Makhachev goes top of UFC pound-for-pound rankings

After defeating Jack Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title, Islam Makhachev has risen to the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings for men.

As only the 11th two-division champion in the history of the organization, Russia’s Makhachev dominated at UFC 322 last week with a unanimous decision victory in front of the crowd.

The 34-year-old has taken Ilia Topuria, the lightweight champion who Makhachev held before vacating it in June, at the top of the rankings.

Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan continues to lead the women’s pound-for-pound rankings after defending her flyweight title against Zhang Weili from China.

Weili, who vacated her strawweight title in October to face Shevchenko, is now third behind bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

After being defeated by Carlos Prates, former world champion Leon Edwards of Great Britain dropped five spots to ninth in the welterweight rankings.

The 34-year-old is now far outside the division’s top title contenders with his third successive defeat.

Michael Morales of Ecuador, who defeated American Sean Brady in the opening round, led the way in the welterweight rankings.