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UFC on ESPN Aftermath: Usman Returns to Contention, Menifield Breaks Through

UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley didn’t look like a high-stakes card on paper, but it resulted in some crucial ranking shifts across multiple divisions.

Kamaru Usman made the biggest statement of the night. Dominating Joaquin Buckley with vintage wrestling and veteran resilience, the former champ surged five spots up to #3 in the welterweight rankings. With that performance, Usman is back in the title conversation and might be looking at a #1 contender bout soon.

At light heavyweight, Alonzo Menifield enters the rankings at #10 after upsetting highly-touted prospect Oumar Sy. Menifield’s experience and striking composure exposed Sy’s strategic limitations and cost the Frenchman his spot in the top 15.

In the bantamweight division, Raoni Barcelos returns to the rankings at #15 after a comeback win over Cody Garbrandt. While Garbrandt showed flashes of his former self early, Barcelos rallied with consistent volume and forward pressure, earning a clear decision.

Flyweight sees Tatsuro Taira leapfrog Kai Kara-France to take the #6 spot, a result of Kara-France’s recent inactivity and Taira’s steady momentum.

In the women’s flyweight division, Jessica Andrade and Eduarda Moura each move up a spot, pushing Miranda Maverick down two positions. Maverick struggled against Rose Namajunas, whose technical sharpness underlined her legitimacy as a top flyweight threat—even if Rose herself didn't move in the rankings this week.

Strawweight saw Loopy Godinez rocket up four spots to #11. Her consistency and active schedule continue to pay off, especially in a division looking for stability beneath the top five.

Finally, Miesha Tate re-enters the women’s bantamweight rankings at #14, benefiting from a shallow and shifting field.

The event served as a reminder that even lower-profile cards can carry major implications for divisional hierarchies—and fighters like Usman and Menifield are making the most of their moments.

Explore the Full Rankings

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

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