Arman Tsarukyan reminded fans that he is one of the best lightweights in the world on Saturday, choking out Dan Hooker in a one-sided main event of UFC Fight Night in Doha, Qatar. Tsarukyan needed to deliver that reminder because he had not been seen inside the Octagon for over a year and a half.
Tsarukyan also needed Saturday's victory to reclaim a spot in the ESPN divisional rankings. Coming into the fight unranked because his inactivity made him ineligible, Tsarukyan delivered a strong enough performance to surge back to the familiar territory of No. 2 among 155-pounders.
The only other movement in these rankings is at welterweight, where Ian Machado Garry's victory over Belal Muhammad over the weekend shifted the balance of power. Machado Garry moves up from No. 5 to No. 4, while Muhammad drops three spots to No. 6.
Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.
Results are current; rankings as of Nov. 25. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.
Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight | Men's bantamweight
Men's flyweight | Women's bantamweight | Women's flyweight | Strawweight
HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)
1. Tom Aspinall 
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-3, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Ciryl Gane, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
2. Ciryl Gane
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2, 1 NC
Last: NC1 vs. Tom Aspinall, Oct.25
Next: TBD
3. Curtis Blaydes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Rizvan Kuniev, June 21
Next: TBD
4. Alexander Volkov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 39-11
Last: W (SD) vs. Jailton Almeida, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
5. Sergei Pavlovich
Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
6. Jailton Almeida
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (SD) vs. Alexander Volkov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-2
Last: W (KO1) vs. Shamil Gaziev, Nov. 22
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Derrick Lewis
8. Renan Ferreira
Promotion: PFL
Record: 13-4, 3 NC
Last: L (KO1) vs. Francis Ngannou, Oct. 19, 2024
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Vadim Nemkov
9. Serghei Spivac
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, June 7
Next: TBD
10. Derrick Lewis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-12, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Tallison Teixeira, July 12
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds)
1. Alex Pereira
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 13-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
2. Magomed Ankalaev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 21-2-1, 1 NC
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Alex Pereira, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
3. Jirí Procházka
Promotion: UFC
Record: 32-5-1
Last: W (KO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Oct. 4
Next: TBD
4. Carlos Ulberg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Dominick Reyes, Sept. 27
Next: TBD
5. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-7, 1 NC
Last: L (KO3) vs. Jirí Procházka, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Azamat Murzakanov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Aleksandar Rakić, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Dominick Reyes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (KO1) vs. Carlos Ulberg, Sept. 27
Next: TBD
8. Aleksandar Rakić
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-6
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
9. Jamahal Hill
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-4, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., June 21
Next: TBD
10. Corey Anderson
Promotion: PFL champion
Record: 20-6-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds)
1. Khamzat Chimaev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
2. Dricus du Plessis
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
3. Nassourdine Imavov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-4, 1 NC
Last: W (US) vs. Caio Borralho, Sept. 6
Next: TBD
4. Sean Strickland
Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Feb. 8
Next: TBD
5. Israel Adesanya
Promotion: UFC
Record: 24-5
Last: L (KO2) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Feb. 1
Next: TBD
6. Anthony Hernandez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub4) vs. Roman Dolidze, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
7. Caio Borralho
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sept. 6
Next: TBD
8. Brendan Allen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-7
Last: W (TKO4) vs. Reinier de Ridder, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
9. Reinier de Ridder
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-3
Last: L (TKO4) vs. Brendan Allen, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
10. Robert Whittaker
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-9
Last: L (SD) vs. Reinier de Ridder, July 26
Next: TBD
WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds)
1. Islam Makhachev
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 28-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
2. Jack Della Maddalena
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 18-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Islam Makhachev, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
3. Shavkat Rakhmonov 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
4. Ian Machado Garry
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Belal Muhammad, Nov. 22
Next: TBD
5. Michael Morales
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 19-0
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sean Brady, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
6. Belal Muhammad 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 24-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Ian Machado Garry, Nov. 22
Next: TBD
7. Kamaru Usman
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Joaquin Buckley, June 14
Next: TBD
8. Sean Brady
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Michael Morales, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
9. Carlos Prates
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-7
Last: W (KO1) vs. Leon Edwards, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
10. Joaquin Buckley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: L (UD) vs. Kamaru Usman, June 14
Next: TBD
LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds)
1. Ilia Topuria
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 17-0
Last: W (KO1) vs. Charles Oliveira, June 28
Next: TBD
2. Arman Tsarukyan
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-3
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Dan Hooker, Nov. 22
Next: TBD
3. Charles Oliveira
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 36-11, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Oct. 11
Next: TBD
4. Max Holloway
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 27-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 19
Next: TBD
5. Justin Gaethje
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 26-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Fiziev, March 8
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Paddy Pimblett
6. Usman Nurmagomedov
Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 20-0, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Paul Hughes, Oct. 3
Next: Feb. 7 vs. Alfie Davis
7. Paddy Pimblett
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 23-3
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Michael Chandler, April 12
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Justin Gaethje
8. Mateusz Gamrot
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 25-4, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Charles Oliveira, Oct. 11
Next: TBD
9. Rafael Fiziev
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 13-4 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, June 21
Next: TBD
10. Benoît Saint Denis
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 16-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds)
1. Alexander Volkanovski
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 27-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Diego Lopes, April 12
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Diego Lopes
2. Movsar Evloev
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Dec. 7, 2024
Next: TBD
