Francis Ngannou’s exit from the UFC caused a significant reorganisation of the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings. In the most recent update, Max Holloway, a former featherweight champion, has reentered the top 15.
Holloway, who most recently competed in an octagon match at UFC 276 against Alexander Volkanovski in his third fight, is listed at No. 13 on the list, one position below Jon Jones. At UFC 285, Jones will make his octagon comeback against Ciryl Gane. Ngannou has obviously been eliminated from the rankings.
Israel Adesanya, the former middleweight champion of the UFC who lost the championship to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, climbed one rank to capture the No. 5 position. Pereira is now rated seventh on the list.
Holly Holm, a former world champion at the bantamweight weight class, moved up two spots to take the tenth slot in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings. At UFC 275, Taila Santos defeated undisputed flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko with a fierce performance, moving up one rank to No.12.
Jeffrey Molina and Muhammad Mokaev have switched spots to take the thirteenth and fourteenth spots, respectively, in the men’s flyweight division. Veteran UFC fighter Rafael dos Anjos rose one rank to No. 8, while Arman Tsarukyan fell to No. 9. Ketlen Vieira, a female bantamweight contender, moved up three slots to take over second place.
Cris Cyborg congratulates Francis Ngannou for making it “to the list”
The UFC did not provide Francis Ngannou the freedom to pursue boxing contests, which was one of his bargaining objectives, thus the Cameroonian is now legally free to pursue chances outside of the UFC.
The UFC allegedly extended numerous lucrative contracts to “The Predator,” making him the highest-paid heavyweight fighter in UFC history. Additionally, the organisation has worked to maintain the myth that Ngannou departed the UFC in search of simpler contests outside the company.
Francis Ngannou has been defended by a number of UFC fighters, who also accuse the organisation of damaging fighters’ reputations when negotiations fall through.
When responding to Francis Ngannou’s departure, Cris Cyborg, the former UFC women’s featherweight champion who left the company in 2019, noticed a pattern in White’s demeanour. She wrote on Twitter with copious proof to back up her assertions:
