Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Image: John Brannigan/Sherdog.com illustration

Joaquin Buckley added a big name to his ledger in the last Ultimate Fighting Championship event of 2024.

“New Mansa” dominated Colby Covington in a way that few have, battering his opponent on the feet and denying the majority of his takedowns en route to a third-round doctor stoppage victory in the UFC Tampa headliner on Saturday night. While the nature of the finish was somewhat anticlimactic, there’s no question that Buckley was in control throughout against the three-time welterweight title challenger. With back-to-back triumphs over Covington and Stephen Thompson and a six-fight overall winning streak, Buckley is an emerging contender at 170 pounds. He’s also rising in Sherdog’s rankings, climbing to No. 11 as a result of his latest effort.

Meanwhile, Manel Kape put on a show en route to a third-round technical knockout victory against Bruno Silva in a featured flyweight contest at UFC Tampa. By vanquishing a foe who entered the night on a four-bout finishing streak, Kape re-established himself as a person of interest following a lackluster showing against Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 earlier this year. However, Kape stays put at No. 9 in the 125-pound rankings after Mokaev dispatched the unheralded Joevincent So at Brave CF 91 this past Friday.

Elsewhere, Jennifer Maia made history in the Invicta FC 59 main event on Friday night, as she became the first two-division champion in promotion history when she defeated Talita Bernardo to claim the bantamweight throne. Maia has won back-to-back outings at 135 pounds, and by vanquishing the previously 11th-ranked Bernardo in decisive fashion, she joins the bantamweight poll at No. 10. In other Invicta FC 59 action, No. 15 atomweight Ana Palacios maintained her footing in the division by outpointing Monique Adriane.

In housekeeping news, Vadim Nemkov — once regarded by some as the top light heavyweight talent in the world — exits the 205-pound poll as he continues his foray into the heavyweight division. As Nemkov bids farewell, we welcome back Dominick Reyes, who returns to the rankings at No. 15 on the heels of consecutive triumphs.

Additionally, former Bellator MMA champ Julia Budd exits the women’s featherweight rankings due to inactivity, with undefeated submission specialist Michelle Montague taking Budd’s No. 10 spot and Jamie Edenden joining the 145-pound bubble at No. 15.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.

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HEAVYWEIGHT
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
MIDDLEWEIGHT
WELTERWEIGHT
LIGHTWEIGHT
FEATHERWEIGHT
BANTAMWEIGHT
FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT
WOMEN'S ATOMWEIGHT