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. Kamaru Usman (C)
2. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +1
3. Israel Adesanya (C) -1
4. Charles Oliveira (C)
5. Francis Ngannou (C)
6. Aljamain Sterling (C) +1
7. Deiveson Figueiredo (C) +1
8. Petr Yan +1
9. Brandon Moreno (IC)
10. Jiri Prochazka (C) +1
11. Max Holloway -5
12. Glover Teixeira
13. Robert Whittaker
14. Colby Covington
15. Stipe Miocic
UFC rankings
1. Kamaru Usman (C)
2. Alexander Volkanovski (C)
3. Israel Adesanya (C)
4. Charles Oliveira
5. Francis Ngannou (C)
6. Aljamain Sterling (C) +2
7. Dustin Poirier
8. Deiveson Figueiredo (C) +2
9. Jiri Prochazka (C) +1
10. Max Holloway -4
11. Jon Jones -2
12. Stipe Miocic
13. Petr Yan
14. Brandon Moreno (IC) *
15. Robert Whittaker -1
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: None
Out of UFC rankings: Glover Teixeira
X: Volkanovski was far more impressive than Adesanya at UFC 276, with his trilogy win over Holloway giving him the P4P edge. It took another belt for other voters to get back on the Moreno train, which I never left. Still not sure why Jones is ranked in this category, as he hasn’t fought in 2 1/2 years and didn’t look all that great then. Rankings are supposed to be about merit today, not a career achievement award.
FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Deiveson Figueiredo
IC: Brandon Moreno +1
2. Alexandre Pantoja +2
3. Kai Kara-France -1
4. Askar Askarov -1
5. Brandon Royval
6. Alex Perez
7. Matt Schnell +2
8. Matheus Nicolau -1
9. David Dvorak -1
10. Manel Kape
11. Tim Elliott
12. Amir Albazi
13. Sumudaerji
14. Jeff Molina +1
15. Muhammad Mokaev *
UFC rankings
C: Deiveson Figueiredo
IC: Brandon Moreno +1
2. Alexandre Pantoja +2
3. Kai Kara-France -1
4. Askar Askarov -1
5. Brandon Royval
6. Alex Perez
7. Matheus Nicolau
8. Matt Schnell
9. David Dvorak
10. Tim Elliott
11. Amir Albazi +1
12. Sumudaerji -1
13. Manel Kape
14. Jeff Molina +1
15. Tagir Ulanbekov -1
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Tagir Ulanbekov
Out of UFC rankings: None
X: Moreno’s well-placed liver kick against France gives him a chance to punch face with Figueiredo for the fourth time, which will be a first in UFC history. I may be jumping the gun in ranking Mokaev after just two UFC fights, but he’s 8-0 and looked great against two tough outs. The top six have included the same fighters for some time, but Pantoja’s rear-naked choke win seemingly locked him down for “next,” and the upcoming Nicolau vs. Schnell scrap should provide another brand-new contender at FLW.
BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Aljamain Sterling
1. Petr Yan
2. T.J. Dillashaw
3. Cory Sandhagen
4. Jose Aldo
5. Marlon Vera
6. Rob Font
7. Merab Dvalishvili
8. Dominick Cruz
9. Yadong Song
10. Ricky Simon +2
11. Frankie Edgar -1
12. Pedro Munhoz -1
13. Sean O’Malley
14. Adrian Yanez +1
15. Umar Nurmagomedov *
UFC rankings
C: Aljamain Sterling
1. Petr Yan
2. T.J. Dillashaw
3. Jose Aldo
4. Cory Sandhagen
5. Marlon Vera
6. Merab Dvalishvili
7. Rob Font
8. Dominick Cruz
9. Pedro Munhoz
10. Yadong Song
11. Ricky Simon +1
12. Frankie Edgar -1
13. Sean O’Malley
14. Umar Nurmagomedov +1
15. Jack Shore -1
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Jack Shore
Out of UFC rankings: Adrian Yanez
X: Simon earned a jump up the rankings by dispatching the previously unbeaten Shore. Despite his fight with Munoz ending with a “no contest” eye poke, O’Malley gets a huge jump up to fight Yan next time out, and a win could put either fighter in a 2023 title bout. The winner of Vera vs. Cruz later this month will also be knocking on the door to a championship, as will the winner of Aldo vs. Dvalishvili. BW continues to be the hottest division in the UFC, with younger fighters and veterans duking it out for superiority.
FEATHERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Max Holloway
2. Josh Emmett +1
3. Yair Rodriguez +1
4. Brian Ortega -2
5. Arnold Allen
6. Calvin Kattar
7. Chan Sung Jung
8. Gigi Chikadze
9. Bryce Mitchell
10. Movsar Evloev
11. Dan Ige
12. Edson Barboza
13. Sodiq Yusuff
14. Shane Burgos
15. Pat Sabatini
UFC rankings
C: Alexander Volkanovski
1. Max Holloway
2. Yair Rodriguez +1
3. Brian Ortega -1
4. Josh Emmett
5. Calvin Kattar
6. Arnold Allen
7. Chan Sung Jung
8. Giga Chikadze
9. Bryce Mitchell
10. Movsar Evloev
11. Dan Ige
12. Sodiq Yusuff
13. Edson Barboza
14. Shane Burgos
15. Ilia Topuria
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Sad to see Ortega vs. Rodriguez end with a first-round injury, so we didn’t really learn anything from that fight. Rodriguez says he wants to wait around for Volkanovski, but that’s hogwash – he’s 2-1-0-1 since 2018, with his only conclusive win being over the released Jeremy Stephens. No fighter should be rewarded for inactivity, less everyone decide to cherry-pick like Rodriguez and Gregor Gillespie. If Volkanovski fights for the LW belt next, an interim FW title fight between Emmett and Rodriguez makes sense. If Rodriguez doesn’t want it, I’m sure the injury-riddled but 18-1 Allen wouldn’t mind a shot.
LIGHTWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Vacant
1. Charles Oliveira
2. Islam Makhachev
3. Dustin Poirier
4. Justin Gaethje
5. Michael Chandler
6. Beneil Dariush
7. Rafael Fiziev +1
8. Mateusz Gamrot +1
9. Arman Tsarukyan +1
10. Damir Ismagulov +1
11. Rafael dos Anjos -4
12. Tony Ferguson
13. Conor McGregor
14. Mark Madsen +1
15. Jalin Turner *
UFC rankings
C: Vacant
1. Charles Oliveira
2. Dustin Poirier
3. Justin Gaethje
4. Islam Makhachev
5. Michael Chandler
6. Beneil Dariush
7. Rafael Fiziev +3
8. Rafael dos Anjos -1
9. Mateusz Gamrot -1
10. Arman Tsarukyan +1
11. Tony Ferguson -2
12. Conor McGregor
13. Dan Hooker
14. Jalin Turner *
15. Damir Ismagulov *
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Brad Riddell
Out of UFC rankings: Brad Riddell, Diego Ferreira
X: Fiziev knocked out dos Anjos to win the battle of the Rafael’s, making him a rising star in the process. Five straight wins, capped with a submission of Riddell, gets Turner his first spot in the top 15. The winner of Dariush vs. Gamrot will have a good case for the next shot at the belt. And who can’t wait for Oliveira vs. Makhachev, Poirier vs. Chandler and Gaethje vs. Pretty Much Anybody to go down? LW has a lot of fun in store for the rest of the year – and none of it pitches Proper 12 Irish whiskey.
WELTERWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Kamaru Usman
1. Colby Covington
2. Leon Edwards
3. Belal Muhammad
4. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Gilbert Burns
6. Stephen Thompson
7. Vicente Luque
8. Sean Brady
9. Shavkat Rakmonov
10. Michael Chiesa
11. Jorge Masvidal
12. Neil Magny
13. Li Jingliang +1
14. Geoff Neal -1
15. Michel Pereira
UFC rankings
C: Kamaru Usman
1. Colby Covington
2. Leon Edwards
3. Khamzat Chimaev
4. Gilbert Burns
5. Belal Muhammad
6. Vicente Luque
7. Stephen Thompson
8. Jorge Masvidal
9. Sean Brady
10. Shavkat Rakmonov
11. Michael Chiesa
12. Neil Magny
13. Geoff Neal
14. Li Jingliang
15. Michel Pereira
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Usman defends against Edwards next month in yet another rematch, but a new contender will be waiting from the winner of Muhammad vs. Brady. Chimaev gets Nate Diaz in what should be the Stockton, Calif., legend’s final middle-finger sendoff to the UFC, though he’ll likely get smashed in the process. Luque vs. Neal is a fine fight this weekend, but WW needs some new bookings stat.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Israel Adesanya
1. Robert Whittaker
2. Jared Cannonier
3. Marvin Vettori
4. Paulo Costa
5. Alex Pereira +9
6. Derek Brunson
7. Sean Strickland -2
8. Jack Hermansson -1
9. Andre Muniz +1
10. Uriah Hall -2
11. Darren Till
12. Kelvin Gastelum
13. Nassourdine Imavov
14. Dricus Du Plessis *
15. Brad Tavares -6
UFC rankings
C: Israel Adesanya
1. Robert Whittaker
2. Jared Cannonier
3. Marvin Vettori
4. Derek Brunson +1
5. Alex Pereira *
6. Paulo Costa
7. Sean Strickland -3
8. Jack Hermansson -1
9. Darren Till -1
10. Andre Muniz +3
11. Kelvin Gastelum -1
12. Uriah Hall -3
13. Nassourdine Imavov
14. Dricus Du Plessis *
15. Brad Taveras -3
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Krzysztof Jotko
Out of UFC rankings: Chris Weidman, Edmen Shahbazyan
X: Adesanya is so good that, like Hall of Famer Anderson Silva before him, we can’t help but talk about why he doesn’t beat up deserving fighters like Cannonier even more easily. Adesanya will have his hands full on the feet with Pereira, who owns two victories over the champ in kickboxing. If Strickland had any fight IQ he may have had the title shot, but he insisted on trying to stand with Pereira and paid for it. Costa vs. Luke Rockhold later this month will let us know if either warrior has anything left in the tank.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Jiri Prochazka
1. Glover Teixeira
2. Magomed Ankalaev +1
3. Jan Blachowicz -1
4. Aleksandar Rakic
5. Thiago Santos
6. Anthony Smith
7. Dominick Reyes
8. Volkan Oezdemir
9. Paul Craig
10. Jamahal Hill
11. Nikita Krylov
12. Johnny Walker
13. Ryan Spann
14. Dustin Jacoby +1
15. Jimmy Crute -1
UFC rankings
C: Jiri Prochazka
1. Glover Teixeira
2. Jan Blachowicz
3. Magomed Ankalaev +1
4. Aleksandar Rakic -1
5. Anthony Smith
6. Thiago Santos
7. Dominick Reyes
8. Volkan Oezdemir +1
9. Paul Craig -1
10. Jamahal Hill
11. Nikita Krylov
12. Ryan Spann
13. Johnny Walker
14. Dustin Jacoby +1
15. Jimmy Crute -1
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Ankalaev continued to put a miracle submission loss to Craig behind him with his ninth straight dominating win over names like Smith, Santos, Oezdemir and Krylov. He’s deserving of trading fisticuffs with Prochazka, providing Teixeira doesn’t get an immediate rematch. Hill, who also has a crushing submission loss to Craig, could jump the line anyway with a big win over the fading Santos this weekend. Meanwhile, Craig’s deflating loss to Oezdemir two weeks ago ended his six-fight unbeaten streak.
HEAVYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Francis Ngannou
1. Stipe Miocic
2. Ciryl Gane
3. Tai Tuivasa
4. Curtis Blaydes +1
5. Tom Aspinall +1
6. Sergei Pavlovich +3
7. Derrick Lewis -3
8. Alexander Volkov -1
9. Alexandr Romanov -1
10. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
11. Chris Daukaus
12. Marcin Tybura
13. Walt Harris
14. Serghei Spivac
15. Augusto Sakai
UFC rankings
C: Francis Ngannou
1. Ciryl Gane
2. Stipe Miocic
3. Tai Tuivasa
4. Curtis Blaydes
5. Sergei Pavlovich +6
6. Tom Aspinall
7. Derrick Lewis -2
8. Alexander Volkov -1
9. Jairzinho Rozenstruik -1
10. Chris Daukaus -1
11. Marcin Tybura -1
12. Alexandr Romanov +1
13. Shamil Abdurakhimov -1
14. Augusto Sakai
15. Blagoy Ivanov
Out of dB/UFC rankings: None
X: Thanks to a quick stoppage, we didn’t get to see if Lewis could have bounced back against Pavlovich last week. And thanks to an injury the week before, we didn’t get to see if Aspinall could hang with beasts like Blaydes. That means HW continues in a stagnant state, with Ngannou still recovering from knee surgery, and the long-awaited interim title fight between Miocic and Jon Jones not booked yet. The winner of Gane vs. Tuivasa will have momentum, but Romanov is the only other young contender.
WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND
dB rankings
1. Amanda Nunes (C) +2
2. Valentina Shevchenko (C) -1
3. Carla Esparza (C) +1
4. Rose Namajunas +1
5. Julianna Pena -3
6. Weili Zhang
7. Jessica Andrade
8. Taila Santos
9. Marina Rodriquez
10. Katlyn Chookagian
11. Lauren Murphy
12. Ketlen Viera
13. Holly Holm
14. Raquel Pennington
15. Irene Aldana
UFC rankings
1. Amanda Nunes (C) +1
2. Valentina Shevchenko (C) -1
3. Julianna Pena
4. Rose Namajunas
5. Weili Zhang
6. Carla Esparza (C)
7. Jessica Andrade
8. Marina Rodriquez
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian
11. Ketlen Viera
12. Xiaonan Yan
13. Mackenzie Dern
14. Taila Santos
15. Lauren Murphy *
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: None
Out of UFC rankings: Raquel Pennington
X: Nunes beating Pena in their rematch set the world of women’s MMA back on track. And with no other title fights booked yet for the rest of 2022, Nunes vs. Shevchenko 3 is a more viable option than ever.
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Carla Esparza
1. Rose Namajunas
2. Weili Zhang
3. Jessica Andrade
4. Marina Rodriguez
5. Xiaonan Yan
6. Amanda Ribas
7. Mackenzie Dern
8. Virna Jandiroba
9. Amanda Lemos +1
10. Tecia Torres -1
11. Michelle Waterson-Gomez +1
12. Nina Nunes -1
13. Luana Pinheiro
14. Emily Ducote *
15. Angela Hill
UFC rankings
C: Carla Esparza
1. Rose Namajunas
2. Zhang Weili
3. Marina Rodriguez
4. Mackenzie Dern
5. Yan Xiaonan
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Tecia Torres +1
8. Amanda Lemos +3
9. Nina Nunes -2
10. Amanda Ribas -1
11. Michelle Waterson-Gomez +1
12. Virna Jandiroba
13. Angela Hill
14. Emily Ducote *
15. Luana Pinheiro
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB/UFC rankings: Jessica Penne
X: Waterson-Gomez’s loss to Lemos likely ends the “Karate Hottie’s” days of being a contender, with Lemos getting Rodriguez next as a reward. The winner of that fight could become the No. 1 contender after Esparza matches up with Weili in her first defense, although the victor of Dean vs. Xiaonan will have a say in that. Former Invicta champ Ducote had a nice UFC debt with a win over savvy veteran Penne.
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Talia Santos
2. Jessica Andrade *
3. Katlyn Chookagian -1
4. Lauren Murphy -1
5. Alexa Grasso
6. Manon Fiorot -1
7. Jennifer Maia -1
8. Viviane Araujo
9. Casey O’Neill
10. Andrea Lee
11. Maycee Barber +3
12. Tracy Cortez -1
13. Erin Blanchfield -1
14. Cynthia Calvillo -1
15. Miranda Maverick
UFC rankings
C: Valentina Shevchenko
1. Katlyn Chookagian
2. Talia Santos
3. Lauren Murphy
4. Jessica Andrade
5. Alexa Grasso
6. Viviane Araujo
7. Manon Fiorot
8. Jennifer Maia
9. Andrea Lee
10. Maycee Barber +3
11. Casey O’Neill +1
12. Cynthia Calvillo -2
13. Erin Blanchfield +1
14. Tracy Cortez +1
15. Molly McCann *
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB/UFC rankings: Jessica Eye (retired)
X: Despite her positive energy and people’s elbow, I can’t rank McCann since she lost to the unranked Procopio just last year. The up-and-coming, youthful fighters at WFLW will shake up the rankings in 2023, and Fiorot has the first chance to make a statement against Chookagian. With Andrade clearly showing she’s going to be a two-division fighter, she returned to my rankings at 125 pounds this month.
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT
dB rankings
C: Amanda Nunes +1
1. Julianna Pena -1
2. Ketlen Vieira
3. Holly Holm
4. Raquel Pennington
5. Irene Aldana
6. Aspen Ladd
7. Yana Kunitskaya
8. Sara McMann +1
9. Pannie Kianzad +1
10. Lina Lansberg +1
11. Macy Chiasson +1
12. Julia Avila +1
13. Karol Rosa +1
14. Josiane Nunes +1
15. Mayra Bueno Silva *
UFC rankings
C. Amanda Nunes +1
1. Julianna Pena -1
2. Ketlen Vieira
3. Holly Holm
4. Irene Aldana
5. Raquel Pennington
6. Yana Kunitskaya
7. Aspen Ladd
8. Sara McMann
9. Pannie Kianzad
10. Macy Chiasson +1
11. Miesha Tate -1
12. Karol Rosa +1
13. Lina Lansberg -1
14. Julia Avila
15. Norma Dumont
* New entrant into rankings
Out of dB rankings: Miesha Tate (moved to WFW)
Out of UFC rankings: None
X: WBW was the first women’s division in the UFC, yet it feels like a long time since 135 pounds was the most elite. Vieira is seemingly next for Nunes, but that doesn’t generate a whole lot of excitement. With so few fighters at this weight, it’s easy to see why the UFC hasn’t gone all-in with women at 145 pounds.
WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT
C: Amanda Nunes
No divisional rankings.
UPCOMING FIGHTS
Focusing on those that affect rankings the most
Aug. 6 – UFC on ESPN
Thiago Santos vs. Jamaal Hill
Vicente Luque vs. Geoff Neal
Zac Pauga vs. Mohammed Usman for TUF title
Juliana Miller vs. Brogan Walker for TUF title
Serghei Spivac vs. Augusto Sakai
Aug. 13 – UFC Fight Night
Marlon Vera vs. Dominick Cruz
Nina Nunes vs. Cynthia Calvillo
Angela Hill vs. Loopy Godinez
Aug. 20 – UFC 278
Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards for WW title
Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov
Aug. 27 – No fights this weekend.
Updated rankings for August will be posted before UFC Fight Night on Sept. 3. Until then, enjoy the fights.
For comments, questions and suggestions, email dbrown@cherokeescout.com or hit me up on Twitter @daviddbstroh.