Last week, the UFC delivered the biggest card of the year with UFC 322 during its annual event at Madison Square Garden. The event drew 20,664 fans to the historic arena for a fight night that featured some of the most exciting matchups of the year. Fans witnessed Islam Makhachev make history by claiming the welterweight title by defeating Jack Della Maddalena, surpassing his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, and becoming a two-division champion.

On the same night, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko further cemented her legacy by defeating Zhang Weili, solidifying her place among the greatest female mixed martial artists. With so much happening in one night, some fighters climbed the rankings while others dropped. Sean Brady lost his top spot, feeling the biggest impact. The event triggered a major shakeup across the divisions. Let’s take a closer look at these changes and how they affect the rankings.

Ranking shifts after UFC 322, Sean Brady and Leon Edwards lose ground

Heading into UFC 322, Jack Della Maddalena entered as the champion, while Sean Brady held the No. 1 spot, preparing to defend it against the No. 8 contender, Michael Morales. At the same time, former champion Leon Edwards, ranked No. 5, was set to defend his position against Brazilian star Carlos Prates. Analysts considered Brady’s spot the most vulnerable, with commentators like Luke Thomas issuing warnings ahead of the fight.

Brady, however, underestimated the Ecuadorian fighter. In the opening round, Michael Morales landed precise, powerful punches that knocked out Brady, costing him the top-ranked position. Following the results, Sean Brady dropped to No. 6, while Morales surged to No. 3. Leon Edwards slipped to No. 7, and Carlos Prates moved up to No. 5.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Islam Makhachev, who now holds the welterweight belt along with a second championship, has surpassed his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. With his dual titles, Makhachev claimed the No. 1 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, replacing Ilia Topuria and establishing a clear edge over his mentor. He has firmly cemented his name beyond the GOAT discussions.

In the women’s flyweight division, Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her championship. Zhang Weili’s defeat cost her a ranking spot, dropping her to No. 2, with Tatiana Suarez moving up to No. 1. On the women’s pound-for-pound list, Zhang Weili fell to No. 3, pushed down by bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

Following UFC 322, these ranking changes shook up the divisions. The MMA community, including Paddy Pimblett, has praised Islam Makhachev’s performance as “unbelievable.” Fans now focus on the newly crowned welterweight kingpin’s next title defense, and although the UFC has not officially confirmed his opponent, Makhachev already has potential names in mind.

Islam Makhachev eyes Kamaru Usman for his next title defense

Even with opponents like Carlos Prates and Michael Morales in his path, Islam Makhachev has set his sights on welterweight GOAT Kamaru Usman. Ranked No. 8 in the division, Usman returned to a winning streak earlier this year after enduring three consecutive losses. Before that, he was one of the most dominant forces in the promotion.

At 38 years old and with only a few years left before retirement, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ remains a formidable challenge. But for the Dagestani champion, Usman represents the ultimate test. While Islam Makhachev could comfortably handle younger, hungry contenders like Prates and Morales, he now aims to conquer one of the all-time greats in the 170-pound division after years of dominating the lightweight ranks.

“I swear, I feel different today inside the cage,” Islam Makhachev told the UFC’s About Last Fight program. “When I take him down, I feel I can control that like anyone. I just feel more power, I can hold him, I can do whatever. He defends very well. I know he’s working with some of the coaches to defend submissions, and he defends very well, but still, I just take him down and control, very easy.”

Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman? How do you see this clash unfolding? Who do you think would come out on top if these two stars met inside the Octagon? Share your prediction below.