Colby Covington is back in a place that should feel familiar to him: near the top of the welterweight rankings.
The two-time challenger for the UFC belt spent many months at No. 2 in ESPN’s 170-pound rankings, but he slipped a couple of spots after losing twice to champion Kamaru Usman.
But after a dominant decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 on March 5, Covington is back in the second spot, right behind Usman.
Also making a small climb is another superb wrestler, lightweight Islam Makhachev. He made quick work of late replacement Bobby Green on Feb. 26 for his 10th consecutive victory.
Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi moves up a spot at middleweight on the strength of his Feb. 25 knockout of challenger Austin Vanderford. And a couple of fighters — lightweight Arman Tsarukyan and strawweight Amanda Lemos — make their debuts in the ESPN rankings.
For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA…
