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UFC 322 Aftermath: Ranking Shifts Following Makhachev’s Welterweight Title Win

UFC 322 produced a wave of decisive results, and the Fight Minds algorithm reflected clear movement across multiple divisions. From Islam Makhachev claiming a new belt to massive leaps by rising contenders, here are the most meaningful shifts.

Welterweight: Makhachev Becomes Champion, Morales & Prates Surge

The most significant change comes at welterweight, where Islam Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena with relentless top control to become the new champion. This title win pushes Makhachev to the top of the division, while Della Maddalena falls to #1.

Supporting results on the card explain the volatility just below the title picture:

  • Michael Morales explodes up the rankings (+5 to #2) after blitzing Sean Brady, marking his arrival as a legitimate title contender.
  • Carlos Prates also makes a big jump (+3 to #5) following a spectacular knockout of Leon Edwards, who drops accordingly.
  • The rest of the top 10 reshuffles downward due to these decisive wins.

Lightweight: Saint Denis Rockets Up After 16-Second KO

Benoit Saint Denis makes the biggest move of the night across all weight classes, climbing four spots to #6 after a 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush. The algorithm strongly rewards decisive finishes against ranked opponents, and Saint Denis delivered exactly that.

As a result, Dariush, Hooker, Gamrot, and Moicano each drop one position.

Featherweight: Pat Sabatini Enters the Rankings

Pat Sabatini enters the rankings at #13 after a strong performance, pushing Nathaniel Wood and Jean Silva down one spot each. No major movement occurred at the top of the division.

Bantamweight: McGhee Continues His Climb

In bantamweight, Marcus McGhee rises one spot to #11, continuing a consistent upward trend supported by recent wins. Vinicius Oliveira drops accordingly.

Light Heavyweight: Menifield Moves Up

Alonzo Menifield climbs a spot to #12 after another strong showing, with Dominick Reyes sliding down one.

Women’s Flyweight: Blanchfield Earns a Title Eliminator Position

A major highlight from the prelims saw Erin Blanchfield submit Tracy Cortez, which moves her up to #3, flipping places with Alexa Grasso. This win positions Blanchfield as a likely next challenger for Valentina Shevchenko.

Women’s Strawweight: Fatima Kline Breaks Into the Rankings

Fatima Kline enters the rankings at #12 after beating Angela Hill, pushing several fighters down one spot each. No changes at the top, as Mackenzie Dern remains champion despite inactivity on this event.

Explore the Full Rankings

While these were the most notable changes from UFC 322, the event contributed to adjustments across many divisions. For a detailed look at all updates, visit: Fight Minds UFC Rankings

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