkamotoOct 7, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
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It was a busy weekend for the ESPN divisional rankings, with no fewer than 13 ranked fighters in action between Saturday’s UFC 320 and Friday’s PFL Champions Series event.

Among those fighting were half of the light heavyweight top 10, which has a new No. 1 in the wake of Alex Pereira demolishing Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC main event to reclaim the title he had lost to Ankalaev in March. Pereira said after the fight that he intends to move up to heavyweight, but for now he’s (once again) the king of the 205-pounders.

In all, there is ranking movement in six weight classes, the most notable being Youssef Zalal’s jump three spots to No. 7 at featherweight on the strength of his quick submission of fellow ranked fighter Josh Emmett.

Dropping out of the rankings are men’s bantamweight Patchy Mix, who lost at UFC 320 and was replaced by Marlon “Chito” Vera, and former women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington, who has not fought since losing the title a year ago and is ineligible because of inactivity.

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 Oct. 7. 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
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Ciryl Gane

2. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Tom Aspinall

4. Curtis Blaydes

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

5. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Jailton Almeida

6. Sergei Pavlovich

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

7. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Alexander Volkov

8. Renan Ferreira

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

9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Aug. 23
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Ante Delija

10. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Shamil Gaziev

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
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. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov

7. Dominick Reyes

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

8. Jamahal Hill

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

9. Corey Anderson

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

10. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Alonzo Menifield

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: TBD

5. Israel Adesanya

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

6. Reinier de Ridder

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 26
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Brendan Allen

7. Anthony Hernandez

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

8. Caio Borralho

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

9. Robert Whittaker

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

10. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, July 19
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Reinier de Ridder

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Islam Makhachev

2. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Ian Machado Garry

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. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Carlos Prates

6. Kamaru Usman

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

7. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Belal Muhammad

8. Michael Morales

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD

9. Joaquin Buckley

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

10. Carlos Prates

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, Aug. 16
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Leon Edwards

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

2. Ilia Topuria

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

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: Oct. 11 vs. Mateusz Gamrot

4. Max Holloway

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

5. Justin Gaethje

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

6. Usman Nurmagomedov

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

7. Paddy Pimblett

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

8. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Benoît Saint Denis

9. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: Oct. 11 vs. Charles Oliveira

10. Rafael Fiziev

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

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

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

2. Movsar Evloev

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

3. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

4. Yair Rodriguez

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

5. Lerone Murphy

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

6. Aljamain Sterling

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

7. Youssef Zalal

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

8. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD

9. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

10. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 4
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: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: TBD

4. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Mario Bautista

5. Cory Sandhagen

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

6. Mario Bautista

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

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: Oct. 11 vs. Montel Jackson

9. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-10-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Aiemann Zahabi

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: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van

2. Joshua Van

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Brandon Royval

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

4. Brandon Moreno

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

5. Kai Kara-France

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

6. Muhammad Mokaev

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

7. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
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: TBD

2. Julianna Peña

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

3. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD

4. Yana Santos

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

5. Macy Chiasson

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

6. Ailin Perez

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

7. Karol Rosa

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

8. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 9-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Avila, Feb. 15
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

10. Nora Cornolle

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 2
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: Nov. 15 vs. Zhang Weili

2. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, May 10
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

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: Nov. 15 vs. Tracy Cortez

5. Dakota Ditcheva

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD

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: Oct. 18 vs. Manon Fiorot

8. Taila Santos

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Rose Namajunas

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

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: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Mackenzie Dern

3. Yan Xiaonan

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

4. Tatiana Suarez

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

5. Amanda Lemos

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

6. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Virna Jandiroba

7. Gillian Robertson

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

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