MMA Rankings: Kape Cracks Top Five at Flyweight After UFC 327

Manel Kape broke into the top five of the flyweight division after his knockout victory at UFC 327 earlier this month.

The Angolan striker, who stopped Steve Erceg in the second round, leapfrogged several contenders to claim a spot among the elite 125-pounders, according to ESPN's latest cross-promotional rankings. Kape's finish marked his third straight win and positioned him as a potential challenger for the winner of the next title fight.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan on Ticketmaster →

Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight See Minor Movement

At heavyweight, rankings stayed largely static despite recent activity, with Francis Ngannou remaining the top-ranked fighter outside the UFC. The light heavyweight class saw Carlos Ulberg enter the conversation after capturing UFC gold, though the divisional pecking order beyond the championship picture held firm.

ESPN's rankings cover fighters across the UFC, PFL, and other major promotions, weighing recent results against strength of schedule and quality of opposition. The next batch of rankings updates will follow UFC 328 in early March.

Reported via:

• ESPN MMA — MMA divisional rankings: Kape punches his ticket t...