3. Diego Lopes
Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-7
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jean Silva, Sept. 13
Next: Jan. 31 vs. Alexander Volkanovski
4. Yair Rodriguez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Patricio Pitbull, April 12
Next: TBD
5. Lerone Murphy
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-0-1
Last: W (KO1) vs. Aaron Pico, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
6. Aljamain Sterling
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Brian Ortega, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
7. Youssef Zalal
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5-1
Last: W (Sub1) vs. Josh Emmett, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
8. Patricio Pitbull
Promotion: UFC
Record: 37-8
Last: W (UD) vs. Dan Ige, July 19
Next: TBD
9. Brian Ortega
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Aljamain Sterling, Aug. 23
Next: TBD
10. Josh Emmett
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-6
Last: L (Sub1) vs. Youssef Zalal, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Merab Dvalishvili
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 21-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Cory Sandhagen, Oct. 4
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Petr Yan
2. Sean O'Malley
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3, 1 NC
Last: L (TechSub3) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, June 7
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Song Yadong
3. Umar Nurmagomedov
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mario Bautista, Oct. 25
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
4. Petr Yan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Marcus McGhee, July 26
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Merab Dvalishvili
5. Cory Sandhagen
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Mario Bautista
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-3
Last: L (UD) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
7. Song Yadong
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-7-1, 1 NC
Last: W (TechDec) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 22
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Sean O'Malley
8. Deiveson Figueiredo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-5-1
Last: W (SD) vs. Montel Jackson, Oct. 11
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
9. Marlon Vera
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-11-1
Last: L (SD) vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
10. Henry Cejudo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5
Last: L (TechDec) vs. Song Yadong, Feb. 22
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Payton Talbott
MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Alexandre Pantoja
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 30-5
Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Joshua Van
2. Joshua Van
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, June 28
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Alexandre Pantoja
3. Brandon Royval
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8
Last: L (UD) vs. Joshua Van, June 28
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Manel Kape
4. Brandon Moreno
Promotion: UFC
Record: 23-8-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Steve Erceg, March 29
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Tatsuro Taira
5. Kai Kara-France
Promotion: UFC
Record: 25-12, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub3) vs. Alexandre Pantoja, June 28
Next: TBD
6. Muhammad Mokaev
Promotion: Brave CF champion
Record: 15-0, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Gerard Burns, Nov. 7
Next: TBD
7. Tatsuro Taira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Last: W (Sub2) vs. HyunSung Park, Aug. 2
Next: Dec. 6 vs. Brandon Moreno
8. Manel Kape
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-7
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Asu Almabayev, March 1
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Brandon Royval
9. Steve Erceg
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-4
Last: W (UD) vs. Ode' Osbourne, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
10. Kai Asakura
Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Last: L (Sub2) vs. Tim Elliott, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds)
1. Kayla Harrison
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 19-1
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Julianna Peña, June 7
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Amanda Nunes
2. Julianna Peña
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-6
Last: L (TechSub2) vs. Kayla Harrison, June 7
Next: TBD
3. Norma Dumont
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (SD) vs. Ketlen Vieira, Nov. 1
Next: TBD
4. Ketlen Vieira
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5
Last: L (SD) vs. Norma Dumont, Nov. 1
Next: TBD
5. Yana Santos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-8, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) vs. Macy Chiasson, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
6. Macy Chiasson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-5
Last: L (UD) vs. Yana Santos, Oct. 4
Next: TBD
7. Ailin Perez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-2
Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Jan. 18
Next: TBD
8. Karol Rosa
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Nora Cornolle, Aug. 2
Next: TBD
9. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Nov. 8
Next: TBD
10. Mayra Bueno Silva
Promotion: UFC
Record: 10-6-1, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti, Nov. 8
Next: TBD
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds)
1. Valentina Shevchenko
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 26-4-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Zhang Weili, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
2. Manon Fiorot
Promotion: UFC
Record: 13-2
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
3. Natalia Silva
Promotion: UFC
Record: 19-5-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Alexa Grasso, May 10
Next: TBD
4. Erin Blanchfield
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-2
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tracy Cortez, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
5. Dakota Ditcheva
Promotion: PFL
Record: 15-0
Last: W (UD) vs. Sumiko Inaba, July 19
Next: Feb. 7 vs. Denise Kielholtz
6. Alexa Grasso
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, May 10
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Rose Namajunas
7. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-4
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Manon Fiorot, Oct. 18
Next: TBD
8. Taila Santos
Promotion: PFL
Record: 22-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Dakota Ditcheva, Nov. 29, 2024
Next: TBD
9. Rose Namajunas
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-7
Last: W (UD) vs. Miranda Maverick, June 14
Next: Jan. 24 vs. Alexa Grasso
10. Liz Carmouche
Promotion: PFL
Record: 25-8
Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jena Bishop, Aug. 15
Next: TBD
STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds)
1. Zhang Weili
Promotion: UFC
Record: 26-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Nov. 15
Next: TBD
2. Mackenzie Dern
Promotion: UFC champion
Record: 16-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
3. Virna Jandiroba
Promotion: UFC
Record: 22-4
Last: L (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Oct. 25
Next: TBD
4. Yan Xiaonan
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-5, 1 NC
Last: L (UD) vs. Virna Jandiroba, April 12
Next: TBD
5. Tatiana Suarez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 11-1
Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Sept. 13
Next: TBD
6. Amanda Lemos
Promotion: UFC
Record: 15-5-1
Last: L (UD) vs. Tatiana Suarez, Sept. 13
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Gillian Robertson
7. Gillian Robertson
Promotion: UFC
Record: 16-8
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Marina Rodriguez, May 3
Next: Dec. 13 vs. Amanda Lemos
8. Loopy Godínez
Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) vs. Jessica Andrade, Aug. 16
Next: TBD
9. Iasmin Lucindo
Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-6
Last: W (UD) vs. Angela Hill, Aug. 9
Next: TBD
10. Tabatha Ricci
Promotion: UFC
Record: 12-3
Last: W (KO2) vs. Amanda Ribas, July 26
Next: TBD