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          MMA divisional rankings: New UFC champion Mackenzie Dern moves up in strawweight top 10

          • Brett OkamotoOct 28, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          UFC 321 had few highlights and ended anticlimactically, but Saturday's event in Abu Dhabi did succeed in shuffling the ESPN divisional rankings.

          The fighter making the biggest move is the one who was crowned a new champion, Mackenzie Dern. She defeated Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision to capture the strawweight title vacated by Zhang Weili, who goes for the women's flyweight belt in less than three weeks. Dern moves up four spots to No. 2, right behind Zhang, who remains in the 115-pound rankings until she fights in her new division.

          Jandiroba, the previous No. 2, moves down one spot.

          The main event was one of two heavyweight bouts at UFC 321, and neither produced a change in the rankings. Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane remain Nos. 1 and 2 after their eye-poke no contest, and Alexander Volkov stays at No. 4 after his split-decision win over Jailton Almeida, who is still No. 6.

          At light heavyweight, Azamat Murzakanov enters the rankings at No. 6 after a first-round knockout of Aleksandar Rakic, who drops two spots to No. 8.

          Lastly, at men's bantamweight, Umar Nurmagomedov moves up a spot to No. 3 after winning a unanimous decision over No. 6 Mario Bautista.

          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. 28. 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, 1 NC
          Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          2. Ciryl Gane  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-2, 1 NC
          Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct.25
          Next: TBD

          3. Curtis Blaydes  

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

          4. Alexander Volkov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 39-11
          Last: W (SD) vs. Jailton Almeida, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          5. Sergei Pavlovich  

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

          6. Jailton Almeida  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 22-4
          Last: L (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          7. 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

          8. Waldo Cortes-Acosta  

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

          9. Serghei Spivac  

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

          10. Derrick Lewis  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 29-12, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
          Next: TBD

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

          1. Alex Pereira  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          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. Azamat Murzakanov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-0
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Aleksandar Rakić, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          7. Dominick Reyes  

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

          8. Aleksandar Rakić  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 14-6
          Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          9. Jamahal Hill  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 12-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
          Next: TBD

          10. Corey Anderson  

          Promotion: PFL champion
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 20-6-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
          Next: TBD

          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. Anthony Hernandez  

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

          7. Caio Borralho  

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

          8. Brendan Allen  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-7
          Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
          Next: TBD

          9. Reinier de Ridder  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-3
          Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
          Next: TBD

          10. Robert Whittaker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-9
          Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
          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: 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: Nov. 15 vs. Michael Morales

          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: Nov. 15 vs. Sean Brady

          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: 36-11, 1 NC
          Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
          Next: TBD

          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
          Record: 20-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
          Next: TBD

          7. Paddy Pimblett  

          Promotion: UFC
          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: 25-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
          Next: TBD

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

          8. Patricio Pitbull  

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

          9. Brian Ortega  

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

          10. Josh Emmett  

          Promotion: UFC
          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: Dec. 6 vs. Petr Yan

          2. Sean O'Malley  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-3, 1 NC
          Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
          Next: TBD

          3. Umar Nurmagomedov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 4
          Record: 19-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          4. Petr Yan  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 3
          Record: 19-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
          Next: Dec. 6 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

          5. Cory Sandhagen  

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

          6. Mario Bautista  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-3
          Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Oct. 25
          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: 25-5-1
          Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
          Next: TBD

          9. Marlon Vera  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-11-1
          Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
          Next: TBD

          10. Henry Cejudo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-5
          Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
          Next: Dec. 6 vs. Payton Talbott

          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: Dec. 6 vs. Joshua Van

          2. Joshua Van  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
          Next: Dec. 6 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: Dec. 6 vs. Tatsuro Taira

          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 (UD) vs. Thomas Assis, June 14
          Next: Nov. 7 vs. Gerard Burns

          7. Tatsuro Taira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-1
          Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
          Next: Dec. 6 vs. Brandon Moreno

          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
          Record: 15-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
          Next: Nov. 1 vs. Norma Dumont

          4. Yana Santos  

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

          10. Nora Cornolle  

          Promotion: UFC
          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: 13-2
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
          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: 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: 14-4
          Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
          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
          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. Mackenzie Dern  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 16-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          3. Virna Jandiroba  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 2
          Record: 22-4
          Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 25
          Next: TBD

          4. Yan Xiaonan  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 3
          Record: 18-5, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
          Next: TBD

          5. Tatiana Suarez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 4
          Record: 11-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
          Next: TBD

          6. Amanda Lemos  

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

          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