The world of combat sports saw significant action and ranking adjustments over the past weekend, with a dominant performance in boxing's junior middleweight division and notable shifts in UFC's women's bantamweight and heavyweight hierarchies.
Boxing Headline: Vergil Ortiz Jr. Obliterates Lubin, Eyes Ennis Showdown
In Fort Worth, Texas, Vergil Ortiz Jr. solidified his standing as ESPN's No. 1-ranked junior middleweight with a brutal two-round demolition of Erickson Lubin. Despite expectations for a competitive bout, Ortiz Jr. was in complete control from the opening bell, relentlessly backing Lubin into the ropes with a strong jab and punishing body work.
The end came swiftly in Round 2 when a pair of short right hands stunned Lubin, followed by a violent barrage of left hooks that left him defenseless. The referee wisely intervened at the 1:30 mark, ending the one-sided affair. Lubin managed to land only three punches throughout the fight, a performance that sent him tumbling out of ESPN's top 10 junior middleweights, with Brandon Adams taking his place at No. 10. Ortiz Jr. remains firm at the top and is now on a collision course for a highly anticipated clash with Jaron "Boots" Ennis, tentatively scheduled for early 2026.
MMA Headline: Women's Bantamweight Rankings Realigned as Dumont Returns, Heavyweight Sees Movement
Recent UFC Fight Night preliminary bouts, though seemingly minor, have led to a reshuffling in ESPN's latest divisional rankings, particularly in the women's bantamweight and heavyweight categories.
This past weekend, Jacqueline Cavalcanti secured a unanimous decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva. While Cavalcanti remains at No. 9, Silva drops one spot below her. However, the most significant movement in the 135-pound division comes from the return of Norma Dumont. After a period of inactivity that saw her drop from the rankings, Dumont's split decision win over Ketlen Vieira on November 1st has propelled her back into the top 10 at No. 3, one spot ahead of Vieira.
Elsewhere, the heavyweight division also saw a minor but impactful change, with Waldo Cortes-Acosta moving up one spot to No. 7 following his November 1st knockout of Ante Delija. These ranking updates reflect the dynamic nature of the sport, with recent results and fighter activity continually shaping the competitive landscape.