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UFC's Pound-For-Pound Ratings Change After UFC 249 Results

UFC's Pound-For-Pound Ratings Change After UFC 249 Results

Justin Gaethje makes his first appearance on the pound-for-pound rankings after his impressive performance to beat Tony Ferguson on Saturday

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Justin Gaethje's win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 has put him in the pound-for-pound rankings for the first time, and dropped El Cucuy down the list.

On Saturday night Gaethje put in the perfect performance against Ferguson, eventually ending his opponents 12 fight win streak with a fifth round stoppage, to win the interim lightweight title.

The victory and the performance have rocketed the Highlight Reel's reputation but also his standing in UFC and he's now 11th on the pound-for-pound list, with Ferguson dropping two places to 13th.

1. Jon Jones

Jones remains number one. Image: PA Images
Jones remains number one. Image: PA Images

2. Khabib Nurmagomedov

3. Henry Cejudo

4. Stipe Miocic

5. Israel Adesanya

6. Daniel Cormier

7. Kamaru Usman

8. Alexander Volkanovski

9. Conor McGregor

10. Max Holloway (Up one place)

11. Justin Gaethje (New ranking)

Gaethje with the interim title after his win. Image: PA Images
Gaethje with the interim title after his win. Image: PA Images

12. Dustin Poirier

13. Tony Ferguson (Down three places)

14. Robert Whittaker

15. Tyron Woodley (Down two places)

Jones and Khabib are likely to remain one and two in the rankings for some time yet, as it'll take something special to beat either man, but directly below them Cejudo and Miocic could soon fall down the rankings.

After beating Dominick Cruz on Saturday, thanks in part to a somewhat controversial stoppage, Triple C announced his retirement from the octagon, with Dana White reportedly already looking at scheduling a fight for his bantamweight title.

Cruz is now 12th on the bantamweight rankings despite the loss, having previously been out of action for three years and so unranked.

Miocic is set to defend his heavyweight title at some point but is reportedly not interested in the trilogy fight with Cormier, meaning he may also need to be stripped of his title.

Gaethje's win also means he rises above Ferguson, Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor in the lightweight rankings as he now waits for his unification fight with Khabib.

McGregor of course got himself in the headlines on Monday by calling out all of the other title contenders, and the champion, on social media.

The biggest mover in the division though is Donald Cerrone. Cowboy's loss on Saturday to Anthony Pettis was at welterweight but he's now been inactive at lightweight for his previous two fights and dropped down six places.

Elsewhere Calvin Kattar replaces Jeremy Stephens in seventh on the featherweight rankings following the pairs fight on Saturday.

Can Gaethje be the man to stop Nurmagomedov's reign? Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Donald Cerrone, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, Justin Gaethje, UFC News, MMA News, Tony Ferguson, UFC, MMA, UFC 249

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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