Johnny Eblen put on an impressive performance over the weekend, retaining his Bellator middleweight championship and remaining undefeated.
He didn't just utilize his superior wrestling to take down Fabian Edwards and grind him out. No, Eblen stood and traded with the slicker striker, and knocked him out. Then Eblen tried to go after Edwards' brother, Leon, the UFC welterweight champ and a top-five pound-for-pound guy in the sport. That's feisty.
On the strength of that victory -- and the self-assurance that followed? -- Eblen moves up one spot in Brett Okamoto's ESPN middleweight rankings.
"He jumps ahead of Paulo Costa, whose only win in the last four years was against the now-retired Luke Rockhold," Okamoto said. "American Top Team has been raving about Eblen's skills for years, as one would expect a fighter's camp to do. But we're seeing it now in every one of his performances, and he certainly looks to be everything the camp says he is. He now has three straight wins in championship fights."
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Sept. 26. 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 - Men's featherweight - Men's bantamweight
Men's flyweight - Women's bantamweight - Women's flyweight - Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Jon Jones  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Stipe Miocic
2. Sergei Pavlovich  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Curtis Blaydes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: Nov. 4 vs. Jailton Almeida
5. Tom Aspinall  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Marcin Tybura, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Serghei Spivac  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Linton Vassell
10. Jailton Almeida  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 13, 2023
Next: Nov. 4 vs. Curtis Blaydes
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jamahal Hill  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Alex Pereira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, July 29, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Jirà Procházka
3. Jan Blachowicz  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Magomed Ankalaev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) vs. Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Johnny Walker
5. Vadim Nemkov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Corey Anderson  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Nikita Krylov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Johnny Walker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) vs. Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
9. Anthony Smith  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-18
Last: W (SD) vs. Ryan Spann, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Phil Davis  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Corey Anderson, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
Sean Strickland shocks the world and upsets Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight championship.
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sean Strickland  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Israel Adesanya, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Johnny Eblen  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-0
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Fabian Edwards, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Paulo Costa  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
9. Derek Brunson  
Promotion: None
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Roman Dolidze  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, March 18, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Colby Covington
2. Kamaru Usman  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (MD) vs. Leon Edwards, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Belal Muhammad  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Khamzat Chimaev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Paulo Costa
5. Gilbert Burns  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Yaroslav Amosov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: Nov. 17 vs. Jason Jackson
7. Shavkat Rakhmonov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Geoff Neal, March 4, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Stephen Thompson
8. Stephen Thompson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Kevin Holland, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
9. Geoff Neal  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Sean Brady  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Belal Muhammad, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Dec. 2 vs. Kelvin Gastelum
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Charles Oliveira
2. Charles Oliveira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Islam Makhachev
3. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Dustin Poirier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) vs. Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Michael Chandler  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Rafael Fiziev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Mateusz Gamrot  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Arman Tsarukyan  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Joaquim Silva, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Rafael dos Anjos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-15
Last: L (UD) vs. Vicente Luque, Aug. 12, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: TBD
5. A.J. McKee  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: Nov. 17 vs. Sidney Outlaw
6. Ilia Topuria  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Josh Emmett  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Arnold Allen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Calvin Kattar  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Movsar Evloev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O'Malley  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Aljamain Sterling  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Henry Cejudo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sergio Pettis  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Freire, June 16, 2023
Next: Nov. 17 vs. Patchy Mix
8. Marlon Vera  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Patchy Mix  
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: Nov. 17 vs. Sergio Pettis
10. Rob Font  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: Dec. 2 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Brandon Royval
2. Brandon Moreno  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Demetrious Johnson  
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: Dec. 2 vs. Rob Font
5. Amir Albazi  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-France  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Manel Kape
7. Adriano Moraes  
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) vs. Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: Dec. 16 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
9. Matheus Nicolau  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Manel Kape  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Holly Holm  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sara McMann  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Norma Dumont  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Pannie Kianzad  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: W (SD) vs. Yana Santos, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Yana Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Josiane Nunes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Zarah Fairn, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3-1
Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-12
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Mackenzie Dern
6. Liz Carmouche  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) vs. DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
7. Katlyn Chookagian  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Rose Namajunas  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Lauren Murphy  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Juliana Velasquez  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Carla Esparza  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Amanda Lemos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Tatiana Suarez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Virna Jandiroba  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Marina Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
8. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Jessica Andrade
9. Maycee Barber  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Luana Pinheiro  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD