The UFC rankings have a fresh look after the recent UFC 307 event in Salt Lake City, where two title bouts took center stage. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira retained his title with a dominant win over Khalil Rountree, while Julianna Peña reclaimed her 135-pound bantamweight title in a controversial split decision over Raquel Pennington. The night’s outcomes have stirred up the rankings, impacting some of the sport’s biggest names.
Among the most significant changes, former welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and ex-featherweight champion José Aldo both fell out of the Top 10 after losses at UFC 307. Their absence opened the door for rising stars Joaquin Buckley and Mario Bautista, who now find themselves ranked at No. 9 in their respective divisions. Buckley’s entry into the Top 10 comes on the back of a stunning knockout victory over Thompson, boosting his status as a welterweight contender on a mission. Meanwhile, Bautista’s steady climb has earned him recognition in the bantamweight Top 10.
UFC rankings are compiled by a panel of media members, who vote on the top fighters across weight divisions and in the pound-for-pound category. Fighters must be actively competing in the UFC to be eligible, and champions hold the top spots in each division, barring them from weight-class voting but allowing them to appear in pound-for-pound rankings.
As the UFC heads toward its next wave of matchups, fans will be watching closely to see how Buckley and Bautista leverage their newfound Top 10 statuses. Will they continue their ascent, or will other hungry contenders soon shake up the rankings again? Only time—and the Octagon—will tell.
