Fight Matrix updates the Current MMA Rankings once a week. As the deepest and most inclusive ranking system in the sport, fights all over the globe can have a major impact on the rankings. Let’s take a look at the biggest risers in the divisional rankings. The number in parenthesis is the number of spots that the fighter moved up from the last issued rankings. For the purpose of this article, fighters who were unranked in the previous ranking iteration are excluded.
Heavyweight
DJ Linderman #78 (116)
After dropping back-to-back fights, Linderman got back on track with a decision victory over Derrick Mehmen. Mehmen’s original opponent Jack May dropped out with an injury, so Linderman took the fight on short notice. The Bellator and World Series of Fighting veteran now holds a 20-11 record.
HM: Justin Ledet #137 (89)
Light Heavyweight
Ednaldo Oliveira #173 (60)
Since leaving the UFC in 2013, Oliveira has gone 2-1. After losing to Mikhail Mokhnatkin, he rebounded nicely with a decision victory over Khristhian da Silva Oliveira on July 30.
Middleweight
Markus Perez Echeimberg #157 (91)
Echeimberg moved up 91 spots in the middleweight rankings after receiving credit for his June 25 victory over UFC veteran Paulo Thiago. The prospect is now 7-0 after beginning his professional career in 2013.
HM:Trevor Smith #50 (23)
Welterweight
Thiago Oliveira #289 (133)
Oliveira earned credit for his May 14 victory over Sergio Mesquita and bumped up 133 spots. He is now riding a seven-fight winning streak that dates back to 2012. The Gracie Barra Bahia product now holds a 12-3 record as a professional.
HM: Court McGee #79 (24), Ismael de Jesus #176 (81)
Lightweight
Don Madge #417 (146)
Madge moved up 146 ranking spots after defeating Jadyson Costa at EFC 52. The South African fighter has spent his entire career his home promotion which has produced UFC fighters Ruan Potts and Garreth McLellan. Madge is now riding a three-fight winning streak after beginning his career with a 3-3-1 record.
HM: Cain Carrizosa #495 (100), Mike Wilkins #233 (131), Danny Navarro #166 (93), David Teymur #83 (41)
Featherweight
Roger Sampaio #295 (132)
After receiving credit for his July 9 victory over Cesar Dias, Sampaio moved up 132 spots in the rankings. The young Brazilian prospect is now 3-0 after beginning his career in 2015.
HM: Farkhad Sharipov #322 (109)
Bantamweight
Ricky Bandejas #124 (97)
Bandejas defeated Tony Gravely at CFFC 60 to move up in the rankings. The Nick Catone trained prospect is 7-1 with his only defeat coming against UFC veteran Nick Pace last year. Earlier this year, he also scored a victory over Jordan Morales at CFFC 58.
Flyweight
Alexis Vila #114 (82)
The former number-one ranked fighter appeared to be on the downside of his career after dropping three-straight fights. However, in his second fight for Titan FC, he took home a decision victory over Jorge Calvo. With the win, he moved up 82 spots in the flyweight rankings. The entire Titan FC 40 event is available on UFC Fight Pass.
This week there was not any major movement in the strawweight, women’s featherweight, women’s bantamweight, women’s strawweight or women’s atomweight divisions.
Richard Mann currently runs the data-driven MMA blog StrikeScoreMMA.com