Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Seika Izawa ended 2023 the same way she began it: as the top atomweight talent in the sport.

Izawa capped off a 3-0 campaign at Rizin Fighting Federation 45, where she submitted Miyuu Yamamoto in the second-round of a non-title affair at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on New Year’s Eve. The undefeated 26-year-old has taken the weight class by storm since her professional debut in 2020, and perhaps the biggest challenge that lies ahead will be finding challenges to keep the Japanese standout engaged in the coming year. For now, Izawa maintains a stranglehold on the No. 1 spot in Sherdog’s divisional rankings.

Meanwhile, former Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi completed a successful year of his own by claiming Rizin’s inaugural flyweight crown with a second-round submission of Makoto Takahashi. After a successful run at 135 pounds, Horiguchi is unbeaten in three bouts since his return to his old stomping grounds, and his latest triumph allows him to enter the 125-pound rankings at No. 15.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.