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
Kazbek Saidaliev #45 (96)
After receiving credit for his victory over UFC veteran Goran Reljic at Akhmat MMA 23, Saidaliev moved up 96 spots in the heavyweight rankings. The Russian fighter now holds a 7-1 record with three knockouts.

Light Heavyweight
Magomed Ankalayev #87 (44)
Ankalayev improved his record to 6-0 with a win over Artur Astakhov at Akhmat MMA 23. In his previous outing, he scored a 15-second finish over M-1 veteran Lloyd Marshbanks.

Middleweight
Zauri Maisuradze #170 (92)
Maisuradze defeated Sadibou Sy at Scandinavian Fight Nights back on June 4. He jumped up 92 spots in the rankings with the victory applied. The Georgian fighter has picked up back-to-back wins since falling to UFC veteran Igor Pokrajac last year.
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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
Jared Vanderaa #143 (35)
At BAMMA USA 20, Vanderaa scored a first-round knockout over Strikeforce and Bellator MMA veteran Mychal Clark. After beginning his professional career last June, the Team Quest product has already built a 4-0 record with all victories coming via stoppage. The entire event can be viewed, behind a paywall, at FloCombat.com.

Light Heavyweight
Armando Sixel #144 (64)
In the most recent rankings update, Sixel moved up 64 spots. In his last fight, he scored a first-round armbar submission over Daniel Brito at Jungle Fight 83. The Brazilian holds a 9-5 record and has picked up a pair of wins since falling to UFC heavyweight Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira in 2014.

Middleweight
Vlad Popovskiy #271 (128)
After receiving credit for his May 27 victory over Maxim Sergeev, Popovskiy moved into the top 300 at middleweight. The 24-year-old Moldovan fighter is 11 and has 10 first-round finishes.
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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.

Welterweight
Andreas Stahl #145 (278)
Stahl returned to action for the first time since a pair of losses to Gilbert Burns and Santiago Ponzinibbio chased him from the UFC. This past weekend, he scored a third-round knockout over Lewis Long at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 76. The much needed victory bumped him up 278 spots in the rankings. However, he is still currently ranked below his quarterly peak of #125. Stahl’s fight and the rest of the event is available on UFC Fight Pass.

Heavyweight
Zaur Gadzhibabayev #154 (70)
The Azerbaijani heavyweight moved up 70 spots in the rankings after defeating Lazar Todev at M-1 Challenge 67. The victory improved his professional MMA record to 5-1. Gadzhibabayev has won three fights in a row since falling for the first time to Zaurbek Bashaev last year. The entire event is available via YouTube

Light Heavyweight
Luis Henrique da Silva #40 (19)
On the undercard of UFC 199, Da Silva scored an upset over fellow prospect Jonathan Wilson. With the victory, he moves up 19 spots and into the top 50. The 26-year-old Brazilian is now 11-0 with 11 knockout finishes.
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Notable Info

• Men’s Strawweight expanded to Top 20 from 15.
• Women’s Strawweight expanded to Top 40 from 35.