There’s always some fluidity in the MMA rankings, but often that movement happens at a glacier’s pace.
In this latest update of the ESPN divisional rankings, however, there are two brand-new No. 1s and also the return of a former champion.
Leading the way is Julianna Peña, who moves up from No. 3 to take over the top spot at women’s bantamweight on the strength of her shocking UFC 269 upset of Amanda Nunes, a two-division champion and the consensus GOAT.
That same event on Dec. 11 helped elevate another new No. 1. Charles Oliveira already owned the UFC lightweight belt going into the night, but the consensus was that his challenger, Dustin Poirier, was the best 155-pounder. Poirier was at the head of the ESPN rankings and also was ahead of Oliveira in our men’s pound-for-pound top 10. But now Oliveira is at the top of the heap, after submitting Poirier.
The ex-champ returnee to the rankings is Dominick Cruz, the former men’s bantamweight king. He moved into the No. 10 spot after his UFC 269 win over Pedro Munhoz.
Dropped from the rankings for inactivity are Zabit Magomedsharipov and Germaine de Randamie, neither of whom has fought — or even been booked for a bout — since last year.
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Dec. 14.
Heavyweight – Light heavyweight – Middleweight – Welterweight
Lightweight – Men’s featherweight – Men’s bantamweight – Men’s flyweight
Women’s bantamweight – Women’s flyweight – Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Francis Ngannou 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Ciryl Gane
2. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO3) Derrick Lewis, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Francis Ngannou
3. Stipe Miocic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Derrick Lewis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-8, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Ciryl Gane, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Chris Daukaus
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9
Last: W (UD) Marcin Tybura, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Chris Daukaus
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (TKO2) Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Derrick Lewis
8. Alistair Overeem
Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Corey Anderson, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: Jan. 29 vs. Valentin Moldavsky
10. Marcin Tybura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkov, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Glover Teixeira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 33-7
Last: W (Sub2) Jan Blachowicz, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-9
Last: L (Sub2) Glover Teixeira, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
3. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Ryan Bader, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov
4. Jiri Prochazka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Aleksandar Rakic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: March 26 vs. Jan Blachowicz
6. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Julius Anglickas, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson
7. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-16
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Thiago Santos
9. Thiago Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (UD) Johnny Walker, Oct. 2, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
10. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 12, 2021
Next: Feb. 12 vs. Robert Whittaker
2. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: Feb. 12 vs. Israel Adesanya
3. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) Paulo Costa, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Derek Brunson
5. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: W (Sub3) Darren Till, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Darren Till
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4-1
Last: L (Sub3) Derek Brunson, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Jared Cannonier
8. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Edmen Shahbazyan, May 22, 2021
Next: Feb. 5 vs. Sean Strickland
9. Gegard Mousasi
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 48-7-2
Last: W (TKO3) John Salter, Aug. 13, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Austin Vanderford
10. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Uriah Hall, July 31, 2021
Next: Feb. 5 vs. Jack Hermansson
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Colby Covington, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Vicente Luque
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Michael Chiesa, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) Gilbert Burns, July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Belal Muhammad
7. Yaroslav Amosov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Sean Brady 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) Michael Chiesa, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Jorge Masvidal
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 14-4
Last: W (SD) Santiago Ponzinibbio, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 32-8, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Dustin Poirier 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (UD) Michael Chandler, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Islam Makhachev
5. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1
Last: W (Sub1) Dan Hooker, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Beneil Dariush
6. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Justin Gaethje, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 25-6
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Gregor Gillespie
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-11
Last: L (Sub1) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6
Last: W (UD) Yair Rodriguez, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD
3. A.J. McKee
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub1) Patricio Freire, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-5
Last: L (Sub1) A.J. McKee, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Calvin Kattar
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: Jan. 15 vs. Giga Chikadze
7. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-2
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Chan Sung Jung
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, June 19, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Sodiq Yusuff, April 10, 2019
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. TJ Dillashaw
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Jose Aldo
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 31-7
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, Dec. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-4
Last: L (UD) Petr Yan, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-5
Last: L (UD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (KO4) Kyoji Horiguchi, Dec. 3, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Dominick Cruz
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-7-1
Last: W (KO3) Frankie Edgar, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-5-2
Last: W (Sub3) Deiveson Figueiredo, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
2. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2-1
Last: L (Sub3) Brandon Moreno, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Brandon Moreno
3. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (mixed rules)
5. Askar Askarov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 23-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Alex Perez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 24-5
Last: W (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (Sub2) Alexandre Pantoja, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Matt Schnell, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 11-4
Last: W (Sub2) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Amanda Nunes
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-5
Last: L (Sub2) Julianna Peña, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Aspen Ladd
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 9-2
Last: L (UD) Norma Dumont, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) Miesha Tate, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yana Kunitskaya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 12-8
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Miesha Tate
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-8
Last: L (UD) Ketlen Vieira, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (TKO4) Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Taila Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub1) Joanne Wood, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Jennifer Maia
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (SD) Denise Kielholtz, July 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Viviane Araujo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Andrea Lee
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-5
Last: W (TKO2) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (SD) Zhang Weili, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1-2
Last: W (UD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Carla Esparza, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Claudia Gadelha
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Nina Nunes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-7
Last: L (Sub1) Mackenzie Dern, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD