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MMA divisional rankings: Sergei Pavlovich is among several fighters making the right moves

Sergei Pavlovich made quick work of Derrick Lewis at UFC 277 to earn a top-10 spot at heavyweight. Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The headline fight result since the last time the ESPN divisional rankings were updated, a month ago, was Amanda Nunes' dominant victory over Julianna Peña at UFC 277 last weekend. The win earned Nunes the bantamweight championship she had once owned, making a two-division champ again. It also elevated her back up to the top of the ESPN women's pound-for-pound rankings and, naturally, reinstalled her at No. 1 in our top 10 at women's bantamweight.

But there are other significant moves in these divisional ranking.

At heavyweight, Sergei Pavlovich makes his rankings debut on the strength of Saturday's TKO of Derrick Lewis in under a minute.

At featherweight, Yair Rodriguez moves up several spots in the aftermath of his July 16 win over Brian Ortega.

There are other such moves sprinkled throughout these men's and women's top 10s.

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 Aug. 4.

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. Francis Ngannou  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: L (UD) Francis Ngannou, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Tai Tuivasa


3. Stipe Miocic  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD


4. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Chris Daukaus, March 26, 2022
Next: July 23 vs. Tom Aspinall


5. Tai Tuivasa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (KO2) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Ciryl Gane


6. Tom Aspinall  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-1
Last: W (TKO1) Derrick Lewis, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Derrick Lewis  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 26-10, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Sergei Pavlovich, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Alexander Volkov  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 35-10
Last: W (TKO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, June 4, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Ryan Bader  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 30-7, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Cheick Kongo, May 6, 2022
Next: TBD


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Jiri Prochazka  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 29-3-1
Last: W (Sub5) Glover Teixeira, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Glover Teixeira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-8
Last: L (Sub5) Jiri Prochazka, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Jan Blachowicz  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9
Last: W (TKO3) Aleksandar Rakic, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Corey Anderson  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: NC3 Vadim Nemkov, April 15, 2022
Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov


5. Aleksandar Rakic  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: L (TKO3) Jan Blachowicz, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Magomed Ankalaev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO2) Anthony Smith, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Vadim Nemkov  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: NC3 Corey Anderson, April 15, 2022
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson


8. Anthony Smith  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 36-16
Last: L (TKO2) Magomed Ankalaev, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Thiago Santos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-11
Last: L (TKO4) Jamahal Hill, Aug. 6, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Dominick Reyes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD


MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, July 2, 2022
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Alex Pereira


2. Robert Whittaker  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Marvin Vettori


3. Marvin Vettori  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) Paulo Costa, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Robert Whittaker


4. Jared Cannonier  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Paulo Costa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Luke Rockhold


6. Derek Brunson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (KO2) Jared Cannonier, Feb. 12, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Alex Pereira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 6-1
Last: W (KO1) Sean Strickland, July 2, 2022
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Israel Adesanya


8. Johnny Eblen  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (UD) Gegard Mousasi, June 24, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Sean Strickland  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: L (KO1) Alex Pereira, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Gegard Mousasi  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 49-8-2
Last: L (UD) Johnny Eblen, June 24, 2022
Next: TBD


WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Kamaru Usman  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Colby Covington, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Leon Edwards


2. Colby Covington  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, March 5, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Khamzat Chimaev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Gilbert Burns, April 9, 2022
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Nate Diaz


4. Leon Edwards  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Kamaru Usman


5. Gilbert Burns  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) Khamzat Chimaev, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Belal Muhammad  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Vicente Luque, April 16, 2022
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Sean Brady


7. Vicente Luque  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9-1
Last: L (KO3) Geoff Neal, Aug. 6, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Yaroslav Amosov  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Stephen Thompson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6-1
Last: L (UD) Belal Muhammad, Dec. 18, 2021
Next: TBD


10. Sean Brady  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) Michael Chiesa, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Belal Muhammad


LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-8, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Justin Gaethje, May 7, 2022
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Islam Makhachev


2. Dustin Poirier  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: TBD


3. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub1) Charles Oliveira, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Islam Makhachev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1
Last: W (TKO1) Bobby Green, Feb. 26, 2022
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Charles Oliveira


5. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD


6. Michael Chandler  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: W (KO2) Tony Ferguson, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Rafael Fiziev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 26-6
Last: W (KO5) Rafael dos Anjos, July 9, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Rafael dos Anjos  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 31-15
Last: L (KO5) Rafael Fiziev, July 9, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Mateusz Gamrot  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Arman Tsarukyan, June 25, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Arman Tsarukyan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) Mateusz Gamrot, June 25, 2022
Next: TBD


MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Patricio Freire  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 33-5
Last: W (UD) A.J. McKee, April 15, 2022
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Adam Borics


4. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Brian Ortega, July 16, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Brian Ortega  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Yair Rodriguez, July 16, 2022
Next: TBD


6. A.J. McKee  

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) Patricio Freire, April 15, 2022
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Spike Carlyle


7. Josh Emmett  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-2
Last: W (SD) Calvin Kattar, June 18, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Arnold Allen  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Dan Hooker, March 19, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Calvin Kattar  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 23-6
Last: L (SD) Josh Emmett, June 18, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Giga Chikadze  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: L (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Aljamain Sterling  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, April 9, 2022
Next: Sept. 10 vs. TJ Dillashaw


2. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) Aljamain Sterling, April 9, 2022
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Sean O'Malley


3. TJ Dillashaw  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Aljamain Sterling


4. Jose Aldo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 31-7
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, Dec. 4, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Merab Dvalishvili


5. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (UD) Petr Yan, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: Sept. 17 vs. Song Yadong


6. Marlon Vera  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, April 30, 2022
Next: Aug. 13 vs. Dominick Cruz


7. Merab Dvalishvili  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Aug. 20 vs. Jose Aldo


8. Sergio Pettis  

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (KO4) Kyoji Horiguchi, Dec. 3, 2021
Next: TBD


9. Rob Font  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (UD) Marlon Vera, April 30, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Dominick Cruz  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Dec. 11, 2021
Next: Aug. 13 vs. Marlon Vera


MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-2-1
Last: W (UD) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 22, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 20-6-2
Last: W (TKO3) Kai Kara-France, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Kai Kara-France  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-10, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Adriano Moraes  

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (Sub3) Yuya Wakamatsu, March 26, 2022
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Demetrious Johnson


5. Demetrious Johnson  

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: W (Sub2) Rodtang Jitmuangnon (mixed rules), March 26, 2022
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Adriano Moraes


6. Alexandre Pantoja  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 25-5
Last: W (Sub1) Alex Perez, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Askar Askarov  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-1-1
Last: L (UD) Kai Kara-France, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-6
Last: W (Sub1) Matt Schnell, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Rogerio Bontorin  

Promotion: Unsigned
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Brandon Royval, Jan. 15, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Matheus Nicolau  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-2-1
Last: W (UD) David Dvorak, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD


WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Amanda Nunes  

Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Julianna Peña, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Julianna Peña  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Ketlen Vieira  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) Holly Holm, May 21, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Holly Holm  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 14-6
Last: L (SD) Ketlen Vieira, May 21, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Raquel Pennington  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-8
Last: W (UD) Aspen Ladd, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Irene Aldana  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD


7. Yana Kunitskaya  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD


8. Aspen Ladd  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-3
Last: L (UD) Raquel Pennington, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Sara McMann  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Macy Chiasson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-2
Last: W (SD) Norma Dumont, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-3
Last: W (SD) Taila Santos, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Katlyn Chookagian  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: W (SD) Amanda Ribas, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Jessica Andrade  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: W (Sub1) Amanda Lemos, April 23, 2022
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Manon Fiorot


4. Lauren Murphy  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) Miesha Tate, July 16, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Taila Santos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: L (SD) Valentina Shevchenko, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


6. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: Bellator champ
Record: 17-7
Last: W (TKO4) Juliana Velasquez, April 22, 2022
Next: TBD


7. Manon Fiorot  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, March 26, 2022
Next: Sept. 3 vs. Jessica Andrade


8. Alexa Grasso  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (Sub1) Joanne Wood, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Viviane Araujo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-13
Last: W (UD) Andrea Lee, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Juliana Velasquez  

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-1
Last: L (TKO4) Liz Carmouche, April 22, 2022
Next: TBD


STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Carla Esparza  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-6
Last: W (SD) Rose Namajunas, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


2. Rose Namajunas  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD


3. Zhang Weili  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2
Last: W (KO2) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, June 11, 2022
Next: TBD


4. Marina Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1-2
Last: W (SD) Yan Xiaonan, March 5, 2022
Next: TBD


5. Yan Xiaonan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Marina Rodriguez, March 5, 2022
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Mackenzie Dern


6. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (SD) Tecia Torres, April 9, 2022
Next: Oct. 1 vs. Yan Xiaonan


7. Tecia Torres  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (SD) Mackenzie Dern, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD


8. Amanda Ribas  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-3
Last: L (SD) Katlyn Chookagian, May 14, 2022
Next: TBD


9. Amanda Lemos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2-1
Last: L (Sub1) Jessica Andrade, April 23, 2022
Next: TBD


10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-10
Last: L (Sub2) Amanda Lemos, July 16
Next: TBD