Alex Pereira knocks out and dominates the UFC light heavyweight rankings

The weekend was packed with action in the world of mixed martial arts, with the update of the Alofoke Deportes divisional rankings. A total of 13 ranked fighters saw action between Saturday’s UFC 320 and Friday’s PFL Champions Series event. Among the most outstanding fights, half of the light heavyweight top 10 faced off in the octagon. The rise of Alex Pereira to first place stands out, after his dominant victory over Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC main event, recovering the title he had lost in March.

Pereira, after his victory, announced his intention to move up to the heavyweight category, but for now, he reigns again in the 205-pound division.

Alofoke Deportes

The changes in the rankings extend to six weight categories. One of the most notable ascents is that of Youssef Zalal, who climbed three positions to number 7 in featherweight, thanks to his quick submission over Josh Emmett. Regarding the rankings, Patchy Mix, in the bantamweight division, dropped out after his defeat at UFC 320, being replaced by Marlon “Chito” Vera. In addition, the former women’s bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington, was removed due to her inactivity, as she hasn’t fought since losing the title a year ago.

Below, we present the MMA rankings from Alofoke Deportes, with results updated to October 7th. To be eligible, a fighter must have competed in the last 12 months or have a scheduled fight. Fighters who have been removed due to inactivity can only be reinstated after competing.

Heavyweight

Tom Aspinall, now number 1 in heavyweight, now holds the UFC belt without the “interim” label.

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC Champion Record: 15-3 Last: Victoria (TKO1) vs. Curtis Blaydes, July 27, 2024 Next: October 25 vs. Ciryl Gane2. Francis NgannouPromotion: PFL Super Fights Champion Record: 18-3 Last: Victoria (KO1) vs. Renan Ferreira, October 19, 2024 Next: To be defined

3. Ciryl Gane

Promotion: UFC Record: 13-2 Last: Victoria (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, December 7, 2024 Next: October 25 vs. Tom Aspinall4. Curtis BlaydesPromotion: UFC Record: 19-5, 1 NC Last: Victoria (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21st Next: To be defined5. Alexander VolkovPromotion: UFC Record: 38-11 Last: Defeat (SD) vs. Ciryl Gane, December 7, 2024 Next: October 25 vs. Jailton Almeida

6. Sergei Pavlovich

Promotion: UFC Record: 20-3 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, August 23rd Next: To be defined7. Jailton AlmeidaPromotion: UFC Record: 22-3 Last: Victoria (TKO1) vs. Serghei Spivac, January 18th Next: October 25 vs. Alexander Volkov

8. Renan Ferreira

Promotion: PFL Champion Record: 13-4, 3 NC Last: Defeat (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, October 19, 2024 Next: December 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov

9. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-2 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, August 23rd Next: November 1st vs. Ante Delija

10. Serghei Spivac

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-6 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7th Next: November 22 vs. Shamil Gaziev

Light Heavyweight

Alex Pereira knocked out Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 to regain the light heavyweight title.

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC Champion Previous ranking: 2 Record: 13-3 Last: Victoria (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, October 4th Next: To be defined2. Magomed AnkalaevPromotion: UFC

Previous ranking: 1

Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC Last: Defeat (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, October 4th Next: To be defined3. Jiří ProcházkaPromotion: UFC Record: 32-5-1 Last: Victoria (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., October 4th Next: To be defined

4. Carlos Ulberg

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-1 Last: Victoria (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, September 27th Next: To be defined

5. Khalil Rountree Jr.

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-7, 1 NC Last: Defeat (KO3) vs. Jiří Procházka, October 4th Next: To be defined6. Aleksandar RakićPromotion: UFC Record: 14-5 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, October 26, 2024 Next: October 25 vs. Azamat Murzakanov7. Dominick ReyesPromotion: UFC Record: 15-5 Last: Defeat (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, September 27th Next: To be defined8. Jamahal HillPromotion: UFC Record: 12-4, 1 NC Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21 Next: To be defined9. Corey AndersonPromotion: PFL Champion Previous ranking: 10 Record: 20-6-1 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, October 3rd Next: To be defined

10. Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 20-8 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Carlos Ulberg, November 23, 2024 Next: November 22 vs. Alonzo Menifield

Middleweight

Khamzat Chimaev remains at the top of the UFC middleweight division.

