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UFC 323 Aftermath: Ranking Updates Following Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2

UFC 323 brought dramatic title changes, decisive finishes and major movements in multiple divisions. These are the most impactful updates in the Fight Minds statistical rankings.

Bantamweight: Yan returns to the throne, Talbott storms into the top 10

Petr Yan’s masterful win over Merab Dvalishvili gives him back the bantamweight belt and pushes him to champion status in the rankings. Dvalishvili falls to #1, but remains firmly the top contender.

The biggest surge comes from Payton Talbott, who brutalized Henry Cejudo and enters the rankings at #9. Cejudo drops two spots to #11 after taking heavy damage but surviving to the bell, while the rest of the lower top 15 shifts down accordingly.

Flyweight: A new champion, major reshuffling

The division flipped completely. Joshua Van becomes the new champion following Alexandre Pantoja’s injury-induced TKO loss. This automatically moves Van to the top of the rankings.

His first challenger is clear: Tatsuro Taira climbs three spots to #1 after finishing Brandon Moreno with dominant ground-and-pound. The ripple effect pushes almost every ranked flyweight up one spot, with Jafel Filho entering at #15.

Kyoji Horiguchi also moves into the top 5 after Taira and Van’s wins elevate the division’s top tier.

Lightweight: New blood enters at #15

There were no major ranked lightweight clashes, but Manuel Torres’ explosive KO of Grant Dawson earns him the #15 position. Fares Ziam rises to #13 after a strong win on the prelims, bumping Ignacio Bahamondes down a slot.

Women’s Bantamweight: A seismic return

The division sees its biggest shake-up in years: Amanda Nunes returns and debuts at #1 contender behind champion Kayla Harrison. Everyone else from #2 to #15 moves down a place, reflecting the algorithm’s recognition of Nunes’ elite historical rating and immediate competitive relevance.

Women’s Flyweight: Barber rises, new name enters

Maycee Barber rises to #5 after defeating Karine Silva in a competitive contest. Silva drops to #9. Tereza Bleda enters at #15 following updated metrics and activity decline from others near the cutoff.

Additional Notes

• Modestas Bukauskas climbs to #12 at light heavyweight after algorithmic adjustments following the Blachowicz–Guskov draw.
• No major heavyweight or middleweight movements occurred, as those divisions had no ranked fighters in action.

Explore the Full Rankings

While these were the most notable changes from UFC 323, the event contributed to adjustments across many divisions. For a detailed look at all updates, visit: Fight Minds UFC Rankings

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