There are three new faces at No. 1. One got there with a bang, one in a delayed reaction and the other in just about the most anticlimactic way possible.
Francis Ngannou has taken over the top spot at heavyweight in the latest ESPN divisional MMA rankings after knocking out UFC champion Stipe Miocic last Saturday. He made his point emphatically, leaving no questions unanswered except one: Who’ll be his first challenger?
UFC president Dana White had said prior to UFC 260 that the Miocic-Ngannou winner would next face Jon Jones, the longtime light heavyweight champ who is moving to heavyweight. But after the fight, Jones and White began squabbling over money, and the UFC boss mentioned Derrick Lewis, coming off a huge KO of Curtis Blaydes, as a possible alternate title challenger.
Dustin Poirier takes over in the lightweight top 10 five months after Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement. The Russian had remained atop the rankings during that time because he still held the UFC title and White was continuing to try to persuade him to keep fighting.
Further complicating Poirier’s rise to No. 1: The UFC has booked a May 15 title fight to determine Nurmagomedov’s successor, and the matchup is Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler. Poirier instead is expected to take a high-profile, big-money fight against Conor McGregor.
And at men’s bantamweight, the new No. 1 is Aljamain Sterling, who moved ahead of Petr Yan after winning the UFC championship on March 6 by disqualification when an illegal knee by Yan rendered Sterling unable to continue. It’s hard to imagine the UFC not running that one back.
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 March 31.
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
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Stipe Miocic 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
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: TBD
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: TBD
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: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: April 9 vs. Lyoto Machida
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: TBD
3. Glover Teixeira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-7
Last: W (Sub3) Thiago Santos, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
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. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-5
Last: W (TKO2) Melvin Manhoef, Nov. 5, 2020
Next: April 9 vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
7. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) Ryan Bader, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: April 16 vs. Phil Davis
8. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: April 9 vs. Lyoto Machida
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: TBD
2. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: April 17 vs. Kelvin Gastelum
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: April 16 vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson
5. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 22-7
Last: W (UD) Kevin Holland, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Darren Till
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-3-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, July 25, 2020
Next: April 10 vs. Marvin Vettori
8. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Jack Hermansson, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: April 10 vs. Darren Till
9. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: TBD
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: 18-1
Last: W (TKO3) Gilbert Burns, Feb. 13, 2021
Next: April 24 vs. Jorge Masvidal
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: TBD
6. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Geoff Neal, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Jorge Masvidal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-14
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, July 11, 2020
Next: April 24 vs. Kamaru Usman
8. Michael Chiesa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: W (UD) Neil Magny, Jan. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Rory MacDonald
Promotion: PFL
Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26, 2019
Next: April 29 vs. David Michaud
10. Vicente Luque
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Tyron Woodley, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Conor McGregor, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, Dec.12, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Michael Chandler
4. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-5
Last: W (TKO1) Dan Hooker, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: May 15 vs. Charles Oliveira
5. Tony Ferguson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 25-5
Last: L (UD) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 20-10
Last: L (TKO1) Michael Chandler, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Previous rankings: 9
Record: 20-4-1
Last: W (SD) Diego Ferreira, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
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
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Chan Sung Jung, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-4
Last: W (TKO1) Pedro Carvalho, Nov. 12, 2020
Next: April 2 vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
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: TBD
9. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Shane Burgos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Josh Emmett, June 20, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Edson Barboza
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
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: May 8 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. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12, 2019
Next: April 7 vs. Adriano Moraes
3. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5-2
Last: D (MD) Deiveson Figueiredo, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: June 12 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
4. Askar Askarov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Alex Perez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: May 15 vs. Matt Schnell
6. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Manel Kape, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Brandon Moreno, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Joseph Benavidez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-8
Last: L (UD) Askar Askarov, March 6, 2021
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
2. Germaine de Randamie
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Pena, 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: TBD
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: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: April 24 vs. Jessica Andrade
2. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8
Last: W (TKO1) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: April 24 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
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. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7, 2020
Next: April 24 vs. Rose Namajunas
2. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-4
Last: W (SD) Jessica Andrade, July 11, 2020
Next: April 24 vs. Zhang Weili
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. Claudia Gadelha
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Michelle Waterson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-8
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Tecia Torres
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (TKO1) Sam Hughes, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Nina Ansaroff
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-6
Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8, 2019
Next: April 10 vs. Mackenzie Dern