Michael Morales found the most efficient and visible way to insert himself into the ESPN welterweight rankings: He knocked out someone who was in that top 10.
Morales moved to 18-0 with a first-round TKO of onetime title challenger Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas. Morales is 6-0 since joining the UFC in 2022, with four knockouts.
Burns, previously ranked at No. 8 among 170-pounders, dropped out of the top 10.
The other significant movement in the divisional rankings came because of inactivity. Both lightweight Arman Tsarukyan and women's bantamweight Holly Holm last fought in April 2024 and have no MMA bouts scheduled, so they are ineligible and have been removed from the rankings.
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 May 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 | 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
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: 17-5
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Jailton Almeida, Jan. 18
Next: June 7 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
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. Joaquin Buckley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 14, 2024
Next: June 14 vs. Kamaru Usman
6. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD
9. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: June 14 vs. Joaquin Buckley
10. Geoff Neal 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
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
Previous ranking: 3
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
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD
4. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
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
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
6. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Renato Moicano
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-6-1
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18
Next: June 28 vs. Beneil Dariush
8. Usman Nurmagomedov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
9. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: 19-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Jan. 18
Next: June 7 vs. Sean O'Malley
2. Sean O'Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: June 7 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
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: 15-2
Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: June 7 vs. Patchy Mix
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: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024
Next: June 7 vs. Mario Bautista
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: TBD
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. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5, 2024
Next: June 7 vs. Kayla Harrison
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: June 7 vs. Julianna Peña
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
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
7. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024
Next: May 31 vs. Ketlen Vieira
8. Ailin Perez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
9. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
10. Mayra Bueno Silva
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: May 31 vs. Maycee Barber
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. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Record: 23-8
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Ilara Joanne, April 11
Next: June 20 vs. Elora Dana
10. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: June 14 vs. Miranda Maverick
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