The combat sports world experienced a whirlwind weekend, witnessing masterclass performances and significant shifts in the rankings across both professional boxing and mixed martial arts. From Las Vegas to Paris and Japan, fighters delivered memorable bouts that have redefined their divisional landscapes.
Boxing Spotlight: Crawford's Dominance and Global Impact
Terence Crawford cemented his legacy with a brilliant boxing masterclass against Canelo Alvarez, headlining a loaded fight weekend. Crawford officially vacated his top spot at 154 pounds to become the new king of the super middleweights, delivering one of his finest performances in a unanimous decision victory against Canelo in Las Vegas. This win vaults Crawford to the top spot at 168 pounds, with Canelo now sitting at No. 2.
The undercard also saw Lester Martinez make a strong case for inclusion in the super middleweight rankings after battling WBC interim champion Christian Mbilli to a split draw. The entertaining slugfest highlighted Martinez's durable chin and impressive cardio. Despite the draw, Martinez vaults into the No. 6 slot, while Mbilli falls three spots to No. 5.
Early Sunday morning in Nagoya, Japan, another pound-for-pound elite, Naoya Inoue, relied on intelligence over raw power to dominate Murodjon Akhmadliev. Inoue retained his undisputed junior featherweight status by unanimous decision, solidifying his top spot in the division, with Akhmadliev holding his place at No. 3. In the bantamweight division, Christian Medina delivered a stunning performance on the Inoue-Akhmadliev co-main event, blowing through Yoshiki Takei to score a fourth-round TKO and win the WBO world title. Medina, who dropped Takei in the first round, debuts in the rankings at No. 3, while Takei suffers the first loss of his pro career and falls to No. 4.
MMA Rundown: Imavov's Ascent and Heavyweight Shifts
In the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, Nassourdine Imavov significantly advanced his case as a middleweight title contender with a dominant unanimous decision victory over the red-hot Caio Borralho in the UFC Fight Night main event in Paris. This triumph, which ended Borralho's impressive 17-fight unbeaten streak, boosts Imavov to No. 3 in the latest ESPN middleweight rankings. He now sits behind only champion Khamzat Chimaev and the man he recently defeated, Dricus Du Plessis, further solidifying his claim for a championship opportunity.
The heavyweight division also saw movement, with Marcin Tybura dropping out of the top 10 after a loss to UFC newcomer Ante Delija. Serghei Spivac replaces Tybura, taking the No. 10 spot in the latest rankings. These updates reflect current fight results and active fighter status, with rankings current as of September 9th.
The dynamic nature of both boxing and MMA continues to provide thrilling contests and constant evolution in the hierarchies of their respective weight classes, promising even more exciting matchups ahead.