<
        >

          MMA divisional rankings: Grasso, Pyfer elevate with emphatic finishes

          Alexa Grasso climbs in the women's flyweight rankings after a first-round knockout of Maycee Barber, who was ranked two spots ahead of her in the ESPN divisional rankings. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
          • Brett OkamotoMar 31, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
            Close
              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
            Follow on X

          The fighting life of a dethroned champion can turn into a redemption story or a free fall. Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Seattle saw both unfold.

          The main event pitted two-time former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya against rising Joe Pyfer, and Pyfer scored a second-round knockout for his fourth straight victory. For Adesanya, 36, it was a fourth loss in a row, the past three by finish. He has not won a fight since 2023, when he was in his second reign as champ.

          Contrast that result with that of the co-main event, in which former women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso ended a three-fight winless streak by producing one of the most stirring knockouts in recent memory, finishing fellow top-10 fighter Maycee Barber in the first round. Grasso is suddenly riding high again.

          Grasso swaps places with Barber in the women's 125-pound rankings. At middleweight, Pyfer enters the top 10 for the first time at No. 8, and Adesanya falls three spots to No. 9.

          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 March 31. 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 (up to 265 pounds)

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)

          WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)

          LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)

          FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)

          MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

          WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)

          WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)

          STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)