Which Ranked Fighters Are Competing This Weekend? UFC Fight Night 157 Rankings Tracker

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to Shenzhen, China, for the first time as UFC Fight Night 157 takes place this Saturday. A number of ranked fighters are competing in the event, so let’s take a look at them and the possible implications their fights could have on the rankings.

In the main event, Jessica Andrade defends her women’s strawweight title for the first time against China’s own Weili Zhang. Andrade (20-6) won the strap after defeating Rose Namajunas with a brutal slam knockout at UFC 237 earlier this year. That victory put her on a four-fight win streak while she has also emerged triumphant in seven of her last eight outings. Some of her notable victims include the likes of former title challengers Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Claudia Gadelha.

As a result, “Bate Estaca” is not only rated as the best strawweight in the world but also as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters. Sherdog rates her as the third-best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world while ESPN have her at fourth. In the overall UFC pound-for-pound ranks, she is currently placed No. 15. Considering this is her first title defense, Andrade might need a few more wins if she is to climb up the pound-for-pound ranks further.

Meanwhile, Zhang (19-1) has the opportunity to not only become the first Chinese UFC champion but to do it on home soil. Since suffering a decision defeat in her pro debut back in 2013, “Magnum” has gone on a 19-fight win streak with 16 of those impressively coming by way of a finish. In the UFC, she is currently 3-0 with notable victories over the likes of Jessica Aguilar and Tecia Torres.

Some may have been surprised that she was given the next title shot, but she is certainly among the best in her division. Sherdog and ESPN rate her as the seventh-best 115er in the world, while she is also No. 6 in the UFC strawweight rankings. A win over Andrade would likely see the 30-year-old enter the pound-for-pound ranks as well.

In the co-main event, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos meets China’s Jingliang Li in a welterweight contest. Dos Santos (21-5) has been on a tear recently with a current seven-fight winning streak. He most recently submitted welterweight prospect Curtis Millender earlier this year. With only Leon Edwards and current champion Kamaru Usman having a longer win streak in the division, the Brazilian will look to climb the rankings further and enter title contention. “Capoeira” is currently No. 14 in the UFC rankings and an eighth consecutive win could see him do just that.

Li (16-5) will be looking to prevent that, however, as he seeks a third consecutive victory. “The Leech” most recently knocked out David Zawada and has won six of his last seven outings. A win over dos Santos would undoubtedly be the biggest of his career. It would also see the China Top Team representative potentially enter the Top 15 of the rankings for the first time.

Lastly, ranked flyweights are in action as Kai Kara-France collides with Mark De La Rosa. Kara-France (19-7, 1 NC) is unbeaten in his last seven outings and is 2-0 in UFC competition with decision victories over Elias Garcia and Raulian Paiva. He is currently No. 10 in the UFC flyweight rankings and a third win under the promotion’s banner could see him move up further.

As for De La Rosa (11-2), he is coming off a decision defeat to Alex Perez earlier this year. In total, he is 2-2 with the UFC and will be hoping to return to the win column. “Bumblebee” is currently No. 14 in the flyweight rankings, but a win over Kara-France could see him overtake his New Zealand foe.