Latest mma fighter rankings

Brett OkamotoMay 19, 2026, 08:00 AM ET
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Francis Ngannou spent a long time at the top of the ESPN heavyweight rankings but fell out last fall because he'd been inactive for over a year. He returned on Saturday -- returned to the sport and returned to his old form as a ferocious finisher. Ngannou knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round of their MVP MMA 1 bout, and as a result, he is back near the top of the rankings.

It's unclear how active Ngannou, 39, will be now that he's signed with Jake Paul's fight promotion. But right now he is the No. 2 heavyweight in the ESPN divisional rankings, behind only UFC champion Tom Aspinall.

The only other change in the latest rankings is at featherweight, where Arnold Allen moves up a spot to No. 9 on the strength of his unanimous decision win over Melquizael Costa in the main event of Saturday's UFC fight card. That event also featured a meeting of two ranked bantamweight women, and after No. 5 Ketlen Vieira defeated 10th-ranked Jacqueline Cavalcanti, both remain where they were in the top 10.

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 May 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 (up to 265 pounds)

	1. Tom Aspinall, UFC champion Record: 15-3, 1 NC Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Francis Ngannou Record: 19-3 Last: W (KO1) vs. Philipe Lins, May 16 Next: TBA
	3. Ciryl Gane Record: 13-2, 1 NC Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct. 25, 2025 Next: June 14 vs. Alex Pereira
	4. Alexander Volkov Record: 40-11 Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, May 9 Next: TBA
	5. Sergei Pavlovich Record: 20-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23, 2025 Next: May 30 vs. Tallison Teixeira
	6. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Record: 17-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, May 9 Next: TBA
	7. Vadim Nemkov, PFL champion Record: 20-2 Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Dec. 13, 2025 Next: TBA
	8. Josh Hokit Record: 9-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Curtis Blaydes, April 11 Next: June 14 vs. Derrick Lewis
	9. Serghei Spivac Record: 18-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Ante Delija, Feb. 21 Next: TBA
	10. Curtis Blaydes Record: 19-6, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Josh Hokit, April 11 Next: TBA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

	1. Alex Pereira Record: 13-3 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4, 2025 Next: June 14 vs. Ciryl Gane
	2. Magomed Ankalaev Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4, 2025 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. Paulo Costa Record: 16-4 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, April 11 Next: TBA
	7. Azamat Murzakanov Record: 16-1 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Paulo Costa, April 11 Next: TBA
	8. Dominick Reyes Record: 16-5 Last: W (SD) vs. Johnny Walker, April 11 Next: TBA
	9. Aleksandar Rakic Record: 14-6 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25, 2025 Next: TBA
	10. Jamahal Hill Record: 12-4, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21, 2025 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: 23-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16, 2025 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. Anthony Hernandez Record: 15-3, 1 NC Last: L (TKO3) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 21 Next: TBA
	7. Brendan Allen Record: 26-7 Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18, 2025 Next: June 6 vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
	8. Joe Pyfer Record: 16-3 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, March 28 Next: TBA
	9. Israel Adesanya Record: 24-6 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Joe Pyfer, March 28 Next: TBA
	10. Reinier de Ridder Record: 12-4, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Caio Borralho, March 7 Next: TBA

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

	1. Islam Makhachev, UFC champion Record: 28-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Ian Machado Garry Record: 17-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, Nov. 22, 2025 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. Belal Muhammad Record: 24-5, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Nov. 22, 2025 Next: June 6 vs. Gabriel Bonfim
	7. Sean Brady Record: 19-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, May 9 Next: TBA
	8. Kamaru Usman Record: 21-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14, 2025 Next: TBA
	9. Joaquin Buckley Record: 21-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, May 9 Next: TBA
	10. Gabriel Bonfim Record: 19-1 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Randy Brown, Nov. 8, 2025 Next: June 6 vs. Belal Muhammad

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

	1. Ilia Topuria, UFC champion Record: 17-0 Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28, 2025 Next: June 14 vs. Justin Gaethje
	2. Arman Tsarukyan Record: 23-3 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Dan Hooker, Nov. 22, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Charles Oliveira Record: 37-11, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Max Holloway, March 7 Next: TBA
	4. Max Holloway Record: 27-9 Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, March 7 Next: July 11 vs. Conor McGregor
	5. Justin Gaethje, UFC interim champion Record: 27-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Paddy Pimblett, Jan. 24 Next: June 14 vs. Ilia Topuria
	6. Usman Nurmagomedov, PFL champion Record: 21-0, 1 NC Last: W (TechSub3) vs. Alfie Davis, Feb. 7 Next: TBA
	7. Benoît Saint Denis Record: 17-3, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Dan Hooker, Jan. 31 Next: July 11 vs. Paddy Pimblett
	8. Mauricio Ruffy Record: 13-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Jan. 31 Next: June 14 vs. Michael Chandler
	9. Mateusz Gamrot Record: 26-4, 1 NC Last: W (Sub2) vs. Esteban Ribovics, April 11 Next: TBA
	10. Paddy Pimblett Record: 23-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Justin Gaethje, Jan. 24 Next: July 11 va. Benoit Saint Denis

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

	1. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC champion Record: 28-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Jan. 31 Next: TBA
	2. Movsar Evloev Record: 20-0 Last: W (MD) vs. Lerone Murphy, March 21 Next: TBA
	3. Diego Lopes Record: 27-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Jan. 31 Next: June 14 vs. Steve Garcia
	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: 17-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 24 Next: TBA
	7. Steve Garcia Record: 19-5 Last: W (TKO1) vs. David Onama, Nov. 1, 2025 Next: June 14 vs. Diego Lopes
	8. Kevin Vallejos Record: 18-1 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Josh Emmett, March 14 Next: TBA
	9. Arnold Allen Record: 21-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Melquizael Costa, May 16 Next: TBA
	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: TBA
	2. Merab Dvalishvili Record: 21-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Dec. 6, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Sean O'Malley Record: 19-3, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Song Yadong, Jan. 24 Next: June 14 vs. Aiemann Zahabi
	4. Umar Nurmagomedov Record: 20-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 24 Next: TBA
	5. Cory Sandhagen Record: 18-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4, 2025 Next: July 11 vs. Mario Bautista
	6. Mario Bautista Record: 17-3 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Vinicius Oliveira, Feb. 7 Next: July 11 vs. Cory Sandhagen
	7. Song Yadong Record: 22-8-1, 1 NC Last: L (UD) vs. Sean O'Malley, Jan. 24 Next: May 30 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
	8. Deiveson Figueiredo Record: 25-6-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Jan. 24 Next: May 30 vs. Song Yadong
	9. Aiemann Zahabi Record: 14-2 Last: W (SD) vs. Marlon Vera, Oct. 18, 2025 Next: June 14 vs. Sean O'Malley
	10. David Martinez Record: 14-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Feb. 28 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: TBA
	2. Alexandre Pantoja Record: 30-6 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Joshua Van, Dec. 6, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Tatsuro Taira Record: 18-2 Last: L (TKO5) vs. Joshua Van, May 9 Next: TBA
	4. Manel Kape Record: 22-7 Last: W (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 13, 2025 Next: June 20 vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
	5. Brandon Royval Record: 17-9 Last: L (KO1) vs. Manel Kape, Dec. 13, 2025 Next: July 11 vs. Lone'er Kavanagh
	6. Kyoji Horiguchi Record: 36-5, 1 NC Last:. W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Feb. 7 Next: June 20 vs. Manel Kape
	7. Lone'er Kavanagh Record: 10-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 28 Next: July 11 vs. Brandon Royval
	8. Brandon Moreno Record: 23-10-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Lone'er Kavanagh, Feb. 28 Next: TBA
	9. Kai Kara-France Record: 25-12, 1 NC Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28, 2025 Next: TBA
	10. Muhammad Mokaev, Brave CF champion Record: 15-0, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Gerard Burns, Nov. 7, 2025 Next: TBA

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

	1. Kayla Harrison, UFC champion Record: 19-1 Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Julianna Peña Record: 12-6 Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Joselyne Edwards Record: 18-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, April 25 Next: TBA
	4. Norma Dumont Record: 13-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Joselyn Edwards, April 25 Next: TBA
	5. Ketlen Vieira Record: 16-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti, May 16 Next: TBA
	6. Ailin Perez Record: 13-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Feb. 28 Next: TBA
	7. Yana Santos Record: 17-8, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4, 2025 Next: TBA
	8. Macy Chiasson Record: 11-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Feb. 28 Next: TBA
	9. Karol Rosa Record: 19-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle Aug. 2, 2025 Next: TBA
	10. Jacqueline Cavalcanti Record: 10-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 16 Next: TBA

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

	1. Valentina Shevchenko, UFC champion Record: 26-4-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	2. Manon Fiorot Record: 13-2 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18, 2025 Next: TBA
	3. Natalia Silva Record: 20-5-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Jan. 24 Next: TBA
	4. Erin Blanchfield Record: 14-2 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tracy Cortez, Nov. 15, 2025 Next: TBA
	5. Alexa Grasso Record: 17-5-1 Last: W (KO1) vs. Maycee Barber, March 28 Next: TBA
	6. Dakota Ditcheva Record: 15-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19, 2025 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: TBA
	9. Rose Namajunas Record: 15-8 Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Jan. 24 Next: TBA
	10. Liz Carmouche Record: 25-8 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15, 2025 Next: June 27 vs. Viviane Araujo

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: 16-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25, 2025 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: 17-8 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 14 Next: TBA
	6. Amanda Lemos Record: 15-6-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Gillian Robertson, March 14 Next: TBA
	7. Loopy Godínez Record: 14-6 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tatiana Suarez, April 11 Next: TBA
	8. Iasmin Lucindo Record: 18-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9, 2025 Next: TBA
	9. Tabatha Ricci Record: 12-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 4 Next: TBA
	10. Amanda Ribas Record: 12-7 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tabatha Ricci, July 26, 2025 Next: TBA