MMA divisional rankings: UFC’s Paddy Pimblett not just a prospect anymore at lightweight

Posted by Brett Okamoto | 2 months ago | Sport | Views: 27

Brett OkamotoApr 16, 2025, 12:52 PM
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Paddy Pimblett has a distinct look and the personality of a star. Beyond those outside-the-cage attributes, he also has shown himself to be a winner. The 30-year-old Englishman arrived at last weekend’s UFC 314 having won eight fights in a row, the last six in the UFC. Pimblett was a prospect on the rise.

He supercharged that rise with a dominant thrashing of Michael Chandler, making him a top contender in a packed lightweight division. And for the first time, Pimblett owns a spot in the ESPN divisional rankings.

Featherweight Yair Rodriguez and light heavyweight Dominick Reyes already were in their divisions’ top 10s, but impressive victories at UFC 314 boosted their standings. Check out their rises as well.

UFC 314 also saw Alexander Volkanovski regain the featherweight championship. He remains at No. 2 in the divisional rankings, though. Even though Ilia Topuria vacated the title and stated his intention to move up to lightweight, he will not be removed from the 145-pound rankings until he makes his debut at 155.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Results are current; rankings as of April 16. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27
Next: TBD

2. Francis Ngannou

Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
Record: 18-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19
Next: TBD

3. Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16
Next: TBD

4. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

5. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27
Next: June 21 vs. Rizvan Kuniev

6. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

7. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

8. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan.18
Next: TBD

9. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19
Next: TBD

10. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Jailton Almeida, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Pereira, March 8
Next: TBD

2. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, March 8
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-5-1
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jamahal Hill, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

4. Carlos Ulberg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, March 22
Next: TBD

5. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-3
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Jan. 18
Next: June 21 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

6. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5
Next: June 21 vs. Jamahal Hill

7. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

8. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 15-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Nikita Krylov, April 12
Next: TBD

9. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23
Next: TBD

10. Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22
Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

2. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

3. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

4. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Israel Adesanya, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

5. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

6. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

7. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19
Next: TBD

8. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24
Next: TBD

9. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-8
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
Next: TBD

10. Roman Dolidze

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27
Next: May 10 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

2. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

3. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: May 10 vs. Belal Muhammad

4. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22
Next: TBD

5. Joaquin Buckley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 14
Next: TBD

6. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: TBD

7. Ian Machado Garry

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 7
Next: April 26 vs. Carlos Prates

8. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7
Next: May 17 vs. Michael Morales

9. Geoff Neal

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

10. Colby Covington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Joaquin Buckley, Dec. 14
Next: TBD

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

2. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-10, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16
Next: TBD

4. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD

5. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1
Next: TBD

6. Paddy Pimblett

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD

7. Dan Hooker

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17
Next: TBD

8. Renato Moicano

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 20-6-1
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

9. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-0, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Paul Hughes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD

10. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Dan Hooker, Aug. 17
Next: TBD

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

2. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD

3. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26
Next: TBD

4. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD

5. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: TBD

6. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14
Next: TBD

7. Movsar Evloev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

8. Lerone Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD

9. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 36-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Yair Rodriguez, April 12
Next: TBD

10. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27
Next: TBD

MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Jan. 18
Next: June 7 vs. Sean O’Malley

2. Sean O’Malley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14
Next: June 7 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

3. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23
Next: TBD

4. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

5. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3
Next: May 3 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

6. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Petr Yan, Nov. 23
Next: May 3 vs. Cory Sandhagen

7. Mario Bautista

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5
Next: TBD

8. Song Yadong

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: TBD

9. José Aldo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5
Next: May 10 vs. Aiemann Zahabi

10. Patchy Mix

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17
Next: TBD

MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 29-5
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Kai Asakura, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

2. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12
Next: TBD

3. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD

4. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-11, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17
Next: TBD

5. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0,1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13
Next: TBD

6. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12
Next: TBD

7. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: TBD

8. Steve Erceg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: TBD

9. Kai Asakura

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7
Next: TBD

10. Alex Perez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15
Next: TBD

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5
Next: June 7 vs. Kayla Harrison

2. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5
Next: TBD

3. Kayla Harrison

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5
Next: June 7 vs. Julianna Peña

4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5
Next: TBD

5. Holly Holm

Promotion: GFL
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13
Next: May 24 vs. Julia Budd

6. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14
Next: TBD

7. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14
Next: TBD

8. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-3
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29
Next: TBD

9. Ailin Perez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

10. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14
Next: May 10 vs. Manon Fiorot

2. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14
Next: May 10 vs. Natalia Silva

3. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024
Next: May 10 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2
Next: May 31 vs. Maycee Barber

5. Dakota Ditcheva

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 14-0
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Taila Santos, Nov. 29
Next: TBD

6. Natalia Silva

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7
Next: May 10 vs. Alexa Grasso

7. Taila Santos

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29
Next: TBD

8. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL / Bellator champion
Record: 22-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2
Next: TBD

9. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7
Next: May 10 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

10. Rose Namajunas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2
Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

2. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12
Next: TBD

3. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD

4. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, March 8
Next: TBD

5. Tatiana Suarez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

6. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-13
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7
Next: May 10 vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

7. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5
Next: May 3 vs. Gillian Robertson

8. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: TBD

9. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Jan. 11
Next: TBD

10. Loopy Godínez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Polastri, March 29
Next: TBD

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