mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 03.22.16: Pound for Pound
Allow me to take this opportunity to avoid writing about the Conor McGregors and Dominick Cruzs and Chris Weidmans for a week. This week and as early as today, New York State may finally take that historic step and vote to legalize mixed martial arts. Dirty state politics played the biggest part in maintaining the 1997 ban that outlawed the sport until 2016, in large part because fresh blood stepped into power after a particular crooked politician was convicted and sent to prison.
If the vote does actually come to fruition, the bill would move on to New York’s governor where he would be able to sign it into law later this year. All this would kickstart the establishment of a regulatory body (almost certainly moving it under the watchful eye of the New York State Athletic Commission) and after a set time period to get those affairs in order, promotions big and small will flock to the Empire State. The UFC and Madison Square Garden have been begging over the years for the opportunity to host one of their cards in the World’s Most Famous Arena and that would almost certainly happen before the end of the year.
Of the best pound for pound fighters in the world today, Jon Jones and Chris Weidman would be able to fight professionally for the first time in their home state. Frankie Edgar, a New Jersey native, would be able to return more than a decade since he made his pro debut in a 2005 Bronx underground bout.
2016 is not even four months old and yet we’ve seen Dominick Cruz win back his championship, Conor McGregor lose for the first time in the UFC and Michael Bisping beat Anderson Silva. Add New York to the mix and the year has been a welcome shot to the arm of MMA.
http://www.twitter.com/411mania
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma
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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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 197: Jones vs. Cormier 2 – April 23, 2016
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:
– vs. Urijah Faber – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 – June 4, 2016
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:
– vs. Henry Cejudo – UFC 197: Jones vs. Cormier 2 – April 23, 2016
4) 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:
– Unknown
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:
– Unknown
Comment:
6) 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:
– vs. Chris Weidman – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 – June 4, 2016
Comment:
7) “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:
– 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:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
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:
– vs. Luke Rockhold – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 – June 4, 2016
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 197: Jones vs. Cormier 2 – April 23, 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:
– Unknown
Comment: Dillashaw was livid when he discovered Urijah Faber would get the first crack at new bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. He says he’ll be ready should either man pull out of the planned June fight at UFC 199, but in the mean time, it looks like he’ll get the winner. Whether or not T.J. agrees to a fight in the interim will be an interesting story to follow.
14) Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: November 16, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
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:
– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Bellator 153 – April 22, 2016
Comment: In an interesting twist, I believe Henderson becomes the first Bellator fighter to appear on the 411 MMA Rankings Pound for Pound list since Pat Curran in 2013. Of course, Henderson has yet to compete in the Bellator cage as he’ll debut as the number one contender against welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov.
15) Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (21-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: March 6, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ryan Bader – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FOX: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015
– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 26, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Closing Comments: Rory MacDonald and Stipe Miocic received additional votes.
