Jack Della Maddalena [608x342]
Jack Della Maddalena [608x342] (Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Sergei Bobrovsky makes 31 saves Panthers beat Lightning 6-1 to advance to 2nd round

Jack Della Maddalena was on the verge of having his 16-fight winning streak halted. Down on two of the three scorecards midway through the final round of his UFC 299 bout with Gilbert Burns last weekend, Della Maddalena was being controlled on the canvas by the elite grappler. Even if he avoided a submission, the Aussie could not afford to finish the round on bottom.

So he found a way out from under Burns, scampered to his feet and, within seconds, earned a spectacular finish. Della Maddalena landed a knee to the face, knocking Burns to the canvas, and finished him with ground-and-pound to keep his run of success alive.

With the victory, Della Maddalena enters the latest Brett Okamoto rankings for ESPN in a big way, jumping all the way into the welterweight top five.

That is the most dramatic movement in these rankings, but far from the only lingering effect from UFC 299. No one has newly taken charge of a weight class, but Sean O'Malley solidified his spot as the No. 1 men's bantamweight. Maycee Barber elevated her standing among the 125-pound women.

Among those dropping out of the rankings are heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Nikita Krylov, both of whom have been idle for over a year and are ineligible.

For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of March 13. 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 - Men's featherweight - Men's bantamweight Men's flyweight - Women's bantamweight - Women's flyweight - Strawweight

 

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds) 1. Tom Aspinall    

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-3 Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: TBD

2. Sergei Pavlovich    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 3 Record: 18-2 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: TBD

3. Ciryl Gane    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 12-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

4. Curtis Blaydes    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 18-4, 1 NC Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jailton Almeida, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

5. Alexander Volkov    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 37-10 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD

6. Renan Ferreira    

Promotion: PFL champion Previous ranking: 9 Record: 13-3, 3 NC Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

7. Serghei Spivac    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 10 Record: 16-4 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

8. Jailton Almeida    

Promotion: UFC Record: 20-3 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Curtis Blaydes, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

9. Vadim Nemkov    

Promotion: Bellator Previous ranking: 5 at light heavyweight Record: 18-2, 1 NC Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

10. Tai Tuivasa    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 7 Record: 14-7 Last: L (TechSub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, March 16, 2024 Next: TBD

 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 205 pounds) 1. Alex Pereira    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 9-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jirí Procházka, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Jamahal Hill

2. Jirí Procházka    

Promotion: UFC Record: 29-4-1 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Alex Pereira, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Aleksandar Rakic

3. Magomed Ankalaev    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-1-1 Last: W (KO2) vs. Johnny Walker, Jan. 13, 2024 Next: TBD

4. Jan Blachowicz    

Promotion: UFC Record: 29-10-1 Last: L (SD) vs. Alex Pereira, July 29, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Corey Anderson    

Promotion: Bellator champion Previous ranking: 6 Record: 18-6, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Karl Moore, March 22, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Khalil Rountree Jr.    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 8 Record: 37-19 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Anthony Smith, Dec. 9, 2023 Next: TBD

7. Johnny Walker    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 21-8 Last: L (KO2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Jan. 13, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Volkan Oezdemir

8. Anthony Smith    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 10 Record: 37-19 Last: L (TKO3) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., Dec. 9, 2023 Next: May 4 vs. Vitor Petrino

9. Volkan Oezdemir    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 19-7 Last: W (Sub1) vs. Bogdan Guskov, Sept. 2, 2023 Next: June 22 vs. Johnny Walker

10. Ryan Spann    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 21-9 Last: L (SD) vs. Anthony Smith, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: TBD

MIDDLEWEIGHT (up to 185 pounds) 1. Dricus du Plessis    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 21-2 Last: W (SD) vs. Sean Strickland, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD

2. Israel Adesanya    

Promotion: UFC Record: 24-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean Strickland, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD

3. Robert Whittaker    

Promotion: UFC Record: 25-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Paulo Costa, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Khamzat Chimaev

4. Jared Cannonier    

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Marvin Vettori, June 17, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Sean Strickland    

Promotion: UFC Record: 28-6 Last: L (SD) vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Marvin Vettori    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-7-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Jared Cannonier, June 17, 2023 Next: TBD

7. Johnny Eblen    

Promotion: Bellator champion Record: 15-0 Last: W (SD) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

8. Khamzat Chimaev    

Promotion: UFC Record: 13-0 Last: W (MD) vs. Kamaru Usman, Oct. 21, 2023 Next: June 22 vs. Robert Whittaker

9. Brendan Allen    

Promotion: UFC Record: 23-5 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Paul Craig, Nov. 18, 2023 Next: April 6 vs. Chris Curtis

10. Jack Hermansson    

Promotion: UFC Record: 24-8 Last: W (UD) vs. Joe Pyfer, Feb. 10, 2024 Next: TBD

WELTERWEIGHT (up to 170 pounds) 1. Leon Edwards    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 22-3, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Colby Covington, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

2. Kamaru Usman    

Promotion: UFC Record: 20-4 Last: L (MD) vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Oct. 21, 2023 Next: TBD

3. Belal Muhammad    

Promotion: UFC Record: 23-3, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Gilbert Burns, May 6, 2023  Next: TBD

4. Shavkat Rakhmonov    

Promotion: UFC Record: 18-0 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Stephen Thompson, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Jack Della Maddalena    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 17-2 Last: W (KO3) vs. Gilbert Burns, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Gilbert Burns    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 22-7 Last: L (KO3) vs. Jack Della Maddalena, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

7. Colby Covington    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 17-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Leon Edwards, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

8. Jason Jackson    

Promotion: Bellator champion Previous ranking: 7 Record: 18-4 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Ray Cooper III, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: June 22 vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov

9. Sean Brady    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 8 Record: 16-1 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

10. Ian Machado Garry    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 14-0 Last: W (SD) vs. Geoff Neal, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

 

LIGHTWEIGHT (up to 155 pounds) 1. Islam Makhachev    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 25-1 Last: W (KO1) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Oct. 21, 2023 Next: TBD

2. Charles Oliveira    

Promotion: UFC Record: 34-9, 1 NC Last: W (TKO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, June 10, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Arman Tsarukyan

3. Justin Gaethje    

Promotion: UFC Record: 25-4 Last: W (KO2) vs. Dustin Poirier, July 29, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Max Holloway

4. Dustin Poirier    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 30-8, 1 NC Last: W (KO2) vs. Benoit Saint Denis, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

5. Arman Tsarukyan    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 21-3 Last: W (KO1) vs. Beneil Dariush, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Charles Oliveira

6. Beneil Dariush    

Promotion: UFC Record: 22-6-1 Last: L (KO1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

7. Mateusz Gamrot    

Promotion: UFC Record: 24-2, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

8. Rafael Fiziev    

Promotion: UFC Record: 26-8 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Mateusz Gamrot, Sept. 23, 2023 Next: TBD

9. Dan Hooker    

Promotion: UFC Record: 29-12 Last: W (SD) vs. Jalin Turner, July 8, 2023 Next: TBD

10. Jalin Turner    

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-7 Last: W (KO1) vs. Bobby Green, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

 

MEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT (up to 145 pounds) 1. Ilia Topuria    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 15-0 Last: W (KO2) vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

2. Alexander Volkanovski    

Promotion: UFC Record: 26-4 Last: L (KO2) vs. Ilia Topuria, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

3. Max Holloway    

Promotion: UFC Record: 25-7 Last: W (KO3) vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Justin Gaethje

4. Brian Ortega    

Promotion: UFC Record: 16-3, 1 NC Last: W (Sub3) vs. Yair Rodriguez, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

5. Yair Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC Record: 15-5, 1 NC Last: L (Sub3) vs. Brian Ortega, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Patricio Freire    

Promotion: Bellator champion Record: 36-7 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Jeremy Kennedy, March 22, 2024 Next: TBD

7. Josh Emmett    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-4 Last: W (KO1) vs. Bryce Mitchell, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

8. Movsar Evloev    

Promotion: UFC Record: 18-0 Last: W (UD) vs. Arnold Allen, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD

9. Arnold Allen    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-3 Last: L (UD) vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD

10. Giga Chikadze    

Promotion: UFC Record: 15-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Caceres, Aug. 26, 2023 Next: TBD

 

MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds) 1. Sean O'Malley    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 18-1, 1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Marlon Vera, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

2. Merab Dvalishvili    

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Henry Cejudo, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

3. Aljamain Sterling    

Promotion: UFC Record: 23-4 Last: L (TKO2) vs. Sean O'Malley, Aug. 19, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Calvin Kattar

4. Cory Sandhagen    

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-4 Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Aug. 5, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Petr Yan    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 17-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Song Yadong, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Henry Cejudo    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 5 Record: 16-4 Last: L (UD) vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

7. Patchy Mix    

Promotion: Bellator champion Record: 19-1 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Sergio Pettis, Nov. 17, 2023 Next: May 17 vs. Magomed Magomedov

8. Marlon Vera    

Promotion: UFC Record: 23-9-1 Last: L (UD) vs. Sean O'Malley, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

9. Sergio Pettis    

Promotion: Bellator Record: 23-6 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Patchy Mix, Nov. 17, 2023 Next: TBD

10. Deiveson Figueiredo    

Promotion: UFC Record: 22-3-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Rob Font, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Cody Garbrandt

 

MEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds) 1. Alexandre Pantoja    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 27-5 Last: W (UD) vs. Brandon Royval, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: May 4 vs. Steve Erceg

2. Brandon Royval    

Promotion: UFC Record: 16-7 Last: W (SD) vs. Brandon Moreno, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

3. Brandon Moreno    

Promotion: UFC Record: 21-8-2 Last: L (SD) vs. Brandon Royval, Feb. 24, 2024 Next: TBD

4. Demetrious Johnson    

Promotion: One Championship champion Record: 25-4-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Adriano Moraes, May 5, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Amir Albazi    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 4 Record: 17-1 Last: W (SD) vs. Kai Kara-France, June 3, 2023 Next: TBD

