The UFC has released updated divisional rankings following recent events. Ian Garry now occupies the number one contender spot in the welterweight division. Carlos Prates climbed to second place at welterweight, while Jack Della Maddalena dropped to fourth in the same division. At lightweight, Quillan Salkhild entered the top fifteen rankings and Beneil Dariush fell to fourteenth place. Heavyweight newcomer Brendo Pericic also broke into the top fifteen of his division.
The UFC rolled out updated divisional rankings on May 5, 2026, reshaping the welterweight picture and bringing new faces into the lightweight and heavyweight top fifteens.
Ian Garry is now the number one contender at welterweight, putting him directly in line for a title shot. Carlos Prates, known as The Nightmare, climbed to second place in the division. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who fights out of Vale Top Team, carries a 24-7 record and presents a legitimate striking threat with a 55 percent accuracy rate and a 78-inch reach that creates problems at range. Jack Della Maddalena slipped to fourth despite remaining one of the more active strikers in the division. The 29-year-old Australian, fighting out of Scrappy MMA, holds an 18-4 record and lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute — among the highest volumes at 170 pounds — while also sitting thirteenth in the pound-for-pound rankings.
At lightweight, Beneil Dariush fell to fourteenth place. The 37-year-old American southpaw, who trains at Kings MMA, holds a 23-8-1 record and brings a well-rounded game, averaging 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 49 percent striking accuracy. Quillan Salkhild broke into the lightweight top fifteen for the first time. In the heavyweight division, Brendo Pericic also entered the rankings for the first time.
Why it matters
- Garry's move to number one at welterweight puts him in pole position for a championship opportunity
- Prates rising to second creates a compelling logjam of contenders directly behind Garry
- Della Maddalena's drop to fourth could alter the sequencing of future title-contention matchups
- Fresh top-fifteen entries at lightweight and heavyweight signal emerging talent across multiple divisions
