Jack Della Maddalena comeback lands him in welterweight top 5

Jack Della Maddalena was nearly having his 16-battle series of wins stopped. Down on two of the three scorecards halfway through the last round of his UFC 299 session with Gilbert Consumes last end of the week, Della Maddalena was being controlled on the material by the world class grappler. Regardless of whether he kept away from an accommodation, the Aussie couldn't bear to complete the round on base.

So he found an exit plan from under Consumes, hastened to his feet and, in practically no time, procured a dynamite finish. Della Maddalena handled a knee to the face, thumping Consumes to the material, and completed him with ground-and-pound to keep his run of progress alive.

With the triumph, Della Maddalena enters the most recent Brett Okamoto rankings for ESPN incredibly, hopping as far as possible into the welterweight top five.

That is the most emotional development in these rankings, yet distant from the main waiting impact from UFC 299. Nobody has recently assumed responsibility for a weight class, yet Sean O'Malley cemented his spot as the No. 1 men's bantamweight. Maycee Stylist raised her remaining among the 125-pound ladies.

Among those exiting the rankings are heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Nikita Krylov, both of whom have been inactive for more than a year and are ineligible.

For the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings, click here. For a rundown of current UFC champions in all weight classes, click here.

Note: Results are current; rankings as of Walk 13. To be qualified for the rankings, a warrior probably contended throughout recent months or should have an impending battle booked. Warriors who have been dropped for dormancy can be reestablished solely after they contend.

HEAVYWEIGHT (up to 265 pounds)

1. Tom Aspinall

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Last: W (TKO1) vs. Sergei Pavlovich, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD

2. Sergei Pavlovich  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 3
Record: 18-2
Last: L (TKO1) vs. Tom Aspinall, Nov. 11, 2023
Next: TBD

3. Ciryl Gane  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 4
Record: 12-2
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Serghei Spivac, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD

4. Curtis Blaydes  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 5
Record: 18-4, 1 NC
Last: W (TKO2) vs. Jailton Almeida, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD

5. Alexander Volkov
 
Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 6
Record: 37-10
Last: W (Sub2) vs. Tai Tuivasa, Sept. 9, 2023
Next: TBD

6. Renan Ferreira  

Promotion: PFL champion
Previous ranking: 9
Record: 13-3, 3 NC
Last: W (KO1) vs. Ryan Bader, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD

7. Serghei Spivac  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 10
Record: 16-4
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Ciryl Gane, Sept. 2, 2023
Next: TBD

8. Jailton Almeida  

Promotion: UFC
Record: 20-3
Last: L (TKO2) vs. Curtis Blaydes, March 9, 2024
Next: TBD

9. Vadim Nemkov  

Promotion: Bellator
Previous ranking: 5 at light heavyweight
Record: 18-2, 1 NC
Last: W (TechSub2) vs. Bruno Cappelozza, Feb. 24, 2024
Next: TBD

10. Tai Tuivasa  

Promotion: UFC
Previous ranking: 7
Record: 14-7
Last: L (TechSub1) vs. Marcin Tybura, March 16, 2024
Next: TBD