mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 08.16.16: Pound for Pound
This is quite the group of fighters we consider the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA right now. Atop the list is a guy in Jon Jones who likely will not fight until the calendar reads 2018 while after him are the only two competitors you would definitely consider among the top three at worst: Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz. While neither of those two seem to stir up much excitement the way others do, you cannot take anything away from their statures as so far above the rest of their respective divisions, flyweight and bantamweight respectively.
However, then the rankings get way too murky, more so than usually is expected. Due to a string of losses suffered by Robbie Lawler, Rafael dos Anjos (who fell completely off the list after his loss to Eddie Alvarez), Frankie Edgar, Luke Rockhold and of course, Conor McGregor, there’s no way to get a clear list from 1-to-15.
For example, there was little agreement on where exactly to rank new UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Yet, there was no issue when it came to top featherweight contender Max Holloway, who burst into the top 10 for the first time.
Clearly, it’s tougher now than it’s been in the last 10 years to draw up a list of the best pound-for-pound fighters and have it make sense and be agreeable to more than two people. Is this the new norm?
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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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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
Comment: While Jones failed his pre-