Sherdog’s official mixed martial arts rankings: Reyes rises, Murzakanov exits Top 10 following UFC 333
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Sherdog’s latest official mixed‑martial‑arts rankings were released following UFC 333, with notable shifts in the bantamweight division. Petr Yan retained the top spot after a unanimous decision over Merab Dvalishvili, who had previously held the title. Yan’s performance, described as a “No Mercy” finish, kept him firmly in the number‑one position.
Dvalishvili fell to second place after a close bout that ended 48‑47 on all three scorecards. The Machine, who had dominated early rounds, was unable to withstand Yan’s late‑night surge and the impact of liver kicks, leaving the title out of reach for him as long as Yan remains active.
The rankings also highlighted other fighters making significant strides. Sean O’Malley moved up to third after a walk‑off technical knockout of Aiemann Zahabi at UFC White House, while Yadong Song climbed to fourth following a guillotine choke submission of former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau and a decisive win over Umar Nurmagomedov in Shanghai.
Umar Nurmagomedov slipped to fifth after a loss to Song, and Mario Bautista secured the sixth spot with a decision over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 329, avenging a previous defeat. Sandhagen, now seventh, endured a tough fight that saw him overcome a kneebar attempt and a compromised leg.
David Martinez, Mitchell McKee, and Payton Talbott rounded out the top ten, each earning recent victories that solidified their positions. The updated rankings reflect the dynamic nature of the bantamweight scene as fighters vie for title contention and playoff spots.
