One performed heroically on the biggest stage possible. The other put on a historic performance.
Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway grabbed the attention of the mixed martial arts world in different ways in the last couple of weeks, but for both the results show in the latest ESPN pound-for-pound rankings.
Poirier made a bold statement at UFC 257 over the weekend, knocking out Conor McGregor in front of a huge pay-per-view audience drawn in by the star power of Poirier’s opponent. That victory elevates the 32-year-old lightweight a couple of spots in the men’s top 10.
Holloway reenters the rankings after a record-breaking victory over Calvin Kattar on Jan. 16. The former featherweight champion shattered more than a dozen UFC records, including the high marks for most significant strikes landed (445), most attempted (744) and most landed in a round (141).
Dropping out of the top 10 to make room for Holloway is heavyweight Francis Ngannou, but he will have a chance to muscle his way back in on March 27 when he challenges champ Stipe Miocic. Can Ngannou score his fifth straight first-round KO?
The women’s rankings remain intact, although No. 1 Amanda Nunes faces a March 6 test when she puts her UFC featherweight belt on the line against Megan Anderson.
(For Brett Okamoto’s division-by-division rankings, go here.)
Note: Results are current; rankings as of Jan. 26.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
UFC lightweight champion
Record: 29-0
Last: W (SUB2) Justin Gaethje, Oct. 24, 2020
Next: Announced retirement
2. Jon Jones 
UFC light heavyweight/announced move to heavyweight
Record: 26-1, 1 NC
Last: W (UD) Dominick Reyes, Feb. 8, 2020
Next: TBD
3. Stipe Miocic
UFC heavyweight champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) Daniel Cormier, Aug. 15, 2020
Next: March 27 vs. Francis Ngannou
UFC middleweight champion
Record: 20-0
Last: W (TKO2) Paulo Costa, Sept. 26, 2020
Next: March 6 vs. Jan Blachowicz
5. Kamaru Usman
UFC welterweight champion
Record: 17-1
Last: W (UD) Jorge Masvidal, July 11, 2020
Next: Feb. 13 vs. Gilbert Burns
UFC featherweight champion
Record: 22-1
Last: W (SD) Max Holloway, July 11, 2020
Next: March 27 vs. Brian Ortega
T-7. Deiveson Figueiredo
UFC flyweight champion
Record: 20-1-1
Last: D (MD) Brandon Moreno, Dec. 12, 2020
Next: TBD
T-7. Dustin Poirier 
UFC lightweight
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 27-6, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) Conor McGregor, Jan. 23, 2021
Next: TBD
One Championship flyweight
Previous ranking: 8
Record: 30-3-1
Last: W (UD) Danny Kingad, Oct. 12, 2019
Next: April 7 vs. Adriano Moraes
10. Max Holloway
UFC featherweight
Previous ranking: Unranked
Record: 22-6
Last: W (UD) Calvin Kattar, Jan. 16, 2021
Next: TBD
Other fighters receiving votes: Petr Yan, Justin Gaethje and Francis Ngannou
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Israel Adesanya
4. Stipe Miocic
5. Kamaru Usman
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Deiveson Figueiredo
8. Dustin Poirier
9. Demetrious Johnson
10. Max Holloway
Marc Raimondi
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Kamaru Usman
5. Israel Adesanya
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Petr Yan
8. Dustin Poirier
9. Deiveson Figueiredo
10. Max Holloway
Ariel Helwani
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Israel Adesanya
5. Kamaru Usman
6. Alexander Volkanovski
7. Dustin Poirier
8. Max Holloway
9. Justin Gaethje
10. Deiveson Figueiredo
Jeff Wagenheim
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
2. Jon Jones
3. Stipe Miocic
4. Demetrious Johnson
5. Israel Adesanya
6. Kamaru Usman
7. Deiveson Figueiredo
8. Alexander Volkanovski
9. Francis Ngannou
10. Dustin Poirier
1. Amanda Nunes
UFC bantamweight/featherweight champion
Record: 20-4
Last: W (UD) Felicia Spencer, June 6
Next: March 6 vs. Megan Anderson
UFC flyweight champion
Record: 20-3
Last: W (UD) Jennifer Maia, Nov. 21
Next: TBD
3. Cris Cyborg
Bellator featherweight champion
Record: 23-2, 1 NC
Last: W (SUB2) Arlene Blencowe, Oct. 15
Next: TBD
4. Zhang Weili
UFC strawweight champion
Record: 21-1
Last: W (SD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, March 7
Next: TBD
UFC strawweight
Record: 9-4
Last: W (SD) Jessica Andrade, July 11
Next: TBD
UFC flyweight
Record: 21-8
Last: W (TKO1) Katlyn Chookagian, Oct. 17
Next: TBD
UFC strawweight
Record: 16-4
Last: L (SD) Zhang Weili, March 7
Next: TBD
UFC bantamweight
Record: 10-4
Last: W (TechSUB3) Julianna Peña, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
9. Holly Holm
UFC bantamweight
Record: 14-5
Last: W (UD) Irene Aldana, Oct. 3
Next: TBD
UFC flyweight
Record: 15-4
Last: W (UD) Cynthia Calvillo, Nov. 21
Next: TBD
Other fighters receiving votes: Julia Budd and Seo Hee Ham
How our writers voted
Brett Okamoto
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Zhang Weili
4. Rose Namajunas
5. Cris Cyborg
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian
Marc Raimondi
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Seo Hee Ham
Ariel Helwani
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
7. Jessica Andrade
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Katlyn Chookagian
Jeff Wagenheim
1. Amanda Nunes
2. Valentina Shevchenko
3. Cris Cyborg
4. Zhang Weili
5. Rose Namajunas
6. Jessica Andrade
7. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
8. Germaine de Randamie
9. Holly Holm
10. Julia Budd
