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          MMA divisional rankings: Undefeated Lerone Murphy rises to occasion at featherweight

          Lerone Murphy has won eight in a row in the UFC. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
          • Brett OkamotoApr 8, 2025, 07:29 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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          It's been a long time coming, but Lerone Murphy finally has secured a spot in ESPN's divisional rankings.

          Murphy moves into the featherweight top 10 on the strength of a unanimous decision victory over onetime UFC interim title challenger Josh Emmett at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. It was the eighth straight UFC win for Murphy after a draw in his promotional debut in 2019. The 33-year-old from England is 14-0-1 overall.

          It is a timely rise to contender status for Murphy, as the featherweight belt is up for grabs in this Saturday's UFC 314 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.

          Dropping out of the top 10 to make room for Murphy: former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

          The only other movement in these updated rankings is at light heavyweight, where Bellator champion Corey Anderson fell out of the top 10 because he has not fought since March 2024 and is ineligible until he competes again. Anderson is replaced by Dominick Reyes.

          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 April 8. 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
          Next: TBD

          2. Francis Ngannou  

          Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
          Record: 18-3
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19
          Next: TBD

          3. Jon Jones  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 28-1, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16
          Next: TBD

          4. Ciryl Gane  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-2
          Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          5. Curtis Blaydes  

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

          6. Alexander Volkov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 38-11
          Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7
          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
          Next: TBD

          10. Serghei Spivac  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-5
          Last: L (TKO1) vs. Jailton Almeida, Jan. 18
          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. Jamahal Hill  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 10-3
          Last: L (TKO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          6. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 13-6, 1 NC
          Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5
          Next: TBD

          7. Aleksandar Rakić  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 14-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26
          Next: TBD

          8. Volkan Oezdemir  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 20-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23
          Next: TBD

          9. Johnny Walker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 21-9, 1 NC
          Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22
          Next: TBD

          10. Dominick Reyes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 15-4
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
          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: TBD

          2. Khamzat Chimaev  

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

          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
          Next: TBD

          7. Johnny Eblen  

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

          8. Caio Borralho  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24
          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. Belal Muhammad  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 24-3, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27
          Next: May 10 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

          2. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          3. Jack Della Maddalena  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-2
          Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
          Next: May 10 vs. Belal Muhammad

          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
          Next: TBD

          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: 15-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 7
          Next: April 26 vs. Carlos Prates

          8. Gilbert Burns  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 22-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7
          Next: May 10 vs. Michael Morales

          9. Geoff Neal  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-6
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26
          Next: TBD

          10. Colby Covington  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-5
          Last: L (TKO3) vs. Joaquin Buckley, Dec. 14
          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

          2. Arman Tsarukyan  

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

          3. Charles Oliveira  

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

          4. Justin Gaethje  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
          Next: TBD

          5. Dustin Poirier  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 30-9, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1
          Next: TBD

          6. Dan Hooker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 29-12
          Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          7. Renato Moicano  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-6-1
          Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          8. Usman Nurmagomedov  

          Promotion: Bellator champion
          Record: 19-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
          Next: TBD

          9. Michael Chandler  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-10
          Last: L (TKO3) vs. Paddy Pimblett, April 12
          Next: TBD

          10. Mateusz Gamrot  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-3, 1 NC
          Last: L (SD) vs. Dan Hooker, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

          1. Ilia Topuria  

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

          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
          Next: TBD

          4. Diego Lopes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
          Next: TBD

          5. Brian Ortega  

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

          6. Yair Rodriguez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-5, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
          Next: TBD

          7. Movsar Evloev  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          8. Patricio Pitbull  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 36-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Yair Rodriguez, April 12
          Next: TBD

          9. Lerone Murphy  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 16-0-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
          Next: TBD

          10. Arnold Allen  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 20-3
          Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27
          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
          Next: June 7 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

          3. Petr Yan  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23
          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: 17-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3
          Next: May 3 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

          6. Deiveson Figueiredo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-4-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Nov. 23
          Next: May 3 vs. Cory Sandhagen

          7. Mario Bautista  

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

          8. Song Yadong  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
          Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
          Next: TBD

          9. José Aldo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 32-9
          Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5
          Next: May 10 vs. Aiemann Zahabi

          10. Patchy Mix  

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

          2. Brandon Royval  

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

          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
          Next: TBD

          5. Muhammad Mokaev  

          Promotion: Brave CF
          Record: 14-0,1 NC
          Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13
          Next: TBD

          6. Tatsuro Taira  

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

          7. Manel Kape  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-7
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
          Next: TBD

          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
          Next: TBD

          10. Alex Perez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 25-9
          Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15
          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
          Next: June 7 vs. Kayla Harrison

          2. Raquel Pennington  

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

          3. Kayla Harrison  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5
          Next: June 7 vs. Julianna Peña

          4. Ketlen Vieira  

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

          5. Holly Holm  

          Promotion: GFL
          Record: 15-7, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13
          Next: May 24 vs. Julia Budd

          6. Norma Dumont  

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

          7. Irene Aldana  

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

          8. Macy Chiasson  

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

          9. Ailin Perez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          10. Karol Rosa  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
          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
          Next: May 10 vs. Manon Fiorot

          2. Alexa Grasso  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-4-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14
          Next: May 10 vs. Natalia Silva

          3. Manon Fiorot  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
          Next: May 10 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

          4. Erin Blanchfield  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2
          Next: May 31 vs. Maycee Barber

          5. Dakota Ditcheva  

          Promotion: PFL champion
          Record: 14-0
          Last: W (TKO2) vs. Taila Santos, Nov. 29
          Next: TBD

          6. Natalia Silva  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-5-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7
          Next: May 10 vs. Alexa Grasso

          7. Taila Santos  

          Promotion: PFL
          Record: 22-4
          Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29
          Next: TBD

          8. Liz Carmouche  

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

          9. Jessica Andrade  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-13
          Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7
          Next: May 10 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

          10. Rose Namajunas  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          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. Jessica Andrade  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-13
          Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7
          Next: May 10 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

          7. Marina Rodriguez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-5-2
          Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5
          Next: May 3 vs. Gillian Robertson

          8. Mackenzie Dern  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-5
          Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
          Next: TBD

          9. Amanda Ribas  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-6
          Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11
          Next: TBD

          10. Loopy Godínez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29
          Next: TBD