Glover Teixeira became a UFC champion at age 42 on his second try. Petr Yan returned to the top of a weight class he not long ago ruled. These are two of the most significant moves in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Teixeira dethroned Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight on Oct. 30, six years after the Brazilian had made an unsuccessful bid for the belt during the Jon Jones reign.
That same night, Yan, who had the bantamweight strap taken away from him via disqualification back in March, won an interim belt by defeating Cory Sandhagen. That sets up Yan for a rematch with Aljamain Sterling, who became champion when Yan landed an illegal knee in their title fight.
Aside from those fighters, several have either solidified their positions in their divisional top-10 or are newly ranked. There’s a lot of movement, with more sure to come.
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 Nov. 10.
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: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Ciryl Gane
2. Ciryl Gane 
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO3) Derrick Lewis, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Francis Ngannou
3. Stipe Miocic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Derrick Lewis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-8, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Ciryl Gane, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Chris Daukaus
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9
Last: W (UD) Marcin Tybura, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Chris Daukaus
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (TKO2) Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Derrick Lewis
8. Alistair Overeem
Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Corey Anderson, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Marcin Tybura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkov, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
On the strength of a dominant victory on Sept. 18, Anthony Smith is back in the light heavyweight top-10. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Glover Teixeira 
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 33-7
Last: W (Sub2) Jan Blachowicz, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 28-9
Last: L (Sub2) Glover Teixeira, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Ryan Bader, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov
4. Jiri Prochazka
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 28-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Aleksandar Rakic
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Julius Anglickas, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson
7. Anthony Smith
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 35-16
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Thiago Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 22-9
Last: W (UD) Johnny Walker, Oct. 2, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
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: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) Paulo Costa, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Derek Brunson
5. Derek Brunson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 23-7
Last: W (Sub3) Darren Till, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Darren Till
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4-1
Last: L (Sub3) Derek Brunson, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Jared Cannonier
8. Jack Hermansson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Edmen Shahbazyan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Gegard Mousasi
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 48-7-2
Last: W (TKO3) John Salter, Aug. 13, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Austin Vanderford
10. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Uriah Hall, July 31, 2021
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: TBD
2. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Jorge Masvidal
4. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Vicente Luque
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Michael Chiesa, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) Gilbert Burns, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yaroslav Amosov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Douglas Lima
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-10
Last: L (SD) Michael Page, Oct. 1, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Michael Chiesa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (Sub1) Vicente Luque, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Sean Brady
10. Jorge Masvidal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Leon Edwards
Once again, Dustin Poirier walked away a winner over Conor McGregor, this time at UFC 264. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Conor McGregor, July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Charles Oliveira
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 31-8, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Michael Chandler, May 15, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dustin Poirier
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (UD) Michael Chandler, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-1
Last: W (Sub1) Dan Hooker, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Michael Chandler
Promotion: UFC
Previous rankin g: 4
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Justin Gaethje, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Rafael dos Anjos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Gregor Gillespie
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 21-11
Last: L (Sub1) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Tony Ferguson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-6
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Yair Rodriguez
3. A.J. McKee
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub1) Patricio Freire, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-5
Last: L (Sub1) A.J. McKee, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD
7. Calvin Kattar
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18, 2019
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Max Holloway
9. Chan Sung Jung
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, June 19, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. TJ Dillashaw
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (UD) Petr Yan, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Rob Font
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) Cody Garbrandt, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Jose Aldo
6. Jose Aldo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-7
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Rob Font
7. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Cody Garbrandt
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) Rob Font, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Kai Kara-France
9. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-7-1
Last: W (KO3) Frankie Edgar, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Pedro Munhoz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Jose Aldo, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
Brandon Moreno defeated UFC men’s flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo, and they meet again on Dec. 11. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-5-2
Last: W (Sub3) Deiveson Figueiredo, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
2. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2-1
Last: L (Sub3) Brandon Moreno, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Brandon Moreno
3. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (mixed rules)
5. Askar Askarov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alex Perez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Cody Garbrandt
9. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (Sub2) Alexandre Pantoja, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Matt Schnell, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
Amanda Nunes owns two UFC championships, and she’ll defend the bantamweight strap on Dec. 11. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (Sub1) Megan Anderson, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Julianna Peña
2. Germaine de Randamie
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Irene Aldana
3. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (Sub3) Sara McMann, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Amanda Nunes
4. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie
6. Aspen Ladd
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 9-2
Last: L (UD) Norma Dumont, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yana Kunitskaya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-8
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
It’s a familiar visual: Valentina Shevchenko celebrating victory in UFC flyweight title bouts. Alex Menendez/Getty Images
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Katlyn Chookagian
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (TKO4) Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Jennifer Maia
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Joanne Calderwood
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: L (SD) Lauren Murphy, June 12, 2021
Next: Nov. 20 vs. Alexa Grasso
7. Juliana Velasquez
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (SD) Denise Kielholtz, July 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Viviane Araujo
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Taila Santos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
Rose Namajunas captured the UFC strawweight championship from Zhang Weili in April, and on Nov. 6 she beat Zhang again. AP Photo/Gary McCullough
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (SD) Zhang Weili, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Carla Esparza
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1-2
Last: W (UD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Carla Esparza, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Claudia Gadelha
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Nina Nunes
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 10-7
Last: L (Sub1) Mackenzie Dern, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD