The UFC has released updated official rankings. Aljamain Sterling has moved up to the fourth position in the featherweight division following his recent performance. Youssef Zalal has dropped to eighth place among featherweights. Additionally, Raoni Barcelos has entered the top 15 in the bantamweight division. The rankings reflect recent competitive results across multiple weight classes.
The UFC's latest official rankings update, released on April 28, 2026, has reshuffled the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, with Aljamain Sterling making a notable leap into the top five at 145 pounds.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," now sits at number four in the featherweight division. The 36-year-old American trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and carries a professional record of 26-5-0. Standing five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, Sterling has built his reputation on a well-rounded game, averaging 4.45 significant strikes landed per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also threatening consistently on the mat with 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Youssef Zalal, "The Moroccan Devil," has slipped in the updated featherweight standings. The 29-year-old Factory X product, who competes out of the United States, now sits at number 12 with an 18-6-1 record. Zalal is a switch-stance fighter standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach, and he has shown a diverse offensive approach, averaging 3.03 significant strikes per minute alongside 2.17 takedowns and 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
In the bantamweight division, Raoni Barcelos has cracked the top 15. The 39-year-old Brazilian, who trains with the Laerte Barcelos Team, holds a 22-5-0 record and stands five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach. Barcelos is among the more active strikers in his weight class, posting an impressive 4.92 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Sterling's rise to fourth at featherweight puts him within striking distance of a potential title contender slot at 145 pounds
- Zalal's drop to twelfth signals a shifting landscape in a featherweight division with increasing depth
- Barcelos entering the bantamweight top 15 at 39 years old highlights his continued relevance in a competitive division
