MMA divisional rankings – Topuria upsets UFC’s balance of power at featherweight
Alexander Volkanovski had held his UFC championship through more than twice as many title defenses as any other current champ. His reign at men’s featherweight extended all the way back to 2019, when he dethroned Max Holloway. Volkanovski went on to defeat Holloway, an all-time great, two more times, and he fended off challenges by Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung.
Over time, it began to appear that Volkanovski was unbeatable at 145 pounds.
Then, at UFC 298 last weekend, Ilia Topuria didn’t merely beat Volkanovski, he knocked him out in the second round to take away the title.
The undefeated 27-year-old from Spain now sits atop the men’s featherweight top 10 in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
That is the only major change in the latest update to Brett Okamoto’s rankings. There’s a small flip-flop at light heavyweight, and a new entry at the bottom of the middleweight top 10. But the story of these rankings is the change in power at 145 pounds.
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Feb. 21. 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
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jon Jones 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Jailton Almeida
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Marcin Tybura
8. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Derrick Lewis, Nov. 4, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Curtis Blaydes
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Renan Ferreira
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 9-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill
2. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
3. Magomed Ankalaev 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-1-1
Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Jan Blachowicz 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Bruno Cappelozza
6. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: March 22 vs. Karl Moore
7. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-19
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8
Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD
10. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-19
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD
2. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6
Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Brendan Allen
7. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 14-0
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Fabian Edwards, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Impa Kasanganay
8. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Brendan Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Marvin Vettori
10. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Jack Della Maddalena
7. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Jason Jackson
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-4
Last: W (KO3) vs. Yaroslav Amosov, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Ray Cooper III
9. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: L (SD) vs. Ian Garry, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway
4. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) vs. Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Benoit Saint Denis
6. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
8. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Jalin Turner
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-0
Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
2. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 26-4
Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
3. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje
4. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brian Ortega
5. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Jesus Pinedo
6. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Giga Chikadze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Bryce Mitchell
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: L (KO1) Josh Emmett, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Marlon Vera
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O’Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar
3. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Song Yadong
7. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Sean O’Malley
9. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 23-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs.Brandon Royval
3. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brandon Moreno
8. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: March 2 vs. Alex Perez
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD
2. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie
7. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: March 16 vs. Macy Chiasson
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Miesha Tate
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-9
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3-1
Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Erin Blanchfield
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Manon Fiorot
5. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
7. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Amanda Ribas
8. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Karine Silva
9. Maycee Barber
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Katlyn Chookagian
10. Viviane Araujo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan
2. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
3. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Loopy Godínez
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade
7. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
8. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Rose Namajunas
10. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
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