Makhachev goes top of UFC pound-for-pound rankings

Islam Makhachev tied Anderson Silva's record for 16 consecutive UFC wins

Islam Makhachev has returned to the top of the UFC's pound-for-pound men's rankings after beating Jack Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title.

Russia's Makhachev dominated on his way to a unanimous decision victory at UFC 322 in New York last week as he became only the 11th two-division champion in the promotion's history.

The 34-year-old has replaced lightweight champion Ilia Topuria - the belt which Makhachev held before vacating it in June - at the top of the rankings.

In the women's pound-for-pound rankings, Kyrgyzstan's Valentina Shevchenko remains top following her flyweight title defence against China's Zhang Weili.

Weili, who vacated her strawweight belt in October to challenge Shevchenko, has fallen to third behind bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

In the welterweight rankings, Britain's former champion Leon Edwards has dropped down five places to ninth after being knocked out by Carlos Prates.

The defeat was Edwards' third in a row and leaves the 34-year-old well outside the top title contenders in the division.

The biggest riser was Ecuador's Michael Morales, who stopped American Sean Brady in the first round to move up to third in the welterweight rankings.

Morales will be keeping an eye on Ireland's Ian Machado Garry, who is sixth, and second-ranked Belal Muhammad, who fight in Qatar on Saturday in a bout which could determine the next title contender for Makhachev.

Pimblett fifth in lightweight rankings

In the lightweight rankings, Britain's Paddy Pimblett has moved up to fifth after Makhachev was removed from the division.

Pimblett, who is on a seven-fight win streak in the UFC, has been calling for a title bout against Topuria but it's unclear which direction the promotion will go in.

Justin Gaethje, who is fourth, is also a contender to face Topuria, but second-ranked Charles Oliveira and third-placed Max Holloway have already been defeated by the champion.

Arman Tsarukyan, who is ranked first, faces sixth-ranked Dan Hooker in Qatar on Saturday in a bout which will likely form a clearer picture of who will be next in line to challenge Topuria.