Ankalaev Stops Guskov in Fifth Round but Holds No. 2 Ranking

Magomed Ankalaev more than tripled Bogdan Guskov's striking output and secured a fifth-round stoppage in Saturday's UFC main event.

Magomed Ankalaev secured a fifth-round stoppage victory over Bogdan Guskov in Saturday’s UFC main event, utilizing a performance that included more than triple the striking output of his opponent. During the contest, the former champion successfully executed two takedowns and registered three submission attempts before the referee halted the bout in the final frame. Despite the dominant win, Ankalaev remains at No. 2 in the ESPN light heavyweight rankings as of July 28, 2026. He continues to trail Alex Pereira, who holds the top spot following a head-to-head victory over Ankalaev last October.

Light Heavyweight Rankings Shift at No. 10

The 205-pound division saw significant movement at the bottom of the top 10 list following recent results. Dustin Jacoby has been removed from the rankings after suffering a TKO loss to Muhammad Said, a newcomer to the UFC roster. Taking Jacoby's place at the No. 10 position is Navajo Stirling. Stirling enters the rankings with an undefeated professional record, which he is scheduled to defend this coming Saturday in a high-stakes matchup against Jan Blachowicz.

Strawweight Eligibility and Ricci’s Return

In the women's strawweight division (up to 115 pounds), Amanda Ribas has lost her spot in the rankings due to inactivity. ESPN ranking criteria require a fighter to have competed within the last 12 months or have an upcoming bout officially booked to remain eligible. Because Ribas has not fought in over a year, she was dropped from the list. This vacancy allowed Tabatha Ricci to return to the No. 10 spot. Ricci had previously been bumped from the top 10 following a loss to Fatima Kline last week but regained her standing due to the eligibility change.

ESPN Ranking Criteria and Weight Classes

The July 28 rankings update covers every weight class across the UFC, PFL, and other major organizations. Eligibility for these lists is strictly maintained; any fighter dropped for inactivity must compete again before they can be considered for reinstatement. The rankings span multiple divisions, including Men's Heavyweight (up to 265 pounds), Middleweight (185 pounds), Welterweight (170 pounds), Lightweight (155 pounds), Featherweight (145 pounds), Bantamweight (135 pounds), and Flyweight (125 pounds). On the women's side, the rankings track the Bantamweight, Flyweight, and Strawweight categories.

Upcoming Divisional Outlook

While the pound-for-pound rankings and the list of current UFC champions remain a focal point of the July 28 report, the immediate focus shifts to the light heavyweight division's newest addition. Navajo Stirling’s debut at the No. 10 spot precedes his immediate return to the octagon this weekend. The divisional landscape continues to be shaped by recent outcomes, such as Muhammad Said's successful debut and the ongoing hierarchy established by Alex Pereira's previous win over the second-ranked Ankalaev. These rankings reflect all results current through the most recent Saturday event.