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          MMA divisional rankings: After losing belt, how far does Alex Pereira drop in light heavyweight top 10?

          Alex Pereira and his coaches had a disappointing end of UFC 313. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
          • Brett OkamotoMar 12, 2025, 07:53 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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          Losing a unanimous decision to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 last weekend cost Alex Pereira his light heavyweight championship and also his top-three status in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings. But how far did he fall in the divisional top 10?

          Pereira did not slip far, it turns out, mainly because he's defeated most of the light heavyweights who were ranked right below him, aside from Ankalaev. The former champ and the new champ simply swapped places at the top of the division.

          That is the only change in these latest ESPN divisional 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 March 12. 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
          Previous ranking: 2
          Record: 21-1-1, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Pereira, March 8
          Next: TBD

          2. Alex Pereira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 1
          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. Jamahal Hill  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 10-3
          Last: L (TKO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Jan. 18
          Next: April 26 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

          5. Corey Anderson  

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

          6. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-6, 1 NC
          Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5
          Next: April 26 vs. Jamahal Hill

          7. Aleksandar Rakić  

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

          8. Carlos Ulberg  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 11-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, Nov. 23
          Next: March 22 vs. Jan Blachowicz

          9. Volkan Oezdemir  

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

          10. Johnny Walker  

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

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

          3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

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

          4. Jack Della Maddalena  

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

          5. Sean Brady  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, Sept. 7
          Next: March 22 vs. Leon Edwards

          6. Joaquin Buckley  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-6
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          7. Ian Machado Garry  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          8. Gilbert Burns  

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

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

          10. Michael Chandler  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-9
          Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, Nov. 16
          Next: April 12 vs. Paddy Pimblett

          FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

          1. Ilia Topuria  

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

          2. Alexander Volkanovski  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-4
          Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17
          Next: April 12 vs. Diego Lopes

          3. Max Holloway  

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

          4. Diego Lopes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-6
          Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Sept. 14
          Next: April 12 vs. Alexander Volkanovski

          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: 15-5, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024
          Next: April 12 vs. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

          7. Movsar Evloev  

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

          8. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire  

          Promotion: None
          Record: 36-7
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22
          Next: April 12 vs. Yair Rodriguez

          9. Arnold Allen  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-3
          Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27
          Next: TBD

          10. Aljamain Sterling  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7
          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: TBD

          2. Sean O'Malley  

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

          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: 22-8-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Nov. 2
          Next: March 29 vs. Steve Erceg

          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. Steve Erceg  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-3
          Last: L (TKO1) vs. Kai Kara-France, Aug. 17
          Next: March 29 vs. Brandon Moreno

          8. Manel Kape  

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

          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: TBD

          4. Ketlen Vieira  

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

          5. Holly Holm  

          Promotion: None
          Record: 15-7, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13
          Next: TBD

          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
          Next: May 10 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

          4. Erin Blanchfield  

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

          5. Dakota Ditcheva  

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

          6. Maycee Barber  

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

          7. Natalia Silva  

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

          8. Taila Santos  

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

          9. Liz Carmouche  

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

          10. Jessica Andrade  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-13
          Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7
          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: 21-3
          Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20
          Next: April 12 vs. Yan Xiaonan

          3. Yan Xiaonan  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-4, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Tabatha Ricci, Nov. 23
          Next: April 12 vs. Virna Jandiroba

          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: TBD

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