Latest colby covington continues climb welterweight rankings

Brett OkamotoSep 15, 2026, 09:00 AM ET
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The UFC's heavyweight division appears to be stuck in neutral gear.

It's not just about Tom Aspinall vacating the championship on Monday because he is still recovering from an eye injury suffered in last October's no-contest in a title defense against Ciryl Gane. Gane, who won the interim championship with a knockout of Alex Pereira in June, remains atop the ESPN rankings. The top 10 still features Aspinall -- he's eligible to be ranked until the middle of next month, when he will have been inactive for a year -- and includes two heavyweights from outside the UFC in the top six (Francis Ngannou, Vadim Nemkov).

The heavyweight rankings underwent small changes as a result of Saturday's UFC matchup of top-10 fighters Waldo Cortes Acosta and Curtis Blaydes. Cortes Acosta entered the weekend ranked sixth, but after losing by unanimous decision, he drops to No. 9. Blaydes is one spot above him, moving up from 10th.

The only other movement in the divisional rankings is at women's flyweight, where former UFC champion Alexa Grasso moves up one position to No. 4 after Saturday's unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot. Formerly ranked second, Fiorot drops three spots after her first loss in a nontitle bout since her pro debut in 2018.

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 Sept. 15. 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 (up to 265 pounds)

	1. Ciryl Gane, UFC interim champion Record: 14-2, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, June 14 Next: TBA
	2. Tom Aspinall Record: 15-3, 1 NC Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Francis Ngannou Record: 19-3 Last: W (KO1) vs. Philipe Lins, May 16 Next: TBA
	4. Alexander Volkov Record: 40-11 Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, May 9 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Rizvan Kuniev
	5. Sergei Pavlovich Record: 21-3 Last: W (KO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, May 30 Next: TBA
	6. Vadim Nemkov, PFL champion Record: 20-2 Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Dec. 13, 2025 Next: Nov. 14 vs. Sergei Bilostenniy
	7. Josh Hokit Record: 10-0 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Derrick Lewis, June 14 Next: TBA
	8. Curtis Blaydes Record: 20-6, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Record: 17-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Curtis Blaydes, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	10. Vitor Petrino Record: 15-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, Aug. 22 Next: TBA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

	1. Alex Pereira Record: 13-4 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, June 14 Next: TBA
	2. Magomed Ankalaev Record: 22-2-1, 1 NC Last: W (TKO5) vs. Bogdan Guskov, July 25 Next: TBA
	3. Carlos Ulberg, UFC champion Record: 15-1 Last: W (KO1) vs. Jirí Procházka, April 11 Next: TBA
	4. Jirí Procházka Record: 32-6-1 Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, April 11 Next: TBA
	5. Khalil Rountree Jr. Record: 14-7, 1 NC Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4, 2025 Next: TBA
	6. Navajo Stirling Record: 11-0 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jan Blachowicz, Aug. 1 Next: TBA
	7. Paulo Costa Record: 16-4 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, April 11 Next: TBA
	8. Azamat Murzakanov Record: 16-1 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Paulo Costa, April 11 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Dominick Reyes
	9. Dominick Reyes Record: 16-5 Last: W (SD) vs. Johnny Walker, April 11 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Azamat Murzakanov
	10. Jan Blachowicz Record: 29-12-2 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Navajo Stirling, Aug. 1 Next: TBA

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

	1. Sean Strickland, UFC champion Record: 31-7 Last: W (SD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, May 9 Next: TBA
	2. Khamzat Chimaev Record: 15-1 Last: L (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, May 9 Next: TBA
	3. Dricus du Plessis Record: 24-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, July 18 Next: TBA
	4. Nassourdine Imavov Record: 17-4, 1 NC Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6, 2025 Next: TBA
	5. Caio Borralho Record: 18-2, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, March 7 Next: TBA
	6. Brendan Allen Record: 27-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan, June 6 Next: Oct. 10 vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
	7. Joe Pyfer Record: 16-3 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, March 28 Next: TBA
	8. Gregory Rodrigues Record: 20-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Anthony Hernandez, Aug. 22 Next: TBA
	9. Anthony Hernandez Record: 15-4, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Aug. 22 Next: TBA
	10. Israel Adesanya Record: 24-6 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Joe Pyfer, March 28 Next: TBA

