Bellator rankings: Mix breaks into pound-for-pound list, McMann makes immediate impact

Patchy Mix’s stunning knockout of Raufeon Stots received additional recognition when he was added to the promotion’s official pound-for-pound top 10.

In the latest update to the official Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings, Mix has broken into the pound-for-pound list, at number nine, while in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings, former flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane also received a boost as she moved up to number five in the P4P list, while also being elevated to number two in the women’s flyweight list.

There’s a new contender in the women’s featherweight division, with the addition of former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Sara McMann to the women’s 145-pound rankings.

Former Olympic medalist McMann made a winning start to life under the Bellator banner with a unanimous decision win over three-time title challenger Arlene Blencowe.

Fighting for the first time in more than a year, McMann showed that she hadn’t missed a beat as she dominated Blencowe over three rounds to earn scores of 29-27, 30-27, 30-26. As a result, the 42-year-old was immediately added to the women’s featherweight rankings, at number two.

The weekend’s other big mover was rising women’s flyweight contender Sumiko Inaba, who vaulted four places, from ninth to fifth in the women’s 125-pound rankings after her impressive win over Veta Arteaga at Bellator 295.

“Lady Samurai” is one of the most exciting contenders in the 125-pound class, and the 6-0 Hawaiian showed up and showed out on home soil at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena to surge up the rankings and make major strides towards title contention.