It didn't take long for Deiveson Figueiredo to unseat a legend.
The Brazilian became UFC men's flyweight champion in July with his second straight finish of the longtime No. 2 at 125 pounds, Joseph Benavidez. Since then, Figueiredo already has defended his belt twice, with a first-round submission of Alex Perez on Nov. 21 and a majority draw against Brandon Moreno just 21 days later.
Now Figueiredo is newly No. 1 in the ESPN flyweight rankings, jumping over the man who ruled the weight class for years, Demetrious Johnson. The hierarchy could soon readjust, though, depending on how Johnson fares in his Feb. 24 challenge of One Championship flyweight titleholder Adriano Moraes.
The ascent of Figueiredo was just one of many changes in the latest ESPN divisional rankings. There was movement in most every weight class, and five divisions saw the top-10 emergence of previously unranked fighters.
For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Dec. 23.
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: 12-3
Last: W (UD) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 15, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Francis Ngannou  
Record: 15-3
Last: W (KO1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik, May 9, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Curtis Blaydes  
Record: 14-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Alexander Volkov, June 20, 2020
Next: Feb. 20 vs. Derrick Lewis
4. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  
Record: 11-1
Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Aug. 15, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Derrick Lewis  
Record: 24-7, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Aleksei Oleinik, Aug. 8, 2020
Next: Feb. 20 vs. Curtis Blaydes
6. Alistair Overeem  
Record: 47-18, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO5) Augusto Sakai, Sept. 5, 2020
Next: Feb. 6 vs. Alexander Volkov
7. Alexander Volkov  
Record: 32-8
Last: W (TKO2) Walt Harris, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: Feb. 6 vs. Alistair Overeem
8. Ciryl Gane  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 7-0
Last: W (TKO2) Junior dos Santos, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Shamil Abdurakhimov  
Record: 20-5
Last: L (TKO2) Curtis Blaydes, Sept. 7, 2019
Next: TBD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Jon Jones  
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Jan Blachowicz  
Record: 27-8
Last: W (TKO2) Dominick Reyes, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Israel Adesanya
3. Glover Teixeira  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 32-7
Last: W (Sub3) Thiago Santos, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Dominick Reyes  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 12-2
Last: L (TKO2) Jan Blachowicz, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Thiago Santos  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 21-8
Last: L (Sub3) Glover Teixeira, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Aleksandar Rakic
6. Corey Anderson  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 14-5
Last: W (TKO2) Melvin Manhoef, Nov. 5, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Vadim Nemkov  
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) Ryan Bader, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Ryan Bader  
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO2) Vadim Nemkov, Aug. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Aleksandar Rakic  
Record: 13-2
Last: W (UD) Anthony Smith, Aug. 29, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Thiago Santos
10. Jiri Prochazka  
Record: 27-3-1
Last: W (KO2) Volkan Oezdemir, July 11, 2020
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Israel Adesanya  
Record: 20-0
Last: W (TKO2) Paulo Costa, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Jan Blachowicz
2. Robert Whittaker  
Record: 23-5
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Paulo Costa  
Record: 13-1
Last: L (TKO2) Israel Adesanya, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Yoel Romero  
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Israel Adesanya, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Jared Cannonier  
Record: 13-5
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Darren Till  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 18-3-1
Last: L (UD) Robert Whittaker, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Marvin Vettori  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Jack Hermansson, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Jack Hermansson  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 21-5
Last: L (UD) Marvin Vettori, Dec. 5, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Derek Brunson  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) Edmen Shahbazyan, Aug. 1, 2020
Next: March 20 vs. Kevin Holland
10. Gegard Mousasi  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 47-7-2
Last: W (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Kamaru Usman  
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, July 11, 2020
Next: Feb. 13 vs. Gilbert Burns
2. Colby Covington  
Record: 16-2
Last: W (TKO5) Tyron Woodley, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Douglas Lima  
Record: 32-8
Last: L (UD) Gegard Mousasi, Oct. 29, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Leon Edwards  
Record: 18-3
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, July 20, 2019
Next: March 13 vs. Khamzat Chimaev
5. Gilbert Burns  
Record: 19-3
Last: W (UD) Tyron Woodley, May 30, 2020
Next: Feb. 13 vs. Kamaru Usman
6. Stephen Thompson  
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-4-1
Last: W (UD) Geoff Neal, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Jorge Masvidal  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 35-14
Last: L (UD) Kamaru Usman, July 11, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Rory MacDonald  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 21-6-1
Last: L (UD) Douglas Lima, Oct. 26, 2019
Next: TBD
9. Tyron Woodley  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 19-6-1
Last: L (TKO5) Colby Covington, Sept. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Michael Chiesa  
Record: 17-4
Last: W (UD) Rafael dos Anjos, Jan. 25, 2020
Next: Jan. 20 vs. Neil Magny
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov  
Record: 29-0
Last: W (Sub2) Justin Gaethje, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: Announced retirement
2. Justin Gaethje  
Record: 22-3
Last: L (Sub2) Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Dustin Poirier  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-6
Last: W (UD) Dan Hooker, June 27, 2020
Next: Jan. 23 vs. Conor McGregor
4. Charles Oliveira  
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 30-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Tony Ferguson, Dec.12, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Tony Ferguson  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 25-5
Last: L (UD) Charles Oliveira, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Dan Hooker  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 20-9
Last: L (UD) Dustin Poirier, June 27, 2020
Next: Jan. 23 vs. Michael Chandler
7. Michael Chandler  
Record: 21-5
Last: W (KO1) Benson Henderson, Aug. 7, 2020
Next: Jan. 23 vs. Dan Hooker
8. Rafael Dos Anjos  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 30-13
Last: W (SD) Paul Felder, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Paul Felder  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 17-6
Last: L (SD) Rafael dos Anjos, Nov. 14, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Conor McGregor  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 22-4
Last: W (TKO1) Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18, 2020
Next: Jan. 23 vs. Dustin Poirier
MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski  
Record: 22-1
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11, 2020
Next: March 27 vs. Brian Ortega
2. Max Holloway  
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16
Next: TBD
3. Brian Ortega  
Record: 15-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Chan Sung Jung, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: March 27 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
4. Patricio Freire  
Record: 31-4
Last: W (TKO1) Pedro Carvalho, Nov. 12, 2020
Next: TBD vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
5. Zabit Magomedsharipov  
Record: 18-1
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Nov. 9, 2019
Next: TBD
6. Calvin Kattar  
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Max Holloway, Jan. 16
Next: TBD
7. Yair Rodriguez  
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Jeremy Stephens, Oct. 18, 2019
Next: TBD
8. Chan Sung Jung  
Record: 16-6
Last: L (UD) Brian Ortega, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Josh Emmett  
Record: 16-2
Last: W (UD) Shane Burgos, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Shane Burgos  
Record: 13-2
Last: L (UD) Josh Emmett, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Petr Yan  
Record: 15-1
Last: W (TKO5) Jose Aldo, July 11, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Aljamain Sterling
2. Aljamain Sterling  
Record: 19-3
Last: W (Sub1) Cory Sandhagen, June 6, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Petr Yan
3. Cory Sandhagen  
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO2) Marlon Moraes, Oct. 10, 2020
Next: Feb. 6 vs. Frankie Edgar
4. Cody Garbrandt  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) Raphael Assuncao, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Rob Font  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 18-4
Last: W (TKO1) Marlon Moraes, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Jose Aldo  
Record: 29-7
Last: W (UD) Marlon Vera, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Frankie Edgar  
Record: 24-8-1
Last: W (SD) Pedro Munhoz, Aug. 22, 2020
Next: Feb. 6 vs. Cory Sandhagen
8. Pedro Munhoz  
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (SD) Frankie Edgar, Aug. 22, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Marlon Moraes  
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 23-8-1
Last: L (TKO1) Rob Font, Dec. 19, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Raphael Assuncao  
