Makhachev: New Welterweight King, Explosive Rise in UFC and Ranking Changes

Attention mixed martial arts fanatics! Alofoke Deportes brings you the latest updates on the ESPN divisional ranking. Islam Makhachev, after an impressive performance, has climbed to the top in a new weight category.

Makhachev: New Champion and Undisputed Leader

Islam Makhachev, already positioned at number one in lightweight, has made a giant leap. After his victory over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, Makhachev is crowned welterweight champion. This triumph not only gives him a new belt, but also places him at the top of a division 15 pounds heavier. The rise of Makhachev is just one part of the significant changes that UFC 322 brought about in the welterweight category. The knockout victories of Michael Morales and Carlos Prates boosted their position in the top 10. Regarding lightweight, Makhachev’s move to 170 pounds allowed several competitors to advance in the 155-pound rankings. Ilia Topuria, now the UFC champion, leads the division. Beneil Dariush’s KO loss to Benoît Saint Denis at UFC 322 also generated changes, with Saint Denis and Renato Moicano entering the rankings. In the women’s ranking, Zhang Weili, after losing to Valentina Shevchenko in her attempt for the flyweight title, has not yet defined in which division she will compete. For the moment, she remains in the strawweight ranking at number 1. Here are the ESPN rankings and the list of current UFC champions.