Rankings Update: Cruz/McGregor enter top 5
This past weekend’s UFC 178 featured several key bouts that had an effect on rankings in multiple divisions, most noticeably the bantamweight and featherweight.
After each event, the UFC polls various members of the media to update its rankings in each weight division as well as the pound for pound rankings.
This past weekend’s UFC 178 featured several key bouts that had an effect on rankings in multiple divisions, most noticeably the bantamweight and featherweight:
Champion : T.J. Dillashaw
1 Renan Barao
2 Dominick Cruz +8
3 Urijah Faber -1
4 Raphael Assuncao -1
5 Michael McDonald -1
6 Takeya Mizugaki -1
7 Eddie Wineland -1
8 Iuri Alcantara -1
9 Johnny Eduardo -1
10 Bryan Caraway -1
11 Francisco Rivera
12 Alex Caceres +1
13 Erik Perez -1
14 Joe Soto
15 Masanori Kanehara
Champion : Jose Aldo
1 Chad Mendes
2 Cub Swanson
3 Frankie Edgar
4 Ricardo Lamas
5 Conor McGregor +5
6 Chan Sung Jung
7 Dustin Poirier -2
8 Dennis Bermudez -1
9 Nik Lentz -1
10 Jeremy Stephens
11 Dennis Siver
12 Clay Guida
13 Darren Elkins
14 Charles Oliveira
15 Tatsuya Kawajiri
The news was broke by Damon Martin of Fox Sports on Twitter, and although isn’t officially reflected on the UFC’s rankings page, it should be soon.
Ireland’s Connor McGregor was ranked ninth, but with his win over fifth ranked Dustin Poirier replaced him in that spot. McGregor is one of the UFC’s fastest rising stars and will likely find himself in a number one contender fight in his next bout.
But the biggest winner of the night was Dominick Cruz. When it was revealed he was to return to action the media ranked him in tenth. Cruz returned with a huge KO of fifth ranked Takeya Mizugaki and landed in the second spot. Cruz is the former undisputed champion and having never lost this belt in the Octagon, will likely move right into a title fight versus champion TJ Dillashaw.