MMA World Light Heavyweight Rankings

Men’s Divisions
Heavyweight (265) – Light Heavyweight (205) – Middleweight (185)Welterweight (170)Lightweight (155)Featherweight (145)Bantamweight (135)Flyweight (125)Pound-4-Pound

Women’s Divisions
W-Featherweight (145+)W-Bantamweight (135)W-Flyweight (125)W-Strawweight (115) – Pound-4-Pound

#FIGHTERORGOVRLAST 3NEXT FIGHT
1Alex Pereira9-2W-Jiri Prochazka (TKO)
W-Jan Blachowicz (DEC)
L-Israel Adesanya (KO)
2Jiri Prochazka29-4-1L-Alex Pereira (TKO)
W-Glover Teixeira (SUB)
W-Dominick Reyes (KO)
3Vadim Nedkov17-2W-Bruno Cappelozza (SUB)
W-Yoel Romero (DEC)
W-Corey Anderson (DEC)
4Jamahal Hill13-1W-Glover Teixeira (DEC)
W-Thiago Santos (TKO)
W-Johnny Walker (KO)
5Magomed Ankalaev17-1-1W-Johnny Walker (KO)
NC-Johnny Walker (NC)
D-Jan Blachowicz (DEC)
6Jan Blachowicz29-10-1L-Alex Pereira (DEC)
D-Magomed Ankalaev (DEC)
W-Aleksandar Rakic (TKO)
7Corey Anderson17-6W-Phil Davis (DEC)
L-Vadim Nemkov (DEC)
NC-Vadim Nemkov (NC)
8Nikita Krylov30-9W-Ryan Spann (SUB)
W-Volkan Oezdemir (DEC)
W-Alexander Gustafsson (KO)
9Phil Davis24-7L-Corey Anderson (DEC)
W-Julius Anglickas (DEC)
W-Yoel Romero (DEC)
10Khalil Rountree13-5W-Anthony Smith (TKO)
W-Chris Daukaus
(TKO)
W-Dustin Jacoby (DEC)
11Yoel Romero16-7W-Thiago Santos (DEC)
L-Vadim Nemkov (DEC)
W-Melvin Manhoef (KO)
12Johnny Walker21-8L-Magomed Ankalaev (KO)
NC-Magomed Ankalaev (NC)
W-Anthony Smith (DEC)
13Anthony Smith37-19L-Khalil Rountree (TKO)
W-Ryan Spann (DEC)
L-Johnny Walker (DEC)
14Volkan Oezdemir19-7W-Bogdan Guskov (SUB)
L-Nikita Krylov (DEC)
W-Paul Craig (DEC)
15Azamat Murzakanov13-0W-Dustin Jacoby (DEC)
W-Devin Clark (TKO)
W-Tafon Nchukwi (KO)
16Ryan Spann21-9L-Anthony Smith (DEC)
L-Nikita Krylov (SUB)
W-Dominick Reyes (KO)
17Rob Wilkinson17-2NC-Thiago Santos (NC)
W-Omari Akhmedov (TKO)
W-Delan Monte (KO)
18Thiago Santos22-12L-Yoel Romero (DEC)
NC-Rob Wilkinson (NC)
L-Jamahal Hill (TKO)
19Alonzo Menifield15-3-1W-Dustin Jacoby (DEC)
W-Jim Crute (SUB)
D-Jim Crute (DEC)
20Dustin Jacoby19-8-1L-Alonzo Menifield (DEC)
W-Kennedy Nzechukwu (TKO)
L-Azamat Murzakanov (DEC)
21Kennedy Nzechukwu12-4L-Dustin Jacoby (TKO)
W-Devin Clark (TKO)
W-Ion Cutelaba (TKO)
22Carlos Ulberg8-1W-Da Un Jung (SUB)
W-Ihor Potieria (TKO)
W-Nicolae Negumereanu (KO)
23Vitor Petrino11-0W-Tyson Pedro (DEC)
W-Modestas Bukauskas (KO)
W-Marcin Prachnio (SUB)
24Philipe Lins18-5W-Ion Cutelaba (DEC)
W-Maxim Grishin (DEC)
W-Ovince St.Preux (KO)
25Marcin Prachnio17-7W-Devin Clark (DEC)
L-Vitor Petrino (SUB)
W-William Knight (DEC)
Ineligible for Rankings
* Suspension
* Inactivity>15 months
* Moving Divisions
Aleksandar Rakic14-3 (10)L-Jan Blachowicz (TKO)
W-Thiago Santos (DEC)
W-Anthony Smith (DEC)
MMA World Rankings FAQ
MMA World Rankings are comprised of all fighters, regardless of promotion. These rankings are sometimes referred to as "Global Rankings" or "Overall Rankings." RankingMMA has been publishing MMA world rankings since 2006.

