Glover Teixeira became a UFC champion at age 42 on his second try. Petr Yan returned to the top of a weight class he not long ago ruled. These are two of the most significant moves in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Teixeira dethroned Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight on Oct. 30, six years after the Brazilian had made an unsuccessful bid for the belt during the Jon Jones reign.
That same night, Yan, who had the bantamweight strap taken away from him via disqualification back in March, won an interim belt by defeating Cory Sandhagen. That sets up Yan for a rematch with Aljamain Sterling, who became champion when Yan landed an illegal knee in their title fight.
Aside from those fighters, several have either solidified their positions in their divisional top-10 or are newly ranked. There's a lot of movement, with more sure to come.
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 Nov. 10.
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. Francis Ngannou  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Ciryl Gane
2. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO3) Derrick Lewis, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Francis Ngannou
3. Stipe Miocic  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Derrick Lewis  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-8, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Ciryl Gane, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Chris Daukaus
5. Curtis Blaydes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9
Last: W (UD) Marcin Tybura, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Chris Daukaus  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (TKO2) Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Derrick Lewis
8. Alistair Overeem  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-7, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Corey Anderson, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Marcin Tybura  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkov, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Glover Teixeira  
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 33-7
Last: W (Sub2) Jan Blachowicz, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 28-9
Last: L (Sub2) Glover Teixeira, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Corey Anderson  
Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 16-5
Last: W (TKO1) Ryan Bader, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Vadim Nemkov
4. Jiri Prochazka  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 28-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Aleksandar Rakic  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Vadim Nemkov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Julius Anglickas, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Corey Anderson
7. Anthony Smith  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 35-16
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Magomed Ankalaev  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Volkan Oezdemir, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Thiago Santos
9. Thiago Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 22-9
Last: W (UD) Johnny Walker, Oct. 2, 2021
Next: March 12 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
10. Dominick Reyes  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Marvin Vettori  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (UD) Paulo Costa, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Jared Cannonier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Derek Brunson
5. Derek Brunson  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 23-7
Last: W (Sub3) Darren Till, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Paulo Costa  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Oct. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Darren Till  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4-1
Last: L (Sub3) Derek Brunson, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Jared Cannonier
8. Jack Hermansson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Edmen Shahbazyan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Gegard Mousasi  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 48-7-2
Last: W (TKO3) John Salter, Aug. 13, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Austin Vanderford
10. Sean Strickland  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Uriah Hall, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Colby Covington, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Gilbert Burns  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Leon Edwards  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Colby Covington  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Vicente Luque  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Michael Chiesa, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Stephen Thompson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) Gilbert Burns, July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Belal Muhammad
7. Yaroslav Amosov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Douglas Lima  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-10
Last: L (SD) Michael Page, Oct. 1, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Michael Chiesa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) Sean Brady, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Jorge Masvidal  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: TBD
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Dustin Poirier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Conor McGregor, July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Charles Oliveira
2. Charles Oliveira  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 31-8, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Michael Chandler, May 15, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dustin Poirier
3. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (UD) Michael Chandler, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Islam Makhachev
5. Islam Makhachev  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-1
Last: W (Sub1) Dan Hooker, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: Feb. 26 vs. Beneil Dariush
6. Michael Chandler  
Promotion: UFC
Previous rankin g: 4
Record: 22-7
Last: L (UD) Justin Gaethje, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Rafael dos Anjos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Gregor Gillespie  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Dan Hooker  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 21-11
Last: L (Sub1) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Tony Ferguson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-6
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6
Last: W (UD) Yair Rodriguez, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD
3. A.J. McKee  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub1) Patricio Freire, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Brian Ortega  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Patricio Freire  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-5
Last: L (Sub1) A.J. McKee, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Zabit Magomedsharipov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD
7. Calvin Kattar  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Nov. 13, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Chan Sung Jung  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, June 19, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Josh Emmett  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dan Ige
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Aljamain Sterling  
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. TJ Dillashaw  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (UD) Petr Yan, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Rob Font  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) Cody Garbrandt, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Jose Aldo
6. Jose Aldo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-7
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Rob Font
7. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Cody Garbrandt  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) Rob Font, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Kai Kara-France
9. Marlon Vera  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-7-1
Last: W (KO3) Frankie Edgar, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Pedro Munhoz  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Jose Aldo, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dominick Cruz
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-5-2
Last: W (Sub3) Deiveson Figueiredo, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
2. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2-1
Last: L (Sub3) Brandon Moreno, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Brandon Moreno
3. Adriano Moraes  
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Demetrious Johnson  
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (mixed rules)
5. Askar Askarov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alex Perez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Alexandre Pantoja  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Matt Schnell
8. Kai Kara-France  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Cody Garbrandt
9. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (Sub2) Alexandre Pantoja, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Matt Schnell, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (Sub1) Megan Anderson, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Julianna Peña
2. Germaine de Randamie  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Julianna Peña  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (Sub3) Sara McMann, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Amanda Nunes
4. Holly Holm  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Aspen Ladd  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 9-2
Last: L (UD) Norma Dumont, Oct. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yana Kunitskaya  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) Miesha Tate, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-8
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Macy Chiasson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Katlyn Chookagian  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Jessica Andrade  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Lauren Murphy  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (TKO4) Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Jennifer Maia  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Joanne Wood  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub1) Taila Santos, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Juliana Velasquez  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (SD) Denise Kielholtz, July 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Viviane Araujo  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Taila Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 19-1
Last: W (Sub1) Joanne Wood, Nov. 20, 2021
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Rose Namajunas  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (SD) Zhang Weili, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Zhang Weili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-2
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Carla Esparza  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Marina Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1-2
Last: W (UD) Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Carla Esparza, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, Oct. 9, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Claudia Gadelha  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Amanda Ribas  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-2
Last: W (UD) Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Nina Nunes  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 10-7
Last: L (Sub1) Mackenzie Dern, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD