MMA
ESPN 3d

Jack Della Maddalena comeback lands him in welterweight top 5

MMA, UFC, Bellator

Jack Della Maddalena was on the verge of having his 16-fight winning streak halted. Down on two of the three scorecards midway through the final round of his UFC 299 bout with Gilbert Burns last weekend, Della Maddalena was being controlled on the canvas by the elite grappler. Even if he avoided a submission, the Aussie could not afford to finish the round on bottom.

So he found a way out from under Burns, scampered to his feet and, within seconds, earned a spectacular finish. Della Maddalena landed a knee to the face, knocking Burns to the canvas, and finished him with ground-and-pound to keep his run of success alive.

With the victory, Della Maddalena enters the latest Brett Okamoto rankings for ESPN in a big way, jumping all the way into the welterweight top five.

That is the most dramatic movement in these rankings, but far from the only lingering effect from UFC 299. No one has newly taken charge of a weight class, but Sean O'Malley solidified his spot as the No. 1 men's bantamweight. Maycee Barber elevated her standing among the 125-pound women.

Among those dropping out of the rankings are heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Nikita Krylov, both of whom have been idle for over a year and are ineligible.

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 March 13. 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 - 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. Tom Aspinall    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Sergei Pavlovich    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Ciryl Gane    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


4. Curtis Blaydes    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jailton Almeida, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Alexander Volkov    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Renan Ferreira    

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 13-3, 3 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Serghei Spivac    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Jailton Almeida    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Curtis Blaydes, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Vadim Nemkov    

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 5 at light heavyweight
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Tai Tuivasa    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TechSub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, March 16, 2024
Next: TBD


 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 9-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill


2. Jirí Procházka    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic


3. Magomed Ankalaev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1-1
Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Jan Blachowicz    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Corey Anderson    

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: March 22 vs. Karl Moore


6. Khalil Rountree Jr.    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 37-19
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Johnny Walker    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-8
Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Anthony Smith    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 37-19
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Volkan Oezdemir    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Bogdan Guskov, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Ryan Spann    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 21-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Anthony Smith, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Dricus du Plessis    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Israel Adesanya    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Robert Whittaker    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Jared Cannonier    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Sean Strickland    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6
Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Marvin Vettori    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Johnny Eblen    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (SD) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Khamzat Chimaev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Brendan Allen    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Chris Curtis


10. Jack Hermansson    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Leon Edwards    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Kamaru Usman    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Belal Muhammad    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023 
Next: TBD


4. Shavkat Rakhmonov    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Jack Della Maddalena    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-2
Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Gilbert Burns    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-7
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Colby Covington    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Jason Jackson    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Ray Cooper III, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Sean Brady    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-1
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Ian Machado Garry    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-0
Last: W (SD) vs. Geoff Neal, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


 

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Charles Oliveira    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan


3. Justin Gaethje    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway


4. Dustin Poirier    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (KO2) vs. Benoit Saint Denis, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Arman Tsarukyan    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira


6. Beneil Dariush    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Mateusz Gamrot    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Rafael Fiziev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Dan Hooker    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Jalin Turner    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


 

MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Ilia Topuria    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Alexander Volkanovski    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Max Holloway    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje


4. Brian Ortega    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


5. Yair Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Patricio Freire    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: March 22 vs. Jeremy Kennedy


7. Josh Emmett    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Movsar Evloev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Arnold Allen    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


10. Giga Chikadze    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD


 

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Sean O'Malley    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Merab Dvalishvili    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Aljamain Sterling    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar


4. Cory Sandhagen    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Petr Yan    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


6. Henry Cejudo    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 16-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Patchy Mix    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: May 17 vs. Magomed Magomedov


8. Marlon Vera    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean O'Malley, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Sergio Pettis    

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 23-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Deiveson Figueiredo    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt


 

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: May 4 vs. Steve Erceg


2. Brandon Royval    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Brandon Moreno    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD


4. Demetrious Johnson    

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Amir Albazi    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Kai Kara-France    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD


7. Adriano Moraes    

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD


8. Matheus Nicolau    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Manel Kape    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Muhammad Mokaev    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0,1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Perez, March 2, 2024
Next: TBD


 

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Raquel Pennington    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024
Next: TBD


2. Ketlen Vieira    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Holly Holm    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison


4. Irene Aldana    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Sara McMann    

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD


6. Norma Dumont    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie


7. Pannie Kianzad    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Macy Chiasson, March 16, 2024
Next: TBD


8. Karol Rosa    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


9. Yana Santos    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD


10. Miesha Tate    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-9
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD


 

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexa Grasso    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3-1
Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


2. Valentina Shevchenko    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD


3. Manon Fiorot    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Erin Blanchfield


4. Erin Blanchfield    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Manon Fiorot


5. Liz Carmouche    

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: April 4 vs. Juliana Velasquez


6. Maycee Barber     

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


7. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez


8. Katlyn Cerminara     

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Maycee Barber, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Rose Namajunas    

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Amanda Ribas


10. Viviane Araujo    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024
Next:  TBD


 

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili    

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan


2. Amanda Lemos    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


3. Yan Xiaonan    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili


4. Tatiana Suarez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD


5. Virna Jandiroba    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: March 30 vs. Loopy Godínez


6. Marina Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade


7. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez


8. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024
Next: TBD


9. Amanda Ribas    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: March 23 vs. Rose Namajunas


10. Luana Pinheiro    

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD

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