6. Kai Kara-France    

Promotion: UFC Record: 24-11, 1 NC Last: L (SD) vs. Amir Albazi, June 3, 2023 Next: TBD

7. Adriano Moraes    

Promotion: One Championship Record: 20-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Demetrious Johnson, May 5, 2023 Next: TBD

8. Matheus Nicolau    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-3-1 Last: L (KO1) vs. Brandon Royval, April 15, 2023 Next: TBD

9. Manel Kape    

Promotion: UFC Record: 19-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Felipe dos Santos, Sept. 9, 2023 Next: TBD

10. Muhammad Mokaev    

Promotion: UFC Record: 12-0,1 NC Last: W (UD) vs. Alex Perez, March 2, 2024 Next: TBD

 

WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (up to 135 pounds) 1. Raquel Pennington    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 16-8 Last: W (UD) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan. 20, 2024 Next: TBD

2. Ketlen Vieira    

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Pannie Kianzad, July 22, 2023 Next: TBD

3. Holly Holm    

Promotion: UFC Record: 15-7 Last: L (Sub2) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, July 15, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Kayla Harrison

4. Irene Aldana    

Promotion: UFC Record: 15-7 Last: W (UD) vs. Karol Rosa, Dec.16, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Sara McMann    

Promotion: Bellator Record: 14-7 Last: L (TKO1) vs. Leah McCourt, Oct. 7, 2023 Next: TBD

6. Norma Dumont    

Promotion: UFC Record: 10-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Chelsea Chandler, July 15, 2023 Next: April 6 vs. Germaine de Randamie

7. Pannie Kianzad    

Promotion: UFC Record: 16-8 Last: L (Sub1) vs. Macy Chiasson, March 16, 2024 Next: TBD

8. Karol Rosa    

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Irene Aldana, Dec. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

9. Yana Santos    

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-8, 1 NC Last: L (SD) vs. Karol Rosa, July 1, 2023 Next: TBD

10. Miesha Tate    

Promotion: UFC Record: 20-9 Last: W (Sub3) vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2, 2023 Next: TBD

 

WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (up to 125 pounds) 1. Alexa Grasso    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 16-3-1 Last: Split draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko, Sept. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

2. Valentina Shevchenko    

Promotion: UFC Record: 23-4-1 Last: Split draw vs. Alexa Grasso, Sept. 16, 2023 Next: TBD

3. Manon Fiorot    

Promotion: UFC Record: 12-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Erin Blanchfield, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD

4. Erin Blanchfield    

Promotion: UFC Record: 12-2 Last: L (UD) vs. Manon Fiorot, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD

5. Liz Carmouche    

Promotion: Bellator champion Record: 20-7 Last: W (TKO5) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Oct. 7, 2023 Next: April 4 vs. Juliana Velasquez

6. Maycee Barber     

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 9 Record: 14-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Katlyn Cerminara, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

7. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 6 Record: 25-12 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez

8. Katlyn Cerminara     

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: Unranked Record: 18-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Maycee Barber, March 9, 2024 Next: TBD

9. Rose Namajunas    

Promotion: UFC Previous ranking: 7 Record: 12-6 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Ribas, March 23, 2024 Next: TBD

10. Viviane Araujo    

Promotion: UFC Record: 12-6 Last: L (UD) vs. Natalia Silva, Feb. 3, 2024 Next:  TBD

 

STRAWWEIGHT (up to 115 pounds) 1. Zhang Weili    

Promotion: UFC champion Record: 24-2 Last: W (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Aug. 19, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Yan Xiaonan

2. Amanda Lemos    

Promotion: UFC Record: 13-3-1 Last: W (UD) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

3. Yan Xiaonan    

Promotion: UFC Record: 14-3, 1 NC Last: W (KO1) vs. Jessica Andrade, May 6, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Zhang Weili

4. Tatiana Suarez    

Promotion: UFC Record: 11-0 Last: W (Sub2) vs. Jessica Andrade, August 5, 2023 Next: TBD

5. Virna Jandiroba    

Promotion: UFC Record: 20-3 Last: W (UD) vs. Loopy Godínez, March 30, 2024 Next: TBD

6. Marina Rodriguez    

Promotion: UFC Record: 17-3-2 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Sept. 23, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Jessica Andrade

7. Jessica Andrade    

Promotion: UFC Record: 25-12 Last: W (TKO2) vs. Mackenzie Dern, Nov. 11, 2023 Next: April 13 vs. Marina Rodriguez

8. Mackenzie Dern  

Promotion: UFC Record: 13-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Amanda Lemos, Feb. 17, 2024 Next: TBD

9. Amanda Ribas    

Promotion: UFC Record: 13-5 Last: L (UD) vs. Rose Namajunas, March 23, 2024 Next: TBD

10. Luana Pinheiro    

Promotion: UFC Record: 11-2 Last: W (TKO3) vs. Amanda Ribas, Nov. 18, 2023 Next: TBD