The world of combat sports witnessed a flurry of high-stakes action this past weekend, delivering significant changes to divisional rankings and crowning new champions across both boxing and mixed martial arts. From Riyadh's "Night of the Champions" to UFC Fight Night in Doha, fighters battled for supremacy, leaving indelible marks on their respective sports.
**Boxing's New Era: Mason Makes History, Haney Ascends**The Ring IV: Night of the Champions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, proved to be a pivotal night with major repercussions across multiple weight classes. Twenty-one-year-old Abdullah Mason made history by becoming boxing's current youngest world champion, capturing the WBO lightweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision over Sam Noakes. Mason, despite holding a skill advantage, went 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career, showcasing exceptional body work and stamina to overcome a relentless opponent. His impressive victory sees him enter the divisional rankings at No. 8.
Devin Haney also made a significant move, climbing to the top of the welterweight rankings after a brilliant boxing lesson against Brian Norman Jr. Haney secured the WBO title, dropping Norman in the second round and maintaining control with a stiff jab. Following the loss, Norman fell three spots to No. 4.
Elsewhere, Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez solidified his No. 1 junior bantamweight position with a masterclass finish over Fernando Martinez, unifying three titles and creating considerable distance from his peers. Meanwhile, WBC champion David Benavidez cemented his No. 3 light heavyweight status with a dominant victory over Anthony Yarde. However, Benavidez has announced a move to cruiserweight for his next fight, challenging unified champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez on Cinco de Mayo weekend, signaling further shifts in the light heavyweight division soon.
**Tsarukyan's Triumphant Return Highlights UFC Action**In the mixed martial arts arena, UFC Fight Night in Doha, Qatar, saw Arman Tsarukyan deliver a powerful reminder of his elite status, choking out Dan Hooker in a one-sided main event. After over a year and a half of inactivity, Tsarukyan's dominant performance was crucial for reclaiming a spot in the ESPN divisional rankings, propelling him from being unranked back to the familiar territory of No. 2 among 155-pound lightweights.
The only other significant movement in the recent MMA rankings occurred at welterweight. Ian Machado Garry's victory over Belal Muhammad shifted the balance of power, with Machado Garry moving up from No. 5 to No. 4, while Muhammad dropped three spots to No. 6. These movements underscore the constant fluidity and competitive nature of the UFC's talent-laden divisions.
For a full list of current ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and UFC champions across all weight classes, please refer to the official rankings updated as of Nov. 25.