Tatiana Suarez did not fare well when she challenged for the UFC strawweight championship in February. But she might have set herself up for another chance with a top-five victory on Saturday. If nothing else, she boosted her standing in the ESPN divisional rankings.
Seven months ago, Suarez had gone into her title fight with Zhang Weili undefeated after dominating all previous opponents with her smothering wrestling. But Zhang stuffed all but one of Suarez's 15 takedown attempts and cruised to victory in her final title defense before moving up to flyweight, where she will challenge Valentina Shevchenko for that belt on Nov. 15.
That leaves the 115-pound title vacant, and after Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern vie to fill the vacancy on Oct. 25, the winner is going to be in need of a first challenger. Enter, perhaps, Tatiana Suarez.
Suarez got her wrestling back on track at Noche UFC on Saturday and defeated Amanda Lemos, who had been one spot above her in the strawweight rankings. But with the victory, Suarez (11-1) leapfrogs Lemos and sits at No. 4.
Saturday's main event winner, Diego Lopes, remains at No. 3 among featherweights because the fighter ranked right above him, Movsar Evloev, owns a win over him.
There were three other changes to the rankings, all due to our eligibility requirement that fighters compete within the past year or have an upcoming bout scheduled. Dropping out of the rankings because of inactivity are lightweight Dan Hooker, featherweight Arnold Allen and women's bantamweight Norma Dumont.
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 Sept. 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 | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight | Men's bantamweight
Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight
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: TBD
9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Aug. 23
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: Oct. 4 vs. Alex Pereira
2. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
3. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
4. Carlos Ulberg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
Next: Sept. 27 vs. Dominick Reyes
5. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Jirí Procházka
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: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: Sept. 27 vs Carlos Ulberg
8. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD
9. Volkan Oezdemir
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD
10. Corey Anderson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov
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: 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
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: TBD
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. Rafael Fiziev
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. Paddy Pimblett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
7. Usman Nurmagomedov 
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Paul Hughes
8. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: TBD
9. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: TBD
10. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: Oct. 11 vs. Charles Oliveira
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
Previous ranking: 4
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
Previous ranking: 2
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. Patricio Pitbull
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD
8. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
9. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Youssef Zalal
10. Youssef Zalal
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Calvin Kattar, Feb. 15
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Josh Emmett
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: Oct. 4 vs. Cory Sandhagen
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: 18-5
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
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. Patchy Mix
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, June 7
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Jakub Wiklacz
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. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD
5. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 10-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Yana Santos
7. Ailin Perez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD
9. Mayra Bueno Silva
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
10. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-8-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Miesha Tate, May 3
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Macy Chiasson
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: TBD
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
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD
5. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
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