In deciding where to rank fighters, I look at head-to-head matchups first, then primarily results over the last three years, giving more credence to recent bouts. The level of competition is always considered, even outside the UFC, activity is important and MMA math plays a small part in the process.
MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
dB rankings
1. Kamaru Usman (C) +1
2. Francis Ngannou (C) +1
3. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +1
4. Israel Adesanya (C) +2
5. Dustin Poirier +2
6. Max Holloway +2
7. Ciryl Gane (IC) +2
8. Charles Oliveira (C) +2
9. Robert Whittaker +2
10. Brandon Moreno (C) +2
11. Petr Yan (IC) +4
12. Aljamain Sterling (C) +2
13. Glover Teixeira (C) *
14. Stipe Miocic -1
15. Colby Covington *
UFC rankings
1. Kamaru Usman (C)
2. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +1
3. Israel Adesanya (C) +1
4. Francis Ngannou (C) +1
5. Dustin Poirier +1
6. Jon Jones -4
7. Max Holloway +2
8. Charles Oliveira (C) +2
9. Stipe Miocic
10. Brandon Moreno (C) +1
11. Petr Yan (IC) +1
12. Glover Teixeira (C) *
13. Robert Whittaker -1
14. Jan Blachowicz -7
15. Ciryl Gane (IC) -1
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Jon Jones, Jan Blachowicz
Out of UFC rankings: Justin Gaethje
X: Since the UFC removed Joanna Jedrzejczyk from the rankings pool for being inactive since March 2020, it makes sense to also remove Jones, who hasn’t fought since February 2020. While Jones is still the GOAT for a career, his last two wins at LW were close decisions against fighters who each went on to lose their next two fights as well. At HW, we have no idea whether Jones will still be a P4P great, and Jones tweeted that he wanted off this “silly list” anyway, so he at least got part of his wish.
Elsewhere, Covington proved he’s top 15 worthy with another rousing five rounds versus Unman, who’s No. 1 for good reason. Interestingly, one of the champs, Sterling, is still not on the UFC list, yet the guy he beat for the belt, albeit by disqualification – the new interim champ, Yan – is ranked No. 11.
FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Brandon Moreno
1. Askar Askarov
2. Deiveson Figueiredo
3. Alex Perez
4. Alexandre Pantoja
5. Brandon Royval
6. Kai Kara France
7. David Dvorak
8. Rogerio Bontorin
9. Matheus Nicolau +4
10. Tim Elliott
11. Matt Schnell -2
12. Amir Albazi -1
13. Su Mudaerji -1
14. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
15. Tagir Ulanbekov
UFC rankings
C: Brandon Moreno
1. Deiveson Figueiredo
2. Askar Askarov
3. Alexandre Pantoja
4. Alex Perez
5. Brandon Royval
6. Kai Kara France
7. Rogerio Bontorin
8. Matheus Nicolau +3
9. Matt Schnell -1
10. David Dvorak +1
11. Tim Elliott -2
12. Su Mudaerji
13. Amir Albazi
14. Tagir Ulanbekov +1
15. Tyson Nam -1
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Not much movement at 125 pounds this month. I have Zhumagulov ranked above Ulanbekov because he has a victory over him, giving Zhumagulov an edge over Nam. Nicolau continues to show why he never should have been released in the first place with a fast-paced win over Elliott.
BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Aljamain Sterling
IC: Petr Yan +1
2. T.J. Dillashaw
3. Cory Sandhagen
4. Rob Font
5. Jose Aldo
6. Merab Dvalishvili +1
7. Marlon Vera +6
8. Marlon Moraes
9. Frankie Edgar -3
10. Pedro Munhoz -1
11. Cody Garbrandt -1
12. Dominick Cruz -1
13. Raphael Assuncao -1
14. Ricky Simon
15. Jack Shore
UFC rankings
C: Aljamain Sterling
IC: Petr Yan +1
2. T.J. Dillashaw
3. Cory Sandhagen
4. Rob Font
5. Jose Aldo
6. Merab Dvalishvili
7. Cody Garbrandt
8. Pedro Munhoz +1
9. Marlon Moraes +1
10. Dominick Cruz +1
11. Marlon Vera +2
12. Frankie Edgar -4
13. Raphael Assuncao -2
14. Cody Stamann
15. Yadong Song *
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: None
Out of UFC rankings: Raulian Paiva
X: Vera finally is getting respect for an 8-2 stretch, with the only losses being a hotly disputed decision to Song and holding his own over three tough rounds against a rejuvenated Aldo, but he deserves more. Edgar is a great win, as he still should be ranked higher than a fighter he beat in Munhoz, who deserves to be ranked above Garbrandt for the same reason. Interestingly, the six fighters I have ranked in Nos. 8-13 are a combined 4-14 the last three times they stepped into the Octagon. Font and Also scrap on Dec. 4 in what should be a barnburner – and that winner should be the next opponent for Dillashaw in a No. 1 contender’s fight, as Sterling and Yan still have unfinished business at the top.
FEATHERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Max Holloway
2. Brian Ortega
3. Yair Rodriguez
4. Chan Sung Jung
5. Arnold Allen
6. Gigi Chikadze
7. Calvin Kattar
8. Josh Emmett
9. Dan Ige
10. Edson Barboza
11. Sodiq Yusuff
12. Bryce Mitchell
13. Movsar Evloev
14. Shane Burgos
15. Ilia Topuria
Out: None
UFC rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Max Holloway
2. Brian Ortega
3. Yair Rodriguez
4. Chan Sung Jung
5. Calvin Kattar
6. Arnold Allen
7. Josh Emmett
8. Giga Chikadze
9. Dan Ige
10. Edson Barboza
11. Bryce Mitchell
12. Sodiq Yusuff
13. Movsar Evloev
14. Shane Burgos
15. Alex Caceres *
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: None
Out of UFC rankings: Ilia Topuria
X: Yes, Caceres (19-12) has won five in a row, but none of those were over strong competition, and he lost to the unranked Kron Gracie before that. Meanwhile, Topuria is 11-0 and coming off a knockout over the previously ranked Ryan Hall. Even better, this weekend’s Holloway vs. Rodriguez main event should be so exciting that it already has the hair on my arms standing up.
LIGHTWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Charles Oliveira
1. Dustin Poirier
2. Justin Gaethje
3. Islam Makhachev +1
4. Beneil Dariush -1
5. Michael Chandler
6. Tony Ferguson
7. Rafael dos Anjos
8. Dan Hooker
9. Conor McGregor
10. Gregor Gillespie
11. Arman Tsarukyan
12. Brad Riddell
13. Diego Ferreira
14. Rafael Fiziev
15. Vinc Pichel
UFC rankings
C: Charles Oliveira
1. Dustin Poirier
2. Justin Gaethje
3. Beneil Dariush
4. Islam Makhachev +1
5. Michael Chandler -1
6. Rafael dos Anjos +2
7. Tony Ferguson -1
8. Dan Hooker -2
9. Conor McGregor
10. Gregor Gillespie
11. Diego Ferreira
12. Brad Riddell
13. Arman Tsarukyan
14. Rafael Fiziev
15. Thiago Moises
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Gaethje and Chandler showed why LW is the premier division in the UFC, while Makhachev showed why he’s the guy no one wants to face against Hooker. Meanwhile, Damir Ismagulov, who has a win over Moises, blew his chance to replace him in the top 15 by coming in woefully overweight for his last fight. And, somehow, Dos Anjos managed to climb two spots despite being injured and having to pull out of what would have been his first fight in a year; he and Makhachev’s failed bookings may be as equally cursed as the series between retired Khabid Nurmagomedov and Ferguson. Thankfully, Oliveira vs. Poirier is coming soon to fill the void and give the UFC a more bonafide champion at 155.
WELTERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Kamaru Usman
1. Colby Covington
2. Gilbert Burns
3. Leon Edwards
4. Stephen Thompson
5. Vicente Luque
6. Jorge Masvidal
7. Michael Chiesa
8. Neil Magny
9. Geoff Neal
10. Belal Muhammad
11. Khamzat Chimaev *
12. Sean Brady
13. Li Jingliang -2
14. Santiago Ponzinibbio -1
15. Muslim Salikhov -1
UFC rankings
C: Kamaru Usman
1. Colby Covington
2. Gilbert Burns
3. Leon Edwards
4. Vicente Luque
5. Stephen Thompson
6. Michael Chiesa +1
7. Jorge Masvidal -1
8. Neil Magny
9. Belal Muhammad
10. Khamzat Chimaev *
11. Geoff Neal -1
12. Li Jingliang -1
13. Santiago Ponzinibbio -1
14. Sean Brady -1
15. Muslim Salikhov -1
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: James Krause
Out of UFC rankings: Daniel Rodriquez
X: I confess to not buying in to the hype on Chimaev, yet you can’t help but jump on the bandwagon after he utterly dominated Jingliang, the fighter who usually is the most physical in the Octagon. Usman and Covington proved why they are 1-2 at the top of the WW pecking order, and Edwards finally gets a chance to call “next” if he can look good in beating Masvidal to the three-piece-and-a-soda next month.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Israel Adesanya
1. Robert Whittaker
2. Derek Brunson
3. Marvin Vettori +2
4. Paulo Costa -1
5. Jared Cannonier -1
6. Jack Hermansson
7. Sean Strickland
8. Uriah Hall
9. Brad Tavares +1
10. Chris Weidman +1
11. Darren Till +1
12. Kelvin Gastelum +1
13. Brendan Allen -1
14. Andre Muniz +1
15. Nassourdine Imavov *
UFC rankings
C: Israel Adesanya
1. Robert Whittaker
2. Marvin Vettori +3
3. Jared Cannonier
4. Derek Brunson
5. Paulo Costa -3
6. Jack Hermansson
7. Sean Strickland
8. Darren Till
9. Uriah Hall
10. Kelvin Gastelum
11. Brad Taveras
12. Nassourdine Imavov *
12. Kevin Holland +2
14. Chris Weidman -2
15. Edmen Shahbazyan -4
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Shahbazyan
Out of UFC rankings: Muniz
X: Since Shahbazyan knocked out Taveras, he has lost three in a row, while Taveras has won his last two. Such is the way of life at MW, where Imavov is now ranked despite losing to unranked Phil Hawes just two fights ago. Tavares can show he deserves to be in the top 10 when he faces Allen on Dec. 4. Meanwhile, I’m still grief stricken that fast-rising Strickland didn’t get a chance to go full psychopath on the again injured, and still undeservedly arrogant, Luke Rockhold on the last pay-per-view card.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Glover Teixeira +1
1. Jan Blachowicz -1
2. Jiri Prochazka
3. Magomed Ankalaev +1
4. Aleksandar Rakic -1
5. Thiago Santos +2
6. Anthony Smith -1
7. Dominick Reyes -1
8. Volkan Oezdemir
9. Nikita Krylov
10. Johnny Walker
11. Ryan Spann
12. Jim Crute +1
13. Paul Craig +1
14. Jamahal Hill +1
15. Dustin Jacoby *
UFC rankings
C: Glover Teixeira +1
1. Jan Blachowicz -1
2. Jiri Prochazka
3. Aleksandar Rakic
4. Anthony Smith
5. Thiago Santos
6. Magomed Ankalaev +1
7. Dominick Reyes -1
8. Volkan Oezdemir
9. Nikita Krylov
10. Johnny Walker
11. Paul Craig +1
12. Ryan Spann -1
13. Jim Crute +1
14. Jamahal Hill +1
15. Ion Cutelaba *
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB/UFC rankings: Misha Cirkunov (moved to MW)
X: If Teixeira becoming LHW champ at age 42 doesn’t play with your heartstrings, then you don’t like music. What a delight to see such a warm human being rise to the cream of the UFC crop at 205. Ankalaev, winner of his last seven trips to the Octagon, easily deserves to be ranked above Smith and Santos. I have Jacoby with a slight edge at No. 15 because he’s 6-0-1 in his last seven fights, while Cutelaba is only 3-3-1; however, since the draw was to each other, there really isn’t a wrong call here.
HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Francis Ngannou
IC: Ciryl Gane
2. Stipe Miocic
3. Derrick Lewis
4. Curtis Blaydes
5. Alexander Volkov
6. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
7. Chris Daukaus
8. Augusto Sakai
9. Marcin Tybura
10. Tom Aspinall
11. Alexandr Romanov
12. Shamil Abdurakhimov
13. Sergei Pavlovich
14. Walt Harris
15. Serghei Spivac
UFC rankings
C: Francis Ngannou
IC: Ciryl Gane
2. Stipe Miocic
3. Derrick Lewis
4. Curtis Blaydes
5. Alexander Volkov
6. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
7. Chris Daukaus
8. Shamil Abdurakhimov
9. Marcin Tybura
10. Augusto Sakai
10. Tom Aspinall +1
12. Blagoy Ivanov +1
13. Walt Harris -1
14. Sergei Pavlovich
15. Serghei Spivac
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Nothing new to report this month among the big boys, though Ngannou vs. Gane in January should be the HW fight of the decade. I’d still prefer to see Jones finally make his 265-pound debut against the consolidated winner, rather than trotting out Miocic into a title fight again after another long layoff.
WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
dB rankings
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Rose Namajunas
4. Zhang Weili
5. Jessica Andrade +1
6. Carla Esparza +1
7. Marina Rodriquez *
8. Germaine De Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian +1
11. Lauren Murphy +1
12. Jennifer Maia +1
13. Irene Aldana +1
14. Julianna Pena +1
15. Norma Dumont *
UFC rankings
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Rose Namajunas
4. Zhang Weili
5. Jessica Andrade
6. Holly Holm +2
7. Germaine De Randamie
8. Carla Esparza +1
9. Katlyn Chookagian +2
10. Marina Rodriquez *
11. Yan Xiaonan +2
12. Julianna Pena +2
13. Lauren Murphy +2
14. Aspen Ladd -4
15. Mackenzie Dern -3
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (removed by UFC for inactivity), Aspen Ladd
Out of UFC rankings: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (removed by UFC for inactivity)
X: The UFC could not ask for a better triplet of women’s mixed martial arts champions than Nunes, Shevchenko and Namajunas. They’re simply the best, and very compelling to watch every time.
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Rose Namajunas
1. Zhang Weili
2. Carla Esparza +1
3. Marina Rodriguez +1
4. Amanda Ribas +1
5. Mackenzie Dern +1
6. Yan Xiaonan +1
7. Claudia Gadelha +1
8. Nina Nunes +1
9. Tecia Torres +1
10. Michelle Waterson +1
11. Amanda Lemos +1
12. Virna Jandiroba +1
13. Angela Hill +1
14. Ariane Carnelossi *
15. Brianna Van Buren
UFC rankings
C: Rose Namajunas
1. Zhang Weili
2. Carla Esparza +1
3. Marina Rodriguez +3
4. Yan Xiaonan
5. Mackenzie Dern -1
6. Nina Nunes +1
7. Claudia Gadelha +1
8. Tecia Torres +1
9. Michelle Waterson +1
10. Amanda Ribas +1
11. Amanda Lemos +2
12. Angela Hill +2
14. Jessica Penne *
15. Brianna Van Buren *
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (removed by UFC for inactivity)
Out of UFC rankings: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (removed by UFC for inactivity), Felice Herrig
X: Namajunas showed she’s a champion even when her head-kick KO isn’t there, and Rodriguez deserves her climb after derailing Dern’s hype train. (Reminder: Ribas has a win over Dern and has only lost to Rodriguez, so why is she barely in the UFC’s top 10, while Dern is No. 5?) At No. 14, both fighters have won two in a row, but I have Carnelossi (14-2 overall) ranked slightly above Penne (14-5). Still, I’m content that the other rankers finally removed Herrig, who is 0-3 since her last win in 2017.
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Jessica Andrade
2. Katlyn Chookagian
3. Lauren Murphy
4. Jennifer Maia
5. Cynthia Calvillo
6. Joanne Calderwood
7. Jessica Eye
8. Viviane Araujo
9. Talia Santos
10. Alexa Grasso
11. Roxanne Modafferi
12. Andrea Lee
13. Maycee Barber
14. Miranda Maverick
15. Casey O’Neill *
UFC rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Jessica Andrade
2. Katlyn Chookagian
3. Lauren Murphy
4. Jennifer Maia
5. Cynthia Calvillo
6. Joanne Calderwood
7. Viviane Araujo
8. Jessica Eye
9. Talia Santos
10. Alexa Grasso
11. Roxanne Modafferi
12. Andrea Lee
13. Maycee Barber
14. Manon Fiorot *
15. Casey O’Neill *
* New entry into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Sijara Eubanks
Out of UFC rankings: Miranda Maverick, Montana De La Rosa
X: What a month toward the bottom of the top 15, with newcomers continuously shaking up the rankings. The top 20 at WFW can all be competitive, making this the UFC women’s deepest division. Alas, Modafferi has booked a retirement fight for 2022, and I’ll hate to see “The Happy Warrior” go.
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Amanda Nunes
1. Germaine de Randamie
2. Holly Holm
3. Raquel Pennington +1
4. Irene Aldana +1
5. Julianna Pena +1
6. Aspen Ladd -3
7. Yana Kunitskaya
8. Ketlen Vieira
9. Miesha Tate
10. Sara McMann
11. Lina Lansberg
12. Macy Chiasson
13. Julia Avila
14. Pannie Kianzad
15. Karol Rosa
UFC rankings
C: Amanda Nunes
1. Germaine de Randamie
2. Holly Holm
3. Irene Aldana +1
4. Julianna Pena +1
5. Aspen Ladd -2
6. Yana Kunitskaya
7. Ketlen Vieira
8. Miesha Tate
9. Raquel Pennington +1
10. Sara McMann -1
11. Macy Chiasson
12. Lina Lansberg
13. Pannie Kianzad +1
14. Karol Rosa +1
15. Julia Avila -2
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Ladd’s weight-cut snafu and subsequent loss to Dumont at 145 pounds sets back her contention status at 135. Tate has a chance to climb above her when she faces Vieira in two weeks. For the belt, Pena has always talked a good game, but she’s facing a much better player on Dec. 11 in Nunes.
WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT
C: Amanda Nunes
No divisional rankings.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING FIGHTS
Nov. 13 – UFC Fight Night 197
Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez
Song Ya Dong vs. Julio Arce
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Andrea Lee
Nov. 20 – UFC Fight Night 198
Ketlen Vieira vs. Miesha Tate
Michael Chiesa vs. Sean Brady
Joanne Calderwood vs. Taila Santos
Dec. 4 – UFC on ESPN 31
Rob Font vs. Jose Aldo
Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell
Brad Tavares vs. Brendan Allen
Dec. 11 – UFC 269
Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier for LW title
Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena for WBW title
Leon Edwards vs. Jorge Masvidal
The updated October rankings will be posted after UFC 269. Until then, enjoy the fights.
For comments, questions and suggestions, email dbrown@cherokeescout.com or hit me up on Twitter @daviddbstroh.