Kamaru Usman, the welterweight champion, was already No. 1. In the ESPN men's pound for pound rankings. There was not enough room to move up. However, Usman's performance at Madison Square Garden earned him the support of the last remaining member of our voting panel. Now Usman is the unanimous No. 1.
Amanda Nunes was already a unanimous No. Amanda Nunes was already a unanimous No. 1 among women. She has an opportunity to consolidate that standing against Julianna Pena on Dec. 11.
Other than the two top-ranked fighters, there were a few others who made progress based on their recent performances. UFC men’s featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski jumped up one spot, PFL women’s lightweight titlist Kayla Harris jumped two places, and UFC interim men’s bantamweight champion Petr Yan entered rankings.
Glover Teixeira, who just won the UFC light-heavyweight belt at 42 years old, received some support from the voters, but didn't quite make it to the top 10.
Notice: These results are current. Rankings as of Nov. 9
Men's pound-for-pound rankings
1. Kamaru Usman
UFC welterweight champion
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD), Colby Covington Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Israel Adesanya
UFC champion for middleweight
Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Alexander Volkanovski
UFC featherweight champion
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Francis Ngannou
UFC heavyweight champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: Jan. 22, vs. Ciryl Ganes
5. Dustin Poirier
UFC lightweight
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: Conor McGregor Conor McGregor (TKO1), July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 at Charles Oliveira
6. Charles Oliveira
UFC lightweight champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 31-8, 1 NC
Last: Michael Chandler (TKO2), May 15, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dustin Poirier
7. Petr Yan
UFC bantamweight interim champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-2
Last: Cory Sandhagen (W.U.D.), Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Aljamain Sterling
8. Stipe Miocic
UFC heavyweight
Record: 20-4
Last: Francis Ngannou (L (KO2), March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
T-9. Brandon Moreno
UFC flyweight champion
Record: 19-5-2
Last: W (Sub3) Deiveson Figueiredo June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22, vs. Deiveson Fiigueiredo
T-9. Max Holloway
UFC featherweight
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 22-6
Last: Calvin Kattar (W.U.D.), Jan. 16, 2021
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Yair Rodriguez
Glover Teixeira, Robert Whittaker were also among the fighters who received votes.
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto: 1. Kamaru Usman: 2. Israel Adesanya; 3. Alexander Volkanovski; 4. Dustin Poirier; 5. Max Holloway; 6. Petr Yan; 7. Francis Ngannou; Charles Oliveira Robert Whittaker; 10. Brandon Moreno
Marc Raimondi: 1. Kamaru Usman: 2. Israel Adesanya; 3. Francis Ngannou; Alexander Volkanovski; 5. Stipe Miocic Dustin Poirier; 7. Charles Oliveira; Glover Teixeira Robert Whittaker; 10. Brandon Moreno
Carlos Contreras Legaspi: 1. Kamaru Usman: 2. Israel Adesanya; 3. Alexander Volkanovski; 4. Francis Ngannou; Charles Oliveira Petr Yan; 7. Brandon Moreno; Dustin Poirier; 9. Max Holloway; 10. Glover Teixeira
Mike Coppinger: 1. Kamaru Usman: 2. Israel Adesanya; 3. Alexander Volkanovski; 4. Francis Ngannou; Dustin Poirier; 6. Charles Oliveira Brandon Moreno; Max Holloway; 9. Robert Whittaker; 10. Glover Teixeira.
Jeff Wagenheim: 1. Kamaru Usman Francis Ngannou Israel Adesanya; 4. Alexander Volkanovski; 5. Stipe Miocic Dustin Poirier; 7. Petr Yan; 8. Charles Oliveira Glover Teixeira; 10. Brandon Moreno
Kayla Harrison won her second PFL lightweight title and moved up two places in the ESPN rankings. Cooper Neill/PFL
1. Amanda Nunes
UFC bantamweight/featherweight champion
Record: 21-4
Last: Megan Anderson (W-Sub1), March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Julianna Pena
2. Valentina Shevchenko
UFC flyweight champion
Record: 21-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Rose Namajunas
UFC strawweight champion
Record: 11-4
Last: W (SD) Zhang Weili, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Cris Cyborg
Champion Bellator featherweight
Record: 24-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO5) Leslie Smith May 21, 2021
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Sinead Kavanagh
5. Zhang Weili
UFC strawweight
Record: 21-3
Last: L (SD) Rose Namajunas, Nov. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Jessica Andrade
Flyweight UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: Cynthia Calvillo (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Kayla Harrison
PFL lightweight champion
Previous ranking: T-9
Record: 12-0
Last: W (Sub2) Taylor Guardado, Oct. 27, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Germaine de Randamie
UFC bantamweight
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Pena Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Holly Holm
UFC bantamweight
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Carla Esparza
UFC strawweight
Previous ranking: T-9
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
Another fighter who received votes: Katlyn Cohookagian
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto: 1. Amanda Nunes; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Rose Namajunas; 4. Cris Cyborg; 5. Kayla Harrison; 6. Zhang Weili; 7. Germaine de Randamie; 8. Jessica Andrade; 9. Carla Esparza; 10. Katlyn Chookagian
Marc Raimondi: 1. Amanda Nunes; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Cris Cyborg; 4. Rose Namajunas; 5. Kayla Harrison; 6. Zhang Weili; 7. Jessica Andrade; 8. Germaine de Randamie; 9. Holly Holm; 10. Carla Esparza.
Carlos Contreras Legaspi: 1. Amanda Nunes; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Rose Namajunas; 4. Cris Cyborg; 5. Holly Holm; 6. Kayla Harrison; 7. Jessica Andrade; 8. Zhang Weili; 9. Germaine de Randamie; 10. Carla Esparza.
Mike Coppinger: 1. Amanda Nunes; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Rose Namajunas; 4. Cris Cyborg; 5. Zhang Weili; 6. Jessica Andrade; 7. Germaine de Randamie; 8. Holly Holm; Kayla Harrison; 10. Carla Esparza.
Jeff Wagenheim: 1. Amanda Nunes; 2. Valentina Shevchenko; 3. Cris Cyborg; 4. Rose Namajunas; 5. Zhang Weili; 6. Jessica Andrade; 7. Germaine de Randamie; 8. Holly Holm; Carla Esparza; 10. Kayla Harrison
