David Brown’s UFC rankings with Xplainations updated for 9.30.21

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  • David Brown
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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. Jon Jones

2. Kamaru Usman (C)

3. Francis Ngannou (C)

4. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +5

5. Jan Blachowicz (C) -1

6. Israel Adesanya (C) -1

7. Dustin Poirier -1

8. Max Holloway +2

9. Ciryl Gane (IC) -2

10. Charles Oliveira (C) +2

11. Robert Whittaker

12. Brandon Moreno (C) +1

13. Stipe Miocic -5

14. Aljamain Sterling (C)

15. Petr Yan

 

UFC rankings

1. Kamaru Usman (C) +1

2. Jon Jones -1

3. Alexander Volkanovski (C) +1

4. Israel Adesanya (C) -1

5. Francis Ngannou (C)

6. Dustin Poirier

7. Jan Blachowicz (C)

8. Stipe Miocic

9. Max Holloway

10. Charles Oliveira (C)

11. Brandon Moreno (C)

12. Robert Whittaker

13. Petr Yan

14. Ciryl Gane (IC)

15. Justin Gaethje

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: Pound-for-pound rankings are only good for starting arguments, but Volkanovski deserves the love he finally seems to be receiving after his memorable beatdown of Ortega. Miocic falls due to only being 2-2 since 2018. Interestingly, one of the champs, Sterling, is not on this list, yet the guy he just beat for the belt – Yan, albeit by disqualification – is in the top 15.

 

FLYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Brandon Moreno

1. Askar Askarov

2. Deiveson Figueiredo

3. Alex Perez

4. Alexandre Pantoja

5. Brandon Royval +1

6. Kai Kara France +1

7. David Dvorak +1

8. Rogerio Bontorin +1

9. Matt Schnell +1

10. Tim Elliott +1

11. Amir Albazi +1

12. Su Mudaerji +1

13. Matheus Nicolau +1

14. Zhalgas Zhumagulov +1

15. Tagir Ulanbekov *

 

UFC rankings

C: Brandon Moreno

1. Deiveson Figueiredo

2. Askar Askarov

3. Alexandre Pantoja

4. Alex Perez

5. Brandon Royval +1

6. Kai Kara France +1

7. Rogerio Bontorin +1

8. Matt Schnell +1

9. Tim Elliott +1

10. David Dvorak +1

11. Matheus Nicolau +1

12. Su Mudaerji +1

13. Amir Albazi +1

14. Tyson Nam +1

15. Tagir Ulanbekov *

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Joseph Benavidez (retired)

 

X: With not much movement at 125 pounds this month, let’s take a moment to recognize that for more than a decade, Benavidez was one of the top two or three fighters at both BW and FW – first in the WEC, then in the UFC. While not known specifically in the Octagon for much other than all-around toughness and a blended ground game he called “Joe-Jitsu,” Benavidez went farther in his career than many fighters with more raw natural ability. Hats off to one of the guys who made me a fan of this sport.

 

BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling

1. Petr Yan

2. T.J. Dillashaw

3. Cory Sandhagen

4. Rob Font

5. Jose Aldo +1

6. Frankie Edgar +1

7. Merab Dvalishvili +4

8. Marlon Moraes -3

9. Pedro Munhoz -1

10. Cody Garbrandt -1

11. Dominick Cruz -1

12. Raphael Assuncao +1

13. Marlon Vera +1

14. Ricky Simon *

15. Jack Shore *

 

UFC rankings

C: Aljamain Sterling

1. Petr Yan

2. T.J. Dillashaw

3. Cory Sandhagen

4. Rob Font

5. Jose Aldo +1

6. Merab Dvalishvili +5

7. Cody Garbrandt +2

8. Frankie Edgar -1

9. Pedro Munhoz -1

10. Marlon Moraes -5

11. Dominick Cruz -1

12. Raphael Assuncao +1

13. Marlon Vera +1

14. Cody Stamann +1

15. Raulian Paiva *

 

Out of dB rankings: Jimmie Rivera (free agent), Timur Valiev

Out of UFC rankings: Jimmie Rivera (free agent)

 

X: It’s a bummer Sterling won’t rematch Yan later this month due to injury, but Sandhagen undoubtedly will make it a fun interim title fight. Dvalishvili’s march to a seemingly inevitable title shot came into focus when he first survived Moraes’ attack, then seemed to take it personally and laid down a butt whupping for his first finish in the UFC. What I don’t get is other rankers’ love for Garbrandt. The man has only one win since 2017, has been absent from the Octagon for long stretches and is moving to FW, yet he climbs two spots up the ladder at BW – and two spots above Munhoz, who claimed a TKO win over Garbrandt in 2019. Simon will get a chance to prove he belongs in the top 15 when he faces Assuncao on Dec. 18, while Shore’s sparkling 15-0 record finally lands him in my rankings at least.

 

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 +4

7. Calvin Kattar -1

8. Josh Emmett -1

9. Dan Ige -1

10. Edson Barboza -1

11. Sodiq Yusuff

12. Bryce Mitchell

13. Movsar Evloev

14. Shane Burgos

15. Ilia Topuria

 

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 +2

9. Dan Ige -1

10. Edson Barboza -1

11. Bryce Mitchell

12. Sodiq Yusuff

13. Movsar Evloev

14. Shane Burgos

15. Ilia Topuria

 

Out: None

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: Volkanovski rightly has earned plaudits for fighting out of two tight submission attempts by Ortega, then coming back and damn near finishing his opponent by the end of the round. As a result, their Ultimate Fighter-related feud is over, and we can go back to wondering whether Volkanovski will face Holloway for a third time, as the former champ squares off with Rodriguez in a No. 1 contender fight on Nov. 13. Keep your eye on Chikadze, who has the standup game to compete with anyone at FW.

 

LIGHTWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Charles Oliveira

1. Dustin Poirier

2. Justin Gaethje

3. Beneil Dariush

4. Islam Makhachev

5. Michael Chandler

6. Tony Ferguson

7. Rafael dos Anjos

8. Dan Hooker +1

9. Conor McGregor -1

9. Dan Hooker

10. Gregor Gillespie +1

11. Arman Tsarukyan *

12. Brad Riddell

13. Diego Ferreira +1

14. Rafael Fiziev +1

15. Vinc Pichel *

 

UFC rankings

C: Charles Oliveira

1. Dustin Poirier

2. Justin Gaethje

3. Beneil Dariush

4. Michael Chandler

5. Islam Makhachev

6. Tony Ferguson

6. Dan Hooker +2

8. Rafael dos Anjos -1

9. Conor McGregor

10. Gregor Gillespie

11. Diego Ferreira +1

12. Brad Riddell +1

13. Arman Tsarukyan +2

14. Rafael Fiziev

15. Thiago Moises *

 

Out of dB rankings: Kevin Lee (moved to WW), Grant Dawson

Out of UFC rankings: Kevin Lee (moved to WW)

 

X: LW is a great division, where on any given week someone could bounce in or out of the top 15. I’m apparently one of few in Pichel’s corner, despite the fact that he is 7-1 in his last 8 with just a loss to Gillespie. Meanwhile, Moises is only 4-3 in the UFC, including a defeat to unranked Damir Ismagulov.

 

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. Li Jingliang

12. Sean Brady

13. Santiago Ponzinibbio +1

14. Muslim Salikhov +1

15. James Krause *

 

UFC rankings

C: Kamaru Usman

1. Colby Covington

2. Gilbert Burns

3. Leon Edwards

4. Vicente Luque

5. Stephen Thompson

6. Jorge Masvidal

7. Michael Chiesa

8. Neil Magny

9. Belal Muhammad

10. Geoff Neal

11. Li Jingliang +1

12. Santiago Ponzinibbio +1

13. Sean Brady +1

14. Muslim Salikhov +1

15. Daniel Rodriquez *

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Demian Maia (free agent)

 

X: There is joy again at WW this month, as Krause – who has won his last nine fights at 170 pounds – returns to my rankings, though it has been a year since he last fought. Rodriquez, meanwhile, lost to unranked Nicolas Dalby last year. There is also joy that while Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz gave us a heckuva show, neither was unjustifiably put into the rankings. It’s a sad month, though, as Maia is leaving the top 15 for the first time since the UFC started putting numbers by fighters’ names. He will go down as one of greatest grapplers, as well as one of the nicest gentlemen, to ever grace the Octagon. In addition, former interim champ Carlos Condit called it a career; his level of violence will be missed.

 

MIDDLEWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Israel Adesanya

1. Robert Whittaker

2. Derek Brunson +2

3. Paulo Costa -1

4. Jared Cannonier -1

5. Marvin Vettori

6. Jack Hermansson

7. Sean Strickland +1

8. Uriah Hall +3

9. Edmen Shahbazyan +4

10. Brad Tavares

11. Chris Weidman +1

12. Darren Till -5

13. Kelvin Gastelum -4

14. Brendan Allen

15. Andre Muniz

 

UFC rankings

C: Israel Adesanya

1. Robert Whittaker

2. Paulo Costa

3. Jared Cannonier

4. Derek Brunson +1

5. Marvin Vettori -1

6. Jack Hermansson

7. Sean Strickland +1

8. Darren Till -1

9. Uriah Hall +1

10. Kelvin Gastelum -1

11. Edmen Shahbazyan

12. Chris Weidman

13. Brad Taveras

14. Kevin Holland

15. Andre Muniz

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: I have Brunson over Costa because Costa’s last win was a split-decision over Yoel Romero more than two years ago, while Brunson has reeled off five straight victories over increasingly higher-ranked opponents in that same time. That said, ranking Nos. 8-15 isn’t easy; I dropped Till and Gastelum by quite a bit, as both are 1-4 in their last five fights, but I don’t feel nearly as good about where Hall, Shahbazyan and Weidman are ranked. And does anybody else remember that Allen has a submission victory over Holland? Holland will look to get back in my rankings with a win over Kyle Daukaus this weekend, while Allen’s fight with Tavares on Dec. 4 will determine who deserves to be in the top 10.

 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Jan Blachowicz

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Jiri Prochazka

3. Aleksandar Rakic

4. Magomed Ankalaev

5. Anthony Smith

6. Dominick Reyes

7. Thiago Santos

8. Volkan Oezdemir

9. Nikita Krylov

10. Johnny Walker

11. Ryan Spann

12. Misha Cirkunov

13. Jim Crute

14. Paul Craig

15. Jamahal Hill

 

UFC rankings

C: Jan Blachowicz

1. Glover Teixeira

2. Jiri Prochazka

3. Aleksandar Rakic

4. Anthony Smith +2

5. Thiago Santos -1

6. Dominick Reyes -1

7. Magomed Ankalaev

8. Volkan Oezdemir

9. Nikita Krylov

10. Johnny Walker

11. Ryan Spann

12. Paul Craig

13. Misha Cirkunov

14. Jim Crute

15. Jamahal Hill

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: Smith and Spann fought, and afterward still belonged in the exact same spot in my rankings. That tells me they were pretty spot-on before the fight. Cirkunov’s move to MW opens the door for another fighter to join the top 15 at LW – like maybe Dustin Jacoby, who has four straight fights without a loss. Santos vs. Walker this weekend will put one of them back into contention; the other, not so much.

 

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 +3

8. Augusto Sakai -1

9. Marcin Tybura -1

10. Tom Aspinall +1

11. Alexandr Romanov -2

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 +3

8. Shamil Abdurakhimov -1

9. Marcin Tybura -1

10. Augusto Sakai -1

11. Tom Aspinall +2

12. Walt Harris -1

13. Blagoy Ivanov -1

14. Sergei Pavlovich +1

15. Serghei Spivac -1

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: I realize Abdurakhimov has a win over Tybura, but that was in 2019. Since then, Tybura is 5-1, while Abdurakhimov is 0-2 and has turned 40. Daukaus is the real deal, with Aspinall and Romanov – not sure why other rankers don’t think of the latter as highly – hot on his heels to find out who is the best HW prospect. The shadow of Jon Jones hangs over the division, as the longtime LHW champion has gained more muscle mass, but last week also found himself on the wrong side of the law – again.

 

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

dB rankings

1. Amanda Nunes

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Rose Namajunas

4. Zhang Weili

5. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

6. Jessica Andrade +3

7. Carla Esparza +3

8. Germaine De Randamie -2

9. Holly Holm -2

10. Aspen Ladd -2

11. Katlyn Chookagian

12. Lauren Murphy

13. Jennifer Maia

14. Irene Aldana

15. Julianna Pena *

 

UFC rankings

1. Amanda Nunes

2. Valentina Shevchenko

3. Rose Namajunas

4. Zhang Weili

5. Jessica Andrade +1

6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk -1

7. Germaine De Randamie

8. Holly Holm

9. Carla Esparza

10. Aspen Ladd

11. Katlyn Chookagian

12. Mackenzie Dern

13. Yan Xiaonan

14. Julianna Pena +1

15. Lauren Murphy -2

 

Out of dB rankings: Cynthia Calvillo

Out of UFC rankings: None

 

X: All hail the top 6, who have clearly separated themselves from the pound-for-pound pack. De Randamie’s inactivity continues to hurt her, plus the fact that the UFC doesn’t even recognize her as a former FW champ. Nunes vs. Shevchenko 3 will be made one day because they will simply have to.

 

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Rose Namajunas

1. Zhang Weili

2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

3. Carla Esparza

4. Marina Rodriguez

5. Amanda Ribas

6. Mackenzie Dern

7. Yan Xiaonan

8. Claudia Gadelha

9. Nina Nunes

10. Tecia Torres

11. Michelle Waterson

12. Amanda Lemos

13. Virna Jandiroba

14. Angela Hill

15. Brianna Van Buren

 

UFC rankings

C: Rose Namajunas

1. Zhang Weili

2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

3. Carla Esparza

4. Yan Xiaonan

4. Mackenzie Dern

6. Marina Rodriguez

7. Nina Nunes

8. Claudia Gadelha

9. Tecia Torres

10. Michelle Waterson

11. Amanda Ribas

12. Virna Jandiroba

13. Amanda Lemos

14. Angela Hill

15. Felice Herrig

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: While I’m not a fan of most instant rematches, I can see the appeal of Namajunas vs. Weili 2 since the head-kick-heard-round-the-world stopped their first fight before we really got to see any exchanges. Esparza, Jedrzejczyk and the winner of Dern vs. Rodriguez on Oct. 9 all want next. And here’s my monthly reminder that Herrig is 0-3 since her last win in 2017; rankings are about today, not yesterday.

 

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 +3

10. Alexa Grasso

11. Roxanne Modafferi -2

12. Andrea Lee -1

13. Maycee Barber

14. Miranda Maverick

15. Sijara Eubanks

 

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 +3

10. Alexa Grasso

11. Roxanne Modafferi -2

12. Andrea Lee -1

13. Maycee Barber

14. Miranda Maverick

15. Montana De La Rosa

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: None

 

X: Murphy had nothing for Shevchenko, which isn’t unusual for the champ’s opponents. Her next challenger may come from the Nov. 20 fight between Calderwood and Grasso. While Modafferi is slowly descending the top 15, she remains a class act and tough out; Santos is no joke, as her standup game is starting to rival her grappling. Calvillo finds herself in a tough spot, as she has some good wins but tough losses in two divisions, stifling her route back to the top after Andrade stopped her last week.

 

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT

dB rankings

C: Amanda Nunes

1. Germaine de Randamie

2. Holly Holm

3. Aspen Ladd

4. Raquel Pennington *

5. Irene Aldana -1

6. Julianna Pena +1

7. Yana Kunitskaya -2

8. Ketlen Vieira -1

9. Miesha Tate -1

10. Sara McMann -1

11. Lina Lansberg -1

12. Macy Chiasson -1

13. Julia Avila -1

14. Pannie Kianzad -1

15. Karol Rosa -1

 

UFC rankings

C: Amanda Nunes

1. Germaine de Randamie

2. Holly Holm

3. Aspen Ladd

4. Irene Aldana

5. Julianna Pena

6. Yana Kunitskaya

7. Ketlen Vieira

8. Miesha Tate

9. Sara McMann

10. Raquel Pennington *

11. Macy Chiasson -1

12. Lina Lansberg -1

13. Julia Avila

14. Pannie Kianzad -2

15. Karol Rosa +1

 

Out of dB/UFC rankings: Alexis Davis

 

X: Pennington returned after a lengthy absence to again put herself in the middle of contention, as she has prior wins over Aldana and Tate, and has only lost to the top three. Pena talks a good game, but she’s facing a much better player on Dec. 11 in Nunes. And thanks to a lack of new challengers, Holm could earn yet another crack at a UFC belt if she beats Norma Dumont in the main event on Oct. 16.

 

WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT

C: Amanda Nunes

No divisional rankings.

 

IMPORTANT UPCOMING FIGHTS

Oct. 2 – UFC Fight Night 193

Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker

Kevin Holland vs. Kyle Daukaus

Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson

 

Oct. 9 – UFC Fight Night 194

Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez

Alexandr Romanov vs. Jared Vanderaa

Tim Elliott vs. Matheus Nicolau

 

Oct. 16 – UFC Fight Night 195

Holly Holm vs. Norma Dumont

Andrei Arlovski vs. Carlos Felipe

Sijara Eubanks vs. Luana Carolina

 

Oct. 23 – UFC Fight Night 196

Paulo Costa vs. Marvin Vettori

Jessica Rose-Clark vs. Joselyn Edwards

Grant Dawson vs. Ricky Glenn

 

Oct. 30 – UFC 267

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira for LHW title

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen for interim BW title

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir

 

The updated October rankings will be posted after UFC 267. Until then, enjoy the fights.

 

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