Post-UFC Vegas 93 rankings update: Withdrawal costs Khamzat Chimaev top-10 spot, Tatsuro Taira gets massive jump

UFC Vegas 93 delivered a new chapter in the flyweight division as Tatsuro Taira dominated Alex Perez via TKO stoppage in the second round.

This victory not only extended Taira's undefeated streak but also propelled him a staggering eight spots to the No. 5 ranking in the UFC's official flyweight rankings. Conversely, Perez dropped two spots to No. 7 after the unfortunate injury that halted the fight. MMA Journalist John Morgan revealed the updated rankings on his social media platform.

While Taira's rise is a major talking point, Khamzat Chimaev's absence from UFC Saudi Arabia due to illness has resulted in a minor setback for the undefeated fighter. Chimaev was originally slated to headline the event against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker but was forced to withdraw at the last minute. This inactivity has pushed him down one spot to No. 11 in the middleweight rankings.

Chimaev's drop reflects a decline in activity, with only four fights since 2021. The UFC is yet to disclose the exact nature of his illness.

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Dana White shrugs as illness continues to derail Khamzat Chimaev's rise

UFC CEO Dana White admitted to being completely in the dark regarding the ongoing health issues plaguing undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev.

Appearing in a recent interview on The Jim Rome Show, White confessed, saying:

“The problem is we really don’t know [what’s wrong]... Every time this guy gets close to a fight, I saw video footage of him on the ground violently ill. He was hospitalized again. He hadn’t trained for three or four days or five days, I don’t know exactly what the number was but we could not put him into a fight next weekend.”

Check out Dana White's comment on Khamzat Chimaev in the clip below:

This isn't the first time Chimaev's health has derailed his career. The 30-year-old previously battled long-term effects from COVID-19, even contemplating retirement at one point. While he eventually recovered, his inactivity has significantly stalled the momentum he built up, particularly after his permanent move to middleweight.

Chimaev's last fight, a hard-fought victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, took place in November 2023. This latest setback leaves a giant question mark over his future, with no clear indication of when he might return.