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. Jirà 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. Jirà 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 GodÃnez  
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