MMA Divisional Rankings: UFC 300 Completely Reshapes World Rankings

In the ever-changing landscape of MMA, ranking the world’s best fighters may seem like a fool’s errand, but that’s exactly what we set out to do with MMA Fighting Global Ranks. Here, our esteemed panel sorts through the movers and shakers of every division to provide you with the most definitive list of the best fighters on the planet.

UFC 300 has come and gone, and considering the star power of the historic card, it’s safe to say it shook up the rankings like a snow globe. As we begin a new journey toward UFC 400, let’s take a look at where things stand after one of the greatest nights in MMA history.

You can view the latest pound-for-pound rankings here.

See the complete rankings for April below.

heavyweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (see previous rankings): No. 9 Marcin Tybura def. No. 8 Ty Bura

Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Sergei Pavlovich vs. No. 7 Alexander Volkov (UFC Fight Night, June 22), No. 6 Geirton Almeida vs. Alexander Romanov (UFC 302) ,June 1)

Other Fighters receiving votes (number shown on ballot): Derrick Lewis (5), Linton Vassell (3), Waldo Cortez Acosta (1), Ryan Bader (1), Dennis.・Goltsov (1), Alexander Romanov (1)

Outside of ranking (display previous ranking): 15th (tie) Derrick Lewis

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC, Getty Images

light heavyweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): No. 1 Alex Pereira def. No. 4 Jamahal Hill, No. 2 Jiri Prochaska def. Aleksandar Rakic, No. 5 Corey Anderson def. carl moore

Upcoming bouts between ranked fighters: No. 8 Johnny Walker vs. No. 15 Volkan Oezdemir (UFC Fight Night, June 22), No. 13 Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino (UFC 301, May 4) No. 14 Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov (UFC Vegas 91, April 27)

Other Fighters receiving votes (show how many appeared on the ballot): Azamat Murzakhanov (2), Rob Wilkinson (1), Alonzo Menifield (1), Thiago Santos (1), Philip Lins (1)

Outside of rankings (display previous rankings): 15th place Alonzo Menifield

middleweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): No. 9 Brendan Allen def. Chris Curtis, No. 14 Fabian Edwards DF Aaron Jeffery

Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 2 Sean Strickland vs. No. 8 Paulo Costa (UFC 302, June 1), No. 4 Robert Whitaker vs. No. 10 Khamzat Chimaev (UFC Fight Night, June 22), No. 13 Roman Dolidze vs. No. 15 Anthony Hernandez (UFC 302, June 1)

Other Fighters receiving votes (votes shown): Jack Hermansson (4), Impa Kasanganay (3), Michel Pereira (2), Reinier de Ridder (1), Caio Boralho (1), Paul Craig (1), Ikram Ariskerov (1), Kelvin Gastelum (1), Chris Curtis (1)

Out of ranking (display previous ranking): Not applicable

welterweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): Joaquin Buckley def. No.13 Vicente Luque

Upcoming matches between ranked fighters: No. 7 Jason Jackson vs. Ramazan Kramagomedov (Bellator Dublin, June 22), No. 15 Logan Storey vs. Shamil Musaev (PFL 3, April 19)

Other Fighters who received votes (showing number of ballot appearances): Magomed Magomedkerimov (3), Vicente Luque (2), Colby Covington (1), Andrei Koreshkov (1), Rinat Fakhreddinov (1)

Outside of ranking (previous ranking displayed): No. 13 Vicente Luque

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

lightweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (see previous rankings): No. 3 FW Max Holloway def. 3rd Justin Gaethje, 4th Arman Tsarukyan def. 2nd place Charles Oliveira, 13th place Renato Moicano def. No.12 Jalin Turner

Upcoming fights by ranked fighters: No. 1 Islam Makhachev vs. No. 6 Dustin Poirier (UFC 302, June 1), No. 7 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Chablis (Bellator Paris, May 17) No. 10 (tie) Michael Chandler vs. Conor McGregor (welterweight bout) (UFC 303, June 29)

Other Fighters receiving votes (show number of ballot appearances): Jalin Turner (2), Alexander Shively (2), Matt Frevola (1)

Not in the rankings (display previous rankings): No. 12 Jalin Turner

featherweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): No. 3 Max Holloway def. No. 3 LW Justin Gaethje (lightweight), No. 8 Patricio Pitbull def. Jeremy Kennedy, No. .4 BW Aljamain Sterling DF No.10 Calvin Kattar

Upcoming matches featuring ranked fighters: N/A

Other Fighters receiving votes (showing number of ballot appearances): Bryce Mitchell (4), Movrid Khaibulev (3), Lerone Murphy (2), Chihiro Suzuki (2), Adam Borix ( 1)

Out of ranking (display previous ranking): No. 15 Bryce Mitchell

bantamweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (see previous rankings): No. 4 Aljamain Sterling def. 10th FW Calvin Kattar (featherweight), 11th DF Deiveson Figueiredo.cody garbrandt

Upcoming bouts by ranked fighters: No. 3 Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov (Bellator Paris, May 17), No. 14 Jonathan Martinez vs. Jose Aldo (UFC 301, May 4)

Fighters also received votes (votes shown): Kai Asakura (4), Mario Bautista (4)

Not in the rankings (see previous rankings): No. 4 Aljamain Sterling (moved to featherweight)

flyweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): N/A

Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Alexandre Pantoja vs. No. 14 Steve Arceg (UFC 301, May 4), No. 10 (tie) Mateusz Nicolaou vs. No. 12 Alex Perez (UFC Vegas 91, April 27), No. 13 Tatsuro Hira vs. No. 15 Tim Elliott (UFC Vegas 92, May 18)

Other Fighters who received votes (displays number of ballot appearances): Askar Akerov (2), Azamat Kerefov (1), Kairat Akhmetov (1), Hiromasa Ogikubo (1)

Out of ranking (display previous ranking): Not applicable

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC, Getty Images

women’s bantamweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (see previous rankings): Kayla Harrison def. 4th Holly Holm, 9th Macy Chiasson def. 8th Panny Kianzado, 12th Nora Cornole def. No.13 Melissa Mullins

Upcoming matches featuring ranked fighters: N/A

Other Fighters receiving votes (show number of ballot appearances): Taynara Lisboa (3), Joselyn Edwards (2), Lucie Pudilova (2), Aylin Perez (2), Julia Avila (1), Olga Rubin (1), Taneisha Tennant (1)

Outside the rankings (view previous rankings): 15th place (tie) Aylin Perez, 15th place (tie) Lucy Pudilova, 14th place Taynara Lisboa

women’s flyweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): No. 4 Taila Santos def. Ilara Joao, No. 5 Manon Fioroto def. 3rd Erin Blanchfield, 6th Liz Carmouche def. No.15 Juliana Velasquez, Rose Namajunas def. No.13 Amanda Rivas

Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 13 Vivian Araujo vs. Jasmine Jasdavicius (UFC Fight Night, July 13)

Other Fighters who received votes (show number of ballot appearances): Jennifer Maia (6), Karine Silva (4), Ariane Lipsky (2), Jena Bishop (1)

Not ranked (view previous ranking): 14th Jennifer Maia

strawweight

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Recent results for ranked fighters (view previous rankings): No. 1 Zhang Weili def. 3rd place Yang Xiaonan, 5th place (tie) Jessica Andrade def. 8th place Marina Rodriguez, 7th place Vilna Jandiroba def. No.11 Loopy Godinez

Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 12 Angela Hill vs. Luana Pinheiro (UFC Vegas 92, May 18), No. 13 Tabatha Ricci vs. Tecia Torres (UFC St. Louis, May 11) ), No. 14 Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez (UFC 303, June 29), No. 15 Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo (UFC 301, May 4)

Other Fighters receiving votes (showing number of ballot appearances): Roma Lookboonmee (5), Emilie Ducote (1), Yasmine Lucindo (1), Danny McCormack (1), Luana・Piñeiro (1)

Not ranked (display previous ranking): Xiong Jingnan (inactive)

Revisiting the basic rules:

Our eight-person voting committee includes MMA Fighting staffers Shaheen Al Shati, Alexander K. Lee, Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, E. Casey Leydon, Stephen Marko, Damon Martin; Comprised of Jed Methew. Fighters who have not fought within 18 months of their most recent fight will be removed from the rankings. Ranking updates are usually completed after his monthly UFC pay-per-view. When a fighter announces his retirement, our committee will decide whether to immediately remove him from the rankings or keep him in place until further notice. (Let’s put it this way: We would have removed Khabib Nurmagomedov from the rankings much earlier than the UFC.) Just because a fighter holds a promotion’s title doesn’t mean they’re considered the best in that promotion. There is no guarantee that it will be possible. Additionally, fighters who compete regularly or hold titles in multiple weight classes are eligible to be ranked on multiple lists.

What are your thoughts? Have questions? Concerns? Let your voice be heard in the comments section below.

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