The UFC has returned to Fight Island, and with this trip comes the potential start of a new era at lightweight. With the future of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov uncertain, two 155-pound clashes at the Jan. 23 UFC 257 event could begin to shape the new look of the division. But, before fans are treated to the big pay-per-view event, there's a Jan. 20 afternoon card on Yas Island headlined by a clash at welterweight between No. 7-ranked Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny.
In the main event of UFC 257, Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time since January 2020. McGregor, ranked No. 5 at lightweight, will face No. 1 ranked Dustin Poirier. The pair previously met in a 2014 clash at featherweight with McGregor picking up the win by TKO in less that two minutes.
In the co-main event, No. 4-ranked lightweight Dan Hooker will welcome Michael Chandler to the Octagon. Chandler is a former Bellator champion and one of the most exciting UFC signings in recent history. A win over Hooker would propel Chandler into the lightweight top five in just his first fight in the promotion.
Wednesday's UFC Fight Night card features two fights involving CBS Sports ranked fighters:
- Welterweight: No. 7 Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny
- Flyweight: No. 5 Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam
Saturday's UFC 257 card features four fights involving CBS Sports ranked fighters:
- Lightweight: No. 1 Dustin Poirier vs. No. 5 Conor McGregor
- Lightweight: No. 4 Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler
- Women's Strawweight: No. 8 Amanda Ribas vs. Marina Rodriguez
- Women's Bantamweight: No. 7 Julianna Pena vs. No. 10 Sara McMann
Rankings are compiled following the submission of ballots by Brent Brookhouse, Brian Campbell, Jack Crosby and Brandon Wise. Without further ado, here's where things stand ahead of Saturday's card.
For Brian Campbell's updated Pound for Pound Rankings, click here.
Flyweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Deivieson Figueiredo | 20-1-1 |
2. Brandon Moreno | 18-5-2 |
3. Askar Askarov | 12-0-1 |
4. Joseph Benavidez | 28-7 |
T5. Matt Schnell | 14-4 |
T5. Alexandre Pantoja | 21-5 |
7. Kai Kara-France | 21-8 |
8. Alex Perez | 24-6 |
9. Jussier Formiga | 23-8 |
10. Raulian Paiva | 19-3 |
Bantamweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Petr Yan (c) | 15-1 |
2. Aljamain Sterling | 19-3 |
3. Cody Garbrandt | 12-3 |
4. Cory Sandhagen | 13-2 |
5. Marlon Moraes | 23-7-1 |
6. Jimmie Rivera | 23-4 |
7. Pedro Munhoz | 18-5 |
8. Frankie Edgar | 24-8-1 |
9. Raphael Assuncao | 27-8 |
10. Merab Dvalishvili | 12-4 |
Featherweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Alexander Volkanovski (c) | 22-1 |
2. Max Holloway | 22-6 |
3. Brian Ortega | 15-1 |
4. Zabit Magomedsharipov | 18-1 |
5. Yair Rodriguez | 12-2 |
6. Korean Zombie | 16-6 |
7. Calvin Kattar | 22-5 |
8. Josh Emmett | 16-2 |
9. Dan Ige | 14-3 |
10. Shane Burgos | 13-2 |
Lightweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Dustin Poirier | 26-6 |
2. Justin Gaethje | 22-3 |
3. Charles Oliveira | 30-8 |
4. Dan Hooker | 20-9 |
5. Conor McGregor | 22-4 |
6. Tony Ferguson | 26-5 |
7. Rafael dos Anjos | 30-13 |
8. Paul Felder | 17-6 |
T9. Drew Dober | 23-9 |
10. Islam Makhachev | 18-1 |
Welterweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Kamaru Usman (c) | 17-1 |
2. Gilbert Burns | 19-3 |
3. Colby Covington | 16-2 |
4. Leon Edwards | 18-3 |
5. Jorge Masvidal | 35-14 |
6. Stephen Thompson | 16-4-1 |
7. Michael Chiesa | 17-4 |
8. Geoff Neal | 13-3 |
9. Santiago Ponzinibbio | 27-3 |
10. Vicente Luque | 19-7-1 |
Middleweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Israel Adesanya (c) | 20-0 |
2. Robert Whittaker | 22-5 |
3. Paulo Costa | 13-1 |
4. Jared Cannonier | 13-5 |
5. Derek Brunson | 21-7 |
6. Marvin Vettori | 16-4-1 |
7. Darren Till | 18-2-1 |
8. Kevin Holland | 21-5 |
9. Jack Hermansson | 21-6 |
10. Edmen Shahbayan | 11-1 |
Light heavyweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Jan Blachowicz (c) | 27-8 |
2. Dominick Reyes | 12-2 |
3. Glover Teixeira | 32-7 |
4. Thiago Santos | 21-8 |
5. Aleksandar Rakic | 13-2 |
6. Anthony Smith | 34-16 |
7. Nikita Krylov | 26-7 |
8. Jiri Prochazka | 27-3-1 |
9. Johnny Walker | 18-5 |
10. Misha Cirkunov | 15-5 |
Heavyweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Stipe Miocic (c) | 20-3 |
2. Francis Ngannou | 15-3 |
3. Curtis Blaydes | 14-2 |
4. Derrick Lewis | 24-7 |
5. Jairzinho Rozenstruik | 11-1 |
6. Alistair Overeem | 47-18 |
7. Alexander Volkov | 32-8 |
8. Aleksei Oleinik | 59-14-1 |
T9. Cyril Gane | 7-0 |
T9. Walt Harris | 13-9 |
Women's strawweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Weili Zhang (c) | 21-1 |
2. Rose Namajunas | 9-4 |
3. Joanna Jedrzejczyk | 16-4 |
4. Tatiana Suarez | 8-0 |
5. Jessica Andrade | 20-8 |
6. Carla Esparza | 17-6 |
7. Yan Xiaonan | 13-1 |
8. Amanda Ribas | 10-1 |
9. Michelle Waterson | 18-8 |
10. Claudia Gadelha | 18-5 |
Women's flyweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Valentina Shevchenko (c) | 20-3 |
2. Jessica Andrade | 21-8 |
3. Lauren Murphy | 14-4 |
4. Katlyn Chookagian | 15-4 |
5. Jennifer Maia | 18-7-1 |
Women's bantamweight
Fighter | Record |
1. Amanda Nunes (c) | 20-4 |
2. Germaine de Randamie | 10-4 |
3. Holly Holm | 14-5 |
4. Aspen Ladd | 9-1 |
5. Irene Aldana | 12-6 |
6. Yana Kunitskaya | 13-5 |
7. Julianna Pena | 9-4 |
8. Ketlen Vieira | 11-1 |
9. Julia Avila | 8-2 |
10. Sara McMann | 12-5 |
