Welcome to the new faces. And welcome back to the familiar ones.
Six weight classes saw new entries to their top-10s in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Two of them are at heavyweight. Chris Daukaus enters the rankings for the first time, on the strength of his Sept. 25 victory over previously ranked Shamil Abdurakhimov. And Marcin Tybura now has a number next to his name going into his Oct. 30 bout with fellow top-10 inhabitant Alexander Volkov.
Middleweight Sean Strickland and flyweight Taila Santos are also new to the top 10 in their respective divisions.
And returning to the rankings are light heavyweight Anthony Smith, bantamweight Pedro Munhoz and strawweight Nina Nunes.
There's a lot of movement, some of it driven by new eligibility rules -- you must have fought within the last year or have a fight on the books -- that eliminated stalwarts such as Jon Jones and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Sept. 30.
Heavyweight - Light heavyweight - Middleweight - Welterweight
Lightweight - Men's featherweight - Men's bantamweight - Men's flyweight
Women's bantamweight - Women's flyweight - Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Francis Ngannou  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-3
Last: W (KO2) Stipe Miocic, March 27, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Ciryl Gane
2. Ciryl Gane  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO3) Derrick Lewis, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Francis Ngannou
3. Stipe Miocic  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4
Last: L (KO2) Francis Ngannou, March 27, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Derrick Lewis  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-8, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO3) Ciryl Gane, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Chris Daukaus
5. Curtis Blaydes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alexander Volkov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 33-9
Last: L (UD) Ciryl Gane, June 26, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Marcin Tybura
7. Chris Daukaus  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 12-3
Last: W (TKO2) Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Dec. 18 vs. Derrick Lewis
8. Alistair Overeem  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 47-19, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Alexander Volkov, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Corey Anderson
10. Marcin Tybura  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Last: W (TKO1) Walt Harris, June 5, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Alexander Volkov
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jan Blachowicz  
Promotion: UFC champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 28-8
Last: W (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 6, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Glover Teixeira
2. Glover Teixeira  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 32-7
Last: W (Sub3) Thiago Santos, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Jan Blachowicz
3. Jiri Prochazka  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 28-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Dominick Reyes, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Aleksandar Rakic  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-2
Last: W (UD) Thiago Santos, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Vadim Nemkov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) Phil Davis, April 16, 2021
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Julius Anglickas
6. Anthony Smith  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 35-16
Last: W (Sub1) Ryan Spann, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Dominick Reyes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: L (KO2) Jiri Prochazka, May 1, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Corey Anderson  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 15-5
Last: W (TKO3) Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, April 9, 2021
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Ryan Bader
9. Ryan Bader  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Lyoto Machida, April 9, 2021
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Corey Anderson
10. Thiago Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9
Last: W (UD) Johnny Walker, Oct. 2, 2021
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-1
Last: W (UD) Marvin Vettori, June 12, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Robert Whittaker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, April 17, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Paulo Costa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-1
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: Oct. 23 vs. Marvin Vettori
4. Jared Cannonier  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Kelvin Gastelum, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Derek Brunson
5. Derek Brunson  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 23-7
Last: W (Sub3) Darren Till, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Marvin Vettori  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-5-1
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, June 12, 2021
Next: Oct. 23 vs. Paulo Costa
7. Darren Till  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-4-1
Last: L (Sub3) Derek Brunson, Sept. 4, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Jared Cannonier
8. Jack Hermansson  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 22-5
Last: W (UD) Edmen Shahbazyan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Gegard Mousasi  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 48-7-2
Last: W (TKO3) John Salter, Aug. 13, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Austin Vanderford
10. Sean Strickland  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 24-3
Last: W (UD) Uriah Hall, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (KO2) Jorge Masvidal, April 24, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Colby Covington
2. Gilbert Burns  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Stephen Thompson, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Colby Covington  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tyron Woodley, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Kamaru Usman
4. Leon Edwards  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Nate Diaz, June 12, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Jorge Masvidal
5. Vicente Luque  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7-1
Last: W (Sub1) Michael Chiesa, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Stephen Thompson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) Gilbert Burns, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
7. Yaroslav Amosov  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 26-0
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, June 11, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Douglas Lima  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-10
Last: L (SD) Michael Page, Oct. 1, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Michael Chiesa  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5
Last: L (Sub1) Vicente Luque, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD vs. Sean Brady
10. Jorge Masvidal  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 35-15
Last: L (KO2) Kamaru Usman, April 24, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Leon Edwards
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Dustin Poirier  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 28-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Conor McGregor, July 10, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Charles Oliveira
2. Charles Oliveira  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 31-8, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Michael Chandler, May 15, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Dustin Poirier
3. Justin Gaethje  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Michael Chandler
4. Michael Chandler  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: L (TKO2) Charles Oliveira, May 15, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Justin Gaethje
5. Beneil Dariush  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4-1
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Dan Hooker  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-10
Last: W (UD) Nasrat Haqparast, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Islam Makhachev
7. Rafael dos Anjos  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Islam Makhachev  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-1
Last: W (Sub4) Thiago Moises, July 17, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Dan Hooker
9. Gregor Gillespie  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (TKO2) Diego Ferreira, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Tony Ferguson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-6
Last: L (UD) Beneil Dariush, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Brian Ortega, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Max Holloway  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Yair Rodriguez
3. Brian Ortega  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. A.J. McKee  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 18-0
Last: W (Sub1) Patricio Freire, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Patricio Freire  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 32-5
Last: L (Sub1) A.J. McKee, July 31, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Zabit Magomedsharipov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD
7. Calvin Kattar  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Yair Rodriguez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18, 2019
Next: Nov. 13 vs. Max Holloway
9. Chan Sung Jung  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Ige, June 19, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Josh Emmett  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Aljamain Sterling  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (DQ4) Petr Yan, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Petr Yan  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: L (DQ4) Aljamain Sterling, March 6, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Cory Sandhagen
3. TJ Dillashaw  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Cory Sandhagen, July 24, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Cory Sandhagen  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: L (SD) TJ Dillashaw, July 24, 2021
Next: Oct. 30 vs. Petr Yan
5. Rob Font  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-4
Last: W (UD) Cody Garbrandt, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Jose Aldo
6. Jose Aldo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 30-7
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 4 vs. Rob Font
7. Merab Dvalishvili  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 14-4
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Cody Garbrandt  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-4
Last: L (UD) Rob Font, May 22, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Kai Kara-France
9. Frankie Edgar  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 24-9-1
Last: L (KO1) Cory Sandhagen, Feb. 6, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Marlon Vera
10. Pedro Munhoz  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 19-6, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Jose Aldo, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Brandon Moreno  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 18-5-2
Last: W (Sub3) Deiveson Figueiredo, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
2. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-2-1
Last: L (Sub3) Brandon Moreno, June 12, 2021
Next: Jan. 22 vs. Brandon Moreno
3. Adriano Moraes  
Promotion: One Championship champion
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO2) Demetrious Johnson, April 7, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Demetrious Johnson  
Promotion: One Championship
Record: 30-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Adriano Moraes, April 7, 2021
Next: Dec. 5 vs. Rodtang (mixed rules)
5. Askar Askarov  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-0-1
Last: W (UD) Joseph Benavidez, March 6, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Alex Perez  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Alexandre Pantoja  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: W (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Kai Kara-France  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-9, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) Rogerio Bontorin, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Cody Garbrandt
9. Brandon Royval  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (Sub2) Alexandre Pantoja, Aug. 21, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Rogerio Bontorin  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-3, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Matt Schnell, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (Sub1) Megan Anderson, March 6, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Julianna Peña
2. Germaine de Randamie  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Irene Aldana
3. Julianna Peña  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-4
Last: W (Sub3) Sara McMann, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: Dec. 11 vs. Amanda Nunes
4. Aspen Ladd  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7, 2019
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Norma Dumont
5. Holly Holm  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Irene Aldana  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-6
Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, July 10, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie
7. Yana Kunitskaya  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Irene Aldana, July 10, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ketlen Vieira  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-2
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, Feb. 20, 2021
Next: Oct. 16 vs. Miesha Tate
9. Raquel Pennington  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 12-8
Last: W (UD) Pannie Kianzad, Sept. 18, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Macy Chiasson  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 7-1
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 20, 2021
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO4) Lauren Murphy, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
2. Katlyn Chookagian  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 16-4
Last: W (UD) Viviane Araujo, May 15, 2021
Next: TBD
3. Jessica Andrade  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 22-9
Last: W (TKO1) Cynthia Calvillo, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Lauren Murphy  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 15-5
Last: L (TKO4) Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
5. Jennifer Maia  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Joanne Calderwood  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-6
Last: L (SD) Lauren Murphy, June 12, 2021
Next: Nov. 20 vs. Alexa Grasso
7. Juliana Velasquez  
Promotion: Bellator champion
Record: 12-0
Last: W (SD) Denise Kielholtz, July 16, 2021
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Taila Santos  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Roxanne Modafferi, Sept. 25, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche  
Promotion: Bellator
Record: 14-7
Last: W (Sub3) DeAnna Bennett, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Rose Namajunas  
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 10-4
Last: W (KO1) Zhang Weili, April 24, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Zhang Weili
2. Zhang Weili  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-1
Last: L (KO1) Rose Namajunas, April 24, 2021
Next: Nov. 6 vs. Rose Namajunas
3. Carla Esparza  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 18-6
Last: W (TKO2) Yan Xiaonan, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
4. Marina Rodriguez  <
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-1-2
Last: W (UD) Michelle Waterson, May 8, 2021
Next: Oct. 9 vs. Mackenzie Dern
5. Yan Xiaonan  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Carla Esparza, May 22, 2021
Next: TBD
6. Mackenzie Dern  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 11-1
Last: W (Sub1) Nina Nunes, April 10, 2021
Next: Oct. 9 vs. Marina Rodriguez
7. Claudia Gadelha  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Tecia Torres  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Angela Hill, Aug. 7, 2021
Next: TBD
9. Nina Nunes  
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-7
Last: L (Sub1) Mackenzie Dern, April 10, 2021
Next: TBD
10. Michelle Waterson  
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 18-9
Last: L (UD) Marina Rodriguez, May 8, 2021
Next: TBD