MMA divisional rankings: With Dustin Poirier retired, where does Max Holloway land in top 10?

Brett OkamotoJul 22, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
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Dustin Poirier‘s retirement fight at UFC 318 was an emotional powerhouse, so perhaps it’s fitting that the weekend’s main event in New Orleans had an impact on not one but two weight classes in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.

Since Poirier is walking away from competition, he drops out of the lightweight rankings. Who replaces him? It’s the man who defeated him, Max Holloway — which leaves an opening at featherweight, where Holloway was previously ranked. There is a lot of shuffling in the top 10s of both divisions.

The PFL also had a fight card on Saturday, and it factored in changes at two weight classes. Corey Anderson, who knocked out Denis Goltsov, returns to the light heavyweight rankings, and Johnny Eblen falls from the middleweight top 10 after losing for the first time in his career. Eblen was choked out by Costello van Steenis.

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 22. 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 (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

2. Francis Ngannou

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: TBD

4. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD

5. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

7. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

8. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

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

LIGHT 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: TBD

2. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

4. Carlos Ulberg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
Next: TBD

5. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
Next: TBD

6. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Dominick Reyes

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

9. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Corey Anderson

Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Denis Goltsov, July 19
Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (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

2. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Dricus Du Plessis

3. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

4. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Caio Borralho

5. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

6. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Reinier de Ridder

7. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov

8. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael “Venom” Page

9. Roman Dolidze

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony Hernandez

10. Anthony Hernandez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Brendan Allen, Feb. 22
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Roman Dolidze

WELTERWEIGHT (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

2. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: TBD

3. Shavkat Rakhmonov

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

7. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: TBD

8. Michael Morales

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: TBD

9. Joaquin Buckley

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

LIGHTWEIGHT (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

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: TBD

4. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2 at featherweight
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD

5. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD

6. Paddy Pimblett

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

8. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD

9. Beneil Dariush

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

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD

2. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD

3. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva

4. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling

5. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

6. Lerone Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD

7. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD

8. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 24-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega

10. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Lerone Murphy, April 5
Next: TBD

MEN’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: TBD

2. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: TBD

3. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Marcus McGhee

4. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

5. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3
Next: TBD

6. Mario Bautista

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

8. Deiveson Figueiredo

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 (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

3. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: TBD

4. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD

5. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD

6. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi

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

WOMEN’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

2. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD

3. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Ketlen Vieira

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: TBD

6. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Macy Chiasson

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

10. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

WOMEN’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: TBD

3. Natalia Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Dakota Ditcheva

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

7. Jasmine Jasudavicius

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 10
Next: TBD

8. Taila Santos

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Rose Namajunas

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

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

2. Virna Jandiroba

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: TBD

5. Tatiana Suarez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

6. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: TBD

7. Gillian Robertson

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

9. Loopy Godínez

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

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