1. Khamzat Chimaev

Promotion: UFC Champion Record: 15-0 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, August 16th Next: To be defined2. Dricus du PlessisPromotion: UFC Record: 23-3 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, August 16th Next: To be defined3. Nassourdine ImavovPromotion: UFC Record: 17-4, 1 NC Last: Victoria (US) vs. Caio Borralho, September 6th Next: To be defined4. Sean StricklandPromotion: UFC Record: 29-7 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, February 8th Next: To be defined

5. Israel Adesanya

Promotion: UFC Record: 24-5 Last: Loss (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, February 1st Next: To be defined

6. Reinier de Ridder

Promotion: UFC Record: 21-2 Last: Victoria (SD) vs. Robert Whittaker, July 26th Next: October 18 vs. Brendan Allen

7. Anthony Hernandez

Promotion: UFC Record: 15-2, 1 NC Last: Victoria (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, August 9th Next: To be defined

8. Caio Borralho

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-2, 1 NC Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, September 6th Next: To be defined9. Robert WhittakerPromotion: UFC Record: 26-9 Last: Defeat (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26th Next: To be defined10. Brendan AllenPromotion: UFC Record: 25-7 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, July 19th Next: October 18 vs. Reinier de Ridder

Welterweight

Jack Della Maddalena, with the welterweight belt in his power after dethroning Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.

1. Jack Della Maddalena

Promotion: UFC Champion Record: 18-2 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, May 10th Next: November 15 vs. Islam Makhachev

2. Belal Muhammad

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

3. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-0 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, December 7, 2024 Next: To be defined

4. Sean Brady

Promotion: UFC Record: 18-1 Last: Victoria (Sub4) vs. Leon Edwards, March 22nd Next: To be defined5. Leon EdwardsPromotion: UFC Record: 22-5, 1 NC Last: Defeat (Sub4) vs. Sean Brady, March 22 Next: November 15 vs. Carlos Prates6. Kamaru UsmanPromotion: UFC Record: 21-4 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14th Next: To be defined7. Ian Machado GarryPromotion: UFC Record: 16-1 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Carlos Prates, April 26 Next: November 22 vs. Belal Muhammad8. Michael MoralesPromotion: UFC Record: 18-0 Last: Victoria (TKO1) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 17th Next: To be defined9. Joaquin BuckleyPromotion: UFC Record: 21-7 Last: Defeat (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14 Next: To be defined

10. Carlos Prates

Promotion: UFC Record: 22-7 Last: Victoria (KO1) vs. Geoff Neal, August 16th Next: November 15 vs. Leon Edwards

Lightweight

Ilia Topuria, after winning the lightweight belt.

1. Islam Makhachev

Promotion: UFC Record: 27-1 Last: Victoria (Sub1) vs. Renato Moicano, January 18th Next: November 15 vs. Jack Della Maddalena

2. Ilia Topuria

Promotion: UFC Champion Record: 17-0 Last: Victoria (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28th Next: To be defined3. Charles OliveiraPromotion: UFC Record: 35-11, 1 NC Last: Defeat (KO1) vs. Ilia Topuria, June 28th Next: October 11 vs. Mateusz Gamrot4. Max HollowayPromotion: UFC Record: 27-8 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19th Next: To be defined

5. Justin Gaethje

Promotion: UFC Record: 26-5 Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8th Next: To be defined6. Usman NurmagomedovPromotion: PFL Champion Previous ranking: 7 Record: 20-0, 1 NC Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, October 3rd Next: To be defined

7. Paddy Pimblett

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 23-3 Last: Victoria (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12 Next: To be defined

8. Beneil Dariush

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

9. Mateusz Gamrot

Promotion: UFC Record: 25-3, 1 NC Last: Victoria (UD) vs. Ludovit Klein, May 31st Next: