David Brown’s UFC rankings with Xplainations updated for 11.30.22

In deciding where to rank fighters, the actual results are most important, not how I personally feel about the fighters or who I think would win hypothetical matchups. I examine head-to-head bouts first, then primarily results over the last three years, giving more credence to recent bouts. The level of competition is always considered, activity is important and MMA math only plays a small part in the process.

MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

dB rankings

1. Alexander Volkanovski (C)

2. Islam Makhachev (C) *

3. Leon Edwards (C) +1

4. Kamaru Usman +1

5. Alex Pereira (C) *

6. Israel Adesanya -4

7. Charles Oliveira -4

8. Aljamain Sterling (C) -1

9. Francis Ngannou (C) -3

10. Deiveson Figueiredo (C) -2

11. Brandon Moreno (IC) -2

12. Jiri Prochazka (C) -1

13. Robert Whittaker -1

14. Glover Teixeira

15. Dustin Poirier *

UFC rankings

1. Alexander Volkanovski (C)

2. Islam Makhachev (C) *

3. Leon Edwards (C) +3

4. Kamaru Usman

5. Francis Ngannou (C)

6. Israel Adesanya

7. Charles Oliveira -4

8. Alex Pereira (C) *

9. Aljamain Sterling (C) -2

10. Jiri Prochazka (C)

11. Dustin Poirier -3

12. Deiveson Figueiredo (C) -3

13. Jon Jones -2

14. Max Holloway -2

15. Brandon Moreno (IC) -1

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Petr Yan, Max Holloway, Colby Covington

Out of UFC rankings: Petr Yan, Stipe Miocic

X: I agree with Makhachev’s coach that he doesn’t have the resume to be ranked this high in P4P, but upset losses by Adesanya and Usman gave him a path to the top (plus it’s a made-up category anyway). Makhachev will have a chance to prove his worth in April against Volkanovski, who will not go away as easily as Oliveira did. Sterling loses ground thanks to those upsets, as well as Dillashaw fighting with an obvious injury. I have Ngannou ranked lower solely due to inactivity, but he or the even less active Jon Jones could jump near the top of the list regardless if they meet for the HW championship in March.

FLYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Deiveson Figueiredo

IC: Brandon Moreno

2. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Kai Kara France

4. Brandon Royval +1

5. Alex Perez +1

6. Matt Schnell +1

7. Matheus Nicolau +1

8. David Dvorak +1

9. Manel Kape +1

10. Tim Elliott +1

11. Amir Albazi +1

12. Sumudaerji +1

13. Jeff Molina +1

14. Tagir Ulanbekov *

15. Muhammad Mokaev

UFC rankings

C: Deiveson Figueiredo

IC: Brandon Moreno

2. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Kai Kara France

4. Brandon Royval +1

5. Alex Perez +1

6. Matheus Nicolau +1

7. Matt Schnell +1

8. Amir Albazi +1

9. David Dvorak +1

10. Tim Elliott +1

11. Sumudaerji +2

12. Manel Kape

13. Jeff Molina +1

14. Muhammad Mokaev *

15. Tagir Ulanbekov

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Askar Askarov (released)

X: Sorry to see Askarov go, as FLW needs every top-flight fighter it can get. Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4 come January in Brazil will decide their quadrilogy, which means they will probably fight to a draw again (and leave Pantoja in the cold once more). Nicolau can bypass other contenders with a dominating win over Schnell, while Albazi can move up several spots with a win over Royval. Sumudaerji and Mokaev are also part of the next wave of talented prospects at 125 pounds, so be thankful the division still exists.

BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling

1. Marlon Vera +3

2. Merab Dvalishvili +1

3. Sean O’Malley +9

4. Petr Yan -3

5. T.J. Dillashaw -3

6. Cory Sandhagen

7. Rob Font -1

8. Yadong Song -1

9. Ricky Simon -1

10. Dominick Cruz -1

11. Adrian Yanez +2

12. Umar Nurmagomedov +2

13. Chris Gutierrez *

14. Jack Shore

15. Pedro Munhoz -4

UFC rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling

1. Sean O’Malley +11

2. Merab Dvalishvili +1

3. Petr Yan -2

4. Marlon Vera +1

5. T.J. Dillashaw -3

6. Cory Sandhagen -2

7. Rob Font -1

8. Dominick Cruz -1

9. Yadong Song

10. Pedro Munhoz -2

11. Ricky Simon +1

12. Umar Nurmagomedov +1

13. Chris Gutierrez *

14. Adrian Yanez

15. Jack Shore

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Frankie Edgar (retired)

X: Last time it was Jose Aldo, and and now it’s Edgar calling it a day after Gutierrez kicked him into retirement at Madison Square Garden. It always hurts to see legends fall in their curtain call, which is why I would have preferred to see Edger booked for his finale against another legend of the game, like Cruz. Munhoz is not in my top 10 considering he has only one win to show for his last six trips to the Octagon.

FEATHERWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Alexander Volkanovski

1. Max Holloway

2. Josh Emmett

3. Arnold Allen +2

4. Yair Rodriguez -1

5. Brian Ortega -1

6. Calvin Kattar

7. Chan Sung Jung

8. Gigi Chikadze

9. Bryce Mitchell

10. Movsar Evloev

11. Sodiq Yusuff +2

12. Dan Ige -1

13. Edson Barboza -1

14. Ilia Topuria

15. Damon Jackson

UFC rankings

C: Alexander Volkanovski

1. Max Holloway

2. Yair Rodriguez

3. Brian Ortega

4. Arnold Allen +2

5. Josh Emmett -1

6. Chan Sung Jung +1

7. Calvin Kattar -2

8. Giga Chikadze

9. Bryce Mitchell

10. Movsar Evloev

11. Sodiq Yusuff +1

12. Dan Ige -1

13. Edson Barboza

14. Ilia Topuria

15. Alex Caceres

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

X: Allen’s injury-aided win over Kattar likely cost him a chance to fight for the interim FW belt, which went to Rodriguez vs. Emmett instead. Mitchell vs. Topuria is a great upcoming matchup. And Jackson (5-1 in his last six) will get a chance to earn more votes when he faces the always tough Ige (1-4 in his last five).

LIGHTWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Islam Makhachev +2

1. Charles Oliveira -1

2. Beneil Dariush +4

3. Dustin Poirier

4. Justin Gaethje

5. Michael Chandler

6. Rafael Fiziev +1

7. Mateusz Gamrot +1

8. Arman Tsarukyan +1

9. Damir Ismagulov +1

10. Rafael dos Anjos +1

11. Jalin Turner +1

12. Grant Dawson +2

13. Dan Hooker *

14. Renato Moicano *

15. Guram Kutateladze

UFC rankings

C: Islam Makhachev +4

1. Charles Oliveira

2. Dustin Poirier

3. Justin Gaethje

4. Beneil Dariush +2

5. Michael Chandler

6. Rafael Fiziev +1

7. Rafael dos Anjos +1

8. Mateusz Gamrot +1

9. Arman Tsarukyan +1

10. Jalin Turner +3

11. Dan Hooker +3

12. Damir Ismagulov

12. Renato Moicano *

14. Conor McGregor -3

15. Tony Ferguson

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Mark Madsen

Out of UFC rankings: None

X: The fights to make seem like Poirier vs. Dariush and Gaethje and Fiziev, which means they likely won’t happen. Tsarukyan vs. Ismagulov is great matchmaking. Moicano showed he can be just as good on the mic after the fight as he is with his martial arts during it. Kutateladze can prove he deserves the faith I’ve placed in him with a win over Thiago Moises. Dos Anjos says goodbye to 155 pounds and hello to 170 once again. But Ferguson and McGregor do not deserve to be ranked in any category, period.

WELTERWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Leon Edwards

1. Kamaru Usman

2. Belal Muhammad +2

3. Colby Covington -1

4. Khamzat Chimaev -1

5. Gilbert Burns

6. Shavkat Rakmonov +1

7. Sean Brady -1

8. Stephen Thompson

9. Geoff Neal

10. Vicente Luque

11. Michael Chiesa

12. Neil Magny +1

13. Jorge Masvidal -1

14. Michel Pereira

15. Jack Della Maddalena *

UFC rankings

C: Leon Edwards

1. Kamaru Usman

2. Colby Covington

3. Khamzat Chimaev

4. Belal Muhammad +1

5. Gilbert Burns -1

6. Stephen Thompson +1

7. Geoff Neal -1

8. Sean Brady

9. Vicente Luque +1

10. Shavkat Rakmonov +1

11. Jorge Masvidal -2

12. Neil Magny +1

13. Michael Chiesa -1

14. Michel Pereira +1

15. Daniel Rodriguez -1

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Daniel Rodriguez

Out of UFC rankings: None

X: I may be pulling the trigger on Della Maddalena one fight too early, but he looks like a star and Rodriguez fell to the ultimate top 15 gatekeeper in Magny. Muhammad deserves more respect due to his activity level and resume; folks like Covington, Masvidal and Chiesa, meanwhile, are hurt by their inactivity. Formerly ranked MW Kevin Holland could join the WW rankings with a win over Thompson, who unfortunately lost out on having Jack Black walk out with him to Tenacious D’s “Wonderboy.”

MIDDLEWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Alex Pereira +5

1. Israel Adesanya -1

2. Robert Whittaker -1

3. Paulo Costa -1

4. Jared Cannonier -1

5. Marvin Vettori -1

6. Derek Brunson

7. Sean Strickland

8. Jack Hermansson

9. Andre Muniz

10. Nassourdine Imavov

11. Darren Till

12. Kelvin Gastelum

13. Dricus Du Plessis

14. Brad Tavares

15. Roman Dolidze *

UFC rankings

C: Alex Pereira +4

1. Israel Adesanya -1

2. Robert Whittaker -1

3. Jared Cannonier -1

4. Marvin Vettori -1

5. Derek Brunson

6. Paulo Costa

7. Sean Strickland

8. Jack Hermansson

9. Darren Till

10. Andre Muniz

11. Kelvin Gastelum

12. Nassourdine Imavov

13. Dricus Du Plessis

14. Chris Curtis +1

15. Brad Taveras -1

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Krzysztof Jotko

Out of UFC rankings: None

X: It’s Pereira 3-Adesanya 0, yet the latter is still favored in a rematch. Strickland vs. Cannonier in December should be barnburner and lead to either a title shot or the winner of Whitaker vs. Costa. Till and Gastelum’s upcoming fights give them a chance to show they’re not the other side of their prime. And newcomers like Imavov and Du Plessis have good opportunities to create upward momentum.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Jiri Prochazka

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Magomed Ankalaev

3. Jan Blachowicz

4. Aleksandar Rakic

5. Anthony Smith

6. Nikita Krylov +4

7. Volkan Oezdemir

8. Paul Craig

9. Jamahal Hill

10. Johnny Walker +1

11. Ryan Spann +1

12. Azamat Murakanov +2

13. Khalil Rountree Jr. *

14. Dustin Jacoby -1

15. Dominick Reyes -9

UFC rankings

C: Jiri Prochazka

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Jan Blachowicz

3. Magomed Ankalaev

4. Aleksandar Rakic

5. Anthony Smith

6. Jamahal Hill

7. Nikita Krylov +3

8. Paul Craig +1

9. Volkan Oezdemir

10. Ryan Spann +2

11. Johnny Walker

12. Dominick Reyes -5

13. Khalil Rountree Jr. *

14. Jimmy Crute

15. Dustin Jacoby -2

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Jimmy Crute

Out of UFC rankings: Azamat Murakanov

X: MMA fans can’t have nice things, which was proven again when Prochazka vacated the belt after sustaining a significant shoulder injury, pulling him out of his rematch with Teixeira. The winner of Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev will be the new 205-pound king, with Teixeira, then a healed Prochazka, already on deck. Meanwhile, Hill can cause chaos by stopping Smith, and Rountree finally got a top-15 win.

HEAVYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Francis Ngannou

1. Ciryl Gane

2. Curtis Blaydes

3. Stipe Miocic

4. Tai Tuivasa

5. Tom Aspinall

6. Sergei Pavlovich

7. Derrick Lewis

8. Alexander Volkov

9. Marcin Tybura

10. Alexandr Romanov

11. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

12. Chris Daukaus

13. Serghei Spivac

14. Blagoy Ivanov

15. Marcos Rogerio de Lima *

UFC rankings

C: Francis Ngannou

1. Ciryl Gane

2. Stipe Miocic

3. Curtis Blaydes

4. Tai Tuivasa

5. Sergei Pavlovich

6. Tom Aspinall

7. Derrick Lewis

8. Alexander Volkov

9. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

10. Marcin Tybura

11. Chris Daukaus

12. Serghei Spivac

13. Alexandr Romanov

14. Blagoy Ivanov

15. Shamil Abdurakhimov

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Jailton Almeida

Out of UFC rankings: None

X: Rogerio de Lima is 3-1 over his last four, besting Arlovski and Rothwell along the way, while Abdurakhimov has dropped three in a row and not won since 2019. I rest my case. The winner of Tuivasa vs. Pavlovich will be well positioned for a shot at whoever gets left out of the HW title sweepstakes.

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

dB rankings

1. Amanda Nunes (C)

2. Valentina Shevchenko (C)

3. Rose Namajunas +1

4. Weili Zhang (C) +2

5. Julianna Pena

6. Jessica Andrade +1

7. Amanda Lemos *

8. Taila Santos

9. Manon Fiorot *

10. Carla Esparza -7

11. Marina Rodriquez -2

12. Katlyn Chookagian -2

13. Lauren Murphy -2

14. Ketlen Viera -2

15. Holly Holm -2

UFC rankings

1. Amanda Nunes (C)

2. Valentina Shevchenko (C)

3. Weili Zhang (C)

4. Julianna Pena

5. Rose Namajunas

6. Carla Esparza

7. Jessica Andrade

8. Marina Rodriquez

9. Amanda Lemos *

10. Holly Holm +1

11. Ketlen Viera

12. Taila Santos

13. Katlyn Chookagian -2

14. Manon Fiorot *

15. Xiaonan Yan -1

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: Raquel Pennington, Irene Aldana

Out of UFC rankings: Lauren Murphy, Mackenzie Dern, Irene Aldana

X: Lots of movement here, with upset wins by Lemos and Fiorot jumping them ahead of many other contenders. Zhang may have the SW belt, but the ghost of two losses to Namajunas still haunts her.

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Weili Zhang +2

1. Amanda Lemos +8

2. Rose Namajunas -1

3. Jessica Andrade

4. Carla Esparza -4

5. Marina Rodriguez -1

6. Xiaonan Yan -1

7. Amanda Ribas -1

8. Mackenzie Dern -1

9. Virna Jandiroba -1

10. Tecia Torres

11. Michelle Waterson-Gomez

12. Luana Pinheiro

13. Kanaoko Murata

14. Emily Ducote

15. Angela Hill

UFC rankings

C: Zhang Weili +2

1. Carla Esparza -1

2. Rose Namajunas -1

3. Amanda Lemos +5

4. Jessica Andrade

5. Marina Rodriguez -2

6. Yan Xiaonan

7. Mackenzie Dern -2

8. Tecia Torres -1

9. Amanda Ribas

10. Virna Jandiroba

11. Michelle Waterson-Gomez

12. Angela Hill

13. Emily Ducote

14. Luana Pinheiro

15. Polyana Viana *

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: None

Out of UFC rankings: Jessica Penne

X: Weili is the champion again, and it would be a miracle if Esparza gets close to the belt again. It almost feels like Namajunas should have to beat Esparza to get another crack at the belt, but who wants to relive their last staredown? Meanwhile, Esparza joins Frank Mir as the most unlikely two-time champs in UFC history. Andrade’s energy is missing since she was injured, so let’s all hope she’s healed up soon.

