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Rose Namajunas did not move very far, but her climb was tremendous.
She entered last Saturday’s UFC 261 as the No. 2 strawweight in the ESPN divisional MMA rankings. Now she is just one spot higher at No. 1 — but she’s also once again a UFC champion, after knocking out Zhang Weili.
It is the second reign for Namajunas, who previously was champ from 2017 until 2019.
Last weekend’s three title fights did not produce much movement in these latest rankings. Kamaru Usman, who defended his UFC welterweight championship with a second-round KO of Jorge Masvidal, was already No. 1 at 170 pounds (although Masvidal does drop a few spots in the top 10). And Valentina Shevchenko, who knocked out Jessica Andrade, was already at the top of the women’s flyweight rankings (and Andrade remains at No. 2).
But other weight divisions saw some movement, most notably men’s flyweight, where Adriano Moraes knocked out previously No. 2 Demetrious Johnson to defend his title in the One Championship.
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 April 29.
Heavyweight – Light heavyweight – Middleweight – Welterweight
Lightweight – Men’s featherweight – Men’s bantamweight – Men’s flyweight
Women’s bantamweight – Women’s flyweight – Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Francis Ngannou 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Stipe Miocic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Derrick Lewis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) Curtis Blaydes, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-0
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: June 26 vs. Alexander Volkov
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-8
Last: W (TKO2) Alistair Overeem, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: June 26 vs. Ciryl Gane
7. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Ciryl Gane, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Alistair Overeem
Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson
10. Shamil Abdurakhimov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Sept. 7, 2019
Next: May 1 vs. Augusto Sakai
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jon Jones
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-8
Last: W (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 6, 2021
Next: Sept. 4 vs. Glover Teixeira
3. Glover Teixeira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-7
Last: W (Sub3) Thiago Santos, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: Sept. 4 vs. Jan Blachowicz
4. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (TKO2) Jan Blachowicz, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: May 1 vs. Jiri Prochazka
5. Aleksandar Rakic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Vadim Nemkov 
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-2
Previous ranking: 7
Last: W (UD) Phil Davis, April 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson–Yoel Romero winner
7. Corey Anderson 
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-5
Last: W (TKO3) Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Ryan Bader
8. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson
9. Thiago Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9
Last: L (UD) Aleksandar Rakic, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Jiri Prochazka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Volkan Oezdemir, July 11, 2020
Next: May 1 vs. Dominick Reyes
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: L (UD) Jan Blachowicz, March 6, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Marvin Vettori
2. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Yoel Romero
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7, 2020
Next: May 7 vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson
5. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-4-1
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, April 10, 2021
Next: June 12 vs. Israel Adesanya
7. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-7
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Darren Till
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-3-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
10. Gegard Mousasi
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 47-7-2
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (KO2) Jorge Masvidal, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tyron Woodley, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Douglas Lima
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 32-8
Last: L (UD) Gegard Mousasi, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: NC Belal Muhammad, March 13, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Nate Diaz
5. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: L (TKO3) Kamaru Usman, Feb. 13, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Stephen Thompson
6. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Geoff Neal, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: July 10 vs. Gilbert Burns
7. Michael Chiesa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-4
Last: W (UD) Neil Magny, Jan. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Vicente Luque
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Tyron Woodley, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Jorge Masvidal
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Rory MacDonald
Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26, 2019
Next: April 29 vs. Curtis Millender
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Conor McGregor, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: July 10 vs. Conor McGregor
2. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, Dec.12, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Michael Chandler
4. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (TKO1) Dan Hooker, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Charles Oliveira
5. Tony Ferguson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: L (UD) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Beneil Dariush
6. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-10
Last: L (TKO1) Michael Chandler, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4-1
Last: W (SD) Diego Ferreira, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Tony Ferguson
9. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub3) Drew Dober, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Paul Felder
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (SD) Rafael dos Anjos, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-1
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11, 2020
Next: TBD vs. Brian Ortega
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 32-4
Last: W (Sub1) Emmanuel Sanchez, April 2, 2021
Next: TBD vs. A.J. McKee
4. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Chan Sung Jung, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: TBD vs. Alexander Volkanovski
5. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD
6. Calvin Kattar
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18, 2019
Next: TBD
8. Chan Sung Jung
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Brian Ortega, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: June 19 vs. Dan Ige
9. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Dan Ige
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-3
Last: W (KO1) Gavin Tucker, March 13, 2021
Next: June 19 vs. Chan Sung Jung
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: L (DQ4) Aljamain Sterling, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (KO1) Frankie Edgar, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD vs. TJ Dillashaw
4. Cody Garbrandt
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) Raphael Assuncao, June 6, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Rob Font
5. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO1) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: May 22 vs. Cody Garbrandt
6. Jose Aldo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: W (UD) Marlon Vera, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Frankie Edgar
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-9-1
Last: L (KO1) Cory Sandhagen, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Pedro Munhoz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jimmie Rivera, Feb. 27, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Marlon Moraes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-1
Last: L (TKO1) Rob Font, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Raphael Assuncao
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: L (KO2) Cody Garbrandt, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1-1
Last: D (MD) Brandon Moreno, Dec.12, 2020
Next: June 12 vs. Brandon Moreno
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 17-5-2
Last: D (MD) Deiveson Figueiredo, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: June 12 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
3. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Askar Askarov
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alex Perez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Matt Schnell
7. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Manel Kape, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Brandon Moreno, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Jussier Formiga
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (TKO1) Alex Perez, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (Sub1) Megan Anderson,, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Julianna Peña
2. Germaine de Randamie
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (Sub3) Sara McMann, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: May 8 vs. Holly Holm
4. Aspen Ladd
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7, 2019
Next: July 24 vs. Macy Chiasson
5. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: May 8 vs. Julianna Peña
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Yana Kunitskaya
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Ketlen Vieira, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 11-8
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: July 24 vs. Aspen Ladd
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3
Last: W (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9
Last: L (TKO2) Valentina Shevchenko, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Viviane Araujo
4. Jennifer Maia
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Joanne Calderwood
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (UD) Jessica Eye, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (Sub2) Liliya Shakirova, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Cynthia Calvillo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-2-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: W (Sub3) DeAnna Bennett, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 10-4
Last: W (KO1) Zhang Weili, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-1
Last: L (KO1) Rose Namajunas, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (SD) Marina Rodriguez, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Claudia Gadelha, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1-2
Last: W (TKO2) Amanda Ribas, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub1) Nina Nunes, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Claudia Gadelha
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Michelle Waterson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-8
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Tecia Torres
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-5
Last: W (TKO1) Sam Hughes, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD