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          MMA divisional rankings: A former champion returns to form against ranked competition

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          Kamaru Usman returns to UFC with dominant win over Joaquin Buckley (1:36)

          Kamaru Usman climbs his way up the rankings with a major decision win over Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Fight Night. (1:36)

          • Brett OkamotoJun 17, 2025, 12:02 PM
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          Two former UFC champions turned back the clock with wins at UFC Fight Night from Atlanta this past weekend.

          Kamaru Usman, a vaunted former welterweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, moves up three spots to No. 6 in the welterweight rankings after he showed the division he still knows how to wrestle. Usman took then-fifth-ranked Joaquin Buckley to the canvas four times and landed 17 significant ground strikes on his way to a unanimous decision victory. The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak for Buckley and bumps him down to No. 9 in these rankings.

          Two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas also was dominant as she improved to 3-2 as a flyweight with a unanimous decision win over Miranda Maverick in the co-main event. Namajunas moves up one spot to No. 9 with the win.

          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 June 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 | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
          Lightweight | Featherweight | Men's bantamweight
          Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight

          HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

          1. Tom Aspinall  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 15-3
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
          Next: TBD

          2. Francis Ngannou  

          Promotion: PFL Super Fights champion
          Record: 18-3
          Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024
          Next: TBD

          3. Jon Jones  

          Promotion: UFC (retired)
          Record: 28-1, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024
          Next: TBD

          4. Ciryl Gane  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-2
          Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: TBD

          5. Curtis Blaydes  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-5, 1 NC
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
          Next: TBD

          6. Alexander Volkov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 38-11
          Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
          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, 2024
          Next: TBD

          10. Serghei Spivac  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-6
          Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
          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: 12-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
          Next: TBD

          6. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-6, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jamahal Hill, June 21
          Next: TBD

          7. Aleksandar Rakić  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-5
          Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
          Next: TBD

          8. Dominick Reyes  

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

          9. Volkan Oezdemir  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
          Next: TBD

          10. Johnny Walker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-9, 1 NC
          Last: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024
          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: Aug. 16 vs. Khamzat Chimaev

          2. Khamzat Chimaev  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-0
          Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024
          Next: Aug. 16 vs. Dricus Du Plessis

          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, 2024
          Next: July 26 vs. Reinier de Ridder

          7. Johnny Eblen  

          Promotion: PFL Champions Series champion
          Record: 16-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024
          Next: July 26 vs. Costello van Steenis

          8. Caio Borralho  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-0, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024
          Next: TBD

          9. Jared Cannonier  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-8
          Last: W (TKO4) vs. Gregory Rodrigues, Feb. 15
          Next: Aug. 16 vs. Michael "Venom" Page

          10. Roman Dolidze  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-3
          Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 15
          Next: Aug. 9 vs. Anthony Hernandez

          WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

          1. Jack Della Maddalena  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 18-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
          Next: TBD vs. Islam Makhachev

          2. Belal Muhammad  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
          Next: TBD

          3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: TBD

          4. Sean Brady  

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

          5. Leon Edwards  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 6
          Record: 22-5, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
          Next: TBD

          6. Kamaru Usman  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 21-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
          Next: TBD

          7. Ian Machado Garry  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
          Next: TBD

          8. Michael Morales  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-0
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
          Next: TBD

          9. Joaquin Buckley  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 5
          Record: 21-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
          Next: TBD

          10. Geoff Neal  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-6
          Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024
          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 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

          2. Charles Oliveira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 35-10, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 2024
          Next: June 28 vs. Ilia Topuria

          3. Justin Gaethje  

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

          4. Dustin Poirier  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 30-9, 1 NC
          Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
          Next: July 19 vs. Max Holloway

          5. Paddy Pimblett  

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

          6. Dan Hooker  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 29-12
          Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
          Next: TBD

          7. Renato Moicano  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-6-1
          Last: L (Sub1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Jan. 18
          Next: June 28 vs. Beneil Dariush

          8. Usman Nurmagomedov  

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

          9. Mateusz Gamrot  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 25-3, 1 NC
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
          Next: TBD

          10. Beneil Dariush  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 22-6-1
          Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
          Next: June 28 vs. Renato Moicano

          FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

          1. Ilia Topuria  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-0
          Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024
          Next: June 28 vs. Charles Oliveira

          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, 2024
          Next: July 19 vs. Dustin Poirier

          4. Yair Rodriguez  

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

          5. Diego Lopes  

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

          6. Brian Ortega  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-4, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
          Next: TBD

          7. Movsar Evloev  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-0
          Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: TBD

          8. Lerone Murphy  

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

          9. Patricio Pitbull  

          Promotion: UFC
          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, 2024
          Next: TBD

          MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          1. Merab Dvalishvili  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 20-4
          Last: W (TechSub3) vs. Sean O'Malley, June 7
          Next: TBD

          2. Sean O'Malley  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-3, 1 NC
          Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
          Next: TBD

          3. Petr Yan  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-5
          Last: W (UD) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 23, 2024
          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: 18-5
          Last: W (TKO2) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 3
          Next: TBD

          6. Mario Bautista  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7
          Next: TBD

          7. Song Yadong  

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

          8. Deiveson Figueiredo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 24-5-1
          Last: L (TKO2) vs. Cory Sandhagen, May 3
          Next: TBD

          9. Patchy Mix  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 20-2
          Last: L (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, June 7
          Next: TBD

          10. Henry Cejudo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-5
          Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
          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, 2024
          Next: June 28 vs. Kai Kara-France

          2. Brandon Royval  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-7
          Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024
          Next: June 28 vs. Joshua Van

          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, 2024
          Next: June 28 vs. Alexandre Pantoja

          5. Muhammad Mokaev  

          Promotion: Brave CF
          Record: 14-0,1 NC
          Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
          Next: TBD

          6. Tatsuro Taira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-1
          Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
          Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi

          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: Aug. 9 vs. Alex Perez

          9. Kai Asakura  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 21-5
          Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
          Next: TBD

          10. Alex Perez  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 25-9
          Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024
          Next: Aug. 9 vs. Steve Erceg

          WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          1. Kayla Harrison  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 19-1
          Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
          Next: TBD

          2. Julianna Peña  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-6
          Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
          Next: TBD

          3. Raquel Pennington  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-9
          Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024
          Next: TBD

          4. Ketlen Vieira  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
          Next: TBD

          5. Norma Dumont  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024
          Next: TBD

          6. Irene Aldana  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 15-8
          Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024
          Next: TBD

          7. Macy Chiasson  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 10-4
          Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, May 31
          Next: TBD

          8. Ailin Perez  

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

          9. Karol Rosa  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 18-7
          Last: L (UD) vs. Ailin Perez, Jan. 18
          Next: Aug. 2 vs. Nora Cornolle

          10. Mayra Bueno Silva  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
          Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
          Next: TBD

          WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

          1. Valentina Shevchenko  

          Promotion: UFC champion
          Record: 25-4-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10
          Next: TBD

          2. Manon Fiorot  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 12-2
          Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, May 10
          Next: TBD

          3. Natalia Silva  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 19-5-1
          Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
          Next: TBD

          4. Erin Blanchfield  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 13-2
          Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
          Next: TBD

          5. Dakota Ditcheva  

          Promotion: PFL champion
          Record: 14-0
          Last: W (TKO2) vs. Taila Santos, Nov. 29, 2024
          Next: July 26 vs. Sumiko Inaba

          6. Alexa Grasso  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-5-1
          Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
          Next: TBD

          7. Jasmine Jasudavicius  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 14-3
          Last: W (Sub1) vs.Jessica Andrade, May 10
          Next: TBD

          8. Taila Santos  

          Promotion: PFL
          Record: 22-4
          Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
          Next: TBD

          9. Rose Namajunas  

          Promotion: UFC
          Previous ranking: 10
          Record: 15-7
          Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
          Next: TBD

          10. Liz Carmouche  

          Promotion: PFL
          Previous ranking: 9
          Record: 24-8
          Last: W (UD) vs. Elora Dana, June 20
          Next: Aug. 15 vs. Jena Bishop

          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. Mackenzie Dern  

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

          7. Gillian Robertson  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 16-8
          Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
          Next: TBD

          8. Amanda Ribas  

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

          9. Loopy Godínez  

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

          10. Iasmin Lucindo  

          Promotion: UFC
          Record: 17-6
          Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, March 8
          Next: TBD