Sports Illustrated’s MMA vertical has broken down the UFC’s first official rankings update of 2026, highlighting major movement in the lightweight, heavyweight, and bantamweight divisions following the year’s opening pay‑per‑view. Justin Gaethje now sits as the No. 1 contender at lightweight after capturing interim gold, cementing him as the leading challenger to champion Ilia Topuria. In the heavyweight division, Marcin Tybura climbed to No. 8 while Derrick Lewis slipped to No. 10 after their recent bout, and Waldo Cortes‑Acosta held firm at No. 5. At bantamweight, Umar Nurmagomedov retained his No. 2 spot, while Deiveson Figueiredo slid to No. 7. The shifts clarify immediate title paths across multiple weight classes.
