After the debut event of 2021, there's been a bit of a shakeup to the Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings. No, you want see much change atop the men's pound-for-pound list as Patricio Pitbull made it look easy once again in scoring a first-round submission of Emmanuel Sanchez to retain his featherweight title and advance to face AJ McKee. But you will see a shakeup in a few other divisions under the promotional banner.
Most notably, welterweight Jason Jackson is on the rise after scoring a decision over Neiman Gracie in the co-main event from Bellator 255. Jackson entered the bout ranked No. 6 while Gracie entered at No. 3. Now, Jackson is up to No. 3 while Gracie fell to No. 4. Plus, after a thorough domination in his second fight for the promotion, Magomed Magomedov moved up one spot at bantamweight to No. 4
Below is the full top-10 rankings for each division within the promotion, voted on by 17 members of the media.
Editor's note: CBS Sports insider Brian Campbell is a member of the 17-person voting panel.
Bellator Rankings (April 6)
Men's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
2. Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
3. Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
4. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
5. Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
6. Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
7. AJ McKee | 17-0 |
8. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
9. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
10. Yaroslav Amasov | 25-0 |
Bantamweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| Champion: Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
1. Sergio Pettis | 20-5 |
2. Patchy Mix | 13-1 |
3. Raufeon Stots | 15-1 |
4. Magomed Magomedov | 18-1 |
5. James Gallagher | 11-1 |
6. Leandro Higo | 20-5 |
7. Josh Hill | 20-3 |
8. Cass Bell | 5-1 |
9. Frans Mlambo | 9-5 |
10. Jornel Lugo | 5-0 |
Featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
1. AJ McKee | 17-0 |
2. Emmanuel Sanchez | 20-5 |
3. Adam Borics | 16-1 |
4. Pedro Carvalho | 11-4 |
5. Daniel Weichel | 40-12 |
6. Aaron Pico | 7-3 |
7. Jay Jay Wilson | 7-0 |
8. Jeremy Kennedy | 16-2 |
9. Tywan Claxton | 6-2 |
10. Mads Burnell | 14-3 |
Lightweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
1. Brent Primus | 10-1 |
2. Patricky Pitbull | 23-9 |
3. Goiti Yamauchi | 25-4 |
4. Benson Henderson | 28-10 |
5. Sidney Outlaw | 15-4 |
6. Myles Jury | 19-5 |
7. Adam Piccolotti | 12-4 |
8. Alfie Davis | 14-3 |
9. Aviv Gozali | 5-0 |
10. Keoni Diggs | 9-0 |
Welterweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
1. Yaroslav Amasov | 25-0 |
2. Michael Page | 18-1 |
3. Jason Jackson | 14-4 |
4. Neiman Gracie | 10-2 |
5. Logan Storley | 11-1 |
6. Derek Anderson | 17-3 |
7. Joey Davis | 8-0 |
8. Sabah Homasi | 15-8 |
9. Oliver Enkamp | 10-2 |
10. Jaleel Willis | 14-2 |
Middleweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
1. John Salter | 18-4 |
2. Anatoly Tokov | 29-2 |
3. Austin Vanderford | 10-0 |
4. Fabian Edwards | 9-1 |
5. Costello van Steenis | 13-2 |
6. Johnny Eblen | 7-0 |
7. Charlie Ward | 9-4 |
8. Mike Shipman | 14-3 |
9. Romero Cotton | 5-0 |
10. Ed Ruth | 8-3 |
Light heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
1. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
2. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
3. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
4. Lyoto Machida | 26-10 |
5. Julius Anglickas | 9-1 |
6. Grant Neal | 5-0 |
7. Christian Edwards | 4-0 |
8. Tyree Fortune | 5-0 |
9. Melvin Manhoef | 32-15-1 |
10. Alex Polizzi | 7-1 |
Heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
1. Timothy Johnson | 15-6 |
2. Cheick Kongo | 30-11-2 |
3. Valentin Moldavsky | 10-1 |
4. Tyrell Fortune | 10-1 |
5. Fedor Emelianenko | 39-6 |
6. Linton Vassell | 20-8 |
7. Steven Mowry | 8-0 |
8. Matt Mitrione | 13-8 |
9. Sergei Kharitonov | 32-8 |
10. Javy Ayala | 11-8 |
Women's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
2. Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
3. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
4. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
5. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
6. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
7. Liz Carmouche | 14-7 |
8. Kana Watanabe | 10-0-1 |
9. Cat Zingano | 11-4 |
10. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
Women's flyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
1. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
2. Liz Carmouche | 14-7 |
3. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
4. Kana Watanabe | 10-0-1 |
5. Alejandra Lara | 9-4 |
| 6. Kate Jackson | 11-5-1 |
| 7. Veta Arteaga | 5-4 |
| 8. Mandy Bohm | 7-0 |
| 9. Valerie Loureda | 3-0 |
| 10. Bruna Ellen | 5-3 |
Women's featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
1. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
2. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
3. Cat Zingano | 11-4 |
4. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
5. Sinead Kavanagh | 7-4 |
6. Janay Harding | 6-4 |
7. Leah McCourt | 4-1 |
8. Amanda Bell | 7-7 |
9. Olga Rubin | 6-2 |
10. Jessy Miele | 9-5 |
