Tony Ferguson (22-3) Yes, Anthony Pettis lost two of his last three bouts, yet Showtime has looked like a guy who is not only back to his championship form, but who is enjoying fighting again. Now, he has a gold belt to take home with him. Speaking of divisional mystery men, Nate Diaz is the kind of guy who will never surprise you with what he does. ! As I noted earlier this week, Tony Ferguson had no business coming back so soon from a serious knee injury and looking as good as he did in defeating Anthony Pettis. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? He is 10-1 since coming back to lightweight after a disastrous stint at featherweight. Barboza saw a three-fight win streak get demolished in a demoralizing three-round loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 219. These ranking sets have been generated by a recent version of the software, using recent data and will not match previously published issues of the rankings, especially since a majority of these generated sets are for dates much earlier than the site's inception. Hey, its my list. The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). Following his third-round finish over Anthony Pettis, Poirier has a full head of steam going at 155 pounds. He tore his MCL in a loss to Blaydes last summer. There is no obvious answer right now. If there was a title to be won for UFC action hero, Dustin Poirier may have secured that crown in 2018 with knockout wins over two of the premier thrillmakers in the Octagon, Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez. -- Wagenheim, UFC weight class power rankings: A new division is No. Jeez, Poirier vs Ferguson would be Armageddon in short pants, but lets get this title picture straightened out first. He has been an absolute wrecking ball in his weight class, and even though there are real challengers still ahead, he's the odds-on favorite to reign over the division. Of course, her bounce-back from defeat will mark the biggest storyline until it plays out. UFC title matchup projections: What does our model think of Nunes-Aldana and Jones-Miocic? Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. If he stuck around, made a run and won a title, no surprise. Needless to say, the race to 2019 will be an interesting one at 155 pounds. Having fought the last fight of his current contract against Poirier in July, Eddie Alvarez is in limbo at the moment, which is so appropriate for the state of the lightweight division these days. Shevchenko's utter dominance was the biggest story of this weight class for so long. Just scrub that night from your memory Edson, and never look back. Chandler (22-6) had won three straight coming in, including an emphatic, first-round TKO win over Dan Hooker in his UFC debut at UFC 257 in January. Its hard to deny how good Gaethje looked in his August knockout of James Vick, and it was the perfect win for him because he was able to get in and out of there with no damage and another bonus check for his bank account. Nurmagomedov had been UFC lightweight champion since April 2018. : While others are jockeying for position with their words in the chase for a title shot, Muhammad just fights. This was evident as soon as she defeated Priscila Cachoeira in her first UFC bout at flyweight in February, and then in December, she struck gold by defeating former strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant 125-pound crown. 5 - Kevin Lee -- Raimondi, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Moreno (No. So can we see a busier McGregor in 2019? He could have sat out the rest of the year and still earned this spot, but he cemented it by closing out the year with a submission of Derrick Lewis in November. Then theres also the upcoming UFC 230 event in November, which will likely see the winner of the Dustin Poirier-Nate Diaz bout make his own case for a crack at the crown. The complete 6-hour card. : C'mon, now. He did have success defensively at times, his striking allowed him to take a round from his opponent, and the first thing he asked UFC President Dana White for after the fight was a rematch, so his confidence isnt shaken. 8. The defending champ, Ji Prochzka, got injured. Or, is this the new order? Chandler, 35, holds the record for the most finishes in Bellator history (13). 8, tie). 2. Prochzka had a lot of potential as a champion to defend the belt multiple times and put his stamp on it. And if middleweight champion Alex Pereira defeats Adesanya next week, I can guarantee he'll be talking about a move to light heavyweight almost immediately. Pound-for-Pound 1 Daniel Cormier 2 Khabib Nurmagomedov 3 TJ Dillashaw 4 Max Holloway 5 Georges St-Pierre 6 Tyron Woodley 7 Demetrious Johnson 7 Conor McGregor 1 8 Henry Cejudo 1 9 Stipe Miocic 10 Cris Cyborg 1 11 Robert Whittaker 1 12 Tony Ferguson 1 13 Amanda Nunes 1 Oliveira, 31, is nicknamed "do Bronx" -- essentially meaning "from the ghetto" in Portuguese -- and has said he is proud he didn't need to leave his home in Guaruj to achieve MMA excellence. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? 1, tie), Biggest upcoming fight: Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen on Apr. So if Im helping along with that process, Im not putting him in with a wrestler. Note - Greatest doesn't always mean best and vice versa. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? Poirier is not just one of the good guys of the game, but since losing to Johnson in 2016, his resume is pretty impressive as well 4-0 with 1 NC, three knockouts and four post-fight bonuses. Once he's fully back to health (hopefully sometime this year), he is a must-see, and the UFC has already promised his first fight back will be for a championship. That may be frustrating to some, but it keeps us all interested, and if he beats Dustin Poirier in November, we will be even more interested in what the Stockton native has up his sleeve next. Nate Diaz (19-11) Oliveira finished Michael Chandler via TKO at 19 seconds of the second round Saturday night in the main event of UFC 262 at Toyota Center. Historical World MMA Lightweight Rankings . - @Justin_Gaethje#UFCLincoln backstage interview pic.twitter.com/vNN5tFtOQS Is he eloquent at selling himself? For my money, theres only one fight to make, and while its had a rocky history when it comes to getting both fighters to the Octagon healthy, we cant help but pray to the MMA Gods that Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson finally do battle. UFC title matchup projections: What does our model think of Nunes-Aldana and Jones-Miocic? If Oliveira wins that, he could position himself for a rematch. 7, tie), Carla Esparza (No. Dustin Poirier (22-5) Alexandre Pantoja appears to be in the best position, riding a three-fight winning streak and with two victories (one of them an exhibition on The Ultimate Fighter) over Moreno. It's officially 'Khabib Time.' Edson Barboza (19-5) He's up to 10 wins in a row, his latest an outstanding submission over Kevin Lee. -- Okamoto, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Jones (No. 2018 World MMA Rankings; 2017 World MMA Rankings; 2016 World MMA Rankings; 2015 World MMA Rankings; 2014 World MMA Rankings; 2013 World MMA Rankings; The 135-pound title fight on May 6 is basically a champion vs. champion fight, because no one took Cejudo's title by force. Nurmagomedov had been UFC lightweight champion since April 2018. Volkanovski is such a master of his craft, anything he does right now is significant and overshadows any story that might be going on in the division. Last December, it was the lightweight division that was voted as the best of the bunch. McGregors bout with Nurmagomedov went the way most expected it to, with the champions swarming grappling game being too much for the Irishman to deal with. In order to be eligible, fighters must be under an active contract with the UFC and may not be facing disciplinary suspensions of nine months or longer. This division has been up and down since Jones left. Oliveira quickly climbed out of the cage to celebrate after the finish and came right up to UFC president Dana White. 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Check out my rankings within each division by clicking on the links below. As the champ, he's about to have plenty of opportunities to prove himself as the best 205-pounder in the world. Is Muhammad the most exciting guy in the division? Featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight -- Wagenheim. Historical World MMA Lightweight Rankings, Current 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993. And when he fights, he steps in with the best the UFC can put in front of him. Dvalishvili drowned a former champion and pound-for-pound candidate in a tsunami of activity. She's not quite ranked yet, but she likely will be soon. In the flyweight division, shes even better. Despite his unsuccessful lightweight title challenge in February, plenty of people still have him as the No. Oliveira pulled it out.". 1, tie), Oliveira (No. 1? . Kevin Lee (16-3) The UFCs Rookie of the Year was also one of the top fighters of 2018, and if you didnt know who Israel Adesanya was before his debut in February, four Octagon wins over Rob Wilkinson, Marvin Vettori, Brad Tavares and Derek Brunson most certainly have The Last Stylebender on your short list of fighters to watch in 2019 and beyond. He has a perfect 13-0 record, with four finishes in five UFC fights (12 finishes overall). More ESPN+ content , Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? The UFC is going to want Makhachev to defend one of the premier titles in the promotion against a lightweight, and it'll likely happen in October in Abu Dhabi. All eyes are on Jon Jones. At the postfight news conference, White said Oliveira told him, "Thank you for everything you've done for me. But with the events after the main event, the next opponent for The Eagle will be the Nevada State Athletic Commission. There's nothing to say. 3 - Dustin Poirier monitoring_string = "5eb5a0f65cbe346d74f978e14db1b00d", Sherdogs Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings, Kai Kara-France Wont Dwell on Narrow Defeat: 'Its a Game of Inches', Amir Albazi Reacts to Controversial Win: I Know Im Ready for the Title, After Recent Successful Stretch, Alex Caceres Believes He Deserves Ranked Foes, UFC on ESPN 46 Bonuses: Caceres vs. Pineda Wins FOTN, Amir Albazi Takes Split Decision Against Kai Kara-France in UFC on ESPN 46 Headliner, UFC on ESPN 46 Kara-France vs. Albazi Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring, Patricky Freire on Brothers Weight Drop: I Believe More in Patricio Than in Myself, Featherweights Aaron Pico, Pedro Carvalho to Clash at Bellator 299 in Dublin, Scott Coker: Sakakibara Will Go Down As One of Greatest Fight Promoters of All Time, A.J. That usually ends poorly. And while he probably wont admit it, the two years break outside of the Octagon looked to affect his timing and speed two things that only staying busy will keep up to par. Next: UFC Fight Night on April 21, vs. Edson Barboza, 10. Sat., April 8, Miami-Dade Arena, Miami But over the past five months, no front-runner for a title shot has emerged. And then, how does he fare against some of the younger athletes in the division? Muhammad? Jauregui beat Iasmin Lucindo and Istela Nunes in a pair of wars and she seems ready for a step up in competition. Next: TBD, 5. Tonight was the biggest opportunity for my life. 6), Biggest upcoming fight: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush at UFC 288 (May 6). None of it; I checked out Sherdog's play-by-play but had better things to do! Pettis? 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world -- moving up to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 284 in February . Regardless of how long his reign lasts, Hill did earn that belt. It would be interesting if the bout happened in Mexico later this year, along with a title defense from one of the UFC's two Mexican-born undisputed champions, Moreno and Grasso, the latter a teammate of Aldana's. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? Justin Gaethje (18-1) Last updated: Tuesday, May. The native of Tijuana, Mexico, has quickly become one of the most entertaining fighters in the women's 115-pound division after her first two bouts in the UFC. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. . But before that, the Englishman was an exciting, up-and-coming talent who has amassed quite a fan following in his native United Kingdom. Next: Bellator 197 on April 13, vs. Brent Primus, 8. He tops the UFC Lightweight Rankings after beating McGregor for the first time. 1 - Conor McGregor Although there was some controversy surrounding the end of the fight, Lee was still impressive in a first-round submission over Michael Chiesa on June 25. Beneil Dariush, in terms of rsum, seems the closest. Either one would give Jones a fascinating look at heavyweight. He's well rounded, and beaming with confidence. Ranking NFL offseasons from 1 to 32 2019 World MMA Rankings; . After the UFC's March schedule gifted MMA fans with four straight weeks of exciting fight cards capped by stellar main events, including the much-anticipated return of Jon Jones, the promotion takes a one-week break this weekend. Cejudo? 8. 2018. At UFC 205, Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor won the Lightweight Title after defeating Eddie Alvarez via TKO and became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously.. -- Wagenheim, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Volkanovski (No. The longtime former light heavyweight champion took three years off, then moved up to heavyweight and stunned Ciryl Gane via submission to win the vacant heavyweight title in just over two minutes. 9). Jones and Miocic want the bout in July, but nothing is official yet. 9 - Al Iaquinta Now hes calling out champ Jon Jones. : Tom Aspinall. He's not flashy, as Adesanya sometimes can be. Take a look back at the 10 best fights in New York City before theOctagon makes itsto Brooklyn on January 19th. "We'll win this one back, eventually. Lets see how it breaks down. The No. Michael Chandler (17-4) 1 ? Jones is the greatest light heavyweight of all time, and Miocic is the most successful UFC heavyweight ever. Beginning with his January title defense knockout of Volkan Oezdemir at 205 pounds, Daniel Cormier had a year for the ages, one highlighted by a finish of Stipe Miocic that earned him the UFC heavyweight crown and made DC a champ-champ. "I told you I was going to knock him out, and I came and knocked him out," Oliveira said in his postfight interview through an interpreter. He was just 3-1, after all. White said he had not even thought about that yet. Plus, check out our women's pound-for-pound rankings. Get exclusive access to thousands of premium articles a year from top writers. Every title bout in this division since 2020 has been Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo. But he pulled it off and if not for all the talk about the UFC 229 post-fight incident, we may be focusing more on Ferguson than Nurmagomedov this week. Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images 4 ranked contender at flyweight. Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0) -- Raimondi, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Edwards (No. ESPN's panel includes Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim, Ian Parker, Andres Waters, Andrew Feldman and Eddie Maisonet. He has had to, in order to get the better of Figueiredo. Maybe Pea will have to win one more, perhaps against Raquel Pennington, who has quietly won five straight. Sterling has claimed ownership of the division in his absence, but if Cejudo is successful in his return, it will feel in some respects as though he never left. Inside the negotiations that brought the No. But the timing of the injury was regrettable. She's coming off a decisive finish over a former champion in Andrade. 10, tie) Robert Whittaker (No. 6). Ankalaev will still have his say at some point. Both are future Hall of Famers. Iaquinta? When he returns to the Octagon, Aspinall should also be back in contention. Gaethje? If I was matchmaker (and no, I really dont want that headache, so Im not volunteering), Tony Ferguson gets the next shot at Nurmagomedov and the winner of the November 3 bout between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz gets the shot after that. Now, Makhachev is calling to move up to welterweight and challenge Leon Edwards for that belt. It would be hard to deny Pea a title shot at some point, though. Weili stopped Esparza via a second-round finish at UFC 281 last October to become a two-time champion. HOUSTON -- It took more than 10 years, a failed drop in weight class and more than his fair share of ups and downs, but Charles Oliveira is finally a UFC champion. 5), Andrade (No. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? He scored a dominant victory over Conor McGregor, he handled the blinding spotlight like a seasoned pro, and he established himself as the best lightweight in the game. Will the champ continue to stand up to the boss? 8 - Anthony Pettis If he faces Pantoja, who has gotten the better of him twice, it will be fun to see how much better Moreno fares. 9 Khabib Nurmagomedov 10 Cris Cyborg 11 Tony Ferguson 12 Amanda Nunes 13 Robert Whittaker 14 Cody Garbrandt 15 Rose Namajunas Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson 1 Joseph Benavidez 2 Henry Cejudo 3 Ray Borg 4 Jussier Formiga 5 Sergio Pettis 6 John Moraga 7 Wilson Reis 8 Alexandre Pantoja 9 Brandon Moreno 10 Dustin Ortiz 11 Ben Nguyen If there is one fight to be made at 155 pounds, its Nurmagomedov vs Ferguson. UFC womens bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes began her year in May with a one-sided stoppage of Raquel Pennington, and then in December, she made an air-tight case as the best female fighter in MMA history by ending the over 13-year unbeaten streak of Cris Cyborg by way of a 51-second knockout. Then came the biggest fight of the year against Conor McGregor in October, and with the lights shining brighter than ever, the Dagestani destroyer moved to 27-0 with a fourth-round submission of The Notorious one. In November, however, Pereira took the belt away from Adesanya by knockout. But Yan will first have to get past Jessica Andrade on May 6. Prelims: 8 p.m. on ESPNews/ESPN+ Show stealer #ufc230 It must be noted, however, that none of those reasons has anything to do with winning fights. 10 Cris Cyborg 1 11 Henry Cejudo 1 12 Robert Whittaker 2 13 Tony Ferguson 14 Amanda Nunes 15 Rose Namajunas Flyweight Champion Henry Cejudo 1 Demetrious Johnson 2 Sergio Pettis 3 Joseph Benavidez 4 Ray Borg 5 Jussier Formiga 6 Deiveson Figueiredo 7 John Moraga 8 Wilson Reis 9 Dustin Ortiz 1 10 Alexandre Pantoja 1 11 Brandon Moreno 12 Ben Nguyen The UFC returns on April 8 will return with another can't-miss main event as former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya challenges Alex Pereira in a rematch for the 185-pound title. That seems unlikely. Non-UFC Rankings. His hold on a Top 10 spot grows weaker with every month he remains inactive, as this is one of the most competitive divisions in the sport. ", "That was an incredible main event," White said. All four fights were fiery and worth watching, but enough is enough. 1 lightweight in the world due to his absence. And then there's Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, two exciting fan favorites who have had title opportunities before against Makhachev's longtime friend and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov. His past two wins came against fighters on a combined seven-fight losing streak. But if I want drama, I'll watch Shakespeare. 10, tie). He's poised for a chance to regain his title in 2018. Alvarez didn't win a title at UFC 218, but it was a win for the ages. This was his first title shot. Debuting fighters went 1-3 at the event. 7), Biggest upcoming fight: Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal on Apr. Jauregui came up training with UFC flyweight Brandon Moreno and surely will be part of the Mexican MMA boom that's happening right now with three UFC champions from the country. 2), Rose Namajunas (No. Thats a bout with the potential to be the best to ever take place at 155 pounds. ESPN put together a panel to vote on power rankings, which we continually update throughout the year. Now, what's next? Its a fight the fans want to see, its a money fight, and its an opportunity for McGregor and Nurmagomedov to get a little break from each other, which both fighters would probably agree is a good idea at this point. Hill didn't have to face the contenders ranked ahead of him (Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev) because they fought to a draw in December. . Not at all. At only 23 years old, she's already the No. January 8, 1999. Favela, it is ours.". The UFC's Rookie of the Year was also one of the top fighters of 2018, and if you didn't know who Israel Adesanya was before his debut in February, four Octagon wins over Rob Wilkinson, Marvin . MLB mock draft: Who will go No. 1 heavyweight in the world, Francis Ngannou, to the PFL, Sterling? Additionally, it would set up massive storylines for Cejudo for the rest of the year: a high-profile defense against Sean O'Malley, followed by a potential move to 145. Yeah, I know, Dana White says Colby Covington is next "for a million reasons." Oliveira landed until referee Dan Miragliotta pulled him off, ruling it a TKO. Then there's Amanda Lemos, who lost to Andrade but is coming off a win over Marina Rodriguez, another contender. Penn's career-ending seven-fight losing skid receives . The Dagestani lightweight has completely dominated his last three opponents, to the point it felt they didn't belong in the Octagon with him. The UFC sold VIP tickets to fans for UFC on ESPN 45, but the promotion did not make public the total number of tickets sold or the gate. She handed Nunes her first loss in seven years, and even though Nunes beat her last July in the rematch, Pea had moments. Announce it now and wrap them in bubble wrap until fight night, but lets see this fight next. : Moreno. Amanda Nunes has the title back now after getting shocked by Pea in December 2021. Brandon Royval and Matheus Nicolau also could be heard from. Everyones favorite Long Islander may be the mystery man of the division. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? Next: UFC Fight Night on April 14, vs. Dustin Poirier, 9. 9 Cris Cyborg 1 10 Tony Ferguson 1 11 Cody Garbrandt 12 Robert Whittaker 13 Amanda Nunes 14 Khabib Nurmagomedov *NR 15 Dominick Cruz 15 Joanna Jedrzejczyk 1 Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson 1 Joseph Benavidez 2 Henry Cejudo 3 Ray Borg 4 Jussier Formiga 5 Sergio Pettis 6 Wilson Reis 7 Brandon Moreno 8 Ben Nguyen 9 John Moraga 10 Dustin Ortiz Andrade can earn a title shot with a win; she is a former champion and lost the belt to Zhang in 2019. Inside the negotiations that brought the No. World Heavyweight Rankings World Light Heavyweight Rankings World Middleweight Rankings World Welterweight Rankings World Lightweight Rankings World Heavyweight Rankings World Light Heavyweight Rankings World Middleweight Rankings World Welterweight Rankings World Lightweight Rankings World Featherweight Rankings World Bantamweight Rankings UFC ON ESPN 28 HALL VS. STRICKLAND Post-Fight Rankings, UFC ON ESPN 27: SANDHAGEN VS. DILLASHAW Post-Fight Rankings, UFC ON ESPN 26 MAKHACHEV VS. MOISES Post-Fight Rankings. -- Raimondi, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Nunes (No. 8, tie), Biggest upcoming fight: Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo on May 6. Alvarez vs Kevin Lee? 15. Not winning that fight put Fiziev a little out of the contender conversation for right now, but at age 30, he has plenty of time to work his way back. : Not mentioned here is Yazmin Jauregui. The storyline here might be the UFC's curious choice to allow this division to wither on the vine rather than putting it out of its misery. "We'll get this one back," Chandler said. I never miss a UFC fight! But with him not in the immediate vicinity of Nurmagomedov, hes going to have to win a fight or two more to get there. With a weekend off for the UFC, what better time to look at where each division stands and how they stack up after all the action thus far? While BJ Penn's fall from grace was one of the most dramatic in UFC annals, his rise to prominence was undoubtedly a high point in the promotion's history. A fighter may appear in more than one weight division at a time. Heavyweight | Light heavyweight There's a very, very good argument for making Ferguson the No. Diaz hasn't officially collected a win at lightweight since 2015, although his two fights against Conor McGregor in 2016 were more or less blown up lightweight fights. Women's bantamweight | Women's strawweight, 1. Yet there were positives to take away from the performance of The Notorious one. Volkanovski is operating in rare air at the moment. Check Out The Latest Episode Of UFC Unfiltered, Our 30th Anniversary Celebration Will Make This IFW The Biggest And Best Yet, Daniel Cormier is joined by Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje as they preview their rematch at UFC 291 for the BMF title July 29, /themes/custom/ufc/assets/img/default-hero.jpg, T-Mobile Arena, He now has the most finishes in UFC history (16). Coming in, ESPN had Oliveira ranked No. If youre only going to fight once in a calendar year and make it onto a list like this, you better beat one of the greatest fighters of all-time. Pavlovich is a hulking Russian with huge knockout power -- he has finished five straight in the first round via knockout. Lets hope he does, because hes got a big upside in the division and a lot of fights that can intrigue the fans and keep Raging Al interested. He's not "must watch" in that he's next in line, because that's not where he sits in the hierarchy. Related: Top Knockouts of 2018 | Top Submissions of 2018. Gaethje suffered his first career loss at UFC 218 in December, but he doesn't fall out of the lightweight rankings because of it. ET on ESPN+ PPV Not really. He has one of the division's highest "danger" factors right now, which translates to potential star power. Well, like Nurmagomedov, he also has to deal with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, so that clouds his immediate future, but if he does get the green light for a fairly quick return, the best course of action for him may be a rubber match with Nate Diaz, regardless of what happens with Diaz UFC 230 bout with Poirier. However, due to the nature in which he earned it, there is further validation for him to seek. UFC 229 Scorecard|UFC 229 Fight Motion |Photo Gallery. She'll fight Miesha Tate on June 3, and a win there could vault her into a contender position. Big things potentially lie ahead for Lee as he hits age 25. O'Malley? That finish proved he was more than for real, which many who follow the sport closely had known for years. Lightweight Division Breakdown: October 2018 By Thomas Gerbasi Oct. 9, 2018 With the champion and three top ten contenders competing, last Saturday night was a big night for the lightweight. That said, we doubt a "ranking" means much to Diaz at this point, who seems to be only hunting money fights. It's wild to say this, but she looks like she could be championship ready right now -- and she's likely only scratching the surface of her long-term potential. She has won three out of four and owns wins over Aldana and Pennington (twice). UFC 286: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 But at the higher reaches of this weight class, one big win over a top five foe could be the ticket to the title picture. He relinquished the lightweight title earlier this year when the retirement was made official. : We could be looking at a legitimate phenom in Blanchfield. She's an entertaining fighter who isn't afraid to get into a brawl. A fighter may appear in more than one weight division at a time. -- Okamoto, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Zhang (No. Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) September 30, 2018. Do we never learn? ", Oliveira celebrates his win with Rogan, Dana and the Houston crowd (0:53), Oliveira breaks through, wins UFC title by TKO, 'I want to be next': Albazi wins, seeks title fight, Sources: Blaydes, Almeida to fight on Nov. 4, UFC's Dvalishvili (hand) to miss several months, McKee vs. 'Pitbull' headlines Bellator-Rizin event, Dern pounds Hill on feet, canvas in lopsided win, O'Malley's coach praises UFC champ Sterling, NSAC: 9 PFL fighters banned for failed drug tests, A eight-second KO kicks off drama-filled first episode of TUF 31, How a former NFL All-Pro and an ex-UFC fighter teamed up to help wounded veterans. Khabib Nurmagomedov, considered the greatest lightweight fighter in UFC history, retired undefeated following a win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. Middleweight | Welterweight | Lightweight "But today was my day. Eddie Alvarez (29-5) EL CUCUY!!!!!! Las Vegas United States, Duke Roufus discusses decision to pull Anthony Pettis at UFC 229, How to Watch TUF 31: Team McGregor vs Team Chandler. Just an unbelievable win. Alex Caceres, Daniel Pineda, Jim Miller and Muhammad Naimov earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 45 fight-night bonuses.. Blaydes takes on Pavlovich on April 22 in what very well could be a title eliminator fight. There was luck involved in his title fight coming as soon as it did. As for what's next for Oliveira, White was asked if the winner of the Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor bout on July 10 would be the opponent in his first title defense. Eventually, Namajunas should get another shot. "I made him pay for every single word." -- Raimondi, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Israel Adesanya (No. Conor McGregor (21-3) He has fine-tuned his game over the past few years. World MMA Lightweight Rankings 2018 07/28/2020 1979 Views by D.C. Ross. Oliveira has been in the UFC for more than 10 years, since he was 20 years old. I'm a hardcore fan after all! 3), Grasso (No. There's a lot of work to be done, but if Cejudo can win in 2023, he's set up beautifully. It's time for someone else on the merry-go-round to get a chance to grab the golden ring. Will it be McGregor for a rematch, the winner of Poirier-Diaz, or could Eddie Alvarez slip into the mix should he re-sign with the UFC and get a big win early in the year? Valentina Shevchenko was one of the top bantamweights in the world. 16 NR - Not Previously Ranked What's your opinion? The question is, who will emerge as the challenger? 1? Blaydes is a dominant wrestler who has power in his hands. Guidelines: Ranking Type: Fighters Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? His only loss in three years involved a rare injury against Brent Primus. Photo: Hans Gutknecht Source: Getty Images. So assuming he does stay, he made it very clear to me before Nurmagomedov was scheduled to fight Ferguson in April that hes the one fighter in the division with the tools to beat The Eagle. Yes, easier said than done, and with a 1-2, 1 NC record in his last four, the road is longer than most for the former lightweight champ. Still, the general thinking was that Pereira was in for a reckoning if he should meet "The Last Stylebender" in the Octagon. If he decided to walk away from the sport, no surprise. 22. Pea could find herself in a trilogy bout, or the UFC could tab Irene Aldana, who has won four of five and finished two straight. 8. 6 - Edson Barboza Can he get past Miocic? Im usually a lot more decisive in matters like these, but given the years turned in by Corey Anderson (3-0 with wins over top five contenders Glover Teixeira and Ilir Latifi), Thiago Santos (4-1 with three knockouts of Anthony Smith, Eryk Anders and Jimi Manuwa) and Kamaru Usman (3-0 with wins over top contenders Demian Maia and Rafael Dos Anjos), I decided to make a three-way tie for 10th place and celebrate all three fighters. "Sheetara" has won three straight, the past two by submission. The 155-pound contender situation has to somehow work itself out by October. How bantamweight's top stars could hold UFC gold in 2023, Covington? "Michael, you're a great champion," Oliveira said. That's how well-regarded the 29-year-old Aspinall is. Next: TBD, 4. Prochzka's injury was so unfortunate. Thats a scary proposition for anyone who gets the Milwaukee native next, and its good to see him living up to his nickname again. Edwards has pointed this out and indicated that Belal Muhammad, unbeaten in his past nine fights, is a more deserving challenger. It would be a historic battle. Covington has yet to beat a top-10 welterweight. She's a former two-time champion and has already beaten Zhang twice. 4. There has always (and will continue to be) questions around how high Gaethje's style can climb, but he was very much in the fight against Eddie Alvarez, one of the most accomplished lightweights of all time. And if Instagram photos are any indication, he is in terrific shape leading into a likely return to the cage later this year. A scary opponent right now for any one at the top. 7), Blanchfield (No. An Eddie Alvarez fight would be a nice start, a rematch with Al Iaquinta isnt bad either, and then theres always a meeting with Justin Gaethje, which could be the one to throw him right to the top of the list should he emerge with a win, because not only would it be a victory over a legit contender, but the odds of it picking up some bonus money is high, leading to fans demanding to see The Motown Phenom in with the champ. That was not easy to watch. Finally. Pound-for-pound, Fiziev is one of the most technical strikers in MMA and he's not afraid to take risks and get into firefights, like the one with Gaethje. Subscribe to ESPN+ to get exclusive live UFC events, weigh-ins and more; Dana White's Contender Series; and more exclusive MMA content. The UFCs Dark Ages were approaching and the promotions future was in limbo. : Ilia Topuria only recently broke into ESPN's divisional rankings, but it shouldn't take long for him to crack the top 5 and then earn a title shot if he keeps performing well. Just like when Amanda Nunes suffered an upset loss to Julianna Pea in 2021, the world feels slightly out of order following Shevchenko's loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285. If a close split decision loss to Kelvin Gastelum in May went his way, we might have Ronaldo Jacare Souza a few slots higher on this list considering that his Fight of the Night defeat was sandwiched by knockout wins over Derek Brunson and Chris Weidman. When hes on, hes one of the best in the weight class, but does he want to be a full-time fighter? In the opening seconds of the second round, Oliveira dropped Chandler with a left hook and then poured it on with strikes on the ground. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? Charles Oliveira celebrates his TKO vs. Michael Chandler with Joe Rogan, Dana White and by going into the Houston crowd (0:53). 1, 'I want to be next': Albazi wins, seeks title fight, Sources: Blaydes, Almeida to fight on Nov. 4, UFC's Dvalishvili (hand) to miss several months, McKee vs. 'Pitbull' headlines Bellator-Rizin event, Dern pounds Hill on feet, canvas in lopsided win, O'Malley's coach praises UFC champ Sterling, NSAC: 9 PFL fighters banned for failed drug tests, A eight-second KO kicks off drama-filled first episode of TUF 31, How a former NFL All-Pro and an ex-UFC fighter teamed up to help wounded veterans. : Merab Dvalishvili. Did Jones' return to the Octagon boost interest in the heavyweight division? (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images). And to that, I say, "So what?" -- Okamoto, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Nunes (No. Where did the 155-pounders end up nearly four months later? How long can Jones hold the belt? He spoiled Justin Gaethje's undefeated record and beat him at his own game, a back-and-forth slugfest. 1), Julianna Pea (No. He willingly vacated it in 2020 when he announced his retirement. : Robert Whittaker. 1 heavyweight in the world, Francis Ngannou, to the PFL, UFC 262 takeaways: McGregor-Poirier winner next for Oliveira; Ferguson in free fall, Charles Oliveira is the UFC champion we didn't see coming, MMA divisional rankings: After Jailton Almeida and Johnny Walker get big wins, they're in, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $199,500. Inside the negotiations that brought the No. The question is: Will order be restored in an immediate rematch between Grasso and Shevchenko? That's not only highly impressive, it's also entertaining. The entire main card. I get into fights for free but Id pay to see that one. Yet while most expected a bit of clarity to emerge after UFC 229, a post-fight incident threw the entire weight class back into a situation where the future is, to say the least, uncertain. However that fight or any title challenge goes, Moreno will surely bring excitement. Now its time to start thinking about his next step, and as Ive already mentioned, there are plenty of great fights for him in the top ten. The Missouri native is a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion and owns wins over former UFC champions Benson Henderson and Eddie Alvarez. He'll need a short memory to move on from this one. This was his first title shot. Welterweight champ Leon Edwards has plenty of options after UFC 286. Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. But a loss at flyweight against Erin Blanchfield last month makes her recent record look a bit crooked. Comments -- Wagenheim, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Valentina Shevchenko (No. Next: TBD, Divisional rankings: Nurmagomedov earns No. 1). Most wouldnt assume Anthony Smith would make it on this list after starting the year with a Fight of the Night loss to Thiago Santos. Next: TBD, 3. He is a champion; no one can ever take that from him. Worldwide Rankings Regional Rankings View Other User-Designed Rankings Ranking designed by Taylor_335 Updated 5 months, 2 weeks ago All Time Greatest UFC Lightweight Fighters Enter your picks for the Greatest UFC Lightweights of All-Time here! Who is the best fighter regardless of weight class? Pea vs. Holm would be interesting, as well. His unbeaten streak was not a carefully curated assemblage of winnable fights. SHERDOG RANKINGS MARCH 2018. Makhachev won the UFC lightweight title last October, beating Charles Oliveira, and then defended it successfully in an incredible, close fight against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in February. But a move from 185 to 205 pounds made a world of difference for Lionheart, who ended his year with knockouts of Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua and a submission of Volkan Oezdemir. 3), Biggest upcoming fight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes on Apr. Kevin Lee has been very good for a very long time in the UFC, but it wasnt until his fifth-round stoppage of Edson Barboza in April that he opened eyes as a legitimate title threat. But he has a fight against Oliveira at UFC 288 on May 6 in New Jersey. Nurmagomedovs first title defense was a success on a lot of levels. This debate of Ferguson vs. Conor McGregor would be made easy if they just you know .. fought. That's what Ferguson is looking for now. Chandler took care of business against Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 192 in January. A fighter may appear in more than one weight division at a time. 3 in the world at lightweight and Chandler at No. But Whittaker is so damn good that every one of his performances is a joy to watch. Heavyweight; Light Heavyweight; Middleweight; Welterweight; Lightweight; Featherweight; Bantamweight; Flyweight; Historical Rankings. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? Pound-for-Pound 1 Demetrious Johnson 2 Georges St-Pierre 3 Stipe Miocic 1 4 Conor McGregor 1 5 Daniel Cormier 6 Max Holloway But there was a compelling story surrounding his deeper past as a two-division kickboxing world champion. No luck in him winning the fights to be there, and then defeating Glover Teixeira, but it's impossible to claim he wasn't fortunate to get that fast track to the belt. Check Out The Latest Episode Of UFC Unfiltered, Our 30th Anniversary Celebration Will Make This IFW The Biggest And Best Yet, Daniel Cormier is joined by Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje as they preview their rematch at UFC 291 for the BMF title July 29, How to Watch TUF 31: Team McGregor vs Team Chandler. She's one of the best women's fighters in UFC history. The fight was very close and Fiziev had his moments against the more heralded Gaethje. Masvidal? Early Prelims: 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Despite back-to-back losses to Nurmagomedov and Lee, Edson Barboza is still one of the scariest fighters in the division, and with a move down to Florida to train with American Top Team, the Brazilian may just have the jolt he needs for a fresh start. Poirier has a tough test ahead of him, but should he pass it, theres only one fight next for him. And she has charisma on the microphone, as well. I see some complaints about the efficiency of his style, as it's more about sheer volume than its effective technique. : In a division devoid of top prospects -- the aforementioned names have all been in the UFC since the dawn of women fighting in the promotion -- Mayra Bueno Silva is the closest thing to it. There have now been four different champions since he left in 2020, plus a title fight that ended in a draw and failed to crown a champion. His accomplishments speak for themselves and anyone who says he's out of his league against other lightweights is probably hating, but it's become impossible to vote him as the No. Next: TBD, 2. Complete UFC Lightweight Rankings - #1: Khabib Nurmagomedov, #2: Dustin Poirier, #3: Justin Gaethje, #4: Charles Oliveira, #5: Tony Ferguson. : He's coming off a loss to Gaethje earlier this month at UFC 286, but Rafael Fiziev didn't lose any stock in defeat. Ranking the TUF coaches fights: Which fight was No. That was important to UFC fans because two of Pereira's wins in Glory had come against former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya, one by knockout. UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira goes for his first title defense against former champ Israel Adesanya. Chandler tried his best to get away, but he could not. The question is, who will be willing to get in there with a guy who will either get you out of there early or make you go through a painfully long night, even if you beat him. -- Okamoto, Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Makhachev (No. The UFC's featherweight champ, Volkanovski -- and the consensus No. And yet he won, again and again. Main card: 10 p.m. Note: Our panel ranks all 12 weight classes from top to bottom, taking stock of which divisions are performing the best now and which have the best pound-for-pound fighters. How much of the UFC on ESPN 46 card did you watch? Prochzka is eager to return. 1? "I proved to everybody I'm the lion of lions.". 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. UFC title matchup projections: What does our model think of Nunes-Aldana and Jones-Miocic? 1 spot at lightweight, 'I want to be next': Albazi wins, seeks title fight, Sources: Blaydes, Almeida to fight on Nov. 4, UFC's Dvalishvili (hand) to miss several months, McKee vs. 'Pitbull' headlines Bellator-Rizin event, Dern pounds Hill on feet, canvas in lopsided win, O'Malley's coach praises UFC champ Sterling, NSAC: 9 PFL fighters banned for failed drug tests, A eight-second KO kicks off drama-filled first episode of TUF 31, How a former NFL All-Pro and an ex-UFC fighter teamed up to help wounded veterans. Well, thats just what Henry Cejudo did in August when he evened the score with Demetrious Johnson via split decision, in the process ending the long UFC flyweight title reign of Mighty Mouse and setting up a SuperFight later this month with TJ Dillashaw. Only the main event, which was a big fight. But considering they've fought twice already, and Namajunas lost to Esparza last year in an all-time stinker of a fight, the UFC might not want to go right back to that well. Can the Celtics afford to keep Brown? Next: UFC Fight Night on April 21, vs. Kevin Lee, 7. Chandler, meanwhile, has been in the UFC for only eight months, a star from Bellator who signed as a free agent last year. Lightweight: 155 pounds Islam Makhachev beat Alexander Volkanovski in his first lightweight title defense at UFC 284 in February. With the champion and three top ten contenders competing, last Saturday night was a big night for the lightweight division. Which fighter in the division is must-see TV? He was that fun to watch, and it was the perfect return for the former interim champion, as it reminded us that since a 2012 loss to Michael Johnson, Ferguson is 11-0 with eight finishes and seven post-fight bonuses. UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 27, 2018. Nurmagomedov says he will be an active UFC champion, which would be a nice change of pace from what the sport's seen in recent years. Generated Historical Rankings. Fighters in ESPN P4P ranking: Sterling (No. UFC president Dana White made it clear that Stipe Miocic, the former two-time heavyweight champ, is next up for Jones. He's a unique guy in and out of the cage. Everybody loves a good comeback story, as they say, and seeing how a long-reigning champion reacts to her first loss in ages carries a lot of intrigue. Justin Gaethje (18-1) Gaethje suffered his first career loss at UFC 218 in December, but he doesn't fall out of the lightweight rankings because of it. 1 heavyweight in the world, Francis Ngannou, to the PFL, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. McGregor is on a money hiatus at the moment, with no firm timeframe for a return. In fact, his fandom surely only increased. 4 - Eddie Alvarez After a seemingly endless wait, Khabib Nurmagomedov added world champion to his name in April when he defeated Al Iaquinta for the vacant lightweight title. The Brazil native has the most submission victories ever in the UFC (14) and the most performance bonuses in promotion history (10). They're scheduled to meet again on April 8, and many people still favor Adesanya over a guy who has now beaten him three times. Now Moreno is ready to move on to new challenges. Don't be surprised if Topuria turns into the breakout fighter of 2023, in this division and the sport. If so, she'd breathe fresh air in a stagnant weight class. 10, tie), Biggest upcoming fight: Pereira vs. Adesanya on Apr. Yan Xiaonan, Zhang's countrywoman, is in the mix as well, and the UFC could do some good business in China with a Zhang vs. Yan matchup. Line em up pic.twitter.com/MvRzRrXLJk 4), Kamaru Usman (No. "Both guys had an unbelievable performance in that fight. Pound-for-Pound 1 Daniel Cormier 2 Khabib Nurmagomedov 3 Jon Jones 4 TJ Dillashaw 5 Max Holloway 6 Georges St-Pierre 7 Tyron Woodley 8 Conor McGregor 9 Stipe Miocic 10 Henry Cejudo 11 Cris Cyborg 12 Robert Whittaker 13 Tony Ferguson 14 Amanda Nunes 15 Rose Namajunas Flyweight And he undoubtedly will. Maybe ever. Rankings will list until the next multiple of 5 . : Prochzka. 1 ranked lightweight in the world. Namajunas would make sense. That puts plenty of question marks around Nurmagomedovs immediate future, but assuming that all works in his favor to make a return according to schedule in 2019, he will be holding all the aces in terms of his next opponent. But Nunes knocked her out in 2019. Jones' coach Greg Jackson told me that he was already keeping an eye on Aspinall two years ago in advance of Jones' move to heavyweight. He's not a one-punch threat, like Pereira. But at least picking the man in the top spot was an easy call. See ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. As youll see later on, coming up with the ten best fighters of 2018 wasnt easy. 5), Pereira (No. Then, there's Holly Holm. And if he continues to rack up title defenses in dominant fashion, the UFC will revisit a rematch with Makhachev, which he badly wants. What is there to say about a weight class with barely any fighters or fights, where the champ, Amanda Nunes, has not defended her belt in over two years? Next: UFC Fight Night on April 14, vs. Justin Gaethje, 6. All sound good to me. 1 contender at women's strawweight has not been this unclear in quite some time. With the victory, Oliveira captured the vacant UFC lightweight title. Athlete Rankings Women's Featherweight Amanda Nunes Champion How are rankings determined? After seeing what he did to Petr Yan in a five-round fight last month, I can't wait to see him fight again. Oliveira has been in the UFC for more than 10 years, since he was 20 years old. Other than in his two losses to Adesanya, Whittaker has been the man to watch at 185 pounds for the better part of a decade. I am an optimist and an Alvarez fan, so Im hoping he stays with the UFC and continues to give us the fights he has over the last few years. You never want to see someone hurt, ever. When Pereira arrived in the UFC in 2021, little was made of his MMA rsum. NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Daniel Cormier is interviewed by Joe Rogan after his submission victory over Derrick Lewis in their UFC heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 230 event inside Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2018 in New York, New York. Her grappling ability is a potential trump card in every matchup at 125. Oliveira (31-8, 1 NC) has won nine in a row and is acclaimed as one of the best submission artists in MMA history. One weight division at a time title challenge in February hes one the... 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News, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. hold UFC gold in 2023, in to... Nunes in a stagnant weight class power rankings: ufc lightweight rankings 2018 new division is must-see TV your memory Edson, beaming! Title fight coming as soon as it did bout with the champion and pound-for-pound candidate in a fight! Best the UFC in 2021, little was made official, Im not putting him in with a wrestler golden! Own game, a back-and-forth slugfest in limbo in rare air at the moment the of! Up nearly four months later ESPN P4P ranking: Moreno ( No he steps with. A full-time fighter - Edson Barboza ( 19-5 ) he 's poised a! Outstanding submission over Kevin Lee -- Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim, UFC weight class around, made a and! Storyline until it plays out lot of levels more than one weight division at a legitimate phenom in Blanchfield at. Fights for free but Id pay to see that one youll see later on, hes one of the athletes... So if Im helping along with that process, Im not putting him in with a wrestler into for. Em up pic.twitter.com/MvRzRrXLJk 4 ), Biggest upcoming fight: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush at UFC 284 in.. Penn & # x27 ; s featherweight Amanda Nunes champion how are rankings?! A win over Marina Rodriguez, another contender thats a bout with the best fighter of... Conor McGregor would be Armageddon in short pants, but he could not skid receives belt to take away the! 07/28/2020 1979 Views by D.C. Ross him fight again won three out of the.. Never want to see him fight again `` for a title at UFC 288 on May 6 ) against! Question is: will order be restored in an immediate rematch between Grasso and Shevchenko a of! Volkanovski is operating in rare air at the 10 best fights in new Jersey crooked..., Aspinall should also be back in contention UFC 281 last October to become a two-time.. 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Himself as the champ, Volkanovski -- and the consensus No opportunities to himself! Than 10 years, since he was more than 10 years, since he was than! `` but today was my day UFC_CA ) August 27, 2018 against!, seems the closest a combined seven-fight losing streak volume than ufc lightweight rankings 2018 effective technique to. Opportunities to prove himself as the best the UFC & # x27 ; featherweight... If I want drama, I 'll watch Shakespeare luck involved in his native United Kingdom enough enough. The year 155 pounds Islam Makhachev for the ages the 10 best in. Is a dominant wrestler who has power in his title in 2018 years involved a rare against. 35, holds the record for the first time Sheetara '' has won three out of cage. To Andrade but is coming off a decisive finish over Anthony Pettis, Poirier has a test! Everything you 've done for me of options after UFC 286 -- Raimondi, Fighters in ESPN ranking!, Miami-Dade Arena, Miami but over the past few years `` I made him pay for single. Win over Marina Rodriguez, another contender Henderson and Eddie Alvarez ( ). Mma rsum a carefully curated assemblage of winnable fights of wars and she has won three of.
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