UFC rankings: Aldo, Moraes take over top contender spots

Bloodyelboe.com

UFC Fortaleza was a feel-good event for longtime fight fans. When veterans like Demian Maia, Jose Aldo, and Charles Oliveira all get big wins, it makes for a fun night. And when it’s topped off by a great first-round finish in the headliner? That’s just icing on the cake.

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When it comes to the rankings, they were actually affected by a few of these results. Oliveira is now ranked at lightweight, while Aldo and Marlon Moraes are now the new top contenders in their respective divisions. Neither man is likely to get a title shot any time soon, but it’s still pretty cool to see.

Anyway, onto all the changes coming out of UFC on ESPN+ 2.

P4P – No changes.

Heavyweight – No changes.

Light Heavyweight – Johnny Walker enters the rankings at 15 after his 15-second decimation of Justin Ledet.

Middleweight – No changes.

Welterweight – No changes.

Lightweight – Charles Oliveira enters the rankings at 14. That drops Francisco Trinaldo to 15.

Featherweight – Jose Aldo is, somewhat inexplicably, your number one contender again at 145 after stopping Renato Moicano. Brian Ortega dropped to two. A bunch of fighters – Mirsad Bektic, Josh Emmett, Ricardo Lamas, Yair Rodriguez, Chan Sung Jung, Zabit Magomedsharipov, and Darren Elkins – all moved up a spot each, to 8-14 respectively. This is due to the abrupt retirement of Chad Mendes after a loss a few weeks ago. Calvin Kattar entered at 15.

Bantamweight – Moraes is the new top contender. Cody Garbrandt, Dominick Cruz, and Assuncao all dropped a spot each to two, three, and four. John Dodson dropped from a tie for eight to take over nine on his own.

Flyweight – More flyweights are on their way out. Dustin Ortiz was released and Said Nurmagomedov is at bantamweight now, so some changes went down. Alexandre Pantoja is up two spots to five. Alex Perez and Tim Elliott are up two sports each to seven/eight. Rogerio Bontorin jumps into the rankings at nine after being Magomed Bibulatov. Bibulatov is up two to ten. Ryan Benoit, Eric Shelton, and (lol) T.J. Dillashaw all moved up two spots, to 11-13. Matt Schnell and Kai Kara-France enter the rankings at 14 and 15.

Women’s Bantamweight – No changes.

Women’s Flyweight – Mara Romero Borella is up two to 11 after a tepid win in Brazil. Andrea Lee is up one to 13. Paige VanZant is up one to 14, tied with Montana De La Rosa.

Women’s Strawweight – No changes.