mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 06.28.16: Pound for Pound

June 28, 2016 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

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411’s MMA Ranking Rules

– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They must meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days or if they have not, be officially scheduled for an upcoming fight.

– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.

– If a fighter appears on just one single ballot, and in the top ten, five points will be deducted to balance between other fighters who may be ranked lower, but appear on a greater amount of ballots.

– Want to complain about a fighter’s ranking in the comments section? Please include an objective reason why you despise the list, and try your best to bring the rest of us to your way of thinking.

411’s MMA Rankings

Pound For Pound


1) Jon “Bones” Jones (21-1)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 19, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier – January 3, 2015

– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira – April 26, 2014

– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson – September 21, 2013

– vs. Chael Sonnen – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen – April 27, 2013

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via submission (americana) – UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort – September 22, 2012

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Daniel Cormier – UFC 200: Jones vs. Cormier 2 – July 9, 2016



2) Dominick Cruz (22-1)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: September 3, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016

– vs. Takeya Mizugaki – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 178: Alvarez vs. Cerrone – September 27, 2014

– vs. Demetrious Johnson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Versus: Cruz vs. Faber – October 1, 2011

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber – July 2, 2011

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (24-2-1)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: August 13, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Henry Cejudo – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 – September 5, 2015

– vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi – April 25, 2015

– vs. Chris Cariaso – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC 178: Johnson vs. Cariaso – September 27, 2014

– vs. Ali Bagautinov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov – June 14, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Rafael dos Anjos (25-7)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: October 26, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 – December 19, 2015

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos – March 14, 2015

– vs. Nate Diaz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014

– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos – August 23, 2014

– vs. Jason High – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 7, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Eddie Alvarez – UFC Fight Night – July 7, 2016

Comment: dos Anjos will look to increase his career-best UFC win streak to six fights next week when he defends the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez. We have seen the Brazilian dominate Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, who are each considered some of the best fighters at 155-pounds. Up next is Eddie Alvarez, former Bellator champion who has beaten Gilbert Melendez and Pettis to earn this fight.



5) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (27-10, 1 NC)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: March 20, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via decision (split) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via decision (split) – UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 – December 6, 2014

– vs. Matt Brown – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown – July 26, 2014

– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw – May 24, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Tyron Woodley – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016



6) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (19-3)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: July 14, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nate Diaz – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz – March 5, 2016

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015

– vs. Dennis Siver – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver – January 18, 2015

– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Nate Diaz – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016



7) Jose Aldo (25-2)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: September 9, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Conor McGregor – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 – October 25, 2014

– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber 2 – February 1, 2014

– vs. Chan Sung Jung – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie – August 3, 2013

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar – February 2, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Frankie Edgar – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

Comment: One of the most intriguing storylines of UFC 200 is concerning the return of Jose Aldo following his incredible first round knockout loss in December. Will he show any signs that suggest his prime is officially over or was it just a single bad night more than six months ago?



8) Frankie Edgar (20-4-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: October 16, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 6 fights:

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via KO (punches) – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber – May 16, 2015

– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (neck crank) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014

– vs. B.J. Penn – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – July 6, 2014

– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Jose Aldo – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

Comment: If Edgar is ever to win another UFC title, he will have to beat Jose Aldo at UFC 200. While Edgar is a far cry from Urijah Faber’s stature as a fighter in a rut where he can beat everyone except the champion, Frankie will look to pounce on Aldo’s newfound status as the #2 featherweight in the world.



9) Michael Bisping (28-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: February 28, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites – July 18, 2015

– vs. C.B. Dollaway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 186 – April 25, 2015

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold – November 8, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Bisping kicks off consecutive spots that feature brand new UFC champions. In his case, the new middleweight champ scored the upset by knocking out Luke Rockhold and is a storybook fighter who has accomplished his dream after more than a decade in the sport.



10) Stipe Miocic (15-2)

Birthday: August 19, 1982

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic – May 10, 2015

– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014

– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Brazil 3 Finale – May 31, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: The new UFC heavyweight champion makes his P4P rankings debut in the 10-spot, a typical place for the revolving door that is the heavyweight champion. The title has not been successfully defended since 2013 (when Cain beat JDS), but perhaps Stipe can bring a steadiness to the division it has not had since Cain Velasquez’s second reign.



11) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (13-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: February 11, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016

– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via KO (spinning hook kick) – UFC TUF 21 Finale – July 12, 2015

– vs. Patrick Cote – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 170 – February 22, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: While Thompson will have to wait to see Lawler defend the UFC welterweight title against Tyron Woodley this summer, he’s a surefire bet to fight the winner in the fall.



12) Daniel Cormier (17-1)

Birthday: March 20, 1979

Height: 5’9

Weight: 239

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015

– vs. Anthony Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015

– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier – January 3, 2015

– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw – May 24, 2014

– vs. Patrick Cummins – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann – February 22, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Jon Jones – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016



13) T.J. Dillashaw (12-3)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: February 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dominick Cruz – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016

– vs. Renan Barao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 – July 25, 2015

– vs. Joe Soto – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto – August 30, 2014

– vs. Renan Barao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw – May 24, 2014

– vs. Mike Easton – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou – January 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Raphael Assuncao – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

Comment: T.J. will get an opportunity in a couple weeks to avenge one of his three defeats when he returns against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 200.



14) Luke Rockhold (14-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: October 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015

– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold – November 8, 2014

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (inverted triangle-kimura) – UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira – April 26, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Rockhold loses for the first time since he was knocked out by Vitor Belfort in 2013 and drops to the bottom of the Top 15 as a result.



15) Chris Weidman (13-1)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida – July 5, 2014

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Closing Comments: Max Holloway received additional votes.