MMA World Lightweight 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
1Islam Makhachev25-1W-Alex Volkanovski (KO)
W-Alex Volkanovski (DEC)
W-Charles Oliveira (SUB)
2Charles Oliveira34-9W-Beneil Dariush (TKO)
L-Islam Makhachev (SUB)
W-Justin Gaethje (SUB)
3Justin Gaethje25-4W-Dustin Poirier (KO)
W-Rafael Fiziev (DEC)
L-Charles Oliveira (SUB)
4Dustin Poirier29-8L-Justin Gaethje (KO)
W-Michael Chandler (SUB)
L-Charles Oliveira (SUB)
5Beneil Dariush22-5-1L-Charles Oliveira (TKO)
W-Mateusz Gamrot (DEC)
W-Tony Ferguson (DEC)
6Michael Chandler23-8L-Dustin Poirier (SUB)
W-Tony Ferguson (KO)
L-Justin Gaethje (DEC)
7Mateusz Gamrot23-2W-Rafael Fiziev (TKO)
W-Jalin Turner (DEC)
L-Beneil Dariush (DEC)
8Rafael Fiziev12-3L-Mateusz Gamrot (TKO)
L-Justin Gaethje (DEC)
W-Rafael dos Anjos (KO)
9Usman Nurmagomedov18-0W-Brent Primus (DEC)
W-Benson Henderson (SUB)
W-Patricky Freire (DEC)
10Bobby Green31-14-1W-Grant Dawson (KO)
W-Tony Ferguson (SUB)
NC-Jared Gordon (NC)
11Arman Tsarukyan20-3W-Joaquim Silva (TKO)
W-Damir Ismagulov (DEC)
L-Mateusz Gamrot (DEC)
12Dan Hooker23-12W-Jalin Turner (DEC)
W-Claudio Puelles (TKO)
L-Arnold Allen (TKO)
13A.J. McKee21-1W-Sidney Outlaw (DEC)
W-Roberto de Souza (DEC)
W-Spike Carlyle (DEC)
14Benoit St. Denis13-1W-Matt Frevola (KO)
W-Thiago Moises (TKO)
W-Israel Bonfim (SUB)
15Grant Dawson20-2-1L-Bobby Green (KO)
W-Damir Ismagulov (DEC)
W-Mark Madsen (SUB)
16Damir IsmagulovFree Agent24-3L-Grant Dawson (DEC)
L-Arman Tsarukyan (DEC)
W-Guram Kutateladze (DEC)
17Joel Alvarez20-3W-Marc Diakiese (SUB)
L-Arman Tsarukyan (TKO)
W-Thiago Moises (TKO)
18Matt Frevola11-4-1L-Benoit St. Denis (KO)
W-Drew Dober (TKO)
W-Ottman Azaitar (KO)
19Drew Dober27-12W-Rick Glenn (TKO)
L-Matt Frevola (TKO)
W-Bobby Green (KO)
20Thiago Moises17-7L-Benoit St. Denis (TKO)
W-Melquizael Costa (SUB)
W-Christos Giagos (SUB)
21Renato Carneiro17-5-1W-Brad Riddell (SUB)
L-Rafael dos Anjos (DEC)
W-Alexander Hernandez (SUB)
22Diego Ferreira18-5W-Michael Johnson (KO)
L-Mateusz Gamrot (TKO)
L-Gregor Gillespie (TKO)
23Jalin Turner13-7L-Dan Hooker (DEC)
L-Mateusz Gamrot (DEC)
W-Brad Riddell (SUB)
24Brad Riddell10-4L-Renato Carneiro (SUB)
L-Jalin Turner (SUB)
L-Rafael Fiziev (KO)
25Elves Brener16-3W-Kaynan Kruschewsky (KO)
W-Guram Kutateladze (TKO)
W-Zubaira Tukhugov (DEC)
Ineligible for Rankings
* Suspension
* Inactivity>15 months
* Moving Divisions
Conor McGregor22-6L-Dustin Poirier (TKO)
L-Dustin Poirier (TKO)
W-Donald Cerrone (TKO)
Gregor Gillespie14-1 (12)W-Diego Ferreira (TKO)
L-Kevin Lee (KO)
W-Yancy Medeiros (TKO)
Mairbek TaisumovFree Agent27-6 (24)L-Diego Ferreira (DEC)
W-Desmond Green (DEC)
W-Felipe Silva (KO)
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.

13 Comments on this post.
  • Tommy
    31 July 2023 at 8:38 AM
    Leave a Reply

    How come it’s only showing to 25 when it says top 50? Is there a drop down bar I’m missing?

  • By
    22 September 2020 at 12:33 AM
    Leave a Reply

    If McGregor isn’t on the list cove of “retirement” yet still talks of him fighting in 6 months… what about Cejudo then.?

  • Luzgaar
    4 September 2019 at 9:51 AM
    Leave a Reply

    Benson Henderson won against Adam Piccolotti

    • Cecil Rhea
      14 June 2020 at 11:48 PM
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      Why no rustam khabiliv on lightweight? Did he leave lightweight and not going to return? Or am i overlooking him somewhere?

      • D.C. Ross
        21 June 2020 at 10:17 AM
        Leave a Reply

        Yes, Rustam Khabilov moved up to Welterweight back in November of 2019. He is now ranked in that division.

  • Tim
    15 July 2019 at 5:07 AM
    Leave a Reply

    McGregor fought 9 months ago rank him please

    • D.C. Ross
      20 July 2019 at 7:34 AM
      Leave a Reply

      Hi Tim, McGregor is presumed retired. Anytime a fighter announces their retirement they are immediately removed from the rankings. Should McGregor announce his return, he will immediately be back in the rankings. Thank you for your comment!

  • Cynthia
    16 December 2013 at 9:24 AM
    Leave a Reply

    The fact that Barboza is ranked below Healy, Lauzon, Gomi, Johnson, Tibau, Miller, Dunham, Sanchaz, Maynard, Cerrone, and Diaz is laughable. Even Thompson this looks more like the UFC rankings.

    • D.C. Ross
      16 December 2013 at 6:06 PM
      Leave a Reply

      What is Barboza’s biggest career win? For you to proclaim that he should be ranked ahead of Miller, Cerrone, or Diaz is what’s laughable. The two times Barboza stepped up in competition, he was knocked out by Jamie Varner and his win over Danny Castillo arguably should have been a draw.

      You say Barboza should be ranked ahead of all those guys, but based off what? Talent alone does not merit a ranking.

    • Cecil Rhea
      14 June 2020 at 11:51 PM
      Leave a Reply

      ….i see McGregor at #4 he is showing up on my list but i dontt see Rustam isnt he like 10-2 in ufc does he fight at a lower weight than lightweight now? Its hard to keep track of every fighters weight jumping….even for hardcore fans

      • D.C. Ross
        21 June 2020 at 10:21 AM
        Leave a Reply

        Yes, Rustam is ranked permanently at Welterweight. McGregor has hinted at a return to Lightweight, and since he had an appearance at Lightweight within the last 15 months he was eligible to be ranked there. That 15 months has now passed, so he will be removed from the Lightweight Rankings.

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