Brett OkamotoJul 29, 2025, 05:30 PM
CloseBrett Okamoto has reported 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.
Reinier de Ridder has come a long way in less than a year. Last summer, he left his longtime fight promotion, One Championship, where he had once been a double champion, reigning in both the 205-pound and 225-pound weight classes simultaneously. In September, he signed with the UFC.
De Ridder made his Octagon debut in November, choking out Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight bout. He followed that with three more victories, one being a finish of previously unbeaten prospect Bo Nickal. But de Ridder’s most impressive win came Saturday, when he earned a split decision over former UFC champion Robert Whittaker.
At 4-0 in the UFC, de Ridder has quickly become a top contender in the 185-pound division. And he now owns a spot in the ESPN middleweight rankings, bumping Whittaker down a couple of spots in the top 10.
That is the only change in these latest rankings.
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 July 29. 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 | Featherweight | Men’s bantamweight
Men’s flyweight | Women’s bantamweight | Women’s flyweight | Strawweight
Tom Aspinall already was ESPN’s No. 1 heavyweight, but now the UFC belt he’s carrying around no longer has an “interim” tag. Richard Sellers/PA via APHEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)1. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD
3. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Tom Aspinall
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, June 7
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Sergei Pavlovich
10. Marcin Tybura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Ante Delija
Magomed Ankalaev ascended to the top of the light heavyweight division at UFC 313. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCLIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)1. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Pereira, March 8
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Alex Pereira
2. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: TBD
8. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD
10. Corey Anderson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19
Next: TBD
Dricus du Plessis tightened his grip on the middleweight belt at UFC 312. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty ImagesMIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)1. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 8
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Caio Borralho
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 21-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 26
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael “Venom” Page
10. Roman Dolidze 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony Hernandez
Jack Della Maddalena has the welterweight belt in hand after dethroning Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCWELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)1. Jack Della Maddalena
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: TBD vs. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Sean Brady
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22
Next: TBD
5. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: TBD
6. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Carlos Prates
Ilia Topuria had vacated the featherweight title before UFC 317, but winning the lightweight belt provided a glorious photo op. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCLIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: TBD vs. Jack Della Maddalena
2. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: TBD
4. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
7. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: TBD
10. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: TBD
Alexander Volkanovski recaptured the featherweight belt by beating Diego Lopes at UFC 314. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLCFEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD
3. Diego Lopes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva
4. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Aaron Pico
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega
10. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5
Next: TBD
Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his men’s bantamweight title, defeating Sean O’Malley a second time, at UFC 316. Elsa/Getty ImagesMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-4
Last: W (TechSub3) vs. Sean O’Malley, June 7
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7
Next: TBD
7. Song Yadong
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Cory Sandhagen, May 3
Next: TBD
9. Patchy Mix
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, June 7
Next: TBD
10. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
Men’s flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has made four title defenses — more than any other UFC champion. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van
2. Joshua Van
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD
Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. HyunSung Park
8. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: TBD
9. Steve Erceg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: TBD
10. Kai Asakura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Tim Elliott
Kayla Harrison is the new women’s bantamweight champion after defeating Julianna Pena at UFC 316. Vincent Carchietta/Imagn ImagesWOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Kayla Harrison
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD
5. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Raquel Pennington
6. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
Next: TBD
8. Ailin Perez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
9. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Nora Cornolle
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
Rose Namajunas put on a vintage performance against Miranda Maverick at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta on June 14. Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY SportsWOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10
Next: TBD
2. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, May 10
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD
6. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 10
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Manon Fiorot
8. Taila Santos
Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: PFL
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Elora Dana, June 20
Next: Aug. 15 vs. Jena Bishop
Zhang Weili was already sitting on top of the MMA world before UFC 312, but a dominant win solidified her position. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCSTRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12
Next: TBD
3. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD
4. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, March 8
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: TBD
8. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Jessica Andrade
10. Iasmin Lucindo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Angela Hill