The rise of Islam Makhachev in the UFC’s lightweight division culminated on Saturday, when he captured the championship at UFC 280 in a virtuoso performance against Charles Oliveira. But that rise took a while. Makhachev has been in the UFC since 2015, and this past weekend’s bout in Abu Dhabi was his 13th trip inside the Octagon.
Makhachev’s rise in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings, on the other hand, has been fast and furious.
The 31-year-old from Dagestan was unranked until now, but in our latest voting he’s not only in the men’s top 10, he’s up near the top.
That’s what happens when you end the 11-fight winning streak of then-No. 2 Oliveira by finishing the greatest finisher in UFC history.
Makhachev is being overlooked no more. And Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t even on the voting panel.
For the ESPN divisional MMA rankings, click here.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Oct. 25.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Alexander Volkanovski
UFC featherweight champion
Record: 25-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, July 2
Next: TBD
2. Israel Adesanya 
UFC middleweight champion
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, July 2
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Alex Pereira
3. Islam Makhachev
UFC lightweight champion
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 23-1
Last: W (Sub2) Charles Oliveira, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
4. Kamaru Usman 
UFC welterweight
Record: 20-2
Last: L (KO5) Leon Edwards, Aug. 20
Next: TBD
5. Francis Ngannou
UFC heavyweight champion
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22
Next: TBD
6. Charles Oliveira 
UFC lightweight
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 33-9, 1 NC
Last: L (Sub2) Islam Makhachev, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
7. Leon Edwards
UFC welterweight champion
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 20-3, 1 NC
Last: W (KO5) Kamaru Usman, Aug. 20
Next: TBD
8. Aljamain Sterling
UFC bantamweight champion
Record: 22-3
Last: W (TKO2) TJ Dillashaw, Oct. 22, 2022
Next: TBD
9. Jiri Prochazka
UFC light heavyweight champion
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 29-3-1
Last: W (Sub5) Glover…
Source : espn
