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411 MMA Rankings 01.26.16: Pound for Pound
It’s not often that MMA’s best pound-for-pound fighters have such a dramatic series of changes as we have seen over the past twelve weeks. Previously unbeaten champions, a fighter who had dominated opponents for about a decade and the return of another have made for a unique list this month. Consider that in a few days, Anderson Silva’s suspension from January 31, 2015 will have expired and he will be eligible to return and perhaps in a few months time, Georges St. Pierre self-imposed “sabbatical” may end, and who the hell knows how much more crazy this grouping will look by the summer.
As for right now, the only commonalities compared to years back are Jon Jones and Dominick Cruz. Both are back in action after very different circumstances forced them to miss most of or all of 2015. But, they’re back (Jones should return to the cage in the spring) and are atop this edition of the 411 MMA Rankings. Then, it’s all up in the air. How exactly can you decisively rank such impressive champs like Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Conor McGregor, Luke Rockhold and Fabricio Werdum?
Amazingly, such a question should be answered in some way in March when RDA and McGregor clash over the UFC lightweight championship. Meanwhile, Frankie Edgar has already said he’s up to challenge McGregor for the lightweight title AND THEN the UFC featherweight crown in separate fights by the end of 2015.
On Sunday, we found out Cain Velasquez is injured and has pulled out of his title rematch with champion Werdum set for a couple of weeks from now. Instead, Stipe Miocic gets the opportunity he’s been clamoring for.*
An interesting story to look at in 2016 is how past champions rebound. Ronda Rousey, Jose Aldo, Chris Weidman and T.J. Dillashaw have each lost their respective UFC titles since November, and all (except Dillashaw if he ends up getting an immediate rematch with Cruz) should be favored when they step back inside the octagon. The thought of any of the former three losing consecutive fights is mind boggling to me but at this rate, you have to assume one will fall again.
* As of late Monday, Fabricio Werdum was also removed from next month’s show due to injury. Stipe Miocic may end up headlining UFC 196 but any potential opponent has not been announced.
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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:
– Unknown
2) Dominick Cruz (21-1)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: September 3, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Scott Jorgensen – Win via decision (unanimous) – WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis – December 16, 2010
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment:
3) Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (23-2-1)
Height: 5’3
Birthday: August 13, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Joseph Benavidez – Win via KO (punch) – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 – December 14, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Johnson is expecting a return in the spring against undefeated former Olympian Henry Cejudo.
4) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (19-2)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: July 14, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Diego Brandao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao – July 19, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment:
5) Rafael dos Anjos (24-7)
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. Khabib Nurmagomedov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 197: dos Anjos vs. McGregor – March 5, 2016
Comment: RDA will be defending his lightweight title against the reigning UFC featherweight champion, Conor McGregor. It’ll be one of the biggest fights of the year and RDA may be able to bounce to the top of this list if he can win.
6) “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:
– Unknown
Comment:
7) Luke Rockhold (14-2)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: October 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Costa Philippou – Win via KO (body kick) – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou – January 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment:
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:
– Unknown
Comment:
9) Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1)
Birthday: July 30, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 wins:
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on Fuel: Werdum vs. Nogueira – June 8, 2013
– vs. Mike Russow – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin 2 – June 23, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: News broke yesterday that after Cain Velasquez withdrew from UFC 196, so did Fabricio Werdum. The reigning UFC heavyweight champion is dealing with a back injury that is preventing him from training.
10) 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:
– Unknown
11) 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
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:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG-4dxe9RnU
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:
– Unknown
14) Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: November 16, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015
– vs. Brandon Thatch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2015
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver – January 18, 2015
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos – August 23, 2014
– vs. Rustam Khabilov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov – June 7, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Cain Velasquez (13-2)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: July 28, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes)- UFC 166: Velasquez vs. dos Santos 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 160: JDS vs. Velasquez 2 – May 25, 2013
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 – December 29, 2012
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir – May 26, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – UFC 196: Werdum vs. Velasquez 2 – February 6, 2016
Closing Comments: Anderson Silva received support however his year-long suspension ends on January 31st.
