The UFC has released updated rankings following recent events. Aljamain Sterling climbed to fourth place in the featherweight division after his latest performance. Youssef Zalal dropped to eighth place among featherweights. Additionally, Raoni Barcelos entered the top 15 in the bantamweight division. These rankings reflect recent fight outcomes and divisional movement.
The UFC has released a fresh set of divisional rankings, with several notable shifts headlining the latest update, including Aljamain Sterling climbing to fourth place at featherweight and Youssef Zalal sliding down the same division.
Sterling, known as "Funk Master," continues to build his case at 145 pounds following his move to featherweight. The 36-year-old American trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and carries a 26-5 record into his new position at number four. Standing five-foot-seven with a 71-inch reach, Sterling lands 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, while averaging 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that underlines his elite status across multiple weight classes.
Zalal, meanwhile, drops to twelfth in the featherweight rankings according to the verified divisional data, a slide that reflects recent divisional movement around him. The 29-year-old American nicknamed "The Moroccan Devil" holds an 18-6-1 record and trains at Factory X. Fighting out of a switch stance at five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach, Zalal averages 3.03 significant strikes per minute and contributes 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a versatile, grappling-oriented game.
In the bantamweight division, Raoni Barcelos enters the top 15 for the first time. The 39-year-old Brazilian out of Laerte Barcelos Team owns a 22-5 record and is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 4.92 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, rounding out a well-tested skill set.
Why it matters
- Sterling at number four in featherweight signals genuine title contention in a second weight class after his bantamweight championship run.
- Zalal's drop increases the distance between him and the top five, meaning a strong performance will be needed to reverse the trend.
- Barcelos cracking the bantamweight top 15 at 39 years old adds a seasoned veteran to an already competitive ranking picture.
