MMA divisional rankings: A former champion returns to form against ranked competition

June 17, 2025

66

Brett OkamotoJun 17, 2025, 08:02 AM ET
Close

Two former UFC champions turned back the clock with wins at UFC Fight Night from Atlanta this past weekend.

Kamaru Usman, a vaunted former welterweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, moves up three spots to No. 6 in the welterweight rankings after he showed the division he still knows how to wrestle. Usman took then-fifth-ranked Joaquin Buckley to the canvas four times and landed 17 significant ground strikes on his way to a unanimous decision victory. The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak for Buckley and bumps him down to No. 9 in these rankings.

Two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas also was dominant as she improved to 3-2 as a flyweight with a unanimous decision win over Miranda Maverick in the co-main event. Namajunas moves up one spot to No. 9 with the win.

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 June 16. 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 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. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: TBD

6. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
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: TBD

8. Michael Morales

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

9. Joaquin Buckley

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Geoff Neal

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

4. Dustin Poirier

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

6. Dan Hooker

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

7. Renato Moicano

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

8. Usman Nurmagomedov

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

9. Mateusz Gamrot

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

6. Irene Aldana

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

7. Macy Chiasson

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

8. Ailin Perez

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

9. Karol Rosa

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

10. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
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. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 23-8
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Ilara Joanne, April 11
Next: June 20 vs. Elora Dana

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