MMA
Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer 2d

MMA divisional rankings: Is Jon Jones the No. 1 heavyweight?

MMA, UFC, Bellator

Heavyweight has traditionally been the glamor division in the fight game. But while heavyweight boxing has thrived in recent years, heavyweight MMA has been in flux.

When Stipe Miocic was dethroned as UFC champion by Francis Ngannou in 2021, it appeared that the division was in good hands -- good, heavy hands. But by the end of 2022, Ngannou was gone from the sport, off to try those dangerous hands at boxing. To fill the void, Jon Jones moved up from light heavyweight, where he had dominated for a decade, and won the UFC belt early last year. But it would be his only fight in nearly five years.

During this time came the emergence of Tom Aspinall. Since Miocic lost the title, Aspinall has fought five times and won them all with first-round finishes. He is the UFC interim champion.

The real champ, Jones, fought on Saturday for the first time in more than a year and a half and beat up Miocic at UFC 309. With that return, along with the recent return to MMA by Ngannou in a PFL fight, heavyweight seems to be sorting itself out.

Jones is back in the heavyweight top 10, and that is the biggest change to the ESPN divisional rankings.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Nov. 20. 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 | Men's featherweight | Men's bantamweight
Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight

 

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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Ciryl Gane    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Alexander Volkov


5. Curtis Blaydes    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Alexander Volkov    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 38-10
Last: W (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, June 22, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ciryl Gane


7. Sergei Pavlovich    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Renan Ferreira    

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Jailton Almeida    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Alexandr Romanov, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Serghei Spivac    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 17-4
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD


 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Magomed Ankalaev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Aleksandar Rakic, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Jirí Procházka    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-5-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, June 29, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Jamahal Hill    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 10-2
Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Pereira, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Corey Anderson    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Khalil Rountree Jr.    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Aleksandar Rakić    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Volkan Oezdemir    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Johnny Walker, June 22, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Carlos Ulberg


9. Johnny Walker    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Anthony Smith    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-20
Last: L (UD) vs. Roman Dolidze, June 29, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Dominick Reyes


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-2
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Israel Adesanya, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Sean Strickland    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-6
Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Khamzat Chimaev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Israel Adesanya    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Dricus du Plessis, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Robert Whittaker    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Johnny Eblen    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Nassourdine Imavov    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Brendan Allen, Sept. 28, 2024
Next: TBD


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: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Caio Borralho, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Roman Dolidze    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Kevin Holland, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Belal Muhammad    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024 
Next: TBD


2. Leon Edwards    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Shavkat Rakhmonov    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ian Machado Garry


4. Jack Della Maddalena    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Sean Brady    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Ian Machado Garry    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael "Venom" Page, June 29, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov


7. Gilbert Burns    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Colby Covington    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Joaquin Buckley


9. Joaquin Buckley    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stephen Thompson, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Colby Covington


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: 26-1
Last: W (Sub5) vs. Dustin Poirier, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Arman Tsarukyan    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Charles Oliveira    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-10, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Justin Gaethje    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: L (KO5) vs. Max Holloway, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Dustin Poirier    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
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: 20-5-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Benoît Saint Denis, Sept. 28, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Beneil Dariush    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Usman Nurmagomedov    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexander Shabliy, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: Jan. 25 vs. Paul Hughes


10. Michael Chandler    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


 

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexander Volkanovski    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Max Holloway    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Diego Lopes    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Brian Ortega    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Yair Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Patricio Freire    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 36-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Josh Emmett    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Movsar Evloev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Aljamain Sterling


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: 18-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean O'Malley, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Sean O'Malley    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Umar Nurmagomedov    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Cory Sandhagen    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Petr Yan    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo


6. Henry Cejudo    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Deiveson Figueiredo    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Petr Yan


8. Mario Bautista    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


9. José Aldo    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Patchy Mix    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024
Next: TBD


 

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, May 4, 2024
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Kai Asakura


2. Brandon Royval    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Brandon Moreno    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Kai Kara-France    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-11, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Muhammad Mokaev    

Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 13-0,1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Manel Kape, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Tatsuro Taira    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Steve Erceg    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Kai Kara-France, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Manel Kape    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Muhammad Mokaev, July 27, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Bruno Silva


9. Alex Perez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Matheus Nicolau    

Promotion: None
Record: 19-5-1
Last: L (UD) Asu Almabayev, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


 

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Julianna Peña    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Raquel Pennington    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Kayla Harrison    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Ketlen Vieira    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Holly Holm    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Norma Dumont    

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


7. Irene Aldana    

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


8. Macy Chiasson    

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


9. Karol Rosa    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Pannie Kianzad    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 10, 2024
Next: TBD


 

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexa Grasso    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Manon Fiorot    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Erin Blanchfield    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Maycee Barber     

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Natalia Silva    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Taila Santos    

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Liz Carmouche, Aug. 2, 2024
Next: Nov. 29 vs. Dakota Ditcheva


8. Liz Carmouche    

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Rose Namajunas    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


 

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Virna Jandiroba    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Amanda Lemos    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Virna Jandiroba, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Yan Xiaonan    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, April 13, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Tabatha Ricci


5. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Marina Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Amanda Ribas


8. Amanda Ribas    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Mackenzie Dern


9. Loopy Godínez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Tabatha Ricci    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: Nov. 23 vs. Yan Xiaonan

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