Divisional: Sean O’Malley elevates his game … and his place in the bantamweight top 10
Credit to Author: Brett Okamoto| Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:16:15 EST
Sean O’Malley pulled off an upset Saturday at UFC 292. He upset the balance of power in the men’s bantamweight division.
By knocking out Aljamain Sterling, who at the time was the champ and also No. 1 in the ESPN divisional rankings, O’Malley earned himself a jump to the top spot from his previous position at No. 4. Sterling drops down just one spot, as do Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo.
UFC 292 also featured a strawweight title fight, and the victory by champion Zhang Weili did not affect the rankings, because Zhang already was No. 1. But the 115-pound division did see some movement, as Tatiana Suarez jumped three spots to No. 5 on the strength of her finish of former champ Jessica Andrade earlier this month.
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 Aug. 22. 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
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Ciryl Gane, March 4, 2023
Next: Nov. 11 vs. Stipe Miocic
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (TKO1) Curtis Blaydes, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-2
Last: L (Sub1) Jon Jones, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Sergei Pavlovich, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) Marcin Tybura, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (KO1) Sergei Pavlovich, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub1) Derrick Lewis, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-10
Last: W (TKO1) Alexandr Romanov, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 31-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Fedor Emelianenko, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Linton Vassell
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: W (SUB1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Glover Teixeira, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-2
Last: W (SD) Jan Blachowicz, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-10-1
Last: L (SD) Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1-1
Last: D (SD) Jan Blachowicz, Dec. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Johnny Walker
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 17-6, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Phil Davis, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-9
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (SD) Anthony Smith, May 13, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-18
Last: L (UD) Johnny Walker, May 13, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Corey Anderson, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (TKO2) Alex Pereira, April 8, 2023
Next: Sept. 9 vs. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7-1
Last: L (UD) Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Luke Rockhold, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Anatoly Tokov, Feb. 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Fabian Edwards
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-5
Last: W (TKO2) Abus Magomedov, July 1, 2023
Next: Sept. 9 vs. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-9
Last: L (TKO2) Dricus Du Plessis, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-3, 1 NC
Last: W (MD) Kamaru Usman, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (MD) Leon Edwards, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub1) Kevin Holland, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Paulo Costa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (UD) Belal Muhammad, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 27-0
Last: W (UD) Logan Storley, Feb. 25, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (Sub3) Geoff Neal, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6-1
Last: W (TKO4) Kevin Holland, Dec. 3, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (Sub3) Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 4, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-1
Last: L (TKO2) Belal Muhammad, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 11, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 34-9, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023
Next: Oct. 21 vs. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4
Last: W (KO2) Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5-1
Last: L (TKO1) Charles Oliveira, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Justin Gaethje, July 29, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8
Last: L (Sub3) Dustin Poirier, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: L (MD) Justin Gaethje, March 18, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Jalin Turner, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 20-3
Last: W (TKO3) Joaquim Silva, June 17, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-15
Last: L (UD) Vicente Luque, Aug. 12, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-2
Last: W (TKO3) Yair Rodriguez, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-7
Last: W (UD) Arnold Allen, April 15, 2023
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Chan Sung Jung
Promotion: UFC interim champion
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Alexander Volkanovski, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 35-7
Last: L (KO1) Chihiro Suzuki, July 30, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Roberto de Souza, Dec. 31, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-0
Last: W (UD) Josh Emmett, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-4
Last: L (UD) Ilia Topuria, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-2
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: L (TKO2) Arnold Allen, Oct. 29, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0
Last: W (UD) Diego Lopes, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 17-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 23-4
Last: L (TKO2) Sean O’Malley, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Petr Yan, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-3
Last: L (SD) Aljamain Sterling, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (UD) Merab Dvalishvili, March 11, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Patricio Freire, June 16, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Patchy Mix
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-8-1
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator interim champion
Record: 18-1
Last: W (KO1) Raufeon Stots, April 22, 2023
Next: TBD vs. Sergio Pettis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-7
Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-5
Last: W (SD) Brandon Moreno, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-2
Last: L (SD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 8, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3-1
Last: L (TKO3) Brandon Moreno, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (SD) Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-11, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Manel Kape
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 20-5
Last: L (UD) Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: W (KO1) Matheus Nicolau, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3-1
Last: L (KO1) Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) David Dvorak, Dec. 17, 2022
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-8
Last: W (SD) Ketlen Vieira, Jan. 14, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: L (Sub2) Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7
Last: L (UD) Amanda Nunes, June 10, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-6
Last: W (UD) Arlene Blencowe, April 21, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 8-3
Last: L (KO3) Irene Aldana, Sept. 10, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-2
Last: W (UD) Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-7
Last: L (UD) Ketlen Vieira, July 22, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5
Last: W (SD) Yana Santos, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-8, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (Sub4) Valentina Shevchenko, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 16 vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-4
Last: L (Sub4) Alexa Grasso, March 4, 2023
Next: Sept. 16. vs. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, Feb. 18, 2023
Next: Aug. 26 vs. Taila Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-12
Last: L (Sub2) Tatiana Suarez, Aug. 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 19-7
Last: W (Sub4) DeAnna Bennett, April 21, 2023
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Manon Fiorot, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Jessica Andrade, Jan. 21, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 12-2
Last: L (Sub2) Liz Carmouche, Dec. 9, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-9-1
Last: W (UD) Casey O’Neill, March 18, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 24-2
Last: W (UD) Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: L (Sub2) Zhang Weili, Nov. 12, 2022
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3-1
Last: L (UD) Zhang Weili, Aug. 19, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 11-0
Last: W (Sub2) Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 16-3-2
Last: L (UD) Virna Jandiroba, May 6, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 13-3
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, May 20, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) Amanda Ribas, June 24, 2023
Next: TBD
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (SD) Michelle Waterson-Gomez, April 8, 2023
Next: TBD