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Alexander Volkanovski was already hovering near the top of the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings on the strength of last month’s dominant UFC men’s featherweight title defense against former champion Max Holloway. But there was a roadblock standing between Volkanovski and the No. 1 spot.
Kamaru Usman had long held that top position, and with him riding a 19-fight winning streak, it looked like the reigning welterweight champ was going to be there for a while.
Then Leon Edwards landed the head kick that changed everything, dethroning Usman at UFC 278 last weekend.
That stunning knockout in the final minute not only earned Edwards the 170-pound belt, it also paved the way for Volkanovski to take over the No. 1 position in the men’s pound-for-pound rankings. Volkanovski has won 22 in a row, a run of success that extends all the way back to 2013.
Edwards, unbeaten in his last 11 fights, also moves into the top 10 for the first time.
The ESPN women’s rankings saw a change lower in the top 10, as two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ Kayla Harrison moved up a spot after winning a playoff semifinal over the weekend. Harrison, a 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in judo, is 15-0 in MMA and thrashing everyone put in front of her. She’ll go for a third PFL title in November.
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Aug. 24.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Alexander Volkanovski
UFC featherweight champion
Previous ranking: 2
Record: 25-1
Last: W (UD) Max Holloway, July 2, 2022
Next: TBD
2. Charles Oliveira 
UFC lightweight
Previous ranking: T-3
Record: 33-8, 1 NC
Last: W (Sub1) Justin Gaethje, May 7, 2022
Next: Oct. 22 vs. Islam Makhachev
3. Israel Adesanya 
UFC middleweight champion
Record: 23-1
Last: W (UD) Jared Cannonier, July 2, 2022
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Alex Pereira
4. Kamaru Usman 
UFC welterweight
Previous ranking: 1
Record: 20-2
Last: L (KO5) Leon Edwards, Aug. 20, 2022
Next: TBD
5. Francis Ngannou
UFC heavyweight champion
Record: 17-3
Last: W (UD) Ciryl Gane, Jan. 22,…
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Source : espn
