MMA division rankings: How far will Sean O'Malley fall after losing the title fight at UFC 306?

In the ever-changing MMA landscape, it may seem like a pointless endeavor to rank the best fighters in the world, but that's exactly what we set out to do with the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Here, our esteemed panel sorts through the movers and shakers from each division to bring you the most comprehensive list of the best fighters in the world.

Updated pound-for-pound rankings can be found here.

Sean O'Malley is no longer the UFC bantamweight champion. How long will he stay at the top after such a humiliating loss?

According to our panel, O'Malley's loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 not only cost him his belt, but also drops him to No. 3 in the latest edition of the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, one spot behind undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. When you factor in the fact that O'Malley has stated he wants to take an extended break to recover from an injury, it should come as no surprise to see O'Malley slip even further in the fast-moving 135-pound division.

In the co-main event of UFC 306, Valentina Shevchenko reminded everyone why she is one of the best there has ever been.

With a combative, hard-working performance last Saturday, “Bullet” hit the mark again, finally earning a win over Alexa Grasso and reclaiming the flyweight title. The series is 1-1-1, but given the controversial draw in the second fight, which Shevchenko arguably won, and her sheer dominance in the trilogy fight, it feels like this rivalry is settled for now.

Although Shevchenko, 36, is nearing the end of her career, her recent performances have shown she is perfectly capable of still competing at an elite level, so it's not unreasonable to think she could add a few more championship jewels to her collection before it's all said and done. Standing in her way are a number of worthy challengers, including UFC 306 co-main event backup Manon Fiorot and the up-and-coming Natalia Silva, both of whom are yet to taste defeat in the Octagon.

Silva is one of several contenders who made big jumps in the latest update of the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, with Caio Borralho, Sean Brady, Diego Lopes, Umar Nurmagomedov and Norma Dumont all earning significant victories.

One important note: Two GOATS (Jon Jones temporarily due to 18 months of inactivity, Demetrious Johnson due to retirement) as well as a panelist left our rankings this month, so if you're wondering why there's so much reshuffling across the board, that should explain it.

If you need further explanation, be sure to check out the latest edition of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show.

The full rankings for September can be found below.

Heavyweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 10 Sergei Spivac defeated. No. 8 Marcin Tybura, No. 15 Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. No. 9 Tai Tuivasa

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 2 Alexander Volkov vs. No. 3 Ciryl Gane (UFC 308, Oct. 26), No. 9 Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou (PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, Oct. 19), No. 10 Anatoly Malykhin vs. Reug Reug (ONE 169, Nov. 8), No. 14 Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (UFC Edmonton, Nov. 2)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Linton Vassell (4), Oleg Popov (3), Ryan Bader (2)

Dropped out of the ranking (previous ranking is displayed): No. 2 Jon Jones (Inactivity)

Light heavyweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 15 Azamat Murzakanov defeated Alonzo Menifield

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 1 Alex Pereira vs. No. 10 Khalil Rountree (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 3 Magomed Ankalaev vs. No. 7 Aleksandar Rakic ​​​​(UFC 308, Oct. 26), No. 8 Nikita Krylov vs. No. 15 Azamat Murzakanov (UFC 309, Nov. 16), No. 9 Anatoly Malykhin vs. Reug Reug (heavyweight bout) (ONE Fight Night 28, Nov. 8),

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Roman Dolidze (2), Bogdan Guskov (2), Impa Kasanganay (2), Anthony Smith (1)

Middleweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 1 Dricus du Plessis def. #3 Israel Adesanya

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 4 Robert Whittaker vs. No. 12 Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 308, Oct. 26), No. 7 Nassourdine Imavov vs. No. 8 (concurrent) Brendan Allen (UFC Paris, Sept. 28), No. 14 Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 15 Michel Pereira vs. Anthony Hernandez (UFC Fight Night, Oct. 19)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Anthony Hernandez (4), Fabian Edwards (1), Jack Hermansson (1)

Dropped out of the ranking (previous ranking is displayed): No. 15 Anthony Hernandez

Welterweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 9 Sean Brady defeats No. 6 Gilbert Burns

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 10 Stephen Thompson vs. No. 15 Joaquin Buckley (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 13 Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos (UFC 308, Oct. 26)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Michael Morales (2), Colby Covington (1), Rinat Fakhretdinov (1), Vicente Luque (1), Magomed Magomedkerimov (1), Shamil Musaev (1), Magomed Umalatov (1)

Light

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 7 Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexander Shabliy, No. 12 Dan Hooker defeated. No. 9 Mateusz Gamrot

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 3 Max Holloway vs. Ilia Topuria (featherweight bout) (UFC 308, Oct. 26), No. 12 Renato Moicano vs. No. 14 Benoit Saint Denis (UFC Paris, Sept. 28), No. 13 AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes (PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, Oct. 19)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Paddy Pimblett (3), Jalin Turner (1), Matt Frevola (1), Tofiq Musayev (1)

Dropped out of the ranking (previous ranking is displayed): No. 15 Paddy Pimblett

Featherweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 11 Diego Lopes defeated No. 5 Brian Ortega

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 1 Ilia Topuria vs. No. 3 Max Holloway (UFC 308, October 26), No. 15 Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy (UFC 308, October 26)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Lerone Murphy (2), Chihiro Suzuki (2), Movlid Khaybulaev (1), Bryce Mitchell (1), Adam Borics (1)

Bantamweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 2 Merab Dvalishvili defeated No. 1 Sean O'Malley, No. 8 Umar Nurmagomedov defeated No. 4 Cory Sandhagen, No. 9 (simultaneous) Deiveson Figueiredo defeated No. 12 Marlon Vera

Upcoming Ranked Fights: #4 Patchy Mix vs. Leandro Higo (Bellator Paris, Nov. 16), #7 Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (UFC 307, Oct. 5), #14 Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips (UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Magomed Magomedov (3), Jonathan Martinez (2), Kai Asakura (1), Mario Bautista (1), Kyler Phillips (1)

Flyweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 7 (simultaneous) Kai Kara-France defeats No. 11 Steve Erceg

Upcoming Ranked Fights: #2 (concurrent) Brandon Royval vs. #8 Tatsuro Taira (UFC Vegas 98, Oct. 12), #4 Brandon Moreno vs. #6 Amir Albazi (UFC Edmonton, Nov. 2), #7 Adriano Moraes vs. Danny Kingad (ONE 169, November 8), No. 13 Matheus Nicolau vs. No. 15 Asu Almabayev (UFC Vegas 99, October 19)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Hiromasa Ougikubo (2), Askar Akarov (1), Kairat Akhmetov (1), Jafel Filho (1), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)

Dropped out of the ranking (previous ranking is displayed): No. 4 Demetrious Johnson (retired)

Bantamweight, women

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 12 Norma Dumont def. No. 6 Irene Aldana, No. 8 Karol Rosa def. No. 10 Pannie Kianzad, No. 9 Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 1 Kayla Harrison vs. No. 4 Ketlen Vieira (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 2 Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 13 (concurrent) Nora Cornolle vs . Jacqueline Cavalcanti (UFC Paris, Sept. 28), No. 15 Ailin Perez vs. Darya Zheleznyakova (UFC Paris, Sept. 28)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Tainara Lisboa (2), Melissa Mullins (2), Lucie Pudilova (1), Julia Avila (1)

Women's flyweight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): No. 2 Valentina Shevchenko defeated. No. 1 Alexa Grasso, No. 5 Taila Santos def. #6 Liz Carmouche, #10 Natalia Silva def. #14 Jessica Andrade, #15 Jennifer Maia def. Mayra Cantuaria

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 4 Erin Blanchfield vs. No. 9 Rose Namajunas (UFC Edmonton, Nov. 2), No. 12 Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern (strawweight bout) (UFC Tampa, Dec. 14), No. 13 Viviane Araujo vs . Karine Silva (UFC 309, Nov. 16)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Karine Silva (3), Dakota Ditcheva (2), Ariane da Silva (2)

Straw weight

Current results for high-ranking fighters (previous ranking is displayed): Natalia Silva defeated No. 4 Jessica Andrade (flyweight bout), No. 8 Mackenzie Dern defeated No. 10 Loopy Godinez, No. 12 Tabatha Ricci defeated No. 11 Angela Hill

Upcoming Ranked Fights: No. 2 Tatiana Suarez vs. No. 5 Virna Jandiroba (UFC 310, Dec. 7), No. 7 Marina Rodriguez vs. No. 14 Iasmin Lucindo (UFC 307, Oct. 5), No. 8 Mackenzie Dern vs. No. 9 Amanda Ribas (UFC Tampa, Dec. 14), No. 13 Gillian Robertson vs. No. 15 Luana Pinheiro (UFC Vegas 100, Nov. 9)

Fighters who also received votes (number of votes indicated): Loma Lookboonmee (3), Tecia Pennington (2), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (1), Danni McCormack (1)

Dropped out of the ranking (previous ranking is displayed): N/A

A refresher of the basic rules:

• The six-member voting panel consists of MMA Fighting staff members Alexander K. Lee, Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, E. Casey Leydon, Damon Martin and Jed Meshew.
• Fighters are removed from the rankings if they do not compete within 18 months of their last fight. Rankings updates are typically made after each monthly UFC pay-per-view.
• Should a fighter announce his retirement, our committee will decide whether that fighter will be removed from the rankings immediately or retain his position until further notice. (Let's put it this way: We would have removed Khabib Nurmagomedov from our rankings much faster than the UFC.)
• Holding a title in a promotion does not guarantee that the fighter is considered the best in their promotion. In addition, fighters who compete regularly or hold titles in multiple weight classes may be listed on multiple rosters.

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.