Despite losing their last fights, Adesanya and Usman are still among the best in the world.
The latest Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pound-for-pound list has been released.
UFC media partner ESPN, released the new pound-for-pound list on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
The release of the pound-for-pound list comes after UFC 284 involving Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
Makhachev and Volkanovski were ranked the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC.
Volkanovski the reigning UFC featherweight title holder decided to move up and take on Makhachev the lightweight king in a bid to become a double champion.
After five rounds of action at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, Makhachev recorded a unanimous decision victory against Volkanovski.
Following the battle between Makhachev and Volkanovski, the new pound-for-pound rankings were released.
Despite the defeat, Volkanovski retains his number spot in the UFC. There is however an improvement for Makhachev who was ranked second before the fight.
Following his victory, Makhachev now ties Volkanovski for the number spot as his stock continues to rise following the footsteps of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Adesanya and Usman ranked in the pound-for-pound list
Two fighters of Nigerian descent Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman were also included in the top ten of the latest pound-for-pound rankings.
Nigerian and American professional MMA star Kamarudeen Usman was ranked third on the pound-for-pound rankings behind Makhachev and Volkanovski.
New Zealand MMA star Israel Adesanya was ranked fourth on the list behind Usman, the lightweight and featherweight champions.
The high ranking for Usman comes despite losing the UFC welterweight title to a Leon Edwards overhead knockout kick last year.
Adesanya at four also despite losing the UFC middleweight title to Alexsandro Pereira also late last year.
Usman returns in a trilogy fight against Edwards at the 02 Arean in London on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Adesanya on the other hand has a chance at revenge against Pererira in Miami on Sunday, April 9, 2023.