Published On: Tue, Mar 17th, 2026

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 16: Kevin Vallejos arrives

UFC Fight Night 269 was an all-action event filled with thrilling moments, causing names to shift around in several divisions.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 269, Kevin Vallejos entered his first main event in the promotion, taking on Josh Emmett. Vallejos proved why he's one of the most discussed rising stars on the roster, as he made quick work of Emmett, finishing the fight in just 3:33. In this week's featherweight rankings update, Vallejos jumps from the honorable mentions into the No. 11 spot, trading places with Emmett.

The co-feature saw strawweight contender Gillian Robertson pick up a key win over Amanda Lemos. Coming into the week as No. 11 at 115 pounds, Robertson lands at No. 7, sending Lemos tumbling from No. 6 to No. 10.

Check out all of the moves in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie rankings, March 16: Vallejos, Robertson make big moves


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