MMA divisional rankings: Women's bantamweight top 10 undergoes an overhaul

Brett OkamotoNov 11, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
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They were stuck way down in the prelims of nondescript UFC Fight Nights at the Apex in Las Vegas the past two weekends, but a pair of women’s bantamweight bouts have reshuffled the latest ESPN divisional rankings.

This past weekend, Jacqueline Cavalcanti defeated Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision in a meeting of the only two ranked fighters on a card headlined by Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown. As a result, Silva drops in the 135-pound hierarchy to one spot below Cavalcanti, who remains at No. 9.

Why does Cavalcanti not move up? Because the top 10 has a new entry above her, Norma Dumont, who won a split decision over Ketlen Vieira on Nov. 1. Dumont recently had fallen out of the rankings because of inactivity, as prior to the Vieira bout, Dumont had not fought since September 2024. Dumont is at No. 3, one spot ahead of Vieira.

The only other movement in the rankings is at heavyweight, where Waldo Cortes-Acosta moved up one spot to No. 7 on the strength of his Nov. 1 knockout of Ante Delija.

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 Nov. 11. 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 champion
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

2. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct.25
Next: TBD

3. Curtis Blaydes

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

4. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 39-11
Last: W (SD) vs. Jailton Almeida, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

5. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

6. Jailton Almeida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

7. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 15-2
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ante Delija, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

8. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov

9. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Shamil Gaziev

10. Derrick Lewis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
Next: TBD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

2. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-5-1
Last: W (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 4
Next: TBD

4. Carlos Ulberg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

5. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Azamat Murzakanov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Aleksandar Rakić, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

7. Dominick Reyes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

8. Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

9. Jamahal Hill

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

10. Corey Anderson

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

2. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

3. Nassourdine Imavov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

4. Sean Strickland

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

5. Israel Adesanya

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

6. Anthony Hernandez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

7. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

8. Brendan Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

9. Reinier de Ridder

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Islam Makhachev

2. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Ian Machado Garry

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: Nov. 15 vs. Michael Morales

5. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Carlos Prates

6. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
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: Nov. 22 vs. Belal Muhammad

8. Michael Morales

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Sean Brady

9. Joaquin Buckley

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

10. Carlos Prates

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, Aug. 16
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Leon Edwards

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

2. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-11, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

4. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD

5. Justin Gaethje

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

6. Usman Nurmagomedov

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

7. Paddy Pimblett

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

8. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Benoît Saint Denis

9. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

10. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: TBD

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

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

2. Movsar Evloev

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

3. Diego Lopes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

4. Yair Rodriguez

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

5. Lerone Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

6. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

7. Youssef Zalal

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

8. Patricio Pitbull

Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD

9. Brian Ortega

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

10. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 4
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Petr Yan

2. Sean O’Malley

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

3. Umar Nurmagomedov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

4. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

5. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Mario Bautista

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Oct. 25
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: 25-5-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

9. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-11-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Henry Cejudo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Payton Talbott

MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Joshua Van

2. Joshua Van

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Manel Kape

4. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Tatsuro Taira

5. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD

6. Muhammad Mokaev

Promotion: Brave CF champion
Record: 15-0, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Gerard Burns, Nov. 7
Next: TBD

7. Tatsuro Taira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Brandon Moreno

8. Manel Kape

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Brandon Royval

9. Steve Erceg

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ode’ Osbourne, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Kai Asakura

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

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. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-5
Last: L (SD) vs. Norma Dumont, Nov. 1
Next: TBD

5. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 10-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Yana Santos, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

7. Ailin Perez

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

8. Karol Rosa

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD

9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Nov. 8
Next: TBD

10. Mayra Bueno Silva

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 10-6-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti, Nov. 8
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: Nov. 15 vs. Zhang Weili

2. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
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: Nov. 15 vs. Tracy Cortez

5. Dakota Ditcheva

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD

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: 14-4
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
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
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: PFL
Record: 25-8
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

3. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 25
Next: TBD

4. Yan Xiaonan

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

5. Tatiana Suarez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

6. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

7. Gillian Robertson

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

8. Loopy Godínez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

9. Iasmin Lucindo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Tabatha Ricci

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
Next: TBD