MMA divisional rankings: Rose Namajunas is back on top — and not alone in making a rise

MMA

Rose Namajunas did not move very far, but her climb was tremendous.

She entered last Saturday’s UFC 261 as the No. 2 strawweight in the ESPN divisional MMA rankings. Now she is just one spot higher at No. 1 — but she’s also once again a UFC champion, after knocking out Zhang Weili.

It is the second reign for Namajunas, who previously was champ from 2017 until 2019.

Last weekend’s three title fights did not produce much movement in these latest rankings. Kamaru Usman, who defended his UFC welterweight championship with a second-round KO of Jorge Masvidal, was already No. 1 at 170 pounds (although Masvidal does drop a few spots in the top 10). And Valentina Shevchenko, who knocked out Jessica Andrade, was already at the top of the women’s flyweight rankings (and Andrade remains at No. 2).

But other weight divisions saw some movement, most notably men’s flyweight, where Adriano Moraes knocked out previously No. 2 Demetrious Johnson to defend his title in the One Championship.

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 April 29.

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

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


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


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: TBD


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: May 1 vs. Augusto Sakai


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. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (TKO2) Jan Blachowicz, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: May 1 vs. Jiri Prochazka


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
Previous ranking: 7
Last: W (UD) Phil Davis, April 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Anthony “Rumble” JohnsonYoel Romero winner


7. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-5
Last: W (TKO3) Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Ryan Bader


8. Ryan Bader

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson


9. Thiago Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9
Last: L (UD) Aleksandar Rakic, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Jiri Prochazka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Volkan Oezdemir, July 11, 2020
Next: May 1 vs. Dominick Reyes


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: TBD


4. Yoel Romero

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7, 2020
Next: May 7 vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson


5. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD


6. Marvin Vettori

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-4-1
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, April 10, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Israel Adesanya


7. Derek Brunson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-7
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Darren Till

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
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 15 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


2. Colby Covington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tyron Woodley, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: TBD


3. Douglas Lima

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 32-8
Last: L (UD) Gegard Mousasi, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD


4. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: NC Belal Muhammad, March 13, 2021
Next: May 15 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
Previous ranking: 8

Record: 18-4
Last: W (UD) Neil Magny, Jan. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Vicente Luque

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Tyron Woodley, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Jorge Masvidal

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Rory MacDonald

Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26, 2019
Next: April 29 vs. Curtis Millender


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Conor McGregor, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Conor McGregor


2. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD


3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, Dec.12, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Michael Chandler


4. Michael Chandler

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (TKO1) Dan Hooker, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Charles Oliveira


5. Tony Ferguson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: L (UD) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Beneil Dariush


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. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4-1
Last: W (SD) Diego Ferreira, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Tony Ferguson


9. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub3) Drew Dober, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Paul Felder

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (SD) Rafael dos Anjos, Nov. 14, 2020
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
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 32-4
Last: W (Sub1) Emmanuel Sanchez, April 2, 2021
Next: TBD vs. A.J. McKee


4. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
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. Dan Ige

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-3
Last: W (KO1) Gavin Tucker, March 13, 2021
Next: June 19 vs. Chan Sung Jung


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
Previous ranking: 3
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Demetrious Johnson

Promotion: One Championship
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Askar Askarov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Alex Perez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Matt Schnell


7. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Manel Kape, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Brandon Moreno, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Jussier Formiga

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (TKO1) Alex Perez, June 6, 2020
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: TBD 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: May 8 vs. Holly Holm


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: May 8 vs. Julianna Peña


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: TBD


8. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


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: 15-4
Last: W (UD) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Viviane Araujo


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: TBD


6. Lauren Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (Sub2) Liliya Shakirova, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD


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
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 10-4
Last: W (KO1) Zhang Weili, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
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: TBD


5. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Claudia Gadelha, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD


6. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1-2
Last: W (TKO2) Amanda Ribas, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub1) Nina Nunes, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Claudia Gadelha

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD


9. Michelle Waterson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-8
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD


10. Tecia Torres

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-5
Last: W (TKO1) Sam Hughes, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD

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