Had Arman Tsarukyan lost Saturday night's UFC main event, the critical narrative likely would have been that he'd allowed himself to be distracted during fight week. Instead, Tsarukyan needed barely a minute to knock out Beneil Dariush -- just days after Tsarukyan had had a couple of public confrontations at the athlete hotel with another fighter on the card, Bobby Green.
Tsarukyan managed to maintain his focus on Dariush, a top-five lightweight, and it showed when he landed a right knee followed by a right hand that produced the early finish for the biggest win of his career.
Tsarukyan (21-3) already was in Brett Okamoto's ESPN top 10, but this victory propels him into the upper echelon of the 155-pound rankings.
A couple of other fighters from the weekend's UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas, also made notable moves. Former men's flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo entered the bantamweight rankings after beating Rob Font, switching top 10s after being high in the 125-pound hierarchy. And another former champion, Miesha Tate, reentered the women's bantamweight rankings on the strength of a dominant win over Julia Avila.
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. 5. 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. Jon Jones
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Derrick Lewis, Nov. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
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: TBD
2. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
5. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: NC vs. Johnny Walker, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Johnny Walker
6. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: NC vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
10. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-18
Last: W (SD) vs. Ryan Spann, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: Dec. 9 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Sean Strickland
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
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 champion
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Israel Adesanya, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
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: 14-0
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Fabian Edwards, Sept. 23, 2023
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: TBD
10. Derek Brunson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 24-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Ray Cooper III, Nov. 24, 2023
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, March 18, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Colby Covington
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. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Geoff Neal, March 4, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Stephen Thompson
7. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Kevin Holland, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
8. Jason Jackson
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-4
Last: W (KO3) vs. Yaroslav Amosov, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Yaroslav Amosov
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 27-1
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jason Jackson, Nov. 17, 2023
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: TBD
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Arman Tsarukyan 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) vs. Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Beneil Dariush 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
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. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: L (KO1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Ilia Topuria
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
6. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Bryce Mitchell
7. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Movsar Evloev
8. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Arnold Allen
9. Giga Chikadze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Bryce Mitchell
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Josh Emmett
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O'Malley
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD in March vs. Marlon Vera
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD in March vs. Sean O'Malley
9. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 23-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked at bantamweight, 4 at flyweight
Record: 22-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Brandon Royval
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Amir Albazi
3. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brandon Moreno
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) vs. Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
8. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Manel Kape
9. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Matheus Nicolau
10. Matt Schnell
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) vs. Matheus Nicolau, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
2. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Macy Chiasson
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Karol Rosa
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: Jan. 13 vs. Yana Santos
7. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Yana Santos, July 1, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Irene Aldana
9. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Norma Dumont
10. Miesha Tate
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Maycee Barber
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Katlyn Chookagian
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
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: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Jessica Andrade, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD