Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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It’s getting increasingly difficult to ignore Paddy Pimblett in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division.

While besting a slumping Michael Chandler wasn’t necessarily a surprise in itself, the manner in which “The Baddy” dismantled the former Bellator MMA champion in the UFC 314 co-main event was unexpected. In one of the most lopsided beatdowns of 2025 thus far, Pimblett controlled all aspects of the fight en route to a third-round technical knockout victory at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday night. That makes seven straight UFC triumphs for the former Cage Warriors champion, who enters the lightweight Top 10 for the first time.

Elsewhere, it’s been quite the turnaround for Dominick Reyes. With his career on life support following a four-bout skid from 2020 to 2022, “The Devastator” has turned things around in a major way with a three-fight knockout streak that began last June. His latest work, a first-round KO of Nikita Krylov, clears the way for the 35-year-old Californian to return to the light heavyweight Top 10 at No. 7.

While the title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes garnered most of the attention at 145 pounds, there was plenty of other significant featherweight action over the weekend. Yair Rodriguez spoiled the Octagon debut of longtime Bellator great Patricio Freire, as he controlled the range and kept “Pitbull” on the defensive for the better part of three rounds in a clear-cut unanimous verdict. That allows Rodriguez to climb to No. 8 in the latest 145-pound poll. Meanwhile, Jean Silva secured his fifth straight finish, eliciting a tapout from Bryce Mitchell with a second-round ninja choke in another featured featherweight scrap. With an impressive body of work in the UFC and a 13-bout winning streak overall, the previously 15th-ranked Fighting Nerds product climbs to No. 11.

In other action, second-ranked strawweight Virna Jandiroba dominated former title challenger Xiaonan Yan, likely solidifying her as the next No. 1 contender for reigning champion Weili Zhang. At flyweight, Top 10 staple Liz Carmouche punched her ticket to the Professional Fighters League tournament semifinals with a first-round TKO of Ilara Joanne on Friday night at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.