UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards controlled title challenger Colby Covington to pick up a unanimous decision victory in the main event at UFC 296 last weekend. As a result of Edwards' win, he remains atop the 170-pound rankings, and his win over the top challenger created an opening for a new potential opponent to step into the title conversation.
Enter Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Rakhmonov, who entered the week ranked No. 6 in Brett Okamoto's ESPN top 10, beat fellow ranked opponent Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson to enter the division's top 5 at No. 4. Rakhmonov (18-0) has now finished all 18 each of his six opponents in the Octagon (five submissions, one knockout), he could be on the shortlist of fighters in line for a title shot.
At light heavyweight, after an impressive Round 3 knockout win over Anthony Smith, Khalil Rountree Jr. takes Smith's No. 10 spot in the rankings. And Bellator women's flyweight Juliana Velasquez and UFC men's flyweight Matt Schnell, who were previously both ranked No. 10 in their respective divisions have fallen out of the rankings due to inactivity.
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 Dec. 20. 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. Tom Aspinall 
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jon Jones
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Jailton Almeida
6. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Tai Tuivasa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Alexander Volkov, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Marcin Tybura
8. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Derrick Lewis, Nov. 4, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Curtis Blaydes
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Ryan Bader
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 9-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jan Blachowicz
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
5. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: NC vs. Johnny Walker, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Johnny Walker
6. Vadim Nemkov
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Corey Anderson
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) vs. Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Nikita Krylov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Johnny Walker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: NC vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
10. Khalil Rountree Jr. 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 37-19
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Sean Strickland
3. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Israel Adesanya, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Dricus Du Plessis
6. Marvin Vettori
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Johnny Eblen
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 14-0
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Fabian Edwards, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Brendan Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Derek Brunson
Promotion: PFL
Record: 24-9
Last: W (UD) vs. Ray Cooper III, Nov. 24, 2023
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Leon Edwards
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Belal Muhammad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Khamzat Chimaev 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 13-0
Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Gilbert Burns
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Jack Della Maddalena
7. Colby Covington
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 17-4
Last: L (UD) Leon Edwards vs. , Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Jason Jackson
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-4
Last: W (KO3) vs. Yaroslav Amosov, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Stephen Thompson
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 17-6-1
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Geoff Neal
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: March 9 vs Ian Garry
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Dustin Poirier
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) vs. Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Beneil Dariush
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Rafael Fiziev, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
8. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-8
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Dan Hooker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12
Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Jalin Turner
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-3
Last: L (KO1) vs. Islam Makhachev, Oct. 21, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Ilia Topuria
2. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-7
Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Patricio Freire
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) vs. Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
6. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Arnold Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Movsar Evloev
8. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Arnold Allen
9. Giga Chikadze
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Bryce Mitchell
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: L (KO1) Josh Emmett, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Sean O'Malley
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Marlon Vera
2. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Henry Cejudo
4. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Song Yadong
7. Patchy Mix
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Sean O'Malley
9. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 23-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Amir Albazi
3. Demetrious Johnson
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Amir Albazi
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Brandon Moreno
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Adriano Moraes
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Matheus Nicolau
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Manel Kape
9. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Matheus Nicolau
10. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
2. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Macy Chiasson
3. Holly Holm
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Irene Aldana
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Sara McMann
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Yana Santos
7. Pannie Kianzad
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: Jan. 13 vs. Norma Dumont
10. Miesha Tate
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-9
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3-1
Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4-1
Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 26, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 20-7
Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Lauren Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Maycee Barber
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: March 9 vs. Katlyn Chookagian
10. Viviane Araujo
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jennifer Maia, Oct. 14, 2023
Next: Feb. 2 vs. Natalia Silva
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Tatiana Suarez
3. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: Feb. 17 vs. Amanda Lemos
5. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Marina Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Jessica Andrade
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Jessica Andrade, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Luana Pinheiro, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Luana Pinheiro
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBD