It may not have been a pay-per-view event, but the big winners at Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Doha on Saturday certainly made a splash in the newly updated official UFC rankings.
Let’s take a look at the biggest movers and shakers from UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar.
Ian Machado Garry Reaches No. 2
Having promised a highlight-reel knockout in the lead-up to Saturday’s co-main event against Belal Muhammad, Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) gave himself a mountain to climb against an opponent who hasn’t been stopped in nine years. While the post-fight discourse has centered on which recent welterweight contender has made the strongest case to challenge for Islam Makhachev’s belt next, it’s the Irishman who made the biggest leap in the latest rankings.
“The Future” moves up four places to No. 2, just one spot behind dethroned champion Jack Della Maddalena. Muhammad, meanwhile, drops from first to fifth and also falls to No. 15 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
No Change at 155 Pounds
The lightweight rankings remain unchanged following Arman Tsarukyan’s win over Dan Hooker in Saturday’s main event. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) holds his position at No. 1, while Hooker stays at No. 6 despite the loss.
Tsarukyan’s victory does move him up one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, where he now sits at No. 13.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta Breaks Into the Top 5
One of the biggest success stories from Qatar has been rewarded for betting on himself. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) accepted a short-notice fight against Shamil Gaziev, and after securing his second KO win in just three weeks, “Salsa Boy” climbs one spot to No. 5 in the updated rankings.
Kyoji Horiguchi Returns to Flyweight Rankings
Nine years after parting ways with the UFC, Kyoji Horiguchi (35-5 MMA, 8-1 UFC) made a sensational return on Saturday by demolishing Tagir Ulanbekov in one of the best performances of his storied career. The Japanese standout enters the 125-pound rankings at No. 8 and immediately becomes a realistic option to face the winner of next week’s title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van.
Asu Almabayev (23-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who submitted Alex Perez on Saturday’s preliminary card, moves up one place to No. 7.
