Sports

MMA divisional rankings: Colby Covington, Islam Makhachev hold down higher positions

Prior to UFC 271, Tai Tuivasa was just a big man with a fun gimmick. The 28-year-old Australian heavyweight had won four fights in a row, but with none of those wins having come against a ranked opponent, Tuivasa was best known for his signature victory celebration: drinking beer out of a shoe — a shoey.

Then Tuivasa went out at UFC 271 and got by far the biggest win of his career — a second-round knockout of Derrick Lewis, the UFC’s career knockout king and a two-time participant in title fights. Lewis went into the fight at No. 3 in the ESPN heavyweight rankings.

Now, for the first time, Tuivasa is ranked among the best in the world. That’s something worthy of a toast.

For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Feb. 17.

HeavyweightLight heavyweightMiddleweightWelterweight
LightweightMen’s featherweightMen’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight
Women’s bantamweightWomen’s flyweightStrawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: L (UD) Francis Ngannou, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Stipe Miocic

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Tai Tuivasa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-3
Last: W (KO2) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Derrick Lewis

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Tai Tuivasa, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Chris Daukaus


7. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 34-9
Last: W (UD) Marcin Tybura, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 19 vs. Tom Aspinall


8. Chris Daukaus

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO1) Derrick Lewis, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Curtis Blaydes


9. Ryan Bader

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Valentin Moldavsky, Jan. 29, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Cheick Kongo


10. Alistair Overeem

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Glover Teixeira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 33-7
Last: W (Sub2) Jan Blachowicz, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: May 7 vs. Jiri Prochazka


2. Jan Blachowicz

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-9
Last: L (Sub2) Glover Teixeira, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Aleksandar Rakic


3. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Ryan Bader, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: April 15 vs. Vadim Nemkov


4. Jiri Prochazka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: May 7 vs. Glover Teixeira


5. Aleksandar Rakic

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Jan Blachowicz


6. Vadim Nemkov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Julius Anglickas, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: April 15 vs. Corey Anderson


7. Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-16
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Thiago Santos


9. Thiago Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (UD) Johnny Walker, Oct. 2, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Magomed Ankalaev


10. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-1
Last: W (UD) Robert Whittaker, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-5
Last: W (KO2) Derek Brunson, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Marvin Vettori

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) Paulo Costa, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Paulo Costa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Derek Brunson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 23-8
Last: L (KO2) Jared Cannonier, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 25-3
Last: W (SD) Jack Hermansson, Feb. 5, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Darren Till

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-4-1
Last: L (Sub3) Derek Brunson, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Gegard Mousasi

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 48-7-2
Last: W (TKO3) John Salter, Aug. 13, 2021
Next: Feb. 25 vs. Austin Vanderford


10. Jack Hermansson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 22-6
Last: L (SD) Sean Strickland, Feb. 5, 2022
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Colby Covington, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Colby Covington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Jorge Masvidal


5. Vicente Luque

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Michael Chiesa, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: April 16 vs. Belal Muhammad


6. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 20-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Yaroslav Amosov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: May 13 vs. Michael Page


8. Stephen Thompson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-6-1
Last: L (UD) Belal Muhammad, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) Michael Chiesa, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Jorge Masvidal

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Colby Covington


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 32-8, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: May 7 vs. Justin Gaethje


2. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (UD) Michael Chandler, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: May 7 vs. Charles Oliveira


4. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Islam Makhachev


5. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1
Last: W (Sub1) Dan Hooker, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Beneil Dariush


6. Michael Chandler

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Justin Gaethje, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Rafael dos Anjos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-14
Last: L (KO2) Ricky Simon, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Rafael Fiziev


8. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-6
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, May 15, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Rafael dos Anjos


9. Gregor Gillespie

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Dan Hooker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-11
Last: L (Sub1) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 19 vs. Arnold Allen


MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Chan Sung Jung


2. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6
Last: W (UD) Yair Rodriguez, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD


3. A.J. McKee

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub1) Patricio Freire, July 31, 2021
Next: April 15 vs. Patricio Freire


4. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Patricio Freire

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-5
Last: L (Sub1) A.J. McKee, July 31, 2021
Next: April 15 vs. A.J. McKee


6. Calvin Kattar

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Giga Chikadze, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Chan Sung Jung

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, June 19, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Alexander Volkanovski


10. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Sodiq Yusuff, April 10, 2021
Next: March 19 vs. Dan Hooker


MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Aljamain Sterling


2. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Petr Yan


3. TJ Dillashaw

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Jose Aldo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-7
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, Dec. 4, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (UD) Petr Yan, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Rob Font

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 4, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Sergio Pettis

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (KO4) Kyoji Horiguchi, Dec. 3, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Dominick Cruz

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7-1
Last: W (KO3) Frankie Edgar, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-2-1
Last: W (UD) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6-2
Last: L (UD) Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Adriano Moraes

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Yuya Wakamatsu


4. Demetrious Johnson

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (mixed rules)


5. Askar Askarov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Kai Kara-France


6. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Askar Askarov


7. Alex Perez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD


8. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (SD) Rogerio Bontorin, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Rogerio Bontorin

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Brandon Royval, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (Sub2) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Amanda Nunes


2. Amanda Nunes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (Sub2) Julianna Peña, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Julianna Peña


3. Holly Holm

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD


4. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Aspen Ladd


5. Aspen Ladd

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-2
Last: L (UD) Norma Dumont, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Irene Aldana


6. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) Miesha Tate, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Yana Kunitskaya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-8
Last: W (Sub2) Macy Chiasson, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (Sub2) Raquel Pennington, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Miesha Tate

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-8
Last: L (UD) Ketlen Vieira, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Katlyn Chookagian

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: April 23 vs. Amanda Lemos


4. Lauren Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (TKO4) Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD


5. Taila Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub1) Joanne Wood, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Juliana Velasquez

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (SD) Denise Kielholtz, July 16, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD


8. Jennifer Maia

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-8-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Viviane Araujo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Andrea Lee

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: W (TKO2) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (SD) Zhang Weili, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


2. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Carla Esparza

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1-2
Last: W (UD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Yan Xiaonan


5. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Carla Esparza, May 22, 2021
Next: March 5 vs. Marina Rodriguez


6. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Tecia Torres


7. Claudia Gadelha

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD


8. Tecia Torres

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: April 9 vs. Mackenzie Dern


9. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Michelle Waterson


10. Nina Nunes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-7
Last: L (Sub1) Mackenzie Dern, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD

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