UFC Rankings Update: Israel Adesanya slips down pound-for-pound list, Alex Pereira and Zhang Weili emerge as biggest gainers following UFC 281
UFC 281 caused a shuffle across the UFC rankings with headliners Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, as well as Zhang Weili, seeing the most movement due to their results at the pay-per-view event held at Madison Square Garden.
Israel Adesanya lost more than just his middleweight championship after his main event knockout loss to Alex Pereira. For the first time since unifying the belt in 2019, he is no longer sitting atop the middleweight division and is now the No.1 contender. 'The Last Stylebender' also slipped down four positions in the men's pound-for-pound rankings.
Adesanya's four-place drop allowed Islam Makhachev, Leon Edwards, and heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to move up in the P4P rankings. Kamaru Usman also conceded two places at the top of the rankings and is now at No.4.
Makhachev is positioned at No.2, which sets him up for his upcoming showdown against P4P king Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Newly-crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira made his debut on the pound-for-pound list at No.8, with everyone below him losing a position except Dustin Poirier. 'The Diamond' maintained his No.11 ranking following his impressive win against Michael Chandler.
In the lightweight division, the old guard of Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson dropped down further positions to languish at the bottom of the rankings. Renato Moicano, meanwhile, marked his entry at No.13 following a statement victory against Brad Riddell.
Ryan Spann's incredible first-round knockout victory over former title challenger Dominick Reyes pushed him up two places to No.10 in the light heavyweight rankings. Reyes lost the most places in the latest update, falling five places to No.12.
Zhang Weili and Ketlen Viera climbed three and two positions, respectively, in the women's pound-for-pound rankings. Meanwhile, dethroned former strawweight champ Carla Esparza and Katlyn Chookagian have both dropped down two places.
Weili regained the strawweight championship at UFC 281, pushing Esparza and Rose Namajunas down a notch in the strawweight rankings.
The only other movement amongst the women's fighters was in the flyweight division, where Erin Blanchfield's seven-fight win streak helped her climb two positions above Maycee Barber and Casey O'Neill to No.10. Maryna Moroz entered the flyweight rankings at No.15.
Check out all the key movements from the latest rankings update:
#2 @Leon_edwardsmma 
#6 @AlexPereiraUFC 
UFC RANKINGS
P4P - @MAKHACHEVMMA ⬆️ #2 @Leon_edwardsmma ⬆️ #3 Adesanya ⬇️ #6 @AlexPereiraUFC ⬆️ #8
P4P - @MmaWeili ⬆️ #3 Esparza ⬇️ #6 @ketlenvieiraufc ⬆️ #11
LW - @danthehangman ⬆️ #11 @moicanoufc ⬆️ #13
BW - @SongYadongLFG ⬆️ #9 @CGutierrezMMA ⬆️ #13
#MMATwitter https://t.co/cIWTzhWUYG
Israel Adesanya will "enjoy" himself following medical suspension
Following an especially brutal UFC 281, the New York State Athletic Commission issued medical suspensions to 19 fighters who participated at the event with varying mandatory rest periods.
Amongst them, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was issued a 60-day mandatory rest period. 'The Last Stylebender' was undefeated in the middleweight division prior to his knockout loss to 'Poatan' and reigned for almost three years.
Israel Adesanya spoke to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour and mentioned taking time off as a deserved break from the octagon.
“It was my third fight in 10 months, as a champion, putting it on the line every single time. I’m going to really enjoy myself and just chill. I’ll travel maybe, and help my teammates as well. Help them get ready for their respective fights, but I deserve this. I earned this."
Check out Israel Adesanya's comments on The MMA Hour: