The UFC rankings have seen several shifts across four divisions—men’s pound-for-pound, featherweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight—following recent matchups in Saudi Arabia. Here’s a breakdown of the changes and a preview of what to expect at UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2.
In the men's pound-for-pound category, Tom Aspinall ascended to No. 12 as he prepares for his interim title fight against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester. Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira dropped to No. 13. The featherweight division saw Giga Chikadze move down to No. 10.
The light heavyweight division witnessed significant movement: Volkan Oezdemir climbed two places to No. 7 after defeating Johnny Walker, who dropped to No. 9. Dominick Reyes and Azamat Murzakanov each moved up one spot, while Alonzo Menifield fell to No. 15.
In the heavyweight category, Alexander Volkov’s victory over Sergei Pavlovich propelled him to No. 3, pushing Pavlovich down to No. 5.
UFC 303 promises to be electrifying with a light heavyweight title rematch between champion Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka, which caps off International Fight Week. This rematch follows their initial encounter at UFC 295 in New York City, where Pereira secured the title.
The co-main event features a featherweight bout between No. 3 ranked Brian Ortega and No. 14 Diego Lopes. Ortega aims to build on his recent victory over Yair Rodriguez, while Lopes hopes to extend his winning streak following his knockout win at UFC 300.
Other notable fights include a light heavyweight clash between Anthony Smith and Roman Dolidze, and a potential women’s bantamweight title eliminator between Mayra Bueno Silva and Macy Chiasson. The early prelims will spotlight a strawweight contest between Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Gillian Robertson, with rankings and future opportunities at stake.
These matchups not only influence the rankings but also set the stage for future title shots and career-defining moments as fighters jostle for position in their respective divisions.