MMA divisional rankings: Kape punches his ticket t…

June 23, 2026 No Comments

Kape powers his way into flyweight top 3 in MMA divisional rankingsManel Kape scored his fourth straight knockout to move closer to the top of the flyweight rankings. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCBrett OkamotoJun 23, 2026, 08:00 AM ETClose

Brett Okamoto has revealed on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.

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Manel Kape put himself in position to claim the UFC championship he has long been chasing, scoring his fourth straight knockout by flattening Kyoji Horiguchi on Saturday in Las Vegas.

As a result, Kape moves into the top three in the ESPN men’s flyweight rankings, behind only current champion Joshua Van and longtime former champ Alexandre Pantoja. Those two could soon meet in a rematch of their fight in December, which ended in 26 seconds after Pantoja dislocated his elbow. Kape likely would be next in line.

For finishing Horiguchi in a rematch of a 2017 bout he lost by submission, Kape moves up one spot from No. 4 at 125 pounds. Horiguchi remains at No. 6.

This past weekend’s UFC fight card also produced rankings movement at women’s bantamweight, where Luana Santos won a unanimous decision over Karol Rosa and the two swapped top-10 positions. Santos is No. 7, Rosa No. 9.

The only other change is at light heavyweight, where Jamahal Hill is newly ineligible after having not fought in over a year. Replacing him at No. 10 is Dustin Jacoby.

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 June 23. 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, UFC champion

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: TBA

5. Sergei Pavlovich

Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, May 30
Next: TBA

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: 10-0
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Derrick Lewis, June 14
Next: TBA

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: 13-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, June 14
Next: TBA

2. Magomed Ankalaev

Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4, 2025
Next: July 25 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

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: July 25 vs. Magomed Ankalaev

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. Dustin Jacoby

Record: 22-9-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Julius Walker, Feb. 7
Next: July 25 vs. Uran Satybaldiev

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: July 18 vs. Kamaru Usman

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: 27-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan, June 6
Next: TBA

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: Aug. 15 vs. Ian Machado Garry

2. Ian Machado Garry

Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, Nov. 22, 2025
Next: Aug. 15 vs. Islam Makhachev

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: TBA

7. Gabriel Bonfim

Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, June 6
Next: TBA

8. Joaquin Buckley

Record: 21-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, May 9
Next: TBA

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: TBA

4. Charles Oliveira

Record: 37-11, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Max Holloway, March 7
Next: TBA

5. Max Holloway

Record: 27-9
Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, March 7
Next: July 11 vs. Conor McGregor

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: 14-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Michael Chandler, June 14
Next: TKO

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: 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: 17-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 24
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: 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: 20-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, June 14
Next: TBA

4. Umar Nurmagomedov

Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 24
Next: July 25 vs. David Martinez

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: 23-8-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 30
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: TBA

10. David Martinez

Record: 14-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Feb. 28
Next: July 25 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

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. Manel Kape

Record: 23-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, June 20
Next: TBA

4. Tatsuro Taira

Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO5) vs. Joshua Van, May 9
Next: TBA

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: 36-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Manel Kape, June 20
Next: TBA

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. 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: TBA

3. Ketlen Vieira

Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti, May 16
Next: TBA

4. Ailin Perez

Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Feb. 28
Next: TBA

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: L (Sub2) vs. Joselyne Edwards, Feb. 21
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: Aug. 15 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

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: July 31 vs. Denise Kielholtz

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: Aug. 15 vs. Erin Blanchfield

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: Aug. 15 vs. Gillian Robertson

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: Aug. 15 vs. Mackenzie Dern

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

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