So, how do we compile our rankings? What separates us from other web sites that formulate rankings?

We are the only source that uses computerized analytics rankings system & actual fight footage to determine rankings similar. The reason we do this is to avoid ranking bias. By using analytics, fighters are scored no matter the promotion they are in. From there, tiers are created and fighters are ranked from within those tiers.

Here is the rankings criteria that encompasses a fighter ranking:
- Most recent performance
- Performance against top competition
- Estimated ability against future competition
- Strength of competition
- Activity in the last 3 years
- Last 5 fights

There are many fighters sporting undefeated records from developing fight scenes, especially abroad. Something we take into consideration is the strength of competition they have faced. If a fighter has compiled a bunch of wins against competition that is lackluster they will likely have a difficult time moving up in the rankings until they face stiffer competition in order for us to accurately predict how they would perform against exceedingly tougher competition.

If a fighter has fought elite competition and fallen short, we factor in how they performed. If a fighter fairs well against a higher-ranked adversary, they could still move up in the rankings.

Actual fight footage is reviewed, regardless of promotion in order to formulate these rankings.

= Fighter moves up in the rankings after recent fight
= Fighter moves down in the rankings after recent fight

Reasons a fighter is ineligible for Non-UFC Rankings (* = Not Ranked)
= Inactivity over 15 months
= Changing weight classes. A fighter must debut in their new weight class in order to officially be ranked there. Upon their debut, they will be removed from their former weight class. If the fighter temporarily competed outside of their division, they will be ranked in their primary division of choice.
= Suspension. Should a fighter be suspended for performance enhancing substances or fighter conduct, they will be removed from the rankings.

7 Comments on this post.
  • Jeffrey
    26 October 2022 at 5:34 PM
    Leave a Reply

    Yoel shouldn’t be on this list

    • D.C. Ross
      27 October 2022 at 10:26 PM
      Leave a Reply

      He now fights at 205 lbs.

  • dominik86
    8 October 2020 at 6:58 AM
    Leave a Reply

    It’s funny you don’t take into account fighters from ACA Butorin ,Bahytzhanuly ,Egemberdiev ,Magomedov ,Nasrudinov . ACA is after UFC the best mma federation .

    • D.C. Ross
      9 October 2020 at 11:35 PM
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you for your reply, and I 100% do take into account fighters from ACA. Current ACA fighters ranked across divisions are Magomed Bibulatov, Mukhumat Vakhaev, Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, Daniel Omielanczuk, Magomed Ismailov, Artem Frolov, Azbdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov, and Azamat Kerefov.Nasrudinov and Magomedov were ranked in the Top 50 within the last 60 days. Inactivity and strength of competition are the only thing preventing their rise. Drug testing and promoter interference are extremely concerning for the ACA promotion as recently detailed (Link: https://mmasucka.com/2020/09/05/eduard-vartanyan-decision-scandal-rocks-aca/ ). Regardless of those controversies, that does not interfere with their fighters being ranked as rankings only are based off actual fight results and performance. Please let me know of any fighters that you feel are deserving of being ranked in the Top 50 as I try to do my very best keeping up to date with every event/promotion.

  • CS
    31 January 2020 at 4:34 PM
    Leave a Reply

    Shouldn’t Rafael Carvalho be ranked in this? He moved to light heavyweight and is a top guy. Better than a lot of the guys on this list.

    • D.C. Ross
      3 March 2020 at 9:51 PM
      Leave a Reply

      Carvalho is now ranked at #48. When you commented, I had him at #51.

  • Cass
    10 December 2019 at 4:12 AM
    Leave a Reply

    Why is Corey over Thiago? Thiago just lost an insanely close decision to Jon, one that he in my and many others eyes won.

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