MMA divisional rankings: Where does Topuria stand at lightweight? What about Makhachev?

The UFC lightweight division is in flux. Ilia Topuria's stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earned Topuria the championship, which was vacant because Islam Makhachev has opted to move up to welterweight to go for that title. Makhachev has been promised a shot at new 170-pound champ Jack Della Maddalena, but no fight has been announced.

So for the purpose of rankings, Makhachev remains in the lightweight top 10 -- just as Topuria, who vacated the featherweight belt to move up a division, remained in the 145-pound rankings until he competed at 155 on Saturday.

As a result, there's a traffic jam at the top of the lightweight rankings. It will be resolved once Della Maddalena versus Makhachev takes place at 170 pounds, but for now the top of the 155-pound rankings is home to possibly the two best fighters in all of MMA.

The most significant rise in the rankings is at men's flyweight, where Joshua Van goes from unranked to No. 2 -- with a title shot promised -- on the strength of his UFC 317 victory over former No. 2 Brandon Royval.

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 July 1. 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. Ciryl Gane  

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

4. Curtis Blaydes  

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

5. Alexander Volkov  

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

6. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

7. Jailton Almeida  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

8. Renan Ferreira  

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Serghei Spivac, June 7
Next: TBD

10. Marcin Tybura  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Mick Parkin, March 22
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. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

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

6. Aleksandar Rakić  

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

7. Dominick Reyes  

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

8. Jamahal Hill  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
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: Aug. 23 vs. Zhang Mingyang

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: Sept. 6 vs. Nassourdine Imavov

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

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: TBD

8. Michael Morales  

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

9. Joaquin Buckley  

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

2. Ilia Topuria  

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 1 at featherweight
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 35-11, 1 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28
Next: TBD

4. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD

5. Dustin Poirier  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 30-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Max Holloway

6. Paddy Pimblett  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD

7. Dan Hooker  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024
Next: TBD

8. Usman Nurmagomedov  

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

9. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: TBD

10. Mateusz Gamrot  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 25-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31
Next: TBD

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD

2. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 26-8
Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: July 19 vs. Dustin Poirier

3. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD

4. Diego Lopes  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 26-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, April 12
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Jean Silva

5. Brian Ortega  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Aljamain Sterling

6. Movsar Evloev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: July 26 vs. Aaron Pico

7. Lerone Murphy  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-0-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, April 5
Next: TBD

8. Patricio Pitbull  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 36-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Yair Rodriguez, April 12
Next: July 19 vs. Dan Ige

9. Arnold Allen  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Aljamain Sterling  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 23 vs. Brian Ortega

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: July 26 vs. Marcus McGhee

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: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Joshua Van

2. Joshua Van  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: TBD vs. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: TBD

4. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: TBD

5. Kai Kara-France  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD

6. Muhammad Mokaev  

Promotion: Brave CF
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-0,1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Tatsuro Taira  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024
Next: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi

8. Manel Kape  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: TBD

9. Steve Erceg  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Brandon Moreno, March 29
Next: Aug. 9 vs. Alex Perez

10. Kai Asakura  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Aug. 16 vs. Tim Elliott

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
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: PFL
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: Aug. 16 vs. Jessica Andrade

10. Iasmin Lucindo  

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