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Valentina Shevchenko

1. Talia Santos

2. Manon Fiorot +4

3. Jessica Andrade -1

4. Katlyn Chookagian -1

5. Lauren Murphy -1

6. Alexa Grasso -1

7. Jennifer Maia

8. Viviane Araujo

9. Casey O’Neill

10. Andrea Lee

11. Tracy Cortez +1

12. Erin Blanchfield +1

13. Maycee Barber -2

14. Miranda Maverick +1

15. Maryna Moroz -1

UFC rankings

C: Valentina Shevchenko

1. Manon Fiorot +6

2. Talia Santos

3. Katlyn Chookagian -2

4. Lauren Murphy -1

5. Alexa Grasso

6. Jessica Andrade -2

7. Viviane Araujo -1

8. Jennifer Maia

9. Andrea Lee

10. Erin Blanchfield +2

11. Casey O’Neill -1

12. Maycee Barber -1

13. Tracy Cortez

14. Cynthia Calvillo

15. Amanda Ribas *

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB rankings: None

Out of UFC rankings: Molly McCann

X: The winner of Cortez vs. Ribas will get a nice push up the charts, with Ribas leaving her former home at SW to fight 10 pounds heavier. Blanchfield gave McCann a lesson in “there are levels to this,” showing she’s a future star. Fiorot vs. Grasso would be a great No. 1 contender fight, leaving the once considered invincible Shevchenko to rematch either Santos or Nunes to rebuild her aura of MMA superiority.

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Amanda Nunes

1. Julianna Pena

2. Ketlen Vieira

3. Holly Holm

4. Raquel Pennington

5. Irene Aldana

6. Karol Rosa +7

7. Pannie Kianzad +2

8. Yana Kunitskaya -1

9. Macy Chiasson +2

10. Julia Avila +2

11. Mayra Bueno Silva +3

12. Josiane Nunes +3

13. Stephanie Egger *

14. Lina Lansberg -4

15. Miesha Tate *

UFC rankings

C. Amanda Nunes

1. Julianna Pena

2. Ketlen Vieira

3. Holly Holm

4. Irene Aldana

5. Raquel Pennington

6. Yana Kunitskaya

7. Pannie Kianzad +2

8. Macy Chiasson +2

9. Karol Rosa +2

10. Miesha Tate +1

11. Julia Avila +3

12. Lina Lansberg +1

13. Norma Dumont

14. Mayra Bueno Silva *

15. Josiane Nunes *

* New entrant into rankings

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Aspen Ladd (released), Sara McMann (free agent)

X: Nunes can either take on a new opponent in Vieira, fight trilogies against Pena or Shevchenko, or move back up to 145 pounds vs. the winner of a clash between, say, Holm vs. Dumont. (Dumont is not a WBW, so why is she ranked here?) I only have Tate, who last fought at 125 pounds, ranked here due to the lack of contenders in this weight class, and her likely move back to 135. Inactivity with Holm, Kunitskaya and others has put a logjam at the top of this category, which needs fresh blood – fast.

WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT

C: Amanda Nunes

No divisional rankings.

UPCOMING FIGHTS TO WATCH

Dec. 3 – UFC on ESPN 42

Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Bryan Barberena

Tai Tuivasa vs. Sergei Pavlovich

Dec. 10 – UFC 282

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev for LHW title

Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon

Robbie Lawler vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Dec. 17 – UFC Fight Night 216

Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland

Arman Tsarukyan vs. Damir Ismagulov

Amir Albazi vs. Brandon Royval

Updated rankings for December will be posted before the UFC Fight Night on Jan. 14. Until then, enjoy the 5-ounce glove fights – and Happy New Year.

For comments, questions and suggestions, email dbrown@cherokeescout.com or hit me up on Twitter @daviddbstroh.