UFC Rankings Shake-Up After UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
UFC 330 put on a show in Philadelphia on Saturday, headlined by Islam Makhachev's dominant welterweight title defense over Ian Machado Garry. The dust settled from that card by Monday, and on Tuesday the UFC released its weekly rankings update. The bantamweight division absorbed the most significant changes, with Sean O'Malley climbing from number three to number two and Umar Nurmagomedov sliding one spot in the opposite direction. It is a minor numerical shift, but in a division this tight, position matters.
Biggest Movers
| Fighter | Division | Old Rank | New Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | Bantamweight | #3 | #2 | +1 |
| Umar Nurmagomedov | Bantamweight | #2 | #3 | -1 |
UFC 330: Makhachev Puts On a Clinic
Islam Makhachev extended his UFC win streak to 17 with a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry on August 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Scorecards read 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. Garry entered as a live underdog with elite footwork and sharp boxing, and he gave Makhachev something to think about in the early rounds. But Makhachev's wrestling control and cage pressure wore Garry down over the championship distance. By the championship rounds, it was not close. The win makes Makhachev only the fifth two-division champion to successfully defend a title in a second weight class, a distinction that speaks to how dominant his run has been.
Mackenzie Dern retained the women's strawweight title with an equally commanding performance against Gillian Robertson, winning all five rounds on the judges' cards. Lower on the card, Jalin Turner delivered a highlight-reel 39-second first-round KO of Kauê Fernandes, and Esteban Ribovics capped a strong night by stopping the veteran Edson Barboza in the second round.
Bantamweight: O'Malley Rises, Nurmagomedov Adjusts
UFC 330 featured no bantamweight bouts, but Tuesday's rankings update carried real consequences for the 135-pound title race. Sean O'Malley moves from number three to number two, reclaiming the position he held before losing the title to Merab Dvalishvili in 2024. O'Malley has been active since that defeat — most recently stopping Aiemann Zahabi by TKO in June — and the rankers have now repositioned him ahead of Umar Nurmagomedov.
At 20-3 and still only in his late twenties, O'Malley is one of the most dangerous finishers in the division. His return to the two slot reflects both his recent activity and his standing as a former champion. The message is clear: the UFC considers him the next in line behind Dvalishvili.
Nurmagomedov's drop to number three is not a sign of diminished stock. He is 20-1, has not been finished, and has looked elite in every performance. This is a one-position adjustment driven by O'Malley's activity and former champion status. Nurmagomedov is still firmly in the title conversation. If anything, a fight between O'Malley and Nurmagomedov as a title eliminator is a bout that sells itself.
The Title Picture at 135 Pounds
Petr Yan is the bantamweight champion with a 20-5 record. He is a relentless pressure fighter who recaptured the belt and has held it through multiple challengers. Merab Dvalishvili sits at number one with a 21-5 record, and he has been the most consistent wrestler in the division for the better part of three years. A Yan versus Dvalishvili title fight is the matchup the division has been building toward, and the rankings make that fight the most logical next booking.
Behind them:
- Merab Dvalishvili — 21-5
- Sean O'Malley — 20-3
- Umar Nurmagomedov — 20-1
- Mario Bautista — 18-3 / Cory Sandhagen — 18-7
The top of this division is exceptional. Yan, Dvalishvili, O'Malley, and Nurmagomedov are all legitimate threats to hold the title, which is what makes bantamweight one of the most compelling weight classes in the UFC right now.
What Is Next
The rankings alignment post-UFC 330 draws a clear map for the next chapter at 135 pounds. Yan versus Dvalishvili for the title. O'Malley versus Nurmagomedov as a number one contender bout. Neither fight has been officially announced, but the numbers are pointing in that direction. If both happen, the bantamweight division will be generating its best fights of the decade by early 2027.