MMA divisional rankings: UFC’s Dricus Du Plessis tightens his grip on middleweight

In the aftermath of Dricus Du Plessis winning the UFC middleweight championship a year ago, his reign was not universally lauded. Some thought that his opponent, Sean Strickland, should have been awarded the belt after the split decision was announced in Du Plessis’ favor.

Even after he went on to submit former champ Israel Adesanya seven months later in his first title defense, Du Plessis still had work to do to erase doubts that he was a better fighter than Strickland. He had that opportunity last weekend at UFC 312, and he succeeded in a dominant victory.

The only other division that saw change was strawweight, which saw Zhang Weili successfully defend her title at UFC 312. Zhang was already No. 1, but her challenger, Tatiana Suarez, enters the rankings at No. 5 despite being dominated in a unanimous decision loss. Suarez had been unranked previously because of inactivity, but the loss to Zhang was the first defeat of her career.

Results are current; rankings as of Feb. 12. 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

Table of Contents

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall  

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Francis Ngannou  

Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Jon Jones  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024
Next: Feb. 22 vs. Rizvan Kuniev


6. Alexander Volkov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1, 2025
Next: TBD


8. Jailton Almeida  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan.18, 2025
Next: TBD


9. Renan Ferreira  

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Serghei Spivac  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Jailton Almeida, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 5, 2024
Next: March 8 vs. Magomed Ankalaev


2. Magomed Ankalaev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Aleksandar Rakic, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: March 8 vs. Alex Pereira


3. Jirí Procházka  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


4. Jamahal Hill  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 10-3
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


5. Corey Anderson  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Aleksandar Rakić  

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


8. Carlos Ulberg  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: March 22 vs. Jan Blachowicz


9. Volkan Oezdemir  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Johnny Walker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 8, 2025
Next: TBD


2. Khamzat Chimaev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Sean Strickland  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8, 2025
Next: TBD


4. Nassourdine Imavov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1, 2025
Next: TBD


5. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1, 2025
Next: TBD


6. Robert Whittaker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Johnny Eblen  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Caio Borralho  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Jared Cannonier  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Caio Borralho, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: Feb. 15 vs. Gregory Rodrigues


10. Roman Dolidze  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Kevin Holland, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Belal Muhammad  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Leon Edwards  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, July 27, 2024
Next: March 22 vs. Jack Della Maddalena


3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

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


4. Jack Della Maddalena  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: March 22 vs. Leon Edwards


5. Sean Brady  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Joaquin Buckley  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Ian Machado Garry  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Gilbert Burns  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Geoff Neal  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Colby Covington  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Joaquin Buckley, Dec. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


2. Arman Tsarukyan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-10, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: L (KO5) vs. Max Holloway, April 13, 2024
Next: March 8 vs. Dan Hooker


5. Dustin Poirier  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Dan Hooker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: March 8 vs. Justin Gaethje


7. Renato Moicano  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6-1
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


8. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Usman Nurmagomedov  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25, 2025
Next: TBD


10. Michael Chandler  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, Nov. 16, 2024
Next: TBD


FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Diego Lopes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Brian Ortega  

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


6. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Movsar Evloev  

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


8. Patricio Freire  

Promotion: None
Record: 36-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Arnold Allen  

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


10. Aljamain Sterling  

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


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


2. Sean O’Malley  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Umar Nurmagomedov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


5. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Henry Cejudo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: Feb. 22 vs. Song Yadong


7. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Mario Bautista  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


9. José Aldo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Patchy Mix  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024
Next: TBD


MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 29-5
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Kai Asakura, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: March 1 vs. Manel Kape


3. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Kai Kara-France  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-11, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Muhammad Mokaev  

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


6. Tatsuro Taira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Steve Erceg  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Kai Kara-France, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Manel Kape  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Bruno Silva, Dec. 14, 2024
Next: March 1 vs. Brandon Royval


9. Kai Asakura  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Alex Perez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Julianna Peña  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Raquel Pennington  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Kayla Harrison  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Ketlen Vieira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: Feb. 22 vs. Macy Chiasson


5. Holly Holm  

Promotion: None
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Norma Dumont  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Irene Aldana  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Macy Chiasson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024
Next: Feb. 22 vs. Ketlen Vieira


9. Ailin Perez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


10. Karol Rosa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18, 2025
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexa Grasso  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Manon Fiorot  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
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: 14-0
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Taila Santos, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Maycee Barber  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Natalia Silva  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Taila Santos  

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8, 2025
Next: TBD


2. Virna Jandiroba  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Yan Xiaonan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Tabatha Ricci, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Amanda Lemos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Virna Jandiroba, July 20, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Tatiana Suarez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8, 2025
Next: TBD


6. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Marina Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-5-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11, 2025
Next: TBD


9. Amanda Ribas  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-6
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11, 2025
Next: TBD


10. Loopy Godínez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 3, 2024
Next: TBD

Karl Rock
Karl Rockhttps://globaltimes18.com/
Karl Rock is a skilled content writer at GlobalTimes18.com, specializing in informative, engaging articles on global news and trends. With a passion for delivering insightful stories, Karl combines research and clear communication to keep readers informed and entertained. His work reflects his dedication to quality and relevance in journalism.

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