What a difference a week makes. On Sept. 7, Khabib Nurmagomedov put on another dominant performance, successfully defending his UFC lightweight championship by choking out Dustin Poirier. For the 28-0 Nurmagomedov, it was his 12th UFC victory -- the best start in promotion history.
He does not budge in the ESPN 155-pound rankings, though, as he already was No. 1.
A week earlier, on Aug. 31, Zhang Weili made history by becoming the first Chinese champion in the UFC. And her 42-second victory over Jessica Andrade to capture the strawweight championship also gave her a big boost in the 115-pound rankings. She sits at the top now, after going into the fight at No. 7.
Check out my rankings within each MMA weight division by clicking on the links below.
For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current, rankings as of Sept. 13.
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. Stipe Miocic  
Record: 19-3
Last: W (TKO4) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
2. Daniel Cormier  
Record: 22-2, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Stipe Miocic, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
3. Francis Ngannou  
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) Junior dos Santos, June 29
Next: TBD
4. Curtis Blaydes  
Record: 12-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Shamil Abdurakhimov, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
5. Junior dos Santos  
Record: 21-6
Last: L (TKO1) Francis Ngannou, June 29
Next: Nov. 9 vs. Alexander Volkov
6. Derrick Lewis  
Record: 21-7
Last: L (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, March 9
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Blagoy Ivanov
7. Alexander Volkov  
Record: 30-7
Last: L (KO3) Derrick Lewis, Oct. 6
Next: Nov. 9 vs. Junior dos Santos
8. Alistair Overeem  
Record: 45-17, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) Aleksei Oleinik, April 20
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Walt Harris
9. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
10. Cheick Kongo  
Record: 30-10-2, 1 NC
Last: NC Ryan Bader, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jon Jones  
Record: 25-1, 1 NC
Last: W (SD) Thiago Santos, July 6
Next: TBD
2. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-5, 1 NC
Last: NC Cheick Kongo, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
3. Anthony Smith  
Record: 32-14
Last: W (SUB4) Alexander Gustafsson, June 1
Next: TBD
4. Thiago Santos  
Record: 21-7
Last: L (SD) Jon Jones, July 6
Next: TBD
5. Jan Blachowicz  
Record: 24-9
Last: W (KO2) Luke Rockhold, July 6
Next: Nov. 16 vs Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
6. Corey Anderson  
Record: 12-4
Last: W (UD) Ilir Latifi, Dec. 29
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Johnny Walker
7. Dominick Reyes  
Record: 11-0
Last: W (SD) Volkan Oezdemir, March 16
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Chris Weidman
8. Volkan Oezdemir  
Record: 16-4
Last: W (TKO2) Ilir Latifi, Aug. 10
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Aleksander Rakic
9. Glover Teixeira  
Record: 30-7
Last: W (SD) Nikita Krylov, Sept. 14
Next: TBD
10. Aleksandar Rakic  
Record: 12-1
Last: W (KO1) Jimi Manuwa, June 1
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Volkan Oezdemir
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Robert Whittaker  
Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Oct. 6
Next: TBD
2. Israel Adesanya  
Record: 18-0
Last: W (TKO2) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 6
Next: TBD
3. Kelvin Gastelum  
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, April 13
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Darren Till
4. Paulo Costa  
Record: 13-0
Last: W (UD) Yoel Romero, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
5. Yoel Romero  
Record: 13-4
Last: L (UD) Paulo Costa, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
6. Jack Hermansson  
Record: 20-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jared Cannonier, Sept. 28
Next: TBD
7. Ronaldo Souza  
Record: 26-7, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Jack Hermansson, April 27
Next: Nov. 16 vs. Jan Blachowicz
8. Rafael Lovato Jr.  
Record: 10-0
Last: W (MD) Gegard Mousasi, June 22
Next: TBD
9. Gegard Mousasi  
Record: 46-7-2
Last: W (SD) Lyoto Machida, Sept. 28
Next: TBD
10. Derek Brunson  
Record: 20-7
Last: W (UD) Ian Heinisch, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman  
Record: 15-1
Last: W (UD) Tyron Woodley, March 2
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Colby Covington
2. Colby Covington  
Record: 15-1
Last: W (UD) Robbie Lawler, Aug. 3
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Kamaru Usman
3. Tyron Woodley  
Record: 19-4-1
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, March 2
Next: TBD
4. Rory MacDonald  
Record: 21-5-1
Last: W (UD) Neiman Gracie, June 14
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Douglas Lima
5. Jorge Masvidal  
Record: 34-13
Last: W (KO1) Ben Askren, July 6
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Nate Diaz
6. Leon Edwards  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20
Next: TBD
7. Douglas Lima  
Record: 31-7
Last: W (KO2) Michael Page, May 11
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Rory MacDonald
8. Rafael dos Anjos  
Record: 29-12
Last: L (UD) Leon Edwards, July 20
Next: TBD
9. Santiago Ponzinibbio  
Record: 27-3
Last: W (KO4) Neil Magny, Nov. 17
Next: TBD
10. Stephen Thompson  
Record: 14-4-1
Last: L (TKO2) Anthony Pettis, March 23
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Vicente Luque
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov  
Record: 28-0
Last: W (SUB3) Dustin Poirier, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
2. Tony Ferguson  
Record: 25-3
Last: W (TKO2) Donald Cerrone, June 8
Next: TBD
3. Dustin Poirier  
Record: 25-6
Last: L (SUB3) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
4. Donald Cerrone  
Record: 36-13, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) Justin Gaethje, Sept. 14
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje  
Record: 21-2
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Sept. 14
Next: TBD
6. Al Iaquinta  
Record: 14-6-1
Last: L (UD) Dan Hooker, Oct. 6
Next: TBD
7. Paul Felder  
Record: 17-4
Last: W (SD) Edson Barboza, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
8. Michael Chandler  
Record: 19-5
Last: L (TKO1) Patricio Freire, May 11
Next: TBD
9. Patricio Freire  
Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD in March vs. Pedro Carvalho
10. Charles Oliveira  
Record: 27-8, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Nik Lentz, May 18
Next: TBD
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Max Holloway  
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) Frankie Edgar, July 28
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
2. Alexander Volkanovski  
Record: 20-1
Last: W (UD) Jose Aldo, May 11
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Max Holloway
3. Brian Ortega  
Record: 14-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO4) Max Holloway, Dec. 8
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Chan Sung Jung
4. Jose Aldo  
Record: 28-5
Last: L (UD) Alexander Volkanovski, May 11
Next: TBD
5. Patricio Freire  
Record: 30-4
Last: W (UD) Juan Archuleta, Sept. 28
Next: TBD in March vs. Pedro Carvalho
6. Zabit Magomedsharipov  
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, March 2
Next: Nov. 9 vs. Calvin Kattar
7. Chan Sung Jung  
Record: 15-5
Last: W (TKO1) Renato Moicano, June 22
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Brian Ortega
8. Frankie Edgar  
Record: 28-15
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, July 28
Next: TBD
9. Jeremy Stephens  
Record: 28-16, 1 NC
Last: NC Yair Rodriguez, Sept. 21
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Yair Rodriguez
10. Josh Emmett  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO2) Mirsad Bektic, July 13
Next: TBD
Rogan: Cejudo's set of skills are 'unparalleled'
Joe Rogan breaks down his 3 stars of UFC 238, including Henry Cejudo's main event win. For more UFC action, sign up for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Henry Cejudo  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO3) Marlon Moraes, June 8
Next: TBD
2. Marlon Moraes  
Record: 22-6-1
Last: L (TKO3) Henry Cejudo, June 8
Next: TBD
3. Aljamain Sterling  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Pedro Munhoz, June 8
Next: TBD
4. Dominick Cruz  
Record: 22-2
Last: L (UD) Cody Garbrandt, Dec. 30, 2016
Next: TBD
5. Cory Sandhagen  
Record: 12-1
Last: W (UD) Raphael Assuncao, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
6. Petr Yan  
Record: 13-1
Last: W (UD) Jimmie Rivera, June 8
Next: TBD
7. Raphael Assuncao  
Record: 27-7
Last: L (UD) Cory Sandhagen, Aug. 17
Next: TBD
8. Pedro Munhoz  
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) Aljamain Sterling, June 8
Next: TBD
9. Kyoji Horiguchi  
Record: 28-2
Last: L (TKO1) Kai Asakura, Aug. 18
Next: TBD
10. Cody Garbrandt  
Record: 11-3
Last: L (TKO1) Pedro Munhoz, March 2
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Henry Cejudo  
Record: 15-2
Last: W (TKO3) Marlon Moraes, June 8
Next: TBD
2. Demetrious Johnson  
Record: 29-3-1
Last: W (UD)Tatsumitsu Wada, Aug. 2
Next: TBD
3. Joseph Benavidez  
Record: 28-5
Last: W (TKO2) Jussier Formiga, June 29
Next: TBD
4. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Record: 16-1
Last: W (UD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 27
Next: Oct. 12 vs Tim Elliott
5. Jussier Formiga  
Record: 23-6
Last: L (TKO2) Joseph Benavidez, June 29
Next: TBD
6. Alexandre Pantoja  
Record: 21-4
Last: L (UD) Deiveson Figueiredo, July 27
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Matt Schnell
7. Rogerio Bontorin  
Record: 16-1
Last: W (TKO1) Raulian Paiva, Aug. 10
Next: TBD
8. Alex Perez  
Record: 21-5
Last: L (TKO1) Josephj Benavidez, Nov. 30
Next: TBD
9. Matt Schnell  
Record: 14-4
Last: W (SUB) Jordan Espinosa, Aug. 3
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
10. Adriano Moraes  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Geje Eustaquio, Jan. 25
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes  
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO1) Holly Holm, July 6
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Germaine de Randamie
2. Germaine de Randamie  
Record: 9-3
Last: W (TKO1) Aspen Ladd, July 13
Next: Dec. 14 vs. Amanda Nunes
3. Ketlen Vieira  
Record: 10-0
Last: W (SD) Cat Zingano, March 3, 2018
Next: TBD
4. Aspen Ladd  
Record: 8-1
Last: L (TKO1) Germaine de Randamie, July 13
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Yana Kunitskaya
5. Julianna Peña  
Record: 9-3
Last: W (UD) Nicco Montaño, July 13
Next: TBD
6. Holly Holm  
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Amanda Nunes, July 6
Next: TBD
7. Raquel Pennington  
Record: 9-7
Last: L (UD) Germaine de Randamie, Nov. 11
Next: TBD
8. Cat Zingano  
Record: 10-4
Last: L (TKO1) Megan Anderson, Dec. 29
Next: TBD
9. Yana Kunitskaya  
Record: 15-4, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, March 9
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Aspen Ladd
10. Marion Reneau  
Record: 9-5-1
Last: L (UD) Yana Kunitskaya, March 9
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Liz Carmouche, Aug. 10
Next: TBD
2. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  
Record: 10-0
Last: W (TKO3) Veta Arteaga, April 27
Next: Dec. 21 vs. Kate Jackson
3. Katlyn Chookagian  
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) Joanne Calderwood, June 8
Next: Nov. 2 vs Jennifer Maia
4. Joanne Calderwood  
Record: 14-4
Last: W (SD) Andrea Lee, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
5. Liz Carmouche  
Record: 13-7
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Aug. 10
Next: TBD
6. Jessica Eye  
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO2) Valentina Shevchenko, June 8
Next: Dec. 14 vs Viviane Araujo
7. Jennifer Maia  
Record: 17-5-1
Last: W (UD) Rosanne Modafferi, July 20
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Katlyn Chookagian
8. Viviane Araujo  
Record: 8-1
Last: W (UD) Alexis Davis, July 27
Next: Dec. 14 vs Jessica Eye
9. Andrea Lee  
Record: 11-3
Last: L (SD) Joanne Calderwood, Sept. 7
Next: TBD
10. Roxanne Modafferi  
Record: 23-16
Last: L (UD) Jessica Maia, July 20
Next: TBD
Bisping impressed by Zhang's big win over Andrade
Michael Bisping reacts to Zhang Weili's huge win vs. Jessica Andrade to claim the women's strawweight title and become the first Chinese champion in UFC history.
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili  
Record: 20-1
Last: W (TKO1) Jessica Andrade, Aug. 31
Next: TBD
2. Jessica Andrade  
Record: 20-7
Last: L (TKO1) Zhang Weili, Aug. 31
Next: TBD
3. Rose Namajunas  
Record: 8-4
Last: L (TKO2) Jessica Andrade, May 11
Next: TBD
4. Joanna Jedrzejczyk  
Record: 15-3
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Dec. 8
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Michelle Waterson
5. Tatiana Suarez  
Record: 8-0
Last: W (UD) Nina Ansaroff, June 8
Next: TBD
6. Michelle Waterson  
Record: 17-6
Last: W (UD) Karolina Kowalkiewicz, March 30
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
7. Nina Ansaroff  
Record: 10-6
Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8
Next: TBD
8. Claudia Gadelha  
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Randa Markos, July 6
Next: Dec. 7 vs. Cynthia Calvillo
9. Alexa Grasso
Record: 11-3
Last: L (MD) Carla Esparza, Sept. 21
Next: TBD
10. Carla Esparza
Record: 15-6
Last: W (MD) Alexa Grasso, Sept. 21
Next: TBD