Defeated, former champions Pantoja and Merab plummet in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

Merab and Pantoja backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

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UFC 323 was anything but pleasant for Alexandre Pantoja and Merab Dvalishvili . At the event held last Saturday (6), the Brazilian and the Georgian lost their respective fights to Joshua Van and Petr Yan and, consequently, the flyweight (up to 57 kg) and bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg) belts. Therefore, this Tuesday (9), in the ranking update released by the company, the now former champions plummeted in the pound-for-pound ranking table.

Before fighting at UFC 323, Pantoja was ranked fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings. After suffering a serious injury just 26 seconds into the fight, the Brazilian lost by technical knockout and, in addition to dropping from the top of the flyweight division, has fallen four places in the ranking of the organization's best fighters across all divisions, landing in ninth place. Meanwhile, Van became the champion of the division and has already entered the elite rankings as number 11.

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The Georgian's case was even worse. After suffering at the hands of the Russian, Merab lost five positions in the pound-for-pound ranking, falling from third to eighth place. With 'The Machine's' departure, the new top 5 is composed of Islam Makhachev , Ilia Topuria , Khamzat Chimaev , Alex Pereira, and Alexander Volkanovski . Yan, with his impressive performance in the main event of UFC 323, reclaimed the bantamweight title and became number six in the select ranking table.

Japan close to the title.

Taira promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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At the event, Tatsuro Taira shone against Brandon Moreno , the former flyweight champion. With a technical knockout, the Japanese fighter, who was ranked fifth in the division, climbed to third place and moved closer to a title shot. Defeated, the Mexican fell from second to fourth place.

Cejudo's tormentor in the elite

Talbott promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

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Payton Talbott achieved the biggest victory of his career by punishing Henry Cejudo in the bantamweight division. By retiring the combat sports legend, the athlete, who was not in the top 15 of the category, now appears in 12th position.

Promising riders enter the top 15 in the lightweight division.

Torres celebrates victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

The lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) saw its configuration altered at the bottom of the top 15. At UFC 323, Fares Ziam and Manuel Torres impressed and entered the elite of the competitive division. At the event, the Frenchman secured his sixth consecutive victory by brutally knocking out Nazim Sadykhov , thus becoming number 15 in the category.

The Mexican fighter won his second consecutive fight by knocking out Grant Dawson in the first round and moved up a level in the lightweight division. Now, 'El Loco' Torres has not only joined the top 15 of the lightweight division, but has also taken over the 13th position.

Hulk won't make the top 15.

Hulk backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

Brunno Hulk achieved the biggest victory of his career by defeating Marvin Vettori in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg). However, the win, his third in a row, was not enough to break into the top 15 of the category. It's worth noting that the fighter failed to make weight at the official weigh-in for UFC 323.

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