UFC Rankings Update: Song Yadong Rises to No. 3 at Bantamweight

The latest UFC rankings update, released on September 2, 2026, reshuffles several divisions, with Song Yadong's rise to third at bantamweight headlining a busy set of changes.

Song Yadong climbs to No. 3 in the bantamweight division, a move that bumps Umar Nurmagomedov down one position to fourth. Nurmagomedov, a 30-year-old Russian fighting out of Eagles MMA, carries a 20-2 record and has established himself as one of the division's most complete threats. He lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate and averages 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him dangerous in virtually every phase of the fight.

At flyweight, Su Mudaerji breaks into the top 15 at No. 13, while Alex Perez settles at the bottom of the rankings. Perez, a 34-year-old American from Team Oyama, holds a 26-11 record and brings active striking with 4.22 significant strikes landed per minute. He also mixes in grappling, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

The women's strawweight division sees two notable shifts. Denise Gomes jumps seven places to crack the top 10, a significant leap that signals rapid momentum in her division climb. Yan Xiaonan, meanwhile, falls to fifth. The 37-year-old orthodox striker carries a 19-6 record and ranks among the division's most active offensive fighters, averaging 4.69 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Song Yadong's rise to No. 3 puts him within striking distance of the bantamweight title picture
• Nurmagomedov sliding to fourth despite no reported loss reflects how competitive the top of the division has become
• Denise Gomes jumping seven spots is the sharpest single-cycle climb in this update and could soon factor into title-contender conversations at strawweight
• Su Mudaerji's flyweight debut in the rankings adds another name to an increasingly crowded division