MMA divisional rankings: Ngannou moves back in and…

May 19, 2026 No Comments

Inactive no more, Ngannou is back near top of heavyweight rankingsBrett OkamotoMay 19, 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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Francis Ngannou left Philipe Lins flat on his face in the first round of their MVP MMA 1 fight on Saturday. Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesFrancis 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 just in 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

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