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.
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: 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
