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          MMA divisional rankings: Fittingly, Khamzat Chimaev seizes top position

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          Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis to become UFC middleweight champion (1:05)

          Khamzat Chimaev completely controls the fight against Dricus Du Plessis and becomes middleweight champion at UFC 319. (1:05)

          • Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterAug 20, 2025, 12:06 AM
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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 wasn't a big climb for Khamzat Chimaev -- he already was the No. 2-ranked middleweight -- but there's something symmetrical about his short climb to the top of the ESPN divisional rankings just days after becoming UFC champion.

          Chimaev, who thoroughly dominated Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 319 main event on Saturday to capture the 185-pound belt, is undefeated and has long been expected to rise to the top. He's finally there.

          The middleweight rankings also saw two fighters enter the top 10 for the first time. Anthony Hernandez is No. 8 on the strength of his Aug. 9 submission of Roman Dolidze, and Brendan Allen takes the 10th spot weeks after beating Marvin Vettori.

          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 Aug. 19. 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: Oct. 25 vs. Ciryl Gane

          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: Oct. 25 vs. Tom Aspinall

          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: Oct. 25 vs. Jailton Almeida

          6. Sergei Pavlovich  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-3
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
          Next: Aug. 23 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

          7. Jailton Almeida  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 22-3
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
          Next: Oct. 25 vs. Alexander Volkov

          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: Aug. 23 vs. Sergei Pavlovich

          10. Marcin Tybura  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 27-9
          Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22
          Next: Sept. 6 vs. Ante Delija

          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: Oct. 4 vs. Alex Pereira

          2. Alex Pereira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-3
          Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
          Next: Oct. 4 vs. Magomed Ankalaev

          3. Jirí Procházka  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 31-5-1
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
          Next: Oct. 4 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

          4. Carlos Ulberg  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
          Next: Sept. 27 vs. Dominick Reyes

          5. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-6, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
          Next: Oct. 4 vs. Jirí Procházka

          6. Aleksandar Rakić  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
          Next: Oct. 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov

          7. Dominick Reyes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-4
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
          Next: Sept. 27 vs Carlos Ulberg

          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. Corey Anderson  

          Promotion: PFL
          Record: 19-6-1
          Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19
          Next: Oct. 3 vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

          1. Khamzat Chimaev  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Previous ranking: 2
          Record: 15-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
          Next: TBD

          2. Dricus du Plessis  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 1
          Record: 23-3
          Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
          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: Sept. 6 vs. Caio Borralho

          5. Israel Adesanya  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-5
          Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
          Next: TBD

          6. Caio Borralho  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 17-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
          Next: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov

          7. Reinier de Ridder  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 21-2
          Last: W (SD) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 26
          Next: Oct. 18 vs. Anthony Hernandez

          8. Anthony Hernandez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 15-2, 1 NC
          Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
          Next: Oct. 18 vs. Reinier de Ridder

          9. Robert Whittaker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 26-9
          Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
          Next: TBD

          10. Brendan Allen  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 25-7
          Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, July 19
          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. 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. Carlos Prates  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 22-7
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, Aug. 16
          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
          Record: 17-0
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
          Next: TBD

          3. Charles Oliveira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 35-11, 1 NC
          Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
          Next: Oct. 11 vs. Rafael Fiziev

          4. Max Holloway  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 27-8
          Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
          Next: TBD

          5. Justin Gaethje  

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

          6. Paddy Pimblett  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-3
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
          Next: TBD

          7. Dan Hooker  

          Promotion: UFC
          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: Oct. 3 vs. Paul Hughes

          9. Beneil Dariush  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-6-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
          Next: TBD

          10. Mateusz Gamrot  

          Promotion: UFC
          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
          Record: 27-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
          Next: TBD

          2. Yair Rodriguez  

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

          3. Diego Lopes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 26-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
          Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva

          4. Brian Ortega  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
          Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling

          5. Movsar Evloev  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: TBD

          6. Lerone Murphy  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-0-1
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
          Next: TBD

          7. Patricio Pitbull  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 37-8
          Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
          Next: TBD

          8. Arnold Allen  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-3
          Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
          Next: TBD

          9. Aljamain Sterling  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega

          10. Josh Emmett  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5
          Next: TBD

          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: Oct. 4 vs. Cory Sandhagen

          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: 19-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
          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: Oct. 4 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

          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: Oct. 11 vs. Montel Jackson

          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
          Record: 15-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
          Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja

          3. Brandon Royval  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
          Next: TBD

          4. Brandon Moreno  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 23-8-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
          Next: TBD

          5. Kai Kara-France  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 25-12, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
          Next: TBD

          6. Muhammad Mokaev  

          Promotion: Brave CF
          Record: 14-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
          Next: TBD

          7. Tatsuro Taira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-1
          Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
          Next: TBD

          8. Manel Kape  

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

          9. Steve Erceg  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ode' Osbourne, Aug. 9
          Next: TBD

          10. Kai Asakura  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-6
          Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
          Next: TBD

          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: Sept. 13 vs. Norma Dumont

          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: Sept. 13 vs. Raquel Pennington

          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: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
          Next: Oct. 4 vs. Yana Santos

          8. Ailin Perez  

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

          9. Karol Rosa  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-7
          Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
          Next: TBD

          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: Oct. 18 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

          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: 15-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
          Next: TBD

          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: Oct. 18 vs. Manon Fiorot

          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: 25-8
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
          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: Sept. 13 vs. Tatiana Suarez

          5. Tatiana Suarez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 11-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8
          Next: Sept. 13 vs. Amanda Lemos

          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. Loopy Godínez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 14-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
          Next: TBD

          9. Iasmin Lucindo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 18-6
          Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
          Next: TBD

          10. Tabatha Ricci  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: Unranked
          Record: 12-3
          Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
          Next: TBD