Justin Gaethje closes in on Khabib Nurmagomedov in lightweight rankings

MMA

Justin Gaethje has moved up to No. 2, right behind Khabib Nurmagomedov.

That rise in the ESPN lightweight division rankings, prompted by Gaethje’s May 9 TKO victory over the previously second-ranked Tony Ferguson, sets up a forthcoming matchup between the champ, Nurmagomedov, and the new interim champ, Gaethje, on a date still to be determined.

Several fighters made moves in their weight classes on the strength of recent victories, among them Glover Teixeira at light heavyweight, Calvin Kattar at featherweight and Carla Esparza and Claudia Gadelha at strawweight.

And then there’s Demetrious Johnson, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot at flyweight because Henry Cejudo has moved on from the division. Johnson is scheduled to vie for the One Championship title at the end of May.

There’s movement elsewhere as well. Check out my rankings within each MMA weight division by clicking on the links below.

For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

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

HeavyweightLight heavyweightMiddleweightWelterweight
LightweightMen’s featherweightMen’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight
Women’s bantamweightWomen’s flyweightStrawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Stipe Miocic

Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO4) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 17
Next: TBD


2. Daniel Cormier

Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Stipe Miocic, Aug. 17
Next: TBD


3. Francis Ngannou

Record: 15-3
Last: W (KO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 9
Next: TBD


4. Curtis Blaydes

Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Jan. 25
Next: June 20 vs. Alexander Volkov


5. Junior dos Santos

Record: 21-7
Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


6. Derrick Lewis

Record: 23-7
Last: W (UD) Ilir Latifi, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


7. Alexander Volkov

Record: 31-7
Last: W (UD) Greg Hardy, Nov. 9
Next: June 20 vs. Curtis Blaydes


8. Ryan Bader

Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: TBD


9. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Record: 10-1
Last: L (KO1) Francis Ngannou, May 9
Next: TBD


10. Alistair Overeem

Record: 46-18, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Walt Harris, May 16
Next: TBD


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Jon Jones

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


2. Ryan Bader

Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov


3. Dominick Reyes

Record: 12-1
Last: L (UD) Jon Jones, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


4. Jan Blachowicz

Record: 26-8
Last: W (KO1) Corey Anderson, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


5. Thiago Santos

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 21-7
Last: L (SD) Jon Jones, July 6
Next: TBD


6. Corey Anderson

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-5
Last: L (KO1) Jan Blachowicz, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


7. Glover Teixeira

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 31-7
Last: W (TKO5) Anthony Smith, May 13
Next: TBD


8. Anthony Smith

Previous ranking: 5
Record: 33-15
Last: L (TKO5) Glover Teixeira, May 13
Next: TBD


9. Volkan Oezdemir

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Aleksandar Rakic, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


10. Aleksandar Rakic

Record: 12-2
Last: L (SD) Volkan Oezdemir, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya

Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, March 7
Next: TBD


2. Robert Whittaker

Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Oct. 6
Next: Aug. 15 vs Darren Till


3. Paulo Costa

Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, Aug. 17
Next: TBD


4. Yoel Romero

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


5. Jared Cannonier

Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO2) Jack Hermansson, Sept. 28
Next: TBD


6. Darren Till

Record: 18-2-1
Last: W (SD) Kelvin Gastelum, Nov. 2
Next: Aug. 15 vs Robert Whittaker


7. Kelvin Gastelum

Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Darren Till, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


8. Jack Hermansson

Record: 20-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jared Cannonier, Sept. 28
Next: TBD vs. Chris Weidman


9. Ronaldo Souza

Record: 26-8 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Nov. 16
Next: TBD


10. Rafael Lovato Jr.

Record: 10-0
Last: W (MD) Gegard Mousasi, June 22
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Kamaru Usman

Record: 16-1
Last: W (TKO5) Colby Covington, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


2. Jorge Masvidal

Record: 35-13
Last: W (TKO3) Nate Diaz, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


3. Colby Covington

Record: 15-2
Last: L (TKO5) Kamaru Usman, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


4. Douglas Lima

Record: 32-7
Last: W (UD) Rory MacDonald, Oct. 26
Next: May 9 vs. Gegard Mousasi


5. Tyron Woodley

Record: 19-4-1
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, March 2
Next: May 30 vs. Gilbert Burns


6. Leon Edwards

Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20
Next: TBD


7. Rory MacDonald

Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26
Next: TBD


8. Stephen Thompson

Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) Vicente Luque, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


9. Gilbert Burns

Previous ranking: None
Record: 18-3
Last: W (TKO1) Demian Maia, March 14
Next: May 30 vs. Tyron Woodley


10. Michael Chiesa

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Record: 28-0
Last: W (SUB3) Dustin Poirier, Sept. 7
Next: TBD vs. Justin Gaethje


2. Justin Gaethje

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 22-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tony Ferguson, May 9
Next: TBD vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov


3. Tony Ferguson

Previous ranking: 2
Record: 25-4
Last: L (TKO5) Justin Gaethje, May 9
Next: TBD


4. Dustin Poirier

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 25-6
Last: L (SUB3) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Sept. 7
Next: TBD


5. Dan Hooker

Record: 20-8
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Feb. 22
Next: TBD


6. Paul Felder

Record: 17-5
Last: L (SD) Dan Hooker, Feb. 22
Next: TBD


7. Conor McGregor

Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


8. Charles Oliveira

Previous ranking: None
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: W (SUB3) Kevin Lee, March 14
Next: TBD


