It could have been decision time, if only the timing were different.
When Jon Jones won the UFC championship on Saturday night, did that make him the best heavyweight in the world? Not according to fans of Francis Ngannou, who relinquished the title in January after fighting out his UFC contract to pursue opportunities in boxing and other MMA promotions.
Jones is widely considered the greatest ever in MMA, based on his decade of dominance at light heavyweight. Ngannou is a breathtaking knockout artist. Who's the baddest man?
It turns out that question will not be addressed in these ESPN divisional rankings, as Ngannou is ineligible because he has not competed in over a year -- his final title defense was in January 2022. So he's out ... until he books his next MMA fight.
The same is true for several other fighters who have been top-10 regulars, including another former UFC heavyweight champ, Stipe Miocic, who last fought in 2021. The UFC has said Miocic will be Jones' first title challenger, perhaps this summer, so once that fight is on the books, he soon could be back in these rankings.
There's also a new No. 1 at women's flyweight, after Alexa Grasso dethroned longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. There's some rankings movement in all but a few weight class' top 10s.
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 March 8. 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.
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Sergei Pavlovich  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1
Last: W (KO1) Tai Tuivasa, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Curtis Blaydes
4. Curtis Blaydes  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Tom Aspinall, July 23, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Sergei Pavlovich
5. Tai Tuivasa  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Tom Aspinall  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-3
Last: L (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, July 23, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Serghei Spivac  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
8. Alexander Volkov  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 36-10
Last: W (TKO1) Alexandr Romanov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 13-4
Last: W (TKO1) Chris Daukaus, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
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: TBD
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: TBD
8. Rob Wilkinson  
Promotion: PFL
Record: 17-2
Last: W (TKO2) Omari Akhmedov, Nov. 25, 2022
Next: April 1 vs. Thiago Santos
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. Alex Pereira  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 7-1
Last: W (TKO5) Israel Adesanya, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: April 8 vs. Israel Adesanya
2. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-2
Last: L (TKO5) Alex Pereira, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: April 8 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, Sept. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-2
Last: W (TKO2) Derek Brunson, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Paulo Costa  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
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: TBD
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
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Gilbert Burns  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-5
Last: W (Sub1) Neil Magny, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: April 8 vs. Jorge Masvidal
5. Belal Muhammad  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 22-3, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Sean Brady, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
6. Yaroslav Amosov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: TBD
7. Shavkat Rakhmonov  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
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
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: May 6 vs. Beneil Dariush
3. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4-1
Last: W (UD) Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: May 6 vs. Charles Oliveira
4. Dustin Poirier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub3) Michael Chandler, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4
Last: W (MD) Rafael Fiziev, March 18, 2023
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
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
9. Rafael dos Anjos  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
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: TBD
2. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) Josh Emmett, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 23-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, July 2, 2022
Next: April 15 vs. Arnold Allen
4. Patricio Freire  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 35-5
Last: W (UD) Kleber Koike Erbst, Dec. 31, 2022
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: 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: 19-1
Last: W (TKO2) Calvin Kattar, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: April 15 vs. Max Holloway
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. Sean O'Malley  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Petr Yan, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Marlon Vera  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7-1
Last: W (KO4) Dominick Cruz, Aug. 13, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Cory Sandhagen
4. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (TKO4) Song Yadong, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Marlon Vera
7. Rob Font  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-6
Last: L (UD) Marlon Vera, April 30, 2022
Next: April 8 vs. Adrian Yanez
8. Raufeon Stots  
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-1
Last: W (SD) Danny Sabatello, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 22 vs. Patchy Mix
9. Song Yadong  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 19-7-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Cory Sandhagen, Sept. 17, 2022
Next: April 27 vs. Ricky Simon
10. Dominick Cruz  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
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: TBD
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: TBD
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: TBD
7. Askar Askarov  
Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 14-1-1
Last: L (UD) Kai Kara-France, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (Sub1) Matt Schnell, May 7, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Matheus Nicolau  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2-1
Last: W (TKO2) Matt Schnell, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin  
Promotion: Unsigned
Record: 16-5, 2 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Yuki Motoya, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
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: TBD
2. Julianna Peña  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-5
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, July 30, 2022
Next: TBD
3. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: L (SD) Raquel Pennington, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Holly Holm  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (SD) Ketlen Vieira, May 21, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. Yana Santos
6. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: W (KO3) Macy Chiasson, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Yana Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: March 25 vs. Holly Holm
8. Sara McMann  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (UD) Karol Rosa, March 26, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Macy Chiasson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
10. Pannie Kianzad  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, April 16, 2022
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexa Grasso  
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub4) Valentina Shevchenko, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
2. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
3. Manon Fiorot  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
5. Jessica Andrade  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 24-10
Last: L (Sub2) Erin Blanchfield, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: TBD
6. Katlyn Chookagian  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Liz Carmouche  
Promotion: Bellator champ
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-7
Last: W (Sub2) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: April 21 vs. DeAnna Bennett
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: TBD
6. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (MD) Yan Xiaonan, Oct. 1, 2022
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (SD) Mackenzie Dern, April 9, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
10. Michelle Waterson-Gomez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-10
Last: L (Sub2) Amanda Lemos, July 16
Next: April 8 vs. Luana Pinheiro