MMA divisional rankings: How did Brendan Allen upsetting Reinier de Ridder shake things up?

Reinier de Ridder began Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event looking every bit the part of the higher-ranked middleweight, dominating the early grappling. But after Brendan Allen survived Round 1, he took over the fight and wore down de Ridder, to the point where at the end of both Rounds 3 and 4, de Ridder was barely able to climb off the mat and make it back to his corner. His coach stopped the fight before the fifth round could start.

It was a strong performance by Allen, who wasn't even supposed to be in this fight. Originally, de Ridder was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez, but Hernandez withdrew because of injury. Allen was brought in on short notice.

Allen ended up serving notice to the rest of the middleweight division -- and shifted the balance of power in the ESPN divisional rankings. He's now ahead of de Ridder.

The only other weight class with changes in these rankings is heavyweight, because Francis Ngannou has not fought in just over a year and was removed as ineligible. Expect changes in several weight classes next week, with nine ranked fighters scheduled for this coming weekend's UFC 321.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Results are current; rankings as of Oct. 21. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.

Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight | Men's bantamweight
Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Ciryl Gane

2. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Tom Aspinall

3. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD

4. Alexander Volkov  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 38-11
Last: L (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Jailton Almeida

5. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

6. Jailton Almeida  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Alexander Volkov

7. Renan Ferreira  

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov

8. Waldo Cortes-Acosta  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-2
Last: L (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Aug. 23
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Ante Delija

9. Serghei Spivac  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Shamil Gaziev

10. Derrick Lewis  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 29-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
Next: TBD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

1. Alex Pereira  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

2. Magomed Ankalaev  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

3. Jirí Procházka  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-5-1
Last: W (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 4
Next: TBD

4. Carlos Ulberg  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

5. Khalil Rountree Jr.  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Aleksandar Rakić  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 26, 2024
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov

7. Dominick Reyes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Sept. 27
Next: TBD

8. Jamahal Hill  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD

9. Corey Anderson  

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

10. Volkan Oezdemir  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Nov. 23, 2024
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Alonzo Menifield

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

1. Khamzat Chimaev  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

2. Dricus du Plessis  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

3. Nassourdine Imavov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

4. Sean Strickland  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD

5. Israel Adesanya  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD

6. Anthony Hernandez  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

7. Caio Borralho  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sept. 6
Next: TBD

8. Brendan Allen  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 26-7
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

9. Reinier de Ridder  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 21-3
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Robert Whittaker  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

1. Jack Della Maddalena  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Islam Makhachev

2. Belal Muhammad  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, May 10
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Ian Machado Garry

3. Shavkat Rakhmonov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

4. Sean Brady  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Michael Morales

5. Leon Edwards  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Carlos Prates

6. Kamaru Usman  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD

7. Ian Machado Garry  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26
Next: Nov. 22 vs. Belal Muhammad

8. Michael Morales  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Sean Brady

9. Joaquin Buckley  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Carlos Prates  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, Aug. 16
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Leon Edwards

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

1. Islam Makhachev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, Jan. 18
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

2. Ilia Topuria  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD

3. Charles Oliveira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 36-11, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

4. Max Holloway  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD

5. Justin Gaethje  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: TBD

6. Usman Nurmagomedov  

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
Next: TBD

7. Paddy Pimblett  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: TBD

8. Beneil Dariush  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Renato Moicano, June 28
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Benoît Saint Denis

9. Mateusz Gamrot  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-4, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

10. Rafael Fiziev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: TBD

FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

1. Alexander Volkanovski  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: TBD

2. Movsar Evloev  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD

3. Diego Lopes  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

4. Yair Rodriguez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD

5. Lerone Murphy  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

6. Aljamain Sterling  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

7. Youssef Zalal  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

8. Patricio Pitbull  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD

9. Brian Ortega  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD

10. Josh Emmett  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Merab Dvalishvili  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 4
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Petr Yan

2. Sean O'Malley  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: TBD

3. Petr Yan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Merab Dvalishvili

4. Umar Nurmagomedov  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Jan. 18
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Mario Bautista

5. Cory Sandhagen  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Mario Bautista  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Patchy Mix, June 7
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

7. Song Yadong  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: TBD

8. Deiveson Figueiredo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
Next: TBD

9. Marlon Vera  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-11-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

10. Henry Cejudo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Payton Talbott

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Alexandre Pantoja  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Joshua Van

2. Joshua Van  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Alexandre Pantoja

3. Brandon Royval  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Manel Kape

4. Brandon Moreno  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Tatsuro Taira

5. Kai Kara-France  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD

6. Muhammad Mokaev  

Promotion: Brave CF
Record: 14-0, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Joevincent So, Dec. 13, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Tatsuro Taira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Brandon Moreno

8. Manel Kape  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Brandon Royval

9. Steve Erceg  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ode' Osbourne, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Kai Asakura  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

1. Kayla Harrison  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: TBD

2. Julianna Peña  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD

3. Ketlen Vieira  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, May 31
Next: TBD

4. Yana Santos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

5. Macy Chiasson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Yana Santos, Oct. 4
Next: TBD

6. Ailin Perez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD

7. Karol Rosa  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD

8. Mayra Bueno Silva  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Feb. 1
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti

9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Julia Avila, Feb. 15
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

10. Nora Cornolle  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Aug. 2
Next: TBD

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

1. Valentina Shevchenko  

Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 25-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, May 10
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Zhang Weili

2. Manon Fiorot  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

3. Natalia Silva  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas Nov. 2, 2024
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Tracy Cortez

5. Dakota Ditcheva  

Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: TBD

6. Alexa Grasso  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: TBD

7. Jasmine Jasudavicius  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
Next: TBD

8. Taila Santos  

Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Rose Namajunas  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: TBD

10. Liz Carmouche  

Promotion: PFL
Record: 25-8
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
Next: TBD

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)

1. Zhang Weili  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Feb. 8
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Valentina Shevchenko

2. Virna Jandiroba  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Yan Xiaonan, April 12
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Mackenzie Dern

3. Yan Xiaonan  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD

4. Tatiana Suarez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

5. Amanda Lemos  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Sept. 13
Next: TBD

6. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Jan. 11
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Virna Jandiroba

7. Gillian Robertson  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: TBD

8. Loopy Godínez  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
Next: TBD

9. Iasmin Lucindo  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
Next: TBD

10. Tabatha Ricci  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
Next: TBD