The past weekend delivered a flurry of action across the boxing rings and MMA cages, leading to significant shifts in fighter rankings and setting the stage for exciting matchups in the near future.
Boxing: Foster Dominates, Lara Returns Strong
A busy weekend in boxing shook up the men's rankings. O'Shaquie Foster put on a masterclass performance, pitching a near shutout against former two-division champion Stephen Fulton. The decisive win propelled Foster to the No. 2 spot in the junior lightweight rankings. Originally scheduled as a WBC title defense, the bout became an interim WBC lightweight title fight after Fulton missed weight, positioning Foster to potentially face champion Shakur Stevenson next.
Foster's dominance was evident throughout the 12-round battle, as he effectively utilized his jab to keep Fulton out of range. Following the loss, Fulton has been removed from the featherweight rankings and is currently unranked at lightweight.
Elsewhere, Lamont Roach Jr. and Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz fought to a majority draw, the second for Roach this year. While Roach seemed to pull ahead in the latter half of the competitive fight, two judges scored it a draw, and a third favored Cruz. Both fighters remain outside the top 10 after the result.
Erislandy Lara successfully retained the WBA middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory over late replacement Johan Gonzalez. This win marked his re-entry into the rankings at No. 3 after a period of inactivity. Hot on his heels at No. 4 is Jesus Ramos, who also secured a unanimous decision win against a determined Shane Mosley Jr.
MMA: Kape's Knockout Ascension, Ferreira's Setback
The final UFC event of the year concluded with a spectacular first-round knockout by Manel Kape against former title challenger Brandon Royval. This impressive win has significantly boosted Kape's position in the flyweight rankings, placing him squarely in the championship picture.
In another notable bout, Renan Ferreira suffered a loss to Vadim Nemkov, who ended their PFL Lyon main event in the first round with an arm triangle. This defeat cost Ferreira his PFL heavyweight championship opportunity and his spot in the rankings.
ESPN's pound-for-pound MMA rankings and the list of current UFC champions in all weight classes have been updated to reflect these latest results. To qualify for the rankings, fighters must have competed within the last 12 months or have an upcoming fight booked, with dropped fighters only reinstated after active competition.