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UFC Fight Night Aftermath: Ranking Updates Following Tsarukyan vs. Hooker

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker delivered a mix of dominant performances and dramatic finishes — and the rankings reflect it. While the event didn’t feature title fights, several divisions experienced meaningful shifts driven by standout performances.

Flyweight: Horiguchi returns, Ulanbekov sinks, Almabayev enters

The biggest waves came at flyweight. Kyoji Horiguchi’s battering of Tagir Ulanbekov — mixing heavy leg kicks with surprising wrestling success — launches him straight into the rankings at #5. Ulanbekov, on the other hand, plummets seven spots to #14.

Another major addition is Asu Almabayev, who enters at #15 after snatching a late jumping-guillotine win over Alex Perez. His comeback finish solidified his place in a competitive lower tier of the division.

Lightweight: Grant Dawson re-enters the picture

The headliner mattered. Arman Tsarukyan dominated Dan Hooker in a performance that screamed future-title-challenger, but since both men were already ranked, its immediate effect was modest. The real movement instead comes from Grant Dawson, who returns at #15, reclaiming a spot in a crowded field that just saw Hooker lose momentum.

Welterweight: Machado Garry cracks the top 2

The co-main had ranking consequences. Ian Machado Garry edged Belal Muhammad in a close fight — not the dominant outing he promised, but enough to vault him up seven spots to #2. Muhammad slips one place to #4. Meanwhile, Michael Morales moves to #1, reflecting the combined impact of his recent surge and the shifting landscape below him.

Heavyweight: Cortes-Acosta rises, Gaziev falls

Waldo Cortes-Acosta stepped in on days’ notice and starched Shamil Gaziev, pushing him into #6 and bumping Gaziev down to #14. The division remains volatile, but Cortes-Acosta continues to prove he’s more than a late-notice brawler.

Light Heavyweight: Minor reshuffling after a quiet week

With no major divisional bouts on the card, movement was minimal. Magomed Ankalaev climbs above Jiri Prochazka for #1 due to updated algorithmic metrics and recent strength of schedule, not event results. Dominick Reyes and Modestas Bukauskas also rise one position each, reflecting the drop of Alonzo Menifield.

Flyweight (Women): No fight, but algorithmic shifts matter

Though no top contenders fought, the pound-for-pound list adjusts slightly as Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez benefit from updated momentum and recent win quality. The rankings reflect stability, but also a tightening gap within the top 5.

Explore the Full Rankings

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

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