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

	1. Islam Makhachev, UFC champion Record: 29-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Aug. 15 Next: TBA
	2. Ian Machado Garry Record: 17-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Islam Makhachev, Aug. 15 Next: TBA
	3. Carlos Prates Record: 24-7 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 2 Next: TBA
	4. Michael Morales Record: 19-0 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sean Brady, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	5. Jack Della Maddalena Record: 18-4 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Carlos Prates, May 2 Next: TBA
	6. Sean Brady Record: 19-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, May 9 Next: Nov. 7 vs. Gabriel Bonfim
	7. Gabriel Bonfim Record: 20-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, June 6 Next: Nov. 7 vs. Sean Brady
	8. Joaquin Buckley Record: 21-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, May 9 Next: Oct. 17 vs. Mike Mallott
	9. Belal Muhammad Record: 24-6, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Gabriel Bonfim, June 6 Next: TBA
	10. Yaroslav Amosov Record: 30-1 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Joel Alvarez, May 9 Next: TBA

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

	1. Justin Gaethje, UFC champion Record: 28-5 Last: W (TKO4) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 14 Next: TBA
	2. Ilia Topuria Record: 17-1 Last: L (TKO4) vs. Justin Gaethje, June 14 Next: TBA
	3. Arman Tsarukyan Record: 23-3 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Dan Hooker, Nov. 22, 2025 Next: Sept. 19 vs. Mauricio Ruffy
	4. Usman Nurmagomedov, PFL champion Record: 22-0, 1 NC Last: W (TKO1) vs. Archie Colgan, July 31 Next: TBA
	5. Charles Oliveira Record: 37-11, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Max Holloway, March 7 Next: TBA
	6. Max Holloway Record: 28-9 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Conor McGregor, July 11 Next: TBA
	7. Paddy Pimblett Record: 24-4 Last: W (TechSub1) vs. Benoit Saint Denis, July 11 Next: TBA
	8. Benoît Saint Denis Record: 17-4, 1 NC Last: L (TechSub1) vs. Paddy Pimblett, July 11 Next: TBA
	9. Mauricio Ruffy Record: 14-2 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Michael Chandler, June 14 Next: Sept. 19 vs. Arman Tsarukyan
	10. Quillan Salkilld Record: 26-5, 1 NC Last: W (Sub1) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 8 Next: TBA

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

	1. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC champion Record: 28-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Jan. 31 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Movsar Evloev
	2. Movsar Evloev Record: 20-0 Last: W (MD) vs. Lerone Murphy, March 21 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Movsar Evloev
	3. Diego Lopes Record: 28-8 Last: W (KO2) vs. Steve Garcia, June 14 Next: TBA
	4. Aljamain Sterling Record: 26-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Youssef Zalal, April 25 Next: TBA
	5. Lerone Murphy Record: 17-1-1 Last: L (MD) vs. Movsar Evloev, March 21 Next: TBA
	6. Jean Silva Record: 18-3 Last: W (SUB3) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	7. Kevin Vallejos Record: 18-1 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Josh Emmett, March 14 Next: TBA
	8. Steve Garcia Record: 19-6 Last: L (KO2) vs. Diego Lopes, June 14 Next: TBA
	9. Arnold Allen Record: 21-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Melquizael Costa, May 16 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Aaron Pico
	10. Youssef Zalal Record: 18-6-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, April 25 Next: TBA

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

	1. Petr Yan, UFC champion Record: 20-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Dec. 6, 2025 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
	2. Merab Dvalishvili Record: 21-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Dec. 6, 2025 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Petr Yan
	3. Sean O'Malley Record: 20-3, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, June 14 Next: TBA
	4. Song Yadong Record: 24-9-1, 1 NC Last: W (KO2) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 29 Next: TBA
	5. Umar Nurmagomedov Record: 20-2 Last: L (KO2) vs. Song Yadong, Aug. 29 Next: TBA
	6. Mario Bautista Record: 18-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, July 11 Next: TBA
	7. Cory Sandhagen Record: 18-7 Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, July 11 Next: TBA
	8. Aiemann Zahabi Record: 14-3 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, June 14 Next: TBA
	9. Deiveson Figueiredo Record: 25-7-1 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Song Yadong, May 30 Next: Oct. 3 vs. Payton Talbott
	10. David Martinez Record: 15-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, Sept. 12 Next: TBA

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

	1. Joshua Van, UFC champion Record: 17-2 Last: W (TKO5) vs. Tatsuro Taira, May 9 Next: Sept. 19 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
	2. Alexandre Pantoja Record: 30-6 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Joshua Van, Dec. 6, 2025 Next: Sept. 19 vs. Joshua Van
	3. Manel Kape Record: 23-7 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, June 20 Next: TBA
	4. Brandon Royval Record: 18-9 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Lone'er Kavanagh, July 11 Next: TBA
	5. Tatsuro Taira Record: 18-2 Last: L (TKO5) vs. Joshua Van, May 9 Next: TBA
	6. Kyoji Horiguchi Record: 36-6, 1 NC Last: L (TKO3) vs. Manel Kape, June 20 Next: TBA
	7. Lone'er Kavanagh Record: 10-2 Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brandon Royval, July 11 Next: Oct. 24 vs. Ramazan Temirov
	8. Brandon Moreno Record: 24-10-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Joseph Morales, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	9. Muhammad Mokaev, Brave CF champion Record: 17-0, 1 NC Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jorge Calvo, June 6 Next: TBA
	10. Asu Almabayev Record: 24-3 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Charles Johnson, June 27 Next: TBA

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

	1. Joselyne Edwards Record: 18-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, April 25 Next: TBA
	2. Norma Dumont Record: 13-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Joselyn Edwards, April 25 Next: Sept. 26 vs. Ailin Perez
	3. Ketlen Vieira Record: 16-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Cris Cyborg, Aug. 22 Next: TBA
	4. Ailin Perez Record: 13-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Feb. 28 Next: Sept. 26 vs. Norma Dumont
	5. Yana Santos Record: 17-8, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4, 2025 Next: TBA
	6. Macy Chiasson Record: 11-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Feb. 28 Next: TBA
	7. Luana Santos Record: 11-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, June 20 Next: TBA
	8. Jacqueline Cavalcanti Record: 10-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 16 Next: TBA
	9. Karol Rosa Record: 19-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Luana Santos, June 20 Next: TBA
	10. Nora Cornolle Record: 9-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Klaudia Sygula, Sept. 5 Next: TBA

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

	1. Valentina Shevchenko Record: 26-4-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Natalia Silva Record: 20-5-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Jan. 24 Next: Oct. 3 vs. Wang Cong
	3. Erin Blanchfield Record: 14-2 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tracy Cortez, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: Oct. 17 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
	4. Alexa Grasso Record: 18-5-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	5. Manon Fiorot Record: 13-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 12 Next: TBA
	6. Dakota Ditcheva Record: 16-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Denis Kielholtz, July 31 Next: TBA
	7. Maycee Barber Record: 15-3 Last: L (KO1) vs. Alexa Grasso, March 28 Next: TBA
	8. Jasmine Jasudavicius Record: 15-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Karine Silva, April 18 Next: Oct. 17 vs. Erin Blanchfield
	9. Rose Namajunas Record: 15-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Jan. 24 Next: TBA
	10. Liz Carmouche Record: 26-8 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Viviane Araujo, June 27 Next: Oct. 16 vs. Jena Bishop

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

	1. Zhang Weili Record: 26-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Mackenzie Dern, UFC champion Record: 17-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Gillian Robertson, Aug. 15 Next: TBA
	3. Virna Jandiroba Record: 23-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Tabatha Ricci, April 4 Next: TBA
	4. Tatiana Suarez Record: 13-1 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Loopy Godinez, April 11 Next: TBA
	5. Gillian Robertson Record: 17-9 Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 15 Next: TBA
	6. Loopy Godínez Record: 14-6 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tatiana Suarez, April 11 Next: TBA
	7. Fatima Kline Record: 10-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Tabatha Ricci, July 18 Next: TBA
	8. Alexia Thainara Record: 15-1-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 8 Next: TBA
	9. Amanda Lemos Record: 15-7-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Alexia Thainara, Aug. 8 Next: TBA
	10. Tabatha Ricci Record: 12-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Fatima Kline, July 18 Next: TBA