MMA divisional rankings: Ngannou moves back in and...

Francis Ngannou marked his return to MMA competition with devastating effect at MVP MMA 1 on Saturday, knocking out Philipe Lins in the first round. The resurgence earned Ngannou a spot back near the top of ESPN's heavyweight rankings at number two, behind only UFC champion Tom Aspinall. Ngannou had fallen out of the rankings during an extended period of inactivity spanning over a year, but his first-round finish demonstrated that his finishing prowess remained intact. The 39-year-old's future activity level remains uncertain given his recent signing with Jake Paul's MVP promotion, though his immediate return to elite-level ranking status underscores his status as a heavyweight title contender.