Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Image: John Brannigan/Sherdog.com illustration

Yadong Song pitched the mixed martial arts equivalent of a shutout at UFC Fight Night 233.

The Team Alpha Male product stymied Chris Gutierrez for five rounds on Saturday night, earning a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph in the evening’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. While Song has played the role of up-and-comer in past appearances, on this occasion he was the one denying Gutierrez’s entry into the bantamweight rankings. As a result, “Kung Fu Kid” holds steady at No. 10 in the poll and sets his sights on bigger game: a potential showdown with former 135-pound champ Petr Yan.

Elsewhere, Khalil Rountree took a big step forward at light heavyweight, winning his fifth consecutive fight with a third-round stoppage of former title challenger Anthony Smith in the UFC Fight Night 233 co-main event. “The War Horse” has come a long way since the inconsistent beginning to his promotional tenure, and he makes his debut in the divisional rankings at No. 13. Meanwhile, the previously 15th-ranked Antonio Carlos Jr. hasn’t fought since June 2022, so he exits the poll.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.