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          Justin Gaethje closes in on Khabib Nurmagomedov in lightweight rankings

          Justin Gaethje has an interim title belt and a No. 2 ranking at lightweight, with a chance to nudge Khabib Nurmagomedov off the top of the mountain. Cooper Neill for ESPN
          May 19, 2020
          • Brett OkamotoESPN Staff Writer
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            • MMA columnist for ESPN.com
            • Analyst for "MMA Live"
            • Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun

          Justin Gaethje has moved up to No. 2, right behind Khabib Nurmagomedov.

          That rise in the ESPN lightweight division rankings, prompted by Gaethje's May 9 TKO victory over the previously second-ranked Tony Ferguson, sets up a forthcoming matchup between the champ, Nurmagomedov, and the new interim champ, Gaethje, on a date still to be determined.

          Several fighters made moves in their weight classes on the strength of recent victories, among them Glover Teixeira at light heavyweight, Calvin Kattar at featherweight and Carla Esparza and Claudia Gadelha at strawweight.

          And then there's Demetrious Johnson, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot at flyweight because Henry Cejudo has moved on from the division. Johnson is scheduled to vie for the One Championship title at the end of May.

          There's movement elsewhere as well. Check out my rankings within each MMA weight division by clicking on the links below.

          For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

          Note: Results are current; rankings as of May 19.

          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. Stipe Miocic  

          Record: 19-3
          Last: W (TKO4) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          2. Daniel Cormier  

          Record: 22-2, 1 NC
          Last: L (TKO4) Stipe Miocic, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          3. Francis Ngannou  

          Record: 15-3
          Last: W (KO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 9
          Next: TBD

          4. Curtis Blaydes  

          Record: 13-2, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Jan. 25
          Next: June 20 vs. Alexander Volkov

          5. Junior dos Santos  

          Record: 21-7
          Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Jan. 25
          Next: TBD

          6. Derrick Lewis  

          Record: 23-7
          Last: W (UD) Ilir Latifi, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          7. Alexander Volkov  

          Record: 31-7
          Last: W (UD) Greg Hardy, Nov. 9
          Next: June 20 vs. Curtis Blaydes

          8. Ryan Bader  

          Record: 27-5, 1 NC
          Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
          Next: TBD

          9. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  

          Record: 10-1
          Last: L (KO1) Francis Ngannou, May 9
          Next: TBD

          10. Alistair Overeem  

          Record: 46-18, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO2) Walt Harris, May 16
          Next: TBD

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

          1. Jon Jones  

          Record: 26-1, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          2. Ryan Bader  

          Record: 27-5, 1 NC
          Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
          Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov

          3. Dominick Reyes  

          Record: 12-1
          Last: L (UD) Jon Jones, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          4. Jan Blachowicz  

          Record: 26-8
          Last: W (KO1) Corey Anderson, Feb. 15
          Next: TBD

          5. Thiago Santos  

          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 21-7
          Last: L (SD) Jon Jones, July 6
          Next: TBD

          6. Corey Anderson  

          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 13-5
          Last: L (KO1) Jan Blachowicz, Feb. 15
          Next: TBD

          7. Glover Teixeira  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 31-7
          Last: W (TKO5) Anthony Smith, May 13
          Next: TBD

          8. Anthony Smith  

          Previous ranking: 5
          Record: 33-15
          Last: L (TKO5) Glover Teixeira, May 13
          Next: TBD

          9. Volkan Oezdemir  

          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 17-4
          Last: W (SD) Aleksandar Rakic, Dec. 21
          Next: TBD

          10. Aleksandar Rakic  

          Record: 12-2
          Last: L (SD) Volkan Oezdemir, Dec. 21
          Next: TBD

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

          1. Israel Adesanya  

          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, March 7
          Next: TBD

          2. Robert Whittaker  

          Record: 20-5
          Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Oct. 6
          Next: Aug. 15 vs Darren Till

          3. Paulo Costa  

          Record: 13-0
          Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          4. Yoel Romero  

          Record: 13-5
          Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7
          Next: TBD

          5. Jared Cannonier  

          Record: 13-4
          Last: W (TKO2) Jack Hermansson, Sept. 28
          Next: TBD

          6. Darren Till  

          Record: 18-2-1
          Last: W (SD) Kelvin Gastelum, Nov. 2
          Next: Aug. 15 vs Robert Whittaker

          7. Kelvin Gastelum  

          Record: 15-5, 1 NC
          Last: L (SD) Darren Till, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          8. Jack Hermansson  

          Record: 20-4
          Last: L (TKO2) Jared Cannonier, Sept. 28
          Next: TBD vs. Chris Weidman

          9. Ronaldo Souza  

          Record: 26-8 1 NC
          Last: L (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Nov. 16
          Next: TBD

          10. Rafael Lovato Jr.  

          Record: 10-0
          Last: W (MD) Gegard Mousasi, June 22
          Next: TBD

          WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

          1. Kamaru Usman  

          Record: 16-1
          Last: W (TKO5) Colby Covington, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          2. Jorge Masvidal  

          Record: 35-13
          Last: W (TKO3) Nate Diaz, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          3. Colby Covington  

          Record: 15-2
          Last: L (TKO5) Kamaru Usman, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          4. Douglas Lima  

          Record: 32-7
          Last: W (UD) Rory MacDonald, Oct. 26
          Next: May 9 vs. Gegard Mousasi

          5. Tyron Woodley  

          Record: 19-4-1
          Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, March 2
          Next: May 30 vs. Gilbert Burns

          6. Leon Edwards  

          Record: 18-3
          Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20
          Next: TBD

          7. Rory MacDonald  

          Record: 21-6-1
          Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26
          Next: TBD

          8. Stephen Thompson  

          Record: 15-4-1
          Last: W (UD) Vicente Luque, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          9. Gilbert Burns  

          Previous ranking: None
          Record: 18-3
          Last: W (TKO1) Demian Maia, March 14
          Next: May 30 vs. Tyron Woodley

          10. Michael Chiesa  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 17-4
          Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, Jan. 25
          Next: TBD

          LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

          1. Khabib Nurmagomedov  

          Record: 28-0
          Last: W (SUB3) Dustin Poirier, Sept. 7
          Next: TBD vs. Justin Gaethje

          2. Justin Gaethje  

          Previous ranking: 4
          Record: 22-2
          Last: W (TKO5) Tony Ferguson, May 9
          Next: TBD vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov

          3. Tony Ferguson  

          Previous ranking: 2
          Record: 25-4
          Last: L (TKO5) Justin Gaethje, May 9
          Next: TBD

          4. Dustin Poirier  

          Previous ranking: 3
          Record: 25-6
          Last: L (SUB3) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Sept. 7
          Next: TBD

          5. Dan Hooker  

          Record: 20-8
          Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Feb. 22
          Next: TBD

          6. Paul Felder  

          Record: 17-5
          Last: L (SD) Dan Hooker, Feb. 22
          Next: TBD

          7. Conor McGregor  

          Record: 22-4
          Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          8. Charles Oliveira  

          Previous ranking: None
          Record: 29-8, 1 NC
          Last: W (SUB3) Kevin Lee, March 14
          Next: TBD

          9. Michael Chandler  

          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 20-5
          Last: W (KO1) Sydney Outlaw, Dec. 28
          Next: TBD

          10. Patricio Freire  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 30-4
          Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
          Next: TBD

          MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

          1. Alexander Volkanovski  

          Record: 21-1
          Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          2. Max Holloway  

          Record: 21-5
          Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          3. Brian Ortega  

          Record: 14-1, 1 NC
          Last: L (TKO4) Max Holloway, Dec. 8
          Next: TBA

          4. Patricio Freire  

          Record: 30-4
          Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
          Next: TBD vs. Pedro Carvalho

          5. Zabit Magomedsharipov  

          Record: 18-1
          Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9
          Next: TBD

          6. Yair Rodriguez  

          Record: 13-2, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18
          Next: TBD

          7. Chan Sung Jung  

          Record: 16-5
          Last: W (TKO1) Frankie Edgar, Dec. 21
          Next: TBD

          8. Calvin Kattar  

          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 21-4
          Last: W (TKO2) Jeremy Stephens, May 9
          Next: TBD

          9. Josh Emmett  

          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 15-2
          Last: W (TKO2) Mirsad Bektic, July 13
          Next: TBD

          10. Shane Burgos  

          Previous ranking: None
          Record: 13-1
          Last: W (TKO3) Makwan Amirkhani, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          1. Henry Cejudo  

          Record: 16-2
          Last: W (TKO2) Dominick Cruz, May 9
          Next: retired

          2. Marlon Moraes  

          Record: 23-6-1
          Last: W (SD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          3. Aljamain Sterling  

          Record: 18-3
          Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, June 8
          Next: TBD

          4. Petr Yan  

          Record: 14-1
          Last: W (KO3) Urijah Faber, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          5. Jose Aldo  

          Record: 28-6
          Last: L (SD) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          6. Cory Sandhagen  

          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 12-1
          Last: W (UD) Raphael Assuncao, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          7. Raphael Assuncao  

          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 27-7
          Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 17
          Next: TBD

          8. Pedro Munhoz  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 18-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) Aljamain Sterling, June 8
          Next: TBD

          9. Cody Garbrandt  

          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 11-3
          Last: L (TKO1) Pedro Munhoz, March 2
          Next: TBD

          10. Dominick Cruz  

          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 22-2
          Last: L (UD) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 30, 2016
          Next: May 9 vs. Henry Cejudo

          MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

          1. Demetrious Johnson  

          Previous ranking: 2
          Record: 30-3-1
          Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12
          Next: May 29 vs. Adriano Moraes

          2. Deiveson Figueiredo  

          Previous ranking: 3
          Record: 18-1
          Last: W (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, Feb. 29
          Next: TBD

          3. Joseph Benavidez  

          Previous ranking: 4
          Record: 28-6
          Last: L (TKO2) Deiveson Figueiredo, Feb. 29
          Next: TBD

          4. Brandon Moreno  

          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 16-5-1
          Last: W (UD) Kai Kara-France, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          5. Alexandre Pantoja  

          Record: 22-4
          Last: W (TKO1) Matt Schnell, Dec. 21
          Next: TBD

          6. Jussier Formiga  

          Record: 23-6
          Last: L (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, June 29
          Next: TBD

          7. Askar Askarov  

          Previous ranking: None
          Record: 11-0-1
          Last: W (UD) Tim Elliott, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          8. Kai Kara-France  

          Previous ranking: None
          Record: 21-8, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) Tyson nam, Feb. 23
          Next: TBD

          9. Rogerio Bontorin  

          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 16-2
          Last: L (UD) Ray Borg, Feb. 15
          Next: TBD

          10. Alex Perez  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 23-5
          Last: W (SUB1) Jordan Espinosa, Jan. 25
          Next: TBD

          WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          1. Amanda Nunes  

          Record: 19-4
          Last: W (UD) Germaine de Randamie, Dec. 14
          Next: June 6 vs. Felicia Spencer

          2. Germaine de Randamie  

          Record: 9-4
          Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          3. Aspen Ladd  

          Record: 9-1
          Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD vs. Julianna Peña

          4. Julianna Peña  

          Record: 9-3
          Last: W (UD) Nicco Montaño, July 13
          Next: TBD vs. Aspen Ladd

          5. Irene Aldana  

          Record: 12-5
          Last: W (KO1) Ketlen Vieira, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          6. Holly Holm  

          Record: 13-5
          Last: W (UD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          7. Ketlen Vieira  

          Record: 10-1
          Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD vs. Marion Reneau

          8. Raquel Pennington  

          Record: 9-8
          Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          9. Cat Zingano  

          Record: 10-4
          Last: L (TKO1) Megan Anderson, Dec. 29
          Next: TBD

          10. Yana Kunitskaya  

          Record: 15-5, 1 NC
          Last: L (TKO3) Aspen Ladd, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

          1. Valentina Shevchenko  

          Record: 19-3
          Last: W (TKO3) Katlyn Chookagian, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          2. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  

          Record: 11-0
          Last: W (UD) Kate Jackson, Dec. 21
          Next: TBD

          3. Katlyn Chookagian  

          Record: 13-3
          Last: L (TKO3) Valentina Shevchenko, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          4. Joanne Calderwood  

          Record: 14-4
          Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Sept. 7
          Next: TBD

          5. Liz Carmouche  

          Record: 13-7
          Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Aug. 10
          Next: TBD vs. Mandy Bohm

          6. Jennifer Maia  

          Record: 17-6-1
          Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 2
          Next: TBD

          7. Roxanne Modafferi  

          Record: 23-16
          Last: W (UD) Maycee Barber, Jan. 18
          Next: TBD

          8. Jessica Eye  

          Record: 15-7, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo
          Next: TBD

          9. Viviane Araujo  

          Record: 8-2
          Last: L (UD) Jessica Eye, Dec. 14
          Next: TBD

          10. Lauren Murphy  

          Record: 12-4
          Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Feb. 8
          Next: TBD

          STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

          1. Zhang Weili  

          Record: 21-1
          Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
          Next: TBD

          2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk  

          Record: 16-4
          Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7
          Next: TBD

          3. Jessica Andrade  

          Record: 20-7
          Last: L (TKO1) Zhang Weili, Aug. 31
          Next: TBD

          4. Rose Namajunas  

          Record: 8-4
          Last: L (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, May 11
          Next: TBD

          5. Tatiana Suarez  

          Record: 9-0
          Last: W (UD) Nina Ansaroff, June 8
          Next: TBD

          6. Carla Esparza  

          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 16-6
          Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson, May 9
          Next: TBD

          7. Claudia Gadelha  

          Previous ranking: 8
          Record: 18-4
          Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, May 16
          Next: TBD

          8. Nina Ansaroff  

          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 10-6
          Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8
          Next: TBD

          9. Marina Rodriguez  

          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 12-0-2
          Last: MD Cynthia Calvillo, Dec. 7
          Next: TBD

          10. Michelle Waterson  

          Previous ranking: 7
          Record: 17-8
          Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, May 9
          Next: TBD