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Jack Della Maddalena was on the verge of having his 16-fight winning streak halted. Down on two of the three scorecards midway through the final round of his UFC 299 bout with Gilbert Burns last weekend, Della Maddalena was being controlled on the canvas by the elite grappler. Even if he avoided a submission, the Aussie could not afford to finish the round on bottom.
So he found a way out from under Burns, scampered to his feet and, within seconds, earned a spectacular finish. Della Maddalena landed a knee to the face, knocking Burns to the canvas, and finished him with ground-and-pound to keep his run of success alive.
With the victory, Della Maddalena enters the latest Brett Okamoto rankings for ESPN in a big way, jumping all the way into the welterweight top five.
That is the most dramatic movement in these rankings, but far from the only lingering effect from UFC 299. No one has newly taken charge of a weight class, but Sean O'Malley solidified his spot as the No. 1 men's bantamweight. Maycee Barber elevated her standing among the 125-pound women.
Among those dropping out of the rankings are heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Nikita Krylov, both of whom have been idle for over a year and are ineligible.
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 13. 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. Sergei PavlovichPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 3 Record: 18-2 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: TBD
3. Ciryl GanePromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 12-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: TBD
4. Curtis BlaydesPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 18-4, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jailton Almeida, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
5. Alexander VolkovPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 37-10 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD
6. Renan FerreiraPromotion: PFL champion Previous ranking: 9 Record: 13-3, 3 NC Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
7. Serghei SpivacPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 10 Record: 16-4 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: TBD
8. Jailton AlmeidaPromotion: UFC Record: 20-3 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Curtis Blaydes, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
9. Vadim NemkovPromotion: Bellator Previous ranking: 5 at light heavyweight Record: 18-2, 1 NC Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
10. Tai TuivasaPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 7 Record: 14-7 Last: L (TechSub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, March 16, 2024 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: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill
2. Jirí ProcházkaPromotion: UFC Record: 29-4-1 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
3. Magomed AnkalaevPromotion: UFC Record: 19-1-1 Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024 Next: TBD
4. Jan BlachowiczPromotion: UFC Record: 29-10-1 Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Corey AndersonPromotion: Bellator champion Previous ranking: 6 Record: 18-6, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Khalil Rountree Jr.Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 8 Record: 37-19 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023 Next: TBD
7. Johnny WalkerPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 21-8 Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Volkan Oezdemir
8. Anthony SmithPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 10 Record: 37-19 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023 Next: May 4 vs. Vitor Petrino
9. Volkan OezdemirPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 19-7 Last: W (Sub1) vs. Bogdan Guskov, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: June 22 vs. Johnny Walker
10. Ryan SpannPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 21-9 Last: L (SD) vs. Anthony Smith, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds) 1. Dricus du PlessisPromotion: UFC champion Record: 21-2 Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD
2. Israel AdesanyaPromotion: UFC Record: 24-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD
3. Robert WhittakerPromotion: UFC Record: 25-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
4. Jared CannonierPromotion: UFC Record: 17-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Sean StricklandPromotion: UFC Record: 28-6 Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Marvin VettoriPromotion: UFC Record: 19-7-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023 Next: TBD
7. Johnny EblenPromotion: Bellator champion Record: 15-0 Last: W (SD) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
8. Khamzat ChimaevPromotion: UFC Record: 13-0 Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023 Next: June 22 vs. Robert Whittaker
9. Brendan AllenPromotion: UFC Record: 23-5 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023 Next: April 6 vs. Chris Curtis
10. Jack HermanssonPromotion: UFC Record: 24-8 Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024 Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds) 1. Leon EdwardsPromotion: UFC champion Record: 22-3, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
2. Kamaru UsmanPromotion: UFC Record: 20-4 Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023 Next: TBD
3. Belal MuhammadPromotion: UFC Record: 23-3, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023 Next: TBD
4. Shavkat RakhmonovPromotion: UFC Record: 18-0 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Jack Della MaddalenaPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 17-2 Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Gilbert BurnsPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 22-7 Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
7. Colby CovingtonPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 17-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
8. Jason JacksonPromotion: Bellator champion Previous ranking: 7 Record: 18-4 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Ray Cooper III, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
9. Sean BradyPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 8 Record: 16-1 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD
10. Ian Machado GarryPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 14-0 Last: W (SD) vs. Geoff Neal, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
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 OliveiraPromotion: UFC Record: 34-9, 1 NC Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan
3. Justin GaethjePromotion: UFC Record: 25-4 Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway
4. Dustin PoirierPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 30-8, 1 NC Last: W (KO2) vs. Benoit Saint Denis, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
5. Arman TsarukyanPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 21-3 Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira
6. Beneil DariushPromotion: UFC Record: 22-6-1 Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD
7. Mateusz GamrotPromotion: UFC Record: 24-2, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
8. Rafael FizievPromotion: UFC Record: 26-8 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023 Next: TBD
9. Dan HookerPromotion: UFC Record: 29-12 Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023 Next: TBD
10. Jalin TurnerPromotion: UFC Record: 14-7 Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds) 1. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC champion Record: 15-0 Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
2. Alexander VolkanovskiPromotion: UFC Record: 26-4 Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
3. Max HollowayPromotion: UFC Record: 25-7 Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje
4. Brian OrtegaPromotion: UFC Record: 16-3, 1 NC Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
5. Yair RodriguezPromotion: UFC Record: 15-5, 1 NC Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Patricio FreirePromotion: Bellator champion Record: 36-7 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024 Next: TBD
7. Josh EmmettPromotion: UFC Record: 19-4 Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
8. Movsar EvloevPromotion: UFC Record: 18-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD
9. Arnold AllenPromotion: UFC Record: 19-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD
10. Giga ChikadzePromotion: UFC Record: 15-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds) 1. Sean O'Malley
Promotion: UFC champion Record: 18-1, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
2. Merab DvalishviliPromotion: UFC Record: 17-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
3. Aljamain SterlingPromotion: UFC Record: 23-4 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar
4. Cory SandhagenPromotion: UFC Record: 17-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Petr YanPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 17-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Henry CejudoPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 16-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
7. Patchy MixPromotion: Bellator champion Record: 19-1 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023 Next: May 17 vs. Magomed Magomedov
8. Marlon VeraPromotion: UFC Record: 23-9-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean O'Malley, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
9. Sergio PettisPromotion: Bellator Record: 23-6 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023 Next: TBD
10. Deiveson FigueiredoPromotion: UFC Record: 22-3-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt
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: May 4 vs. Steve Erceg
2. Brandon RoyvalPromotion: UFC Record: 16-7 Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
3. Brandon MorenoPromotion: UFC Record: 21-8-2 Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD
4. Demetrious JohnsonPromotion: One Championship champion Record: 25-4-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Amir AlbaziPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 17-1 Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023 Next: TBD
6. Kai Kara-FrancePromotion: UFC Record: 24-11, 1 NC Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023 Next: TBD
7. Adriano MoraesPromotion: One Championship Record: 20-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023 Next: TBD
8. Matheus NicolauPromotion: UFC Record: 19-3-1 Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023 Next: TBD
9. Manel KapePromotion: UFC Record: 19-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD
10. Muhammad MokaevPromotion: UFC Record: 12-0,1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Perez, March 2, 2024 Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds) 1. Raquel Pennington
Promotion: UFC champion Record: 16-8 Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD
2. Ketlen VieiraPromotion: UFC Record: 14-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023 Next: TBD
3. Holly HolmPromotion: UFC Record: 15-7 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison
4. Irene AldanaPromotion: UFC Record: 15-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Sara McMannPromotion: Bellator Record: 14-7 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023 Next: TBD
6. Norma DumontPromotion: UFC Record: 10-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023 Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie
7. Pannie KianzadPromotion: UFC Record: 16-8 Last: L (Sub1) vs. Macy Chiasson, March 16, 2024 Next: TBD
8. Karol RosaPromotion: UFC Record: 17-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
9. Yana SantosPromotion: UFC Record: 14-8, 1 NC Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023 Next: TBD
10. Miesha TatePromotion: 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 ShevchenkoPromotion: UFC Record: 23-4-1 Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023 Next: TBD
3. Manon FiorotPromotion: UFC Record: 12-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD
4. Erin BlanchfieldPromotion: UFC Record: 12-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD
5. Liz CarmouchePromotion: Bellator champion Record: 20-7 Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023 Next: April 4 vs. Juliana Velasquez
6. Maycee BarberPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 14-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
7. Jessica AndradePromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 25-12 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
8. Katlyn CerminaraPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 18-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Maycee Barber, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD
9. Rose NamajunasPromotion: UFC Previous ranking: 7 Record: 12-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Ribas, March 23, 2024 Next: TBD
10. Viviane AraujoPromotion: UFC Record: 12-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024 Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds) 1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC champion Record: 24-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan
2. Amanda LemosPromotion: UFC Record: 13-3-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
3. Yan XiaonanPromotion: UFC Record: 14-3, 1 NC Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili
4. Tatiana SuarezPromotion: UFC Record: 11-0 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023 Next: TBD
5. Virna JandirobaPromotion: UFC Record: 20-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD
6. Marina RodriguezPromotion: UFC Record: 17-3-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade
7. Jessica AndradePromotion: UFC Record: 25-12 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez
8. Mackenzie DernPromotion: UFC Record: 13-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD
9. Amanda RibasPromotion: UFC Record: 13-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024 Next: TBD
10. Luana PinheiroPromotion: UFC Record: 11-2 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023 Next: TBD