Alexandre Pantoja had defeated Brandon Moreno twice before, but last Saturday at UFC 290, Moreno really put Pantoja to the test in their men's flyweight title bout.
Pantoja passed the best, though by the slimmest of margins, in a split-decision victory that made him the champion.
With that ascension, Pantoja also takes over the top spot among 125-pound men in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
There's also a change at the top of the women's bantamweight top 10, caused by the retirement of Amanda Nunes, who reigned in that UFC division as well as featherweight. With "The Lioness" gone, everyone else in the rankings moves up a spot. Julianna Peña takes over at No. 1, and Pannie Kianzad claims the final spot.
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 July 12. 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: Nov. 11 vs. Stipe Miocic
2. Sergei Pavlovich  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Serghei Spivac
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: July 22 vs. Marcin Tybura
7. Serghei Spivac  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Ciryl Gane
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. Jailton Almeida  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (SUB1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jamahal Hill  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-9-1
Last: D (SD) Magomed Ankalaev, Dec.10, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Magomed Ankalaev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Vadim Nemkov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Corey Anderson  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Nikita Krylov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Johnny Walker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Anthony Smith  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-18
Last: L (UD) Johnny Walker, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Phil Davis  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Corey Anderson, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Spann  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8
Last: L (Sub1) Nikita Krylov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (TKO2) Alex Pereira, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Dricus Du Plessis
2. Alex Pereira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-2
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, April 8, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Jan Blachowicz
3. Dricus du Plessis  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Israel Adesanya
4. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Jube 17, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Paulo Costa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Ikram Aliskerov
8. Johnny Eblen  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards
9. Sean Strickland  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-5
Last: W (TKO2) Abus Magomedov, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Derek Brunson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
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. Belal Muhammad  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Khamzat Chimaev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Gilbert Burns  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
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: July 29 vs. Michel Pereira
9. Geoff Neal  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Ian Garry
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: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
Next: July 29 vs. Dustin Poirier
5. Dustin Poirier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: July 29 vs. Justin Gaethje
6. Michael Chandler  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD vs. Conor McGregor
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. Arman Tsarukyan  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) Joachim Silva, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Rafael dos Anjos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-14
Last: W (Sub2) Bryan Barberena, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: Aug. 12 vs. Vicente Luque
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-2
Last: W (TKO3) Yair Rodriguez, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: W (UD) Arnold Allen, April 15, 2023
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Chan Sung Jung
3. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-6
Last: L (UD) Sergio Pettis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
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: July 30 vs. Patricky Freire
7. Ilia Topuria  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Josh Emmett  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Arnold Allen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Calvin Kattar  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-3
Last: W (SD) Henry Cejudo, May 6, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Sean O'Malley
2. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Henry Cejudo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Sean O'Malley  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Aljamain Sterling
5. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (SD) Marlon Vera, March 25, 2023
Next: Aug. 5 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
6. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sergio Pettis  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Patricio Freire, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Patchy Mix
8. Marlon Vera  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8-1
Last: L (SD) Cory Sandhagen, March 25, 2023
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Pedro Munhoz
9. Rob Font  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-6
Last: W (TKO1) Adrian Yanez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Patchy Mix  
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Sergio Pettis
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja  
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Brandon Moreno  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Demetrious Johnson  
Promotion: One Championship champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Amir Albazi  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-France  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Manel Kape
7. Adriano Moraes  
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Matheus Nicolau  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Manel Kape  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) David Dvorak, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Kai Kara-France
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Julianna Peña  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: July 22 vs. Pannie Kianzad
4. Holly Holm  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-6
Last: W (UD) Yana Santos, March 25, 2023
Next: July 15 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
5. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Yana Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Sara McMann  
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Macy Chiasson  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Norma Dumont  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 9-2
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, April 22, 2023
Next: July 15 vs. Chelsea Chandler
10. Pannie Kianzad  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-6
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, April 26, 2022
Next: July 22 vs. Ketlen Vieira
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: Sept. 16 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 16. vs. Alexa Grasso
3. Manon Fiorot  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Rose Namajunas
4. Erin Blanchfield  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11
Last: L (KO1) Yan Xiaonan, May 6, 2023
Next: Aug. 5 vs. Tatiana Suarez
6. Liz Carmouche  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Katlyn Chookagian  
Promotion: UFC
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. Juliana Velasquez  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Jennifer Maia  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9-1
Last: W (UD) Casey O'Neill, March 18, 2023
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: Aug. 19 vs. Amanda Lemos
2. Carla Esparza  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Amanda Lemos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2-1
Last: W (TKO3) Marina Rodriguez, Nov. 5, 2022
Next: Aug. 19 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Virna Jandiroba  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Amanda Ribas  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (TKO2) Maycee Barber, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Luana Pinheiro  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-11
Last: L (SD) Luana Pinheiro, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD