Dominick Reyes did not become UFC light heavyweight champion in his Feb. 8 fight against Jon Jones. But Reyes gave the all-time great the fight of his life, so much so that there's been talk of a rematch. And despite the loss, the big Californian's performance also earned him a jump in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Reyes is not the only 205-pounder to make a statement. Jan Blachowicz did it the conventional way -- with a victory. One week after Reyes came up big, the Polish fighter made even more noise with a first-round knockout of top-five light heavyweight Corey Anderson. That enabled Blachowicz to also make an upward move in the division.
There's movement elsewhere as well. Check out my rankings within each MMA weight division by clicking on the links below.
You might notice differences between these and my pound-for-pound rankings. The divisional ones are based entirely on results. So while I have Rose Namajunas ahead of Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade on my pound-for-pound list, because I believe she is the best fighter of three, I have Jedrzejczyk ahead in my strawweight rankings because of her most recent showings, including her split-decision loss to champion Zhang Weili. For me, the criteria are different.
For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of March 11.
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. Stipe Miocic  
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO4) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
2. Daniel Cormier  
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Stipe Miocic, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
3. Francis Ngannou  
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) Junior dos Santos, June 29
Next: March 28 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
4. Curtis Blaydes  
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Jan. 25
Next: June 20 vs. Alexander Volkov
5. Junior dos Santos  
Record: 21-7
Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
6. Derrick Lewis  
Record: 23-7
Last: W (UD) Ilir Latifi, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
7. Alexander Volkov  
Record: 31-7
Last: W (UD) Greg Hardy, Nov. 9
Next: June 20 vs. Curtis Blaydes
8. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
9. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO5) Alistair Overeem, Dec. 7
Next: March 28 vs. Francis Ngannou
10. Alistair Overeem  
Record: 45-18, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO5) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Dec. 7
Next: April 11 vs. Walt Harris
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jon Jones  
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
2. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: May 9 vs. Vadim Nemkov
3. Dominick Reyes  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-1
Last: L (UD) Jon Jones, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
4. Jan Blachowicz  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 26-8
Last: W (KO1) Corey Anderson, Feb. 15
Next: TBD
5. Anthony Smith  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 32-14
Last: W (SUB4) Alexander Gustafsson, June 1
Next: April 25 vs. Glover Teixeira
6. Thiago Santos  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-7
Last: L (SD) Jon Jones, July 6
Next: TBD
7. Corey Anderson  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 13-5
Last: L (KO1) Jan Blachowicz, Feb. 15
Next: TBD
8. Volkan Oezdemir  
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Aleksandar Rakic, Dec. 21
Next: TBD
9. Glover Teixeira  
Record: 30-7
Last: W (SD) Nikita Krylov, Sept. 14
Next: April 25 vs. Anthony Smith
10. Aleksandar Rakic  
Record: 12-2
Last: L (SD) Volkan Oezdemir, Dec. 21
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, March 7
Next: TBD
2. Robert Whittaker  
Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Oct. 6
Next: Aug. 15 vs Darren Till
3. Paulo Costa  
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
4. Yoel Romero  
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier  
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO2) Jack Hermansson, Sept. 28
Next: TBD
6. Darren Till  
Record: 18-2-1
Last: W (SD) Kelvin Gastelum, Nov. 2
Next: Aug. 15 vs Robert Whittaker
7. Kelvin Gastelum  
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Darren Till, Nov. 2
Next: TBD
8. Jack Hermansson  
Record: 20-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jared Cannonier, Sept. 28
Next: May 2 vs. Chris Weidman
9. Ronaldo Souza  
Record: 26-8 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Nov. 16
Next: April 18 vs. Uriah Hall
10. Rafael Lovato Jr.  
Record: 10-0
Last: W (MD) Gegard Mousasi, June 22
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman  
Record: 16-1
Last: W (TKO5) Colby Covington, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
2. Jorge Masvidal  
Record: 35-13
Last: W (TKO3) Nate Diaz, Nov. 2
Next: TBD
3. Colby Covington  
Record: 15-2
Last: L (TKO5) Kamaru Usman, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
4. Douglas Lima  
Record: 32-7
Last: W (UD) Rory MacDonald, Oct. 26
Next: May 9 vs. Gegard Mousasi
5. Tyron Woodley  
Record: 19-4-1
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, March 2
Next: March 21 vs. Leon Edwards
6. Leon Edwards  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20
Next: March 21 vs. Tyron Woodley
7. Rory MacDonald  
Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26
Next: TBD
8. Stephen Thompson  
Record: 15-4-1
Last: W (UD) Vicente Luque, Nov. 2
Next: TBD
9. Michael Chiesa  
Previous ranking: None
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
10. Demian Maia  
Previous ranking: None
Record: 28-9
Last: W (SUB3) Ben Askren, Oct. 26
Next: March 14 vs. Gilbert Burns
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov  
Record: 28-0
Last: W (SUB3) Dustin Poirier, Sept. 7
Next: April 18 vs. Tony Ferguson
2. Tony Ferguson  
Record: 25-3
Last: W (TKO2) Donald Cerrone, June 8
Next: April 18 vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
3. Dustin Poirier  
Record: 25-6
Last: L (SUB3) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
4. Justin Gaethje  
Record: 21-2
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Sept. 14
Next: TBD
5. Dan Hooker  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 20-8
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
6. Paul Felder  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-5
Last: L (SD) Dan Hooker, Feb. 22
Next: TBD
7. Conor McGregor  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
8. Michael Chandler  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 20-5
Last: W (KO1) Sydney Outlaw, Dec. 28
Next: TBD
9. Patricio Freire  
Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: March 13 vs. Pedro Carvalho
10. Kevin Lee  
Record: 18-5
Last: W (KO1) Gregor Gillespie, Nov. 2
Next: March 14 vs. Charles Oliveira
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway  
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
3. Brian Ortega  
Record: 14-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Max Holloway, Dec. 8
Next: TBA
4. Patricio Freire  
Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD vs. Pedro Carvalho
5. Zabit Magomedsharipov  
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9
Next: TBD
6. Yair Rodriguez  
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
7. Chan Sung Jung  
Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Frankie Edgar, Dec. 21
Next: TBD
8. Josh Emmett  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO2) Mirsad Bektic, July 13
Next: TBD
9. Renato Moicano  
Record: 13-3-1
Last: L (TKO1) Chan Suing Jung, June 22
Next: TBD
10. Calvin Kattar  
Record: 20-4
Last: L (UD) Zabit Magomedsharipov, Nov. 9
Next: April 18 vs. Jeremy Stephens
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Henry Cejudo  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO3) Marlon Moraes, June 8
Next: May 9 vs. Jose Aldo
2. Marlon Moraes  
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (SD) Jose Aldo, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
3. Aljamain Sterling  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, June 8
Next: TBD
4. Petr Yan  
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO3) Urijah Faber, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
5. Jose Aldo  
Record: 28-6
Last: L (SD) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 14
Next: May 9 vs. Henry Cejudo
6. Dominick Cruz  
Record: 22-2
Last: L (UD) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 30, 2016
Next: TBD
7. Cory Sandhagen  
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) Raphael Assuncao, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
8. Raphael Assuncao  
Record: 27-7
Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 17
Next: March 28 vs. Cody Garbrandt
9. Pedro Munhoz  
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Aljamain Sterling, June 8
Next: TBD
10. Cody Garbrandt  
Record: 11-3
Last: L (TKO1) Pedro Munhoz, March 2
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Henry Cejudo  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO3) Marlon Moraes, June 8
Next: May 9 vs. Jose Aldo
2. Demetrious Johnson  
Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Dannyu Kingad, Oct. 12
Next: April 11 vs. Adriano Moraes
3. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, Feb. 29
Next: TBD
4. Joseph Benavidez  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 28-6
Last: L (TKO2) Deiveson Figueiredo, Feb. 29
Next: TBD
5. Alexandre Pantoja  
Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Matt Schnell, Dec. 21
Next: TBD
6. Jussier Formiga  
Record: 23-6
Last: L (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, June 29
Next: TBD
7. Rogerio Bontorin  
Record: 16-2
Last: L (UD) Ray Borg, Feb. 15
Next: TBD
8. Alex Perez  
Record: 23-5
Last: W (SUB1) Jordan Espinosa, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
9. Sergio Pettis  
Record: 19-5
Last: W (SUB1) Alfred Khashakyan, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
10. Brandon Moreno  
Record: 16-5-1
Last: W (UD) Kai Kara-France, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes  
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) Germaine de Randamie, Dec. 14
Next: May 9 vs. Felicia Spencer
2. Germaine de Randamie  
Record: 9-4
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
3. Aspen Ladd  
Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7
Next: March 28 vs. Julianna Peña
4. Julianna Peña  
Record: 9-3
Last: W (UD) Nicco Montaño, July 13
Next: March 28 vs. Aspen Ladd
5. Irene Aldana  
Record: 12-5
Last: W (KO1) Ketlen Vieira, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
6. Holly Holm  
Record: 13-5
Last: W (UD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
7. Ketlen Vieira  
Record: 10-1
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, Dec. 14
Next: May 9 vs. Marion Reneau
8. Raquel Pennington  
Record: 9-8
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
9. Cat Zingano  
Record: 10-4
Last: L (TKO1) Megan Anderson, Dec. 29
Next: TBD
10. Yana Kunitskaya  
Record: 15-5, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Aspen Ladd, Dec. 7
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO3) Katlyn Chookagian, Feb. 8
Next: June 6 vs. Joanne Calderwood
2. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  
Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Kate Jackson, Dec. 21
Next: TBD
3. Katlyn Chookagian  
Record: 13-3
Last: L (TKO3) Valentina Shevchenko, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
4. Joanne Calderwood  
Record: 14-4
Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Sept. 7
Next: June 6 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
5. Liz Carmouche  
Record: 13-7
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Aug. 10
Next: May 29 vs. Mandy Bohm
6. Jennifer Maia  
Record: 17-6-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 2
Next: TBD
7. Roxanne Modafferi  
Record: 23-16
Last: W (UD) Maycee Barber, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
8. Jessica Eye  
Record: 15-7, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo
Next: TBD
9. Viviane Araujo  
Record: 8-2
Last: L (UD) Jessica Eye, Dec. 14
Next: TBD
10. Lauren Murphy  
Previous ranking: None
Record: 12-4
Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili  
Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
Next: TBD
2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7
Next: TBD
3. Jessica Andrade  
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 20-7
Last: L (TKO1) Zhang Weili, Aug. 31
Next: April 18 vs. Rose Namajunas
4. Rose Namajunas  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 8-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, May 11
Next: April 18 vs. Jessica Andrade
5. Tatiana Suarez  
Record: 9-0
Last: W (UD) Nina Ansaroff, June 8
Next: TBD
6. Nina Ansaroff  
Record: 10-6
Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8
Next: TBD
7. Michelle Waterson  
Record: 17-7
Last: L (UD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Oct. 12
Next: April 11 vs. Carla Esparza
8. Claudia Gadelha  
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Randa Markos, July 6
Next: TBD
9. Carla Esparza
Record: 15-6
Last: W (MD) Alexa Grasso, Sept. 21
Next: April 11 vs. Michelle Waterson
10. Marina Rodriguez
Record: 12-0-2
Last: MD Cynthia Cavillo, Dec. 7
Next: TBD