The UFC lightweight division is in flux. Ilia Topuria's stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earned Topuria the championship, which was vacant because Islam Makhachev has opted to move up to welterweight to go for that title. Makhachev has been promised a shot at new 170-pound champ Jack Della Maddalena, but no fight has been announced.
So for the purpose of rankings, Makhachev remains in the lightweight top 10 -- just as Topuria, who vacated the featherweight belt to move up a division, remained in the 145-pound rankings until he competed at 155 on Saturday.
As a result, there's a traffic jam at the top of the lightweight rankings. It will be resolved once Della Maddalena versus Makhachev takes place at 170 pounds, but for now the top of the 155-pound rankings is home to possibly the two best fighters in all of MMA.
The most significant rise in the rankings is at men's flyweight, where Joshua Van goes from unranked to No. 2 -- with a title shot promised -- on the strength of his UFC 317 victory over former No. 2 Brandon Royval.
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 July 1. 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: TBD
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: TBD
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: TBD
6. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
7. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
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: 14-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, June 7
Next: TBD
10. Marcin Tybura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22
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. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
Next: TBD
6. Aleksandar Rakić
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: TBD
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. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Zhang Mingyang
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: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov
9. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael "Venom" Page
10. Roman Dolidze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony Hernandez
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
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: TBD
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. 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
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: TBD vs. Jack Della Maddalena
2. Ilia Topuria 
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 1 at featherweight
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Max Holloway
6. Paddy Pimblett
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
7. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
8. Usman Nurmagomedov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
9. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: TBD
10. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: TBD
FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Dustin Poirier
3. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD
4. Diego Lopes
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva
5. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling
6. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Aaron Pico
7. Lerone Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD
8. Patricio Pitbull
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 36-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Yair Rodriguez, April 12
Next: July 19 vs. Dan Ige
9. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD
10. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega
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: July 26 vs. Marcus McGhee
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: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van
2. Joshua Van
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja
3. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: TBD
4. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD
6. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: Brave CF
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-0,1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Tatsuro Taira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi
8. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: TBD
9. Steve Erceg
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Alex Perez
10. Kai Asakura
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Tim Elliott
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. 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: 10-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
Next: TBD
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: Aug. 2 vs. Nora Cornolle
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
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: PFL
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Elora Dana, June 20
Next: Aug. 15 vs. Jena Bishop
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: Aug. 16 vs. Jessica Andrade
10. Iasmin Lucindo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8
Next: TBD