9. Michael Chandler

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-5
Last: W (KO1) Sydney Outlaw, Dec. 28
Next: TBD


10. Patricio Freire

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD


MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


2. Max Holloway

Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


3. Brian Ortega

Record: 14-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Max Holloway, Dec. 8
Next: TBA


4. Patricio Freire

Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD vs. Pedro Carvalho


5. Zabit Magomedsharipov

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


6. Yair Rodriguez

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


7. Chan Sung Jung

Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Frankie Edgar, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


8. Calvin Kattar

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 21-4
Last: W (TKO2) Jeremy Stephens, May 9
Next: TBD


9. Josh Emmett

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO2) Mirsad Bektic, July 13
Next: TBD


10. Shane Burgos

Previous ranking: None
Record: 13-1
Last: W (TKO3) Makwan Amirkhani, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Henry Cejudo

Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO2) Dominick Cruz, May 9
Next: retired


2. Marlon Moraes

Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (SD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


3. Aljamain Sterling

Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, June 8
Next: TBD


4. Petr Yan

Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO3) Urijah Faber, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


5. Jose Aldo

Record: 28-6
Last: L (SD) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


6. Cory Sandhagen

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) Raphael Assuncao, Aug. 17
Next: TBD


7. Raphael Assuncao

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 27-7
Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 17
Next: TBD


8. Pedro Munhoz

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Aljamain Sterling, June 8
Next: TBD


9. Cody Garbrandt

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 11-3
Last: L (TKO1) Pedro Munhoz, March 2
Next: TBD


10. Dominick Cruz

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-2
Last: L (UD) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 30, 2016
Next: May 9 vs. Henry Cejudo


MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Demetrious Johnson

Previous ranking: 2
Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12
Next: May 29 vs. Adriano Moraes


2. Deiveson Figueiredo

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, Feb. 29
Next: TBD


3. Joseph Benavidez

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 28-6
Last: L (TKO2) Deiveson Figueiredo, Feb. 29
Next: TBD


4. Brandon Moreno

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 16-5-1
Last: W (UD) Kai Kara-France, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


5. Alexandre Pantoja

Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Matt Schnell, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


6. Jussier Formiga

Record: 23-6
Last: L (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, June 29
Next: TBD


7. Askar Askarov

Previous ranking: None
Record: 11-0-1
Last: W (UD) Tim Elliott, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


8. Kai Kara-France

Previous ranking: None
Record: 21-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tyson nam, Feb. 23
Next: TBD


9. Rogerio Bontorin

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-2
Last: L (UD) Ray Borg, Feb. 15
Next: TBD


10. Alex Perez

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 23-5
Last: W (SUB1) Jordan Espinosa, Jan. 25
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Amanda Nunes

Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) Germaine de Randamie, Dec. 14
Next: June 6 vs. Felicia Spencer


2. Germaine de Randamie

Record: 9-4
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


3. Aspen Ladd

Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7
Next: TBD vs. Julianna Peña


4. Julianna Peña

Record: 9-3
Last: W (UD) Nicco Montaño, July 13
Next: TBD vs. Aspen Ladd


5. Irene Aldana

Record: 12-5
Last: W (KO1) Ketlen Vieira, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


6. Holly Holm

Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


7. Ketlen Vieira

Record: 10-1
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, Dec. 14
Next: TBD vs. Marion Reneau


8. Raquel Pennington

Record: 9-8
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


9. Cat Zingano

Record: 10-4
Last: L (TKO1) Megan Anderson, Dec. 29
Next: TBD


10. Yana Kunitskaya

Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Aspen Ladd, Dec. 7
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO3) Katlyn Chookagian, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


2. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Kate Jackson, Dec. 21
Next: TBD


3. Katlyn Chookagian

Record: 13-3
Last: L (TKO3) Valentina Shevchenko, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


4. Joanne Calderwood

Record: 14-4
Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Sept. 7
Next: TBD


5. Liz Carmouche

Record: 13-7
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Aug. 10
Next: TBD vs. Mandy Bohm


6. Jennifer Maia

Record: 17-6-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 2
Next: TBD


7. Roxanne Modafferi

Record: 23-16
Last: W (UD) Maycee Barber, Jan. 18
Next: TBD


8. Jessica Eye

Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo
Next: TBD


9. Viviane Araujo

Record: 8-2
Last: L (UD) Jessica Eye, Dec. 14
Next: TBD


10. Lauren Murphy

Record: 12-4
Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Feb. 8
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
Next: TBD


2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

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


3. Jessica Andrade

Record: 20-7
Last: L (TKO1) Zhang Weili, Aug. 31
Next: TBD


4. Rose Namajunas

Record: 8-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, May 11
Next: TBD


5. Tatiana Suarez

Record: 9-0
Last: W (UD) Nina Ansaroff, June 8
Next: TBD


6. Carla Esparza

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-6
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson, May 9
Next: TBD


7. Claudia Gadelha

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-4
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, May 16
Next: TBD


8. Nina Ansaroff

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 10-6
Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8
Next: TBD


9. Marina Rodriguez

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 12-0-2
Last: MD Cynthia Calvillo, Dec. 7
Next: TBD


10. Michelle Waterson

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 17-8
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, May 9
Next: TBD

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: How to watch, rules, date, time, more
Recapping matchday four: Are Madrid in crisis?
‘This process is hard, bro’: Why Tyreek Hill is having his worst season since 2016
The week in tennis: Gauff wins WTA Finals title, while underdogs rule in last ATP events
Jets cruise to 14-1 for best start in NHL history

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *