Here's how the UFC's new top 10 rankings look after UFC Fight Night Tampa
Following their impressive performances Saturday night at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Evans, UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov and a few former "Ultimate Fighter" competitors made significant jumps in the latest release of the UFC rankings.
Nurmagomedov, who put a beating on UFC newcomer Darrell Horcher, reclaimed the No 1. Contender spot in the talented lightweight division. It may not seem like a big move for Nurmagomedov, who jumped Eddie Alvarez for the No. 1 spot, but after dropping as low third while out with injury for nearly two years and entering the fight as No. 2 in the promotion, the win all but guarantees him a title shot later this year.
Also making big moves in the UFC rankings are former "Ultimate Fighter" competitors Michael Chiesa, Raquel Pennington and John Dodson, who arguably put on their best performances to date in Tampa.
Chiesa woke up Tuesday morning as the ninth-ranked lightweight in the UFC, a five-spot jump, after submitting streaking 155-pounder Beneil Dariush. Dariush had won five straight, including two by submission, but that all came to an end when he faced off against the crafty Chiesa, who was able to secure a second-round submission and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Pennington, after an uneven start to her UFC career, cracked the top 10 with her win over former title contender Bethe Correia. The "Ultimate Fighter" Team Tate member finished her first four UFC fights with a 2-2 record, but since has posted back-to-back impressive victories. Now ranked ninth, she joins castmate Julianna Pena in the women's bantamweight top 10.
And finally, after what was likely the most impressive performance in Tampa, former flyweight contender John Dodson makes his debut in the bantamweight rankings at 10th. Dodson finished UFC veteran Manny Gamburyan in just 47 seconds Saturday night and has plenty of exciting matchups ahead of him in the bantamweight division -- including a rematch with former champion and the man he KO'd for the "Ultimate Fighter" title, T.J. Dillashaw.
Check out the full list of UFC rankings.
