Apr 25, 2023

Sergei Pavlovich has established a trend.

His first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday was his sixth victory in a row -- all by knockout and all in the first round.

This latest TKO, which came 3:08 into the bout after Pavlovich dropped Blaydes with a right hand for the second time, elevates the Russian in the latest ESPN heavyweight rankings.

Now Pavlovich sits behind only UFC champion Jon Jones in the top 10. The UFC made no announcement about the heavyweight division's immediate future following Saturday's fight, but Pavlovich has an idea. "Hey, where's my belt?" he said through an interpreter in his postfight interview.

Another fighter scored a first-round knockout in a Saturday main event -- and earned two belts for it. Patchy Mix knocked out Raufeon Stots at Bellator 295 to capture the promotion's interim bantamweight title and the championship of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix. The win also gave Mix a spot in the ESPN top 10 at 135 pounds.

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 April 25. In order 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) Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

4. Curtis Blaydes

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Tai Tuivasa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD

6. Tom Aspinall

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

7. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Alexander Volkov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-10
Last: W (TKO1) Alexandr Romanov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Ryan Bader

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD

10. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO1) Chris Daukaus, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Jailton Almeida

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Jiri Prochazka

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

2. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Jan Blachowicz

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9-1
Last: D (SD) Magomed Ankalaev, Dec.10, 2022
Next: TBD

4. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD

5. Vadim Nemkov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 16-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Corey Anderson, Nov. 18, 2022
Next: June 16 vs. Yoel Romero

6. Aleksandar Rakic

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

7. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 16-6, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Vadim Nemkov, Nov. 18, 2022
Next: June 16 vs. Phil Davis

8. Rob Wilkinson

Promotion: PFL
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, April 1, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Nikita Krylov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD

10. Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-17
Last: L (TKO2) Magomed Ankalaev, July 30, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Johnny Walker

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (TKO2) Alex Pereira, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Robert Whittaker

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: July 8 vs. Dricus Du Plessis

4. Marvin Vettori

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6-1
Last: W (UD) Roman Dolidze, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Jared Cannonier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (SD) Sean Strickland, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD

6. Dricus du Plessis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (TKO2) Derek Brunson, March 4, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Robert Whittaker

7. Paulo Costa

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: TBD

8. Johnny Eblen

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Sean Strickland

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) Nassourdine Imavov, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: July 1 vs. Abus Magomedov

10. Gegard Mousasi

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 49-8-2
Last: L (UD) Johnny Eblen, June 24, 2022
Next: May 12 vs. Fabian Edwards

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Leon Edwards

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Kamaru Usman, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Kamaru Usman

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (MD) Leon Edwards, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD

4. Gilbert Burns

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, April 8, 2023
Next: May 6 vs. Belal Muhammad

5. Belal Muhammad

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Sean Brady, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Gilbert Burns

6. Yaroslav Amosov

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: TBD

7. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (Sub3) Geoff Neal, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Stephen Thompson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: W (TKO4) Kevin Holland, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD

9. Geoff Neal

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

10. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1
Last: L (TKO2) Belal Muhammad, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Charles Oliveira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Beneil Dariush

3. Beneil Dariush

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4-1
Last: W (UD) Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Charles Oliveira

4. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD

6. Michael Chandler

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD

7. Rafael Fiziev

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: L (MD) Justin Gaethje, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Rafael dos Anjos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-14
Last: W (Sub2) Bryan Barberena, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD

10. Arman Tsarukyan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Damir Ismagulov, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: TBD

MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-2
Last: L (UD) Islam Makhachev, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Yair Rodriguez

2. Max Holloway

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 24-7
Last: W (UD) Arnold Allen, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Yair Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) Josh Emmett, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Alexander Volkanovski

4. Patricio Freire

Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-5
Last: W (UD) Kleber Koike Erbst, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: June 16 vs. Sergio Pettis

5. Brian Ortega

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

6. A.J. McKee

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD

7. Josh Emmett

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: L (Sub2) Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Arnold Allen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Calvin Kattar

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD

10. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (Sub2) Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Aljamain Sterling

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO2) TJ Dillashaw, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Henry Cejudo

2. Merab Dvalishvili

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Sean O'Malley

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD

4. Cory Sandhagen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (SD) Marlon Vera, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Petr Yan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD

6. Marlon Vera

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8-1
Last: L (SD) Cory Sandhagen, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD

7. Rob Font

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO1) Adrian Yanez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Patchy Mix

Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Song Yadong

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Cory Sandhagen, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: April 29 vs. Ricky Simon

10. Dominick Cruz

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: L (KO4) Marlon Vera, Aug. 13, 2022
Next: TBD

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Brandon Moreno

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-6-2
Last: W (TKO3) Deiveson Figueiredo, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: July 8 vs. Alexandre Pantoja

2. Demetrious Johnson

Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 31-4-1
Last: W (KO4) Adriano Moraes, Aug. 26, 2022
Next: May 5 vs. Adriano Moraes

3. Deiveson Figueiredo

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD

4. Kai Kara-France

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-10, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, July 30, 2022
Next: June 3 vs. Amir Albazi

5. Adriano Moraes

Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-4
Last: L (KO4) Demetrious Johnson, Aug. 26, 2022
Next: May 5 vs. Demetrious Johnson

6. Alexandre Pantoja

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (Sub1) Alex Perez, July 30, 2022
Next: July 8 vs. Brandon Moreno

7. Brandon Royval

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Matheus Nicolau

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Rogerio Bontorin

Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 16-5, 2 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Yuki Motoya, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD

10. Amir Albazi

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (KO3) Alessandro Costa, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: June 3 vs. Kai Kara-France

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Amanda Nunes

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Julianna Peña, July 30, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Julianna Peña

2. Julianna Peña

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: June 10 vs. Amanda Nunes

3. Raquel Pennington

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: May 20 vs. Irene Aldana

4. Ketlen Vieira

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Holly Holm

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (UD) Yana Santos, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD

6. Irene Aldana

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (KO3) Macy Chiasson, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: May 20 vs. Raquel Pennington

7. Yana Santos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, March 25, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Sara McMann

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Macy Chiasson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD

10. Norma Dumont

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexa Grasso

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub4) Valentina Shevchenko, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Valentina Shevchenko

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Manon Fiorot

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD

5. Jessica Andrade

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-10
Last: L (Sub2) Erin Blanchfield, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: May 6 vs. Yan Xiaonan

6. Liz Carmouche

Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD

7. Katlyn Chookagian

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD

8. Lauren Murphy

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Taila Santos

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

10. Juliana Velasquez

Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-2
Last: W (Sub2) Carla Esparza, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD

2. Carla Esparza

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD

3. Rose Namajunas

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

4. Amanda Lemos

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2-1
Last: W (TKO3) Marina Rodriguez, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: TBD

5. Marina Rodriguez

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2-2
Last: L (TKO3) Amanda Lemos, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Virna Jandiroba

6. Yan Xiaonan

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Jessica Andrade

7. Mackenzie Dern

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (MD) Yan Xiaonan, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: May 13 vs. Angela Hill

8. Amanda Ribas

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD

9. Luana Pinheiro

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD

10. Virna Jandiroba

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 14, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Marina Rodriguez

Mma divisional rankings ufc bellator pfl rankings weight class

2023-04-28 05:01:58