MMA divisional rankings: Where does Jon Jones fit among the top heavyweights?

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterNov 20, 2024, 07:53 AM ETCloseMMA columnist for ESPN.com
Analyst for “MMA Live”
Covered MMA for Las Vegas SunHeavyweight has traditionally been the glamor division in the fight game. But while heavyweight boxing has thrived in recent years, heavyweight MMA has been in flux.When Stipe Miocic was dethroned as UFC champion by Francis Ngannou in 2021, it appeared that the division was in good hands — good, heavy hands. But by the end of 2022, Ngannou was gone from the sport, off to try those dangerous hands at boxing. To fill the void, Jon Jones moved up from light heavyweight, where he had dominated for a decade, and won the UFC belt early last year. But it would be his only fight in nearly five years.During this time came the emergence of Tom Aspinall. Since Miocic lost the title, Aspinall has fought five times and won them all with first-round finishes. He is the UFC interim champion.The real champ, Jones, fought on Saturday for the first time in more than a year and a half and beat up Miocic at UFC 309. With that return, along with the recent return to MMA by Ngannou in a PFL fight, heavyweight seems to be sorting itself out.Jones is back in the heavyweight top 10, and that is the biggest change to the ESPN divisional rankings.Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.Note: Results are current; rankings as of Nov. 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 | WelterweightLightweight | Men’s featherweight | Men’s bantamweightMen’s flyweight | Women’s bantamweight | Women’s flyweight | StrawweightEven though his belt is only “interim,” Tom Aspinall remains at the top of the heavyweight world. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesHEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)1. Tom Aspinall  Promotion: UFC interim championRecord: 15-3Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024Next: TBD2. Francis Ngannou  Promotion: PFL Super Fights championRecord: 18-3Last: W (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBD3. Jon Jones  Promotion: UFC championPrevious ranking: UnrankedRecord: 28-1, 1 NCLast: W (TKO3) vs. Stipe Miocic, Nov. 16, 2024Next: TBD4. Ciryl Gane  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 3Record: 12-2Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023Next: Dec. 7 vs. Alexander Volkov5. Curtis Blaydes  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 4Record: 18-5, 1 NCLast: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, July 27, 2024Next: TBD6. Alexander Volkov  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 5Record: 38-10Last: W (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, June 22, 2024Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ciryl Gane7. Sergei Pavlovich  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 6Record: 18-3Last: L (UD) vs. Alexander Volkov, June 22, 2024Next: TBD8. Renan Ferreira  Promotion: PFL championPrevious ranking: 7Record: 13-4, 3 NCLast: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBD9. Jailton Almeida  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 8Record: 21-3Last: W (Sub1) vs. Alexandr Romanov, June 1, 2024Next: TBD10. Serghei Spivac  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: 9Record: 17-4Last: W (Sub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, Aug. 10, 2024Next: TBDAlex Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 to retain his light heavyweight title. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesLIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)1. Alex Pereira  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 12-2Last: W (TKO4) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD2. Magomed Ankalaev  Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-1-1, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Aleksandar Rakic, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD3. Jirí Procházka  Promotion: UFCRecord: 30-5-1Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, June 29, 2024Next: TBD4. Jamahal Hill  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 10-2Last: L (KO1) vs. Alex Pereira, April 13, 2024Next: TBD5. Corey Anderson  Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 18-6, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024Next: TBD6. Khalil Rountree Jr.  Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-6, 1 NCLast: L (TKO4) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD7. Aleksandar Rakić  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-5Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD8. Volkan Oezdemir  Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-7Last: W (KO1) vs. Johnny Walker, June 22, 2024Next: Nov. 23 vs. Carlos Ulberg9. Johnny Walker  Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-9, 1 NCLast: L (KO1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir, June 22, 2024Next: TBD10. Anthony Smith  Promotion: UFCRecord: 38-20Last: L (UD) vs. Roman Dolidze, June 29, 2024Next: Dec. 7 vs. Dominick ReyesKhamzat Chimaev made a big jump in the middleweight rankings after his UFC 308 win. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCMIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)1. Dricus du Plessis  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 22-2Last: W (Sub4) vs. Israel Adesanya, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD2. Sean Strickland  Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-6Last: W (SD) vs. Paulo Costa, June 1, 2024Next: TBD3. Khamzat Chimaev  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-0Last: W (Sub1) vs. Robert Whittaker, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD4. Israel Adesanya  Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-4Last: L (Sub4) vs. Dricus du Plessis, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD5. Robert Whittaker  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-8Last: L (Sub1) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD6. Johnny Eblen  Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 16-0Last: W (UD) vs. Fabian Edwards, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBD7. Nassourdine Imavov  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-4, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Brendan Allen, Sept. 28, 2024Next: TBD8. Caio Borralho  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-0, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, Aug. 24, 2024Next: TBD9. Jared Cannonier  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-8Last: L (UD) vs. Caio Borralho, Aug. 24, 2024Next: TBD10. Roman Dolidze  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-3Last: W (TKO1) vs. Kevin Holland, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBDJoaquin Buckley beat Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by third-round knockout at UFC 307. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCWELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)1. Belal Muhammad  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 24-3, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, July 27, 2024Next: TBD2. Leon Edwards  Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, July 27, 2024Next: TBD3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023Next: Dec. 7 vs. Ian Machado Garry4. Jack Della Maddalena  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-2Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024Next: TBD5. Sean Brady  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-1Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD6. Ian Machado Garry  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-0Last: W (UD) vs. Michael “Venom” Page, June 29, 2024Next: Dec. 7 vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov7. Gilbert Burns  Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-8Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Brady, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD8. Colby Covington  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023Next: Dec. 14 vs. Joaquin Buckley9. Joaquin Buckley  Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-6Last: W (TKO3) vs. Stephen Thompson, Oct. 5, 2024Next: Dec. 14 vs. Colby Covington10. Geoff Neal  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-6Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBDAfter defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan is among the top contenders at 155 pounds. Jeff Bottari/Getty ImagesLIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)1. Islam Makhachev  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 26-1Last: W (Sub5) vs. Dustin Poirier, June 1, 2024Next: TBD2. Arman Tsarukyan  Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-3Last: W (SD) vs. Charles Oliveira, April 13, 2024Next: TBD3. Charles Oliveira  Promotion: UFCRecord: 35-10, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Michael Chandler, Nov. 16, 2024Next: TBD4. Justin Gaethje  Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-5Last: L (KO5) vs. Max Holloway, April 13, 2024Next: TBD5. Dustin Poirier  Promotion: UFCRecord: 30-9, 1 NCLast: L (Sub5) vs. Islam Makhachev, June 1, 2024Next: TBD6. Dan Hooker  Promotion: UFCRecord: 29-12Last: W (SD) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD7. Renato Moicano  Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-5-1Last: W (TKO2) vs. Benoît Saint Denis, Sept. 28, 2024Next: TBD8. Beneil Dariush  Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-6-1Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023Next: TBD9. Usman Nurmagomedov  Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 18-0, 1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Alexander Shabliy, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD10. Michael Chandler  Promotion: UFCPrevious ranking: UnrankedRecord: 23-9Last: L (UD) vs. Charles Oliveira, Nov. 16, 2024Next: TBDIlia Topuria found his target at UFC 298: Alexander Volkanovski’s chin and the featherweight title. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesFEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)1. Ilia Topuria  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 16-0Last: W (KO3) vs. Max Holloway, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD2. Alexander Volkanovski  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-4Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD3. Max Holloway  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-8Last: L (KO3) vs. Ilia Topuria, Oct. 26, 2024Next: TBD4. Diego Lopes  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-6Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD5. Brian Ortega  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD6. Yair Rodriguez  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-5, 1 NCLast: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024Next: TBD7. Patricio Freire  Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 36-7Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024Next: TBD8. Josh Emmett  Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-4Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023Next: TBD9. Movsar Evloev  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024Next: Dec. 7 vs. Aljamain Sterling10. Arnold Allen  Promotion: UFCRecord: 20-3Last: W (UD) vs. Giga Chikadze, July 27, 2024Next: TBDMario Bautista, left, beat José Aldo by split decision at UFC 307. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Merab Dvalishvili  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 18-4Last: W (UD) vs. Sean O’Malley, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD2. Sean O’Malley  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-2, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD3. Umar Nurmagomedov  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-0Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 3, 2024Next: TBD4. Cory Sandhagen  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-5Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Aug. 3, 2024Next: TBD5. Petr Yan  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-5Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024Next: Nov. 23 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo6. Henry Cejudo  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024Next: TBD7. Deiveson Figueiredo  Promotion: UFCRecord: 24-3-1Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, Aug. 3, 2024Next: Nov. 23 vs. Petr Yan8. Mario Bautista  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-2Last: W (SD) vs. José Aldo, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD9. José Aldo  Promotion: UFCRecord: 32-9Last: L (SD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD10. Patchy Mix  Promotion: Bellator championRecord: 20-1Last: W (SD) vs. Magomed Magomedov, May 17, 2024Next: TBDAlexandre Pantoja has made two successful defenses of the UFC men’s flyweight title. Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Alexandre Pantoja  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 28-5Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, May 4, 2024Next: Dec. 7 vs. Kai Asakura2. Brandon Royval  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-7Last: W (SD) vs. Tatsuro Taira, Oct. 12, 2024Next: TBD3. Brandon Moreno  Promotion: UFCRecord: 22-8-2Last: W (UD) vs. Amir Albazi, Nov. 2, 2024Next: TBD4. Kai Kara-France  Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-11, 1 NCLast: W (TKO1) vs. Steve Erceg, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD5. Muhammad Mokaev  Promotion: Brave CFRecord: 13-0,1 NCLast: W (UD) vs. Manel Kape, July 27, 2024Next: TBD6. Tatsuro Taira  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-1Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Oct. 12, 2024Next: TBD7. Steve Erceg  Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-3Last: L (TKO1) vs. Kai Kara-France, Aug. 17, 2024Next: TBD8. Manel Kape  Promotion: UFCRecord: 19-7Last: L (UD) vs. Muhammad Mokaev, July 27, 2024Next: Dec. 14 vs. Bruno Silva9. Alex Perez  Promotion: UFCRecord: 25-9Last: L (TKO2) vs. Tatsuro Taira, June 15, 2024Next: TBD10. Matheus Nicolau  Promotion: NoneRecord: 19-5-1Last: L (UD) Asu Almabayev, Oct. 19, 2024Next: TBDJulianna Peña sits atop the women’s bantamweight rankings after her title win at UFC 307. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCWOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)1. Julianna Peña  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 12-5Last: W (SD) vs. Raquel Pennington. Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD2. Raquel Pennington  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-9Last: L (SD) vs. Julianna Peña, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD3. Kayla Harrison  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-1Last: W (UD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD4. Ketlen Vieira  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-4-1Last: L (UD) vs. Kayla Harrison, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD5. Holly Holm  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-7, 1 NCLast: L (Sub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, April 13, 2024Next: TBD6. Norma Dumont  Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-2Last: W (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD7. Irene Aldana  Promotion: UFCRecord: 15-8Last: L (UD) vs. Norma Dumont, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD8. Macy Chiasson  Promotion: UFCRecord: 10-3Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, June 29, 2024Next: TBD9. Karol Rosa  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-6Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, Aug. 10, 2024Next: TBD10. Pannie Kianzad  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-9Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 10, 2024Next: TBDOnce again, Valentina Shevchenko rules the UFC women’s flyweight division. Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)1. Valentina Shevchenko  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 24-4-1Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD2. Alexa Grasso  Promotion: UFCRecord: 16-4-1Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 14, 2024Next: TBD3. Manon Fiorot  Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-1Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024Next: TBD4. Erin Blanchfield  Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-2Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024Next: TBD5. Maycee Barber  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-2Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024Next: TBD6. Natalia Silva  Promotion: UFCRecord: 18-5-1Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD7. Taila Santos  Promotion: PFLRecord: 22-3Last: W (UD) vs. Liz Carmouche, Aug. 2, 2024Next: Nov. 29 vs. Dakota Ditcheva8. Liz Carmouche  Promotion: PFL / Bellator championRecord: 22-8Last: L (UD) vs. Taila Santos, Aug. 2, 2024Next: TBD9. Jessica Andrade  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-13Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD10. Rose Namajunas  Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-7Last: L (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, Nov. 2, 2024Next: TBDJessica Andrade was victorious by split decision against Marina Rodriguez in April. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesSTRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)1. Zhang Weili  Promotion: UFC championRecord: 25-3Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 13, 2024Next: TBD2. Virna Jandiroba  Promotion: UFCRecord: 21-3Last: W (Sub2) vs. Amanda Lemos, July 20, 2024Next: TBD3. Amanda Lemos  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-4-1Last: L (Sub2) vs. Virna Jandiroba, July 20, 2024Next: TBD4. Yan Xiaonan  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-4, 1 NCLast: L (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, April 13, 2024Next: Nov. 23 vs. Tabatha Ricci5. Jessica Andrade  Promotion: UFCRecord: 26-13Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Sept. 7, 2024Next: TBD6. Marina Rodriguez  Promotion: UFCRecord: 17-5-2Last: L (UD) vs. Iasmin Lucindo, Oct. 5, 2024Next: TBD7. Mackenzie Dern  Promotion: UFCRecord: 14-5Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, Aug. 3, 2024Next: Dec. 14 vs. Amanda Ribas8. Amanda Ribas  Promotion: UFCRecord: 13-5Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024Next: Dec. 14 vs. Mackenzie Dern9. Loopy Godínez  Promotion: UFCRecord: 12-5Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Aug. 3, 2024Next: TBD10. Tabatha Ricci  Promotion: UFCRecord: 11-2Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 24, 2024Next: Nov. 23 vs. Yan Xiaonan