Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

It felt like the end of an era in the featherweight division on Saturday night.

Ilia Topuria defeated long-reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski via second-round knockout in the UFC 298 headliner at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, claiming the 145-pound belt and the top spot in the divisional rankings in the process. Volkanovski has enjoyed a memorable run at featherweight, but like Jose Aldo and Max Holloway before him, it appears that his time at the top has reached its expiration date. Of course, that could all change if Volkanovski is granted an immediate rematch and avenges the loss to Topuria, but history — and time — is not on his side.

Elsewhere, Robert Whittaker got back to the business of being one of the world’s top middleweights with a three-round verdict over Paulo Costa in the UFC 298 co-main event. After suffering a surprising technical knockout loss to Dricus Du Plessis last July, Whittaker looked closer to the form that has come to characterize his time near the top of the division. For now, that allows him to hold on to his No. 5 ranking at 185 pounds. Costa, who looked good in defeat, is just 1-3 since 2020 and falls one spot to 10th.

Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili staked his claim to the No. 1 contender’s spot in the bantamweight division, as he relied on his relentless pressure and pace to pull away for a decision triumph over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. Dvalishvili will be an interested observer when Sean O’Malley defends his 135-pound title against Marlon Vera next month, and Cejudo, if he lives up to his pre-fight declaration, might be calling it a career for a second time.

In other action, polarizing welterweight talent Ian Garry kept his undefeated record intact with a split-decision triumph over Geoff Neal. While it wasn’t the kind of statement-making victory that will raise Garry’s profile significantly, it does allow the Irishman to take Neal’s No. 11 ranking at 170 pounds. And at strawweight, former title challenger Amanda Lemos held off a resilient Mackenzie Dern for a decision triumph on the UFC 298 preliminary card, helping to maintain the status quo in the 115-pound divisional rankings.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.

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HEAVYWEIGHT
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WELTERWEIGHT
LIGHTWEIGHT
FEATHERWEIGHT
BANTAMWEIGHT
FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT
WOMEN'S ATOMWEIGHT