David Brown’s UFC rankings with Xplainations updated for 3.31.21

In deciding where to rank fighters, I look at head-to-head matchups first, then results over the last few years, giving more credence to recent bouts. The level of competition is always considered, even outside the UFC, activity is important and MMA math only plays a small part in the process.

In deciding how to rank, I look at head-to-head matchups first, then fights over the last few years, giving more credence to recent ones. The level of competition is considered, and MMA math only plays a small part in the process.

MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

dB rankings

1. Jon Jones +1

2. Kamaru Usman (C) +2

3. Francis Ngannou (C) +10

4. Jan Blachowicz (C) +6

5. Israel Adesanya (C) -2

6. Stipe Miocic -1

7. Deiveson Figueiredo (C)

8. Alexander Volkanovski (C) -2

9. Dustin Poirier -1

10. Max Holloway +2

11. Robert Whittaker

12. Justin Gaethje +2

13. Aljamain Sterling (C) *

14. Petr Yan -5

15. Colby Covington

UFC rankings

1. Jon Jones +1

2. Kamaru Usman (C) +3

3. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +3

4. Israel Adesanya (C) -1

5. Francis Ngannou (C) +8

6. Dustin Poirier +1

7. Stipe Miocic -3

8. Jan Blachowicz (C) +6

9. Max Holloway -1

10. Deiveson Figueiredo (C) -1

11. Justin Gaethje

12. Petr Yan -2

13. Robert Whittaker -1

14. Aljamain Sterling (C) *

15. Conor McGregor

Out of both rankings: Khabib Nurmagomedov (retired C) X: Ngannou and Blachowicz’ big wins propel them up the P4P lists. UFC still having McGregor in the top 15 is a tribute to name recognition over actual resume; if he fought Covington, it wouldn’t even be competitive. And why isn’t Blachowicz above the fighter he just beat handily?

FLYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Deiveson Figueiredo

1. Brandon Moreno

2. Askar Askarov

3. Alex Perez +1

4. Alexandre Pantoja +1

5. Joseph Benavidez -2

6. Brandon Royval

7. Kai Kara France +2

8. Matt Schnell

9. Rogerio Bontorin +1

10. David Dvorak +1

11. Tim Elliott +1

12. Raulian Paiva +1

13. Amir Albazi +1

14. Su Mudaerji

15. Matheus Nicolau *

UFC rankings

C: Deiveson Figueiredo

1. Brandon Moreno

2. Askar Askarov +1

3. Alexandre Pantoja +2

4. Alex Perez

5. Joseph Benavidez -3

6. Brandon Royval

7. Kai Kara France +1

8. Matt Schnell -1

9. Rogerio Bontorin

10. Tim Elliott +2

11. David Dvorak -1

12. Raulian Paiva -1

13. Su Mudaerji +1

14. Matheus Nicolau *

15. Amir Albazi -2

Out of db rankings: Manel Kepe

Out of UFC rankings: Tyson Nam

X: Nicolau picks up right where he left off before being unceremoniously released a few years ago. But seeing Benavidez’ fall is no fun for anyone.

BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling +1

1. Petr Yan -1

2. Cory Sandhagen

3. Rob Font

4. Marlon Moraes

5. Jose Aldo

6. Frankie Edgar

7. Pedro Munhoz

8. Cody Garbrandt

9. Dominick Cruz *

10. Jimmie Rivera -1

11. Raphael Assuncao

12. Ricky Simon

13. Merab Dvalishvili

14. Cody Stamann -4

15. Kyler Phillips *

UFC rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling +1

1. Petr Yan -1

2. Cory Sandhagen

3. Rob Font

4. Cody Garbrandt

5. Jose Aldo

6. Marlon Moraes

7. Frankie Edgar

8. Pedro Munhoz

9. Dominick Cruz +2

10. Raphael Assuncao -1

11. Jimmie Rivera -1

12. Merab Dvalishvili

13. Cody Stamann

14. Kyler Phillips *

15. Marlon Vera

Out of db rankings: Song Yadong, Marlon Vera

Closing in on rankings: T.J. Dillashaw, Sean O’Malley, Raoni Barcelos, Casey Kenney

Out of UFC rankings: Song Yadong

X: Garbrandt does not deserve to be ranked in the top 4, which is why I have him at 8 behind Munoz, who knocked him out only a couple years ago. Phillips is the latest BW to show why this division is one of the strongest in UFC.

FEATHERWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Alexander Volkanovski

1. Max Holloway

2. Brian Ortega

3. Zabit Magomedsharipov

4. Yair Rodriguez

5. Chan Sung Jung

6. Calvin Kattar

7. Arnold Allen

8. Jeremy Stephens

9. Josh Emmett

10. Dan Inge +2

11. Shane Burgos -1

12. Sodiq Yusuff -1

13. Edson Barboza

14. Bryce Mitchell

15. Movsar Evloev

UFC rankings

C: Alexander Volkanovski

1. Max Holloway

2. Brian Ortega

3. Zabit Magomedsharipov

4. Yair Rodriguez

5. Chan Sung Jung

6. Calvin Kattar

7. Josh Emmett

8. Dan Ige +1

9. Jeremy Stephens -1

10. Arnold Allen +1

11. Sodiq Yusuff -1

12. Shane Burgos

13. Bryce Mitchell

14. Edson Barboza

15. Movsar Evloev

Closing in on rankings: Ryan Hall, Giga Chikadze

X: Not much movement in this division with Volkanovski vs. Ortega delayed due to COVID-19. Stephens moving back to LW opens the doors for a new FW contender to enter the rankings next month.

LIGHTWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Vacant

1. Dustin Poirier

2. Justin Gaethje

3. Charles Oliveira

4. Tony Ferguson

5. Michael Chandler

6. Rafael dos Anjos

7. Conor McGregor

8. Beneil Dariush

9. Diego Ferreira

10. Islam Makhachev +5

11. Dan Hooker -1

12. Paul Felder -1

13. Al Iaquinta -1

14. Kevin Lee -1

15. Gregor Gillespie *

UFC rankings

C: Vacant

1. Dustin Poirier

2. Justin Gaethje

3. Charles Oliveira

4. Michael Chandler

5. Tony Ferguson

6. Conor McGregor

7. Rafael dos Anjos

8. Dan Hooker

9. Beneil Dariush

10. Paul Felder

11. Islam Makhachev +3

12. Diego Ferreira

13. Kevin Lee -2

14. Al Iaquinta -1

15. Gregor Gillespie

Out of db rankings: Khabib Nurmagomedov (retired C), Drew Dober

Closing in on rankings: Ottman Azaitar

Out of UFC rankings: Khabib Nurmagomedov (retired C)

X: Oliveira and Chandler are set to battle for the vacant belt at UFC 262, while Makhachev is finally making good on his top-10 promises. But why UFC has Lee ranked above Iaquinta – who beat Lee twice, and both have been inactive – remains a mystery.

WELTERWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Kamaru Usman

1. Colby Covington

2. Gilbert Burns

3. Leon Edwards

4. Stephen Thompson +1

5. Vicente Luque +4

6. Demian Maia

7. Jorge Masvidal

8. Michael Chiesa

9. Geoff Neal +1

10. Neil Magny +1

11. Li Jingliang +1

12. Belal Muhammad +1

13. Sean Brady *

14. Tyron Woodley -10

15. James Krause

UFC rankings

C: Kamaru Usman

1. Colby Covington

2. Gilbert Burns

3. Leon Edwards

4. Jorge Masvidal

5. Stephen Thompson

6. Vicente Luque +4

7. Michael Chiesa -1

8. Demian Maia

9. Neil Magny

10. Tyron Woodley -3

11. Geoff Neal

12. Li Jingliang

13. Belal Muhammad

14. Sean Brady *

15. Robbie Lawler

Out of db rankings: Santiago Ponzinibbio

Closing in on rankings: Miguel Baeza

Out of UFC rankings: Khamzat Chimaev

X: Woodley, we hardly knew ye; it’s tough to see a former all-time great lose four in a row, but at least he was competitive in an amazing first round against Luque, who is finally getting the respect he has long deserved. Brady could move up quickly with the right matchups. And Krause has won 9 of 10 at WW, while Lawler has lost 5 of 6, while Chimaev never deserved to be ranked – yet.

MIDDLEWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Israel Adesanya

1. Robert Whittaker

2. Paulo Costa

3. Jared Cannonier

4. Marvin Vettori

5. Jack Hermansson

6. Derek Brunson +2

7. Darren Till -1

8. Kelvin Gastelum -1

9. Uriah Hall

10. Kevin Holland

11. Jacare Souza

12. Chris Weidman

13. Omari Akhmedov

14, Edmen Shahbazyan

15. Brad Tavaras

UFC rankings

C: Israel Adesanya

1. Robert Whittaker

2. Paulo Costa

3. Jared Cannonier

4. Derek Brunson +3

5. Darren Till -1

6. Marvin Vettori -1

7. Jack Hermansson -1

8. Kelvin Gastelum

9. Uriah Hall

10. Kevin Holland

11. Chris Weidman

12, Edmen Shahbazyan

13. Omari Akhmedov

14. Brad Taveras

15. Sean Strickland

X: Brunson has earned contender status again with a more patient, yet powerful approach. While I’m high on Strickland, Jacare still deserves a spot in the top 15.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Jan Blachowicz

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Aleksandar Rakic +3

3. Dominick Reyes

4. Jiri Prochazka

5. Magomed Ankalaev +1

6. Thiago Santos -4

7. Anthony Smith

8. Volkan Oezdemir

9. Nikita Krylov

10. Johnny Walker

11. Ryan Spann +2

12. Misha Cirkunov -1

13. Jimmy Crute -1

14. Paul Craig

15. Jamahal Hill

UFC rankings

C: Jan Blachowicz

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Aleksandar Rakic +2

3. Dominick Reyes

4. Thiago Santos -2

5. Jiri Prochazka

6. Anthony Smith

7. Magomed Ankalaev

8. Volkan Oezdemir

9. Nikita Krylov

10. Johnny Walker

11. Ryan Spann +2

12. Misha Cirkunov -1

13. Jimmy Crute -1

14. Paul Craig

15. Jamahal Hill

X: Not many differences here, through Santos did not look like a top-5 fighter in his loss to Rakic.

HEAVYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Francis Ngannou +1

1. Stipe Miocic -1

2. Derrick Lewis

3. Curtis Blaydes

4. Alexander Volkov +1

5. Ciryl Gane +2

6. Jairzinho Rozenstruik -2

7. Augusto Sakai +1

8. Shamil Abdurakhimov +1

9. Walt Harris +1

10. Marcin Tybura +1

11. Sergei Pavlovich +1

12. Chris Daukaus +2

13. Tom Aspinall +2

14. Blagoy Ivanov *

15. Alexandr Romanov *

UFC rankings

C: Francis Ngannou +1

1. Stipe Miocic -1

2. Derrick Lewis

3. Curtis Blaydes

4. Ciryl Gane

5. Alexander Volkov

6. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

7. Shamil Abdurakhimov +1

8. Walt Harris +3

9. Augusto Sakai

10. Chris Daukaus

11. Marcin Tybura +4

12. Blagoy Ivanov +2

13. Tom Aspinall *

14. Sergei Pavlovich -1

15. Aleksei Oleinik *

Out of both rankings: Alistair Overeem (released), Junior dos Santos (released)

X: Don’t look now, but Tybura has the second-longest winning streak at HW. The longest belongs to Ngannou, who fulfilled his lethal potential by bringing the belt back to Cameroon.

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

dB rankings

1. Amanda Nunes

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Weili Zhang

4. Rose Namajunas

5. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

6. Jessica Andrade

7. Germaine De Randamie

8. Holly Holm

9. Aspen Ladd

10. Katlyn Chookagian

11. Jennifer Maia

12. Lauren Murphy

13. Cynthia Calvillo

14. Xiaonan Yan

15. Yana Kunitskaya

UFC rankings

1. Amanda Nunes

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Weili Zhang

4. Rose Namajunas

5. Jessica Andrade

6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

7. Germaine De Randamie

8. Holly Holm

9. Aspen Ladd

10. Katlyn Chookagian

11. Xiaonan Yan +1

12. Nina Ansaroff -1

13. Carla Esparza

14. Cynthia Calvillo

15. Claudia Gadelha

X: No significant changes this month.

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Weili Zhang

1. Rose Namajunas

2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

3. Yan Xiaonan

4. Nina Ansaroff

5. Claudia Gadelha

6. Carla Esparza

7. Marina Rodriguez

8. Michelle Waterson

9. Amanda Ribas

10. Mackenzie Dern

11. Tecia Torres

12. Angela Hill +1

13. Virna Jandiroba -1

14. Amanda Lemos *

15. Brianna Van Buren

UFC rankings

C: Weili Zhang

1. Rose Namajunas

2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

3. Yan Xiaonan

4. Carla Esparza

5. Nina Ansaroff

6. Marina Rodriguez +2

7. Claudia Gadelha -1

8. Michelle Waterson -1

9. Tecia Torres

10. Amanda Ribas -1

11. Mackenzie Dern

12. Angela Hill

13. Virna Jandiroba

14. Amanda Lemos *

15. Felice Herrig -1

Out of both rankings: Livinha Souza X: No significant changes this month after Lemos knocked once-prized prospect Souza out of the top 15.

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Valentina Shevchenko

1. Jessica Andrade

2. Katlyn Chookagian

3. Jennifer Maia

4. Lauren Murphy

5. Cynthia Calvillo

6. Joanne Calderwood

7. Jessica Eye

8. Viviane Araujo

9. Roxanne Modafferi

10. Alexa Grasso

11. Antonina Shevchenko

12. Andrea Lee +1

13. Talia Santos +1

14. Miranda Maverick *

15. Maycee Barber

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. Roxanne Modafferi

10. Alexa Grasso

11. Andrea Lee +1

12. Antonina Shevchenko +1

13. Talia Santos +1

14. Maycee Barber +1

15. Miranda Maverick *

Out of both rankings: Alexis Davis (moved to BW)

X: Young gun Maverick makes her move into the rankings with a big win over Robertson.

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Amanda Nunes

1. Germaine de Randamie

2. Holly Holm

3. Aspen Ladd

4. Irene Aldana

5. Yana Kunitskaya

6. Ketlen Vieira

7. Julianna Pena

8. Sara McMann +1

9. Lina Lansberg +1

10. Macy Chiasson +1

11. Pannie Kianzad +1

12. Karol Rosa +1

13. Marion Reneau -5

14. Alexis Davis *

15. Sijara Eubanks -1

UFC rankings

C: Amanda Nunes

1. Germaine de Randamie

2. Holly Holm

3. Aspen Ladd

4. Irene Aldana

5. Yana Kunitskaya

6. Julianna Pena

7. Ketlen Vieira

8. Sara McMann

9. Macy Chiasson +1

10. Lina Lansberg +1

11. Pannie Kianzad +1

12. Marion Reneau -3

13. Sijara Eubanks

14. Karol Rosa

15. Julia Avila

Out of db rankings: Julia Avila

Closing in on rankings: Tracy Cortez, Miesha Tate

X: Davis deserves to be ranked, and Tate is coming out of retirement, but this division needs strong new prospects as opposed to recycling former contenders.

WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT

Champion: Amanda Nunes

No divisional rankings.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING FIGHTS FOR RANKINGS

April 10 – UFC on ABC 2

Marvin Vettori vs. Kevin Holland

Arnold Allen vs. Sodiq Yusuff

Nina Ansaroff vs. Mackenzie Dern

April 17 – UFC on ESPN 22

Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum

Darker Klose vs. Jeremy Stephens

April 24 – UFC 261

Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal for WW title

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade for WFW title

Weili Zhang vs. Rose Namajunas for SW title

The updated April rankings will be posted after UFC 261. Until then, enjoy the fights.

For comments, questions and suggestions, email dbrown@cherokeescout.com or contact him on Twitter @daviddbstroh.