UFC Rankings Update: Derrick Lewis slides down 3 spots, women's p4p sees shuffle, new entry in LHW

The UFC rankings have been updated, with Derrick Lewis sliding down three spots in the heavyweight division, a new light heavyweight fighter breaking into the top 15, and the women's pound-for-pound list seeing a reshuffle.

Lewis moved down three spots from No.7 to No.10, while - the man who finished him in the first round at UFC Vegas 68 - Serghei Spivac took the No.8 position. Alexander Volkov moved up the rankings and took Lewis' previous No.7 spot.

Derrick Lewis is now on a three-fight losing streak, having been knocked out twice and submitted once. Spivac has only lost to No.6-ranked Tom Aspinall in his last seven, and is currently riding a three-fight win streak.

Check out the changes in the official rankings below:

Heavyweight division [Left] Women's p4p [Center] LHW Division [Right] [Image courtesy: www.ufc.com]

A new light heavyweight contender has entered the top 15 fighters in the division in undefeated Russian fighter Azamat Murzakanov. 'The Professional' is currently 2-0 (3-0 including his DWCS win) in his promotional career, and is undefeated in 12 fights. He last fought Devin Clark at UFC on ESPN 41 where he won via third-round technical knockout.

The women's pound-for-pound rankings saw some major reshuffles take place. The former strawweight champ moved up a spot to No.5. Another fighter to move up the women's p4p rankings is No.1-ranked flyweight Taila Santos. Santos last fought champion Valentina Shevchenko in a razor-thin bout where she lost by split decision.

Taila Santos accuses Valentina Shevchenko of ‘running’ from rematch: ’She’s scared’ (@guicruzzz) mmafighting.com/2022/11/22/234… https://t.co/0Ocuh3P489

Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Ribas each moved down a spot taking No.9 and No.10 respectively.

How will Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane affect the UFC rankings for heavyweights and men's p4p?

The heavyweight division is in a similar state to how the LHW division was at the end of last year. With Francis Ngannou gone from the UFC, the promotion has booked Jon Jones versus the No.1-ranked title contender Ciryl Gane for UFC 285 in March.

If Jones wins, he will take the championship spot and Ciryl Gane will probably keep his No.1-contender spot. However, another shot at the title may not be guaranteed. He might have to beat Stipe Miocic or Sergei Pavlovich to get another crack at the title. If Miocic fights Jones in that scenario, then 'Bon Gamin' will probably have to win against Pavlovich for a title-shot.

This card is fire , even the undercard. Let’s hope this card stays intact! #UFC285 🔥 https://t.co/T8XKOOOcQO

If Gane wins, however, where does that place Jon Jones? Will Jones take the No.1-contender spot? Will he have to fight Stipe Miocic to get another shot at the title or will he start from the bottom of the ladder?

Except for the DQ-loss against Matt Hamill, Jon Jones has never lost a professional bout in his entire career, and it's hard to imagine him losing. However, he has spent a lot of time away from the octagon, and Ciryl Gane is no walk in the part either.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of that fight will be and how it will affect the rankings.