Category: MMA Rankings

MMA rankings report: Sorting through recent moves before the UFC returns

Big-time MMA returned earlier this month with three shows in eight days. What was the fallout from the second and third in that stretch?

Big-time MMA returned earlier this month with three shows in eight days. What was the fallout from the second and third shows in that stretch?

The MMA Rankings Report returns this week to break down UFC on ESPN+ 29 and UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Fla. Ahead of what is expected to be the UFC’s return to Las Vegas this week, pending the Nevada Athletic Commission potential approval Wednesday, take a look inside some recent moves ahead of Saturday’s welterweight clash.

“Gorgeous” George and “Goze” from MMA Junkie Radio take you through all the updates to the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 26: UFC’s welterweight picture to become clear?

The UFC is all set to host the promotion’s first event at the UFC Apex, and a few top welterweights hope the company’s title picture clears.

The UFC is all set to host the promotion’s first event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this weekend, and a few top welterweights hope the company’s title picture becomes a bit more clear.

Former UFC champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) and [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) meet in Saturday’s main event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+. Woodley checks in at No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, while Burns has already claimed the No. 12 spot with wins over Demian Maia, Gunnar Nelson and Aleksei Kunchenko.

Of course, the welterweight division is filled with contenders hoping to unseat current champion Kamaru Usman. “BMF” titleholder Jorge Masvidal and British challenger Leon Edwards would certainly seem to have the inside track. But Colby Covington is still hoping for a rematch of their December clash, and Conor McGregor is a game-changing wild card that can pop up at any point.

Can Woodley or Burns do enough to separate themselves from the pack. We’ll find out Saturday night. In the meantime, take a look at the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings across all divisions.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 12: Justin Gaethje pops up pound-for-pound list

The UFC made good on the promotion’s promise to return to live action ahead of other U.S. sports, and the card had quite an impact.

The UFC made good on the promotion’s promise to return to live action ahead of other U.S. sports, and the card had quite the impact on the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

In the main event of this past weekend’s UFC 249, [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) scored a fifth-round stoppage of an incredibly game [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 15-2 UFC) to claim an interim lightweight title and set up a unification bout with undefeated champ [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) later this year.

The result pushed Gaethje up to No. 2 on our lightweight list and also saw “The Highlight” debut at No. 11 on our pound-for-pound list.

Of course, the lightweight division wasn’t the only division impacted by a card that had ranked athletes scheduled from the very first fight of the night, so take a look at the newest edition of the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, which finally featured some movement after two months of inactivity in the sport.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 14: Who deserves the shot at Henry Cejudo?

With the UFC on hold, title pictures aren’t going to change much in coming weeks, but the pause in action does allow for some assessment.

While the UFC’s indefinite postponement of events means title pictures aren’t going to change much over the coming weeks, the brief pause in action does allow for some assessment.

Of come particular interest is the promotion’s 135-pound division, where [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] currently reigns as champion, earning him the No. 1 spot on the USA TODAY/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings. “Triple C,” of course, was expected to face former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] at next month’s UFC 250 in Brazil. However, travel restrictions implemented as a response to the ongoing global pandemic ruled Aldo – who sits at No. 5 in the featherweight list – out of the event when it was expected to be relocated to the U.S.

While it’s still not certain if the May 9 event will carry on at all, with the UFC being asked to stand down for the time being by their broadcast partners at ESPN and Disney, UFC president Dana White has stated that’s the day he hops to get his organization back in action

In the meantime, former UFC champion [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag], who is currently not ranked due to having more than 24 months of inactivity, appears to be the leading candidate for Cejudo. Former lightweight champ [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag], who’s currently No. 9 at featherweight, has also volunteered his services, and Cejudo seems to like the idea of facing fighters who have previously held the belt. However, ranked bantamweight contenders such as No. 3 [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag], No. 4 [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] and No. 5 [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] each believe they are deserving of a look, as well.

Plenty of options for the “King of Cringe,” though it seems Cruz has the inside track. Is he the most deserving?

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 31: Is lightweight getting a new look?

If one thing is certain right now, it’s that nothing is certain, and that includes the future of the UFC’s 155-pound division.

If one thing is certain right now, it’s that nothing is certain.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on every aspect of the world’s global operations, and the sporting world is no different. Both the UFC and Bellator have canceled events, and the PFL has been forced to delay its 2020 season. Next up on the chopping block is a long-awaited UFC lightweight title fight between current champ [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and former interim titleholder [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag].

Ranked in the top two slots of the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA lightweight rankings, the two were expected to face off at UFC 249 on April 18, but that card taking place anywhere in the world seems like anything but a guarantee, even as UFC president Dana White does his best to try and keep it together. Nurmagomedov is currently in Russia, where he faces an international travel ban that could keep him in the country.

And, of course, White hasn’t even announced if he has a location for the card secured.

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No. 4 [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] has been mentioned as a possible replacement opponent for Ferguson, but “The Highlight” has often mentioned his disdain for taking short-notice fights, and he’s been linked to a summer fight with No. 5 [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], as well.

No. 3 [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] has also mentioned his willingness to step up on short notice, but he’s been expected to face No. 7 [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] on May 16 in California – of course, assuming that fight card still takes place, as well.

In the meantime, No. 6 [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] is due for a big fight after his recent win over Kevin Lee – the main event of a March 14 card in Brasilia that, right now registers “Do Bronx” as the last UFC fighter to pick up a win in the octagon.

And, of course, if there was ever a fighter that would be willing to fight during a global pandemic, perhaps on an aircraft carrier out in international waters or maybe in a C-17 flying a few miles up over the Earth’s surface, No. 7 [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] probably knows a guy.

In other words, much like everything else in our world, who really knows what’s going to happen next? While we wait, check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, which, for now, look a lot like last week’s rankings, as well.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 24: Get used to this list for a while

With the global MMA schedule now at a virtual standstill, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings will be rather stagnant for a few weeks.

While Cage Warriors was able to slip in an event this past weekend in England, the global MMA schedule is now at a virtual standstill.

Concern over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led government bodies around the world to ban public gatherings, and travel restrictions have resulted in even more logistical challenges, leaving the sport’s biggest promotions unable to host events.

As such, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA rankings aren’t likely to change until April 18, and even then, only provided UFC president Dana White can make good on his promise of finding a location to host a much anticipated lightweight title fight between the top two 155-pounders in the world with undefeated current champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) and former interim titleholder [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC).

The contest is set to headline UFC 249, which was originally expected to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Despite the challenges, White has repeatedly insisted the card will take place on that date.

In the meantime, take a look at the latest rankings, which still see UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) as the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 17: How high does Charles Oliveira rise?

It’s taken some time, but Charles Oliveira is finally getting real close to the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It’s taken a while, but [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves.

Not just as a skilled submission artist — “Do Bronx” got his props on that front long ago — but as a legitimate title contender in the UFC’s deepest division, lightweight.

Oliveira got the biggest win of his career Saturday when he finished former interim title challenger Kevin Lee in the third round of their UFC on ESPN+ 28 main event in Brasilia, Brazil.

That’s the seventh consecutive victory for the UFC’s all-time submission record holder. All seven have been by way of finish, and it has come against a steadily increasing level of competition along the way.

This means that after a long run as a guy considered an entertaining fighter, but not a title contender, Oliveira is probably one win away from being on the very short list of challengers for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s belt.

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That is reflected in the current USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, as Oliveira now sits No. 7 at 155 pounds. Lee, in the midst of a rough stretch, checks in at No. 10.

If you’ve been following the news, you know why this is likely to be the final significant rankings update of note for a little while. In the meantime, if you want to find out how the rest of the competitors from UFC on ESPN+ 28 placed in the rankings, or how your favorite fighter in general fares, scroll up to the drop-down menu for our full selection.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 10: Israel Adesanya keeps climbing

Israel Adesanya’s win over Yoel Romero won’t go down as his most memorable, but it was still enough to continue his climb through the pound-for-pound rankings.

It’s true: [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]’s unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero at UFC 248 last Saturday won’t be remembered as the most thrilling main event in UFC history.

But here’s another truth: Every great champion had a fight or two along the way which doesn’t rate among their classics. Anderson Silva is rightfully remembered for his sensational wins over the likes of Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, but his victories over Patrick Cote and Demian Maia are not often found on his highlight reels.

Likewise, Adesanya didn’t put on a show against Romero in his first defense of the middleweight title. He did, however, put on a smart display when presented with an opponent who seemed mainly interested in covering up and not doing much else. Adesanya adjusted to the unorthodox game plan by peppering Romero with leg kicks and thus found a path to victory.

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With that, Adesanya is 8-0 in the UFC in not much more than two years, and we’re willing to bet he returns to the sort of form he showed in victories over Kelvin Gastelum and Robert Whittaker sooner rather than later. So whether you found the Romero fight intriguing or not, he moves up in our men’s pound-for-pound list, taking the No. 6 spot.

No one has claimed a lack of action in the evening’s co-feature bout, as Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk put on one of the greatest fights in UFC history, with Weili eking out a split decision to retain her strawweight belt. As it turns out, though, even with such spectacular performances, neither competitor moves.

In the case of Weili, she stays at No. 4 in women’s P4P, where she’ll likely stay until someone ahead of her falls. As for Jedrzejczyk, would you really drop her after putting on such a fierce showing? She remains at No. 9 on the overall list after her tremendous showing in defeat.

There was plenty more worth pondering at UFC 238. So to find out where you favorite fighter falls in the current USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, click on the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 3: How high did Deiveson Figueiredo climb?

Deiveson Figueiredo picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he knocked out Joseph Benavidez in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he knocked out Joseph Benavidez in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.

But because Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 pounds the day before, he was not eligible to win the UFC’s vacant flyweight title. Benavidez was eligible, but fell short for the third time in his UFC career.

Even though Figueiredo couldn’t win the title with his knockout victory, it won’t hold him back in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings. But how high did he climb, and how far did Benavidez fall with the loss.

Plus, what were the repercussions in the women’s featherweight division, in which former Invicta FC champions Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson both picked up knockout wins – and made cases to be the next challenger for dual champ Amanda Nunes?

Take a look at all the moves in the latest rankings. This week should create some movement, as well, with the middleweight title fight between champ Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero, and the women’s strawweight title fight between champ Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

To find out where your favorite fighters fall in the latest rankings, scroll to the top of the page and select a division from the drop-down menu.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Feb. 25: Dan Hooker climbs the charts

Dan Hooker beat Paul Felder with a thin split decision in the UFC Auckland main event – but how far did it catapult him in the rankings?

Dan Hooker beat Paul Felder with a razor-thin split decision in the UFC on ESPN+ 26 main event.

There were plenty of viewers who scored the fight for Felder, but it was Hooker who got his hand raised in front of his home fans in New Zealand. One thing that can’t be disputed is the fight was a great one.

Going into UFC Auckland, Felder sat at No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings. Hooker was just inside the numbers at 15. So after Hooker’s win, how far did he climb? And how far did Felder have to tumble with the loss?

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Take a look at all the moves in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings. This week should provide some movement, too, when Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo fight for the UFC’s vacant flyweight title.

To find out where your favorite fighters fall in the latest rankings, scroll to the top of the page and select a division from the drop-down menu.

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