UFC 321 had few highlights and ended anticlimactically, but Saturday’s event in Abu Dhabi did succeed in shuffling the ESPN divisional rankings.
The fighter making the biggest move is the one who was crowned a new champion, Mackenzie Dern. She defeated Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision to capture the strawweight title vacated by Zhang Weili, who goes for the women’s flyweight belt in less than three weeks. Dern moves up four spots to No. 2, right behind Zhang, who remains in the 115-pound rankings until she fights in her new division.
Jandiroba, the previous No. 2, moves down one spot.
The main event was one of two heavyweight bouts at UFC 321, and neither produced a change in the rankings. Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane remain Nos. 1 and 2 after their eye-poke no contest, and Alexander Volkov stays at No. 4 after his split-decision win over Jailton Almeida, who is still No. 6.
At light heavyweight, Azamat Murzakanov enters the rankings at No. 6 after a first-round knockout of Aleksandar Rakic, who drops two spots to No. 8.
Lastly, at men’s bantamweight, Umar Nurmagomedov moves up a spot to No. 3 after winning a unanimous decision over No. 6 Mario Bautista.
Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.
Results are current; rankings as of Oct. 28. 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 | Featherweight | Men’s bantamweight
Men’s flyweight | Women’s bantamweight | Women’s flyweight | Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Tom Aspinall 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
2. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct.25
Next: TBD
3. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD
4. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 39-11
Last: W (SD) vs. Jailton Almeida, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
5. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
6. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Renan Ferreira
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov
8. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Aug. 23
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Ante Delija
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Shamil Gaziev
10. Derrick Lewis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
2. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
3. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-5-1
Last: W (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 4
Next: TBD
4. Carlos Ulberg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, Sept. 27
Next: TBD
5. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Azamat Murzakanov 
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Aleksandar Rakić, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Sept. 27
Next: TBD
8. Aleksandar Rakić 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-6
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
9. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD
10. Corey Anderson
Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
3. Nassourdine Imavov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6
Next: TBD
4. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
5. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
6. Anthony Hernandez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
7. Caio Borralho
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sept. 6
Next: TBD
8. Brendan Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
9. Reinier de Ridder
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
10. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Jack Della Maddalena
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Islam Makhachev
2. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Ian Machado Garry
3. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Sean Brady
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Michael Morales
5. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Carlos Prates
6. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD
7. Ian Machado Garry
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Belal Muhammad
8. Michael Morales
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Sean Brady
9. Joaquin Buckley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Carlos Prates
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, Aug. 16
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Leon Edwards
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Jack Della Maddalena
2. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-11, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
Next: TBD
4. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD
6. Usman Nurmagomedov
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
7. Paddy Pimblett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD
8. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Benoît Saint Denis
9. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
Next: TBD
10. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: TBD
FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD
2. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
3. Diego Lopes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: TBD
4. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD
5. Lerone Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
6. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
7. Youssef Zalal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
8. Patricio Pitbull
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD
9. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
10. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
MEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 4
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Petr Yan
2. Sean O’Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Umar Nurmagomedov
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
4. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Mario Bautista
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Song Yadong
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
8. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
Next: TBD
9. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-11-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
10. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Payton Talbott
MEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Joshua Van
2. Joshua Van
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
3. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Manel Kape
4. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Tatsuro Taira
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD
6. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Thomas Assis, June 14
Next: Nov. 7 vs. Gerard Burns
7. Tatsuro Taira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Brandon Moreno
8. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Brandon Royval
9. Steve Erceg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ode’ Osbourne, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
10. Kai Asakura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Kayla Harrison
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: TBD
2. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD
4. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
5. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Yana Santos, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Ailin Perez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
7. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD
8. Mayra Bueno Silva
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Avila, Feb. 15
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
10. Nora Cornolle
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 2
Next: TBD
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Zhang Weili
2. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
3. Natalia Silva
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Tracy Cortez
5. Dakota Ditcheva
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD
6. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: TBD
7. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
8. Taila Santos
Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: PFL
Record: 25-8
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
2. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
3. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 22-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
4. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD
5. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD
6. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Sept. 13
Next: TBD
7. Gillian Robertson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: TBD
8. Loopy Godínez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
9. Iasmin Lucindo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
10. Tabatha Ricci
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
Next: TBD
