While the middleweight title did not change hands at UFC 271, the co-main event produced a major move in this week’s rankings update.
Tai Tuivasa (15-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) shocked the Houston crowd by sending Derrick Lewis (26-8 MMA in 17-7 UFC) crashing to the canvas after putting the finishing touch on their wild slugfest with a hard right elbow, and naturally, multiple celebratory shoeys followed. The win resulted in a big shift among the heavyweights, launching Tuivasa from No. 10 all the way up to No. 4.
The middleweight division saw plenty of activity at the top. In the main event, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) outpointed former champ Robert Whittaker (23-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC). The championship rematch was a much closer fight than their first meeting. Although Whittaker walked away with his second loss to Adesanya, the former champ felt he had an argument to win on the judges’ scorecards.