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 27-8
Last: L (KO2) Cody Garbrandt, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Deiveson Figueiredo  
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 20-1-1
Last: D (MD) Brandon Moreno, Dec.12, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Demetrious Johnson  
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12, 2019
Next: Feb. 24 vs. Adriano Moraes
3. Brandon Moreno  
Record: 17-5-2
Last: D (MD) Deiveson Figueiredo, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Joseph Benavidez  
Record: 28-7
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, July 18
Next: TBD
5. Alex Perez  
Record: 24-6
Last: L (Sub1) Deiveson Figueiredo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Askar Askarov  
Record: 12-0-1
Last: W (UD) Alexandre Pantoja, July 18, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Alexandre Pantoja  
Record: 22-5
Last: L (UD) Askar Askarov, July 18, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Brandon Royval  
Record: 12-5
Last: L (TKO1) Brandon Moreno, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Jussier Formiga  
Record: 23-8
Last: L (TKO1) Alex Perez, June 6, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Kai Kara-France  
Record: 21-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) Brandon Royval, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Amanda Nunes  
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Felicia Spencer, June 6, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Megan Anderson
2. Germaine de Randamie  
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSub3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Aspen Ladd  
Record: 9-1
Last: W (TKO3) Yana Kunitskaya, Dec. 7, 2019
Next: TBD
4. Holly Holm  
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Julianna Peña  
Record: 9-4
Last: L (TechSub3) Germaine de Randamie, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Irene Aldana  
Record: 12-6
Last: L (UD) Holly Holm, Oct. 3, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Ketlen Vieira  
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) Sijara Eubanks, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Raquel Pennington  
Record: 11-8
Last: W (UD) Marion Reneau, June 20, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Yana Kunitskaya  
Record: 13-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Julija Stoliarenko, Aug. 8, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Sara McMann  
Record: 12-5
Last: W (UD) Lina Lansberg, Jan. 25, 2020
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko  
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Jessica Andrade  
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 21-8
Last: W (TKO1) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 17, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Katlyn Chookagian  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Jennifer Maia  
Record: 18-7-1
Last: L (UD) Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Joanne Calderwood  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 14-5
Last: L (Sub1) Jennifer Maia, Aug. 1, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Lauren Murphy  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 14-4
Last: W (Sub2) Liliya Shakirova, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Juliana Velasquez  
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 11-0
Last: W (UD) Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane  
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 11-1
Last: L (UD) Juliana Velasquez, Dec. 10, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Cynthia Calvillo  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 9-2-1
Last: L (UD) Katlyn Chookagian, Nov. 21, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Liz Carmouche  
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 14-7
Last: W (Sub3) DeAnna Bennett, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili  
Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD
2. Rose Namajunas  
Record: 9-4
Last: W (SD) Jessica Andrade, July 11, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Joanna Jedrzejczyk  
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7, 2020
Next: TBD
4. Carla Esparza  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-6
Last: W (SD) Marina Rodriguez, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD
5. Yan Xiaonan  
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Claudia Gadelha, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
6. Claudia Gadelha  
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-5
Last: L (UD) Yan Xiaonan, Nov. 7, 2020
Next: TBD
7. Michelle Waterson  
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 18-8
Last: W (SD) Angela Hill, Sept. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
8. Marina Rodriguez  
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 12-1-2
Last: L (SD) Carla Esparza, July 25, 2020
Next: TBD
9. Tecia Torres  
Record: 12-5
Last: W (TKO1) Sam Hughes, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
10. Nina Ansaroff  
Record: 10-6
Last: L (UD) Tatiana Suarez, June 8, 2019
Next: April 10 vs. Mackenzie Dern