The UFC rankings have been up to date, and there are many surprises as to which fighter has overtaken one other.
The most important shock has come from UFC 316 main occasion winner, Merab Dvalishvili, who now rises #2 within the males’s pound-for-pound rankings, overtaking Jon Jones and Ilia Topuria.
The Georgian joined a number of the most well-known UFC legends when he elevated his profitable streak to 13.
In addition to Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Max Holloway are all tied with 13 consecutive victories.
The Rise of The Machine
Dvalishvili had a damaging begin to the UFC when he suffered defeats to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon.
However, since September 2018, when he defeated Terrion Ware by unanimous resolution, the Tbilisi-born fighter has been unstoppable.
The present King of the Bantamweights first grew to become a contender simply earlier than he was set to face John Dodson at UFC 252.
After defeating Dodson by unanimous resolution, Dvalishvili rose to #12 within the 135-pound rankings and made himself an eye catching prospect.
The Georgian blended martial artist wouldn’t catch a number of consideration till he confronted Marlon Moraes at UFC 266.
Dvalishvili pulled off a sensational comeback win to defeat the Brazilian by second-round TKO, incomes his first UFC end and changing into the #6 Bantamweight contender.
In his subsequent three battles, Dvalishvili defeated three former champions: Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo, all by unanimous resolution, earlier than finally claiming his UFC title shot.
The #1 contender confronted Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 and have become the champion of the 135-pound division after going the space with the Montana-born fighter.
The UFC Bantamweight Champion defended his belt towards Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, as soon as once more profitable by unanimous resolution and changing into the primary to defeat the Russian.
Now, after submitting O’Malley within the rematch in Newark, Dvalishvili is seen because the 2nd biggest UFC fighter, rating above a number of the biggest names in MMA.
Adjustments within the rankings from the aftermath of UFC 316
Beginning within the Flyweight division, Joshua Van has moved as much as #10 after his victory towards Bruno Silva.
Not solely has Silva dropped two locations, however so has Tagir Ulanbekov because the Russian strikes all the way down to 12, permitting ‘The Fearless’ to enter the highest 10.
Mario Bautista has elevated his place by one within the Bantamweight division, swapping locations with Cejudo as he strikes as much as #9.
In fact, earlier than his battle with Vicente Luque, Kevin Holland was unranked. After submitting the Brazilian within the Prudential Centre, he has returned to the Welterweight rankings because the #14 contender.
Within the Gentle Heavyweight division, Azamat Murzakanov has swapped locations along with his unique opponent, Johnny Walker, for UFC 316, shifting into the #11 spot.
The heaviest division of the UFC has seen loads of change.
After Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s victory over Serghei Spivac, he strikes as much as #8 within the Heavyweight rankings.
Nonetheless, the Moldavian has unexpectedly dropped two locations to #9 after Marcin Tybura rose one spot to #7.
The Girls’s pound-for-pound rankings have modified drastically.
Nonetheless, essentially the most important modifications embody Kayla Harrison shifting up 4 locations to #3, Julianna Pena dropping two locations to #5, and Natalia Silva advancing two locations to #6.
Lastly, within the Girls’s 125-pound division, Wang Cong has entered the rankings at #14 after defeating Ariane da Silva, which has pushed the Brazilian all the way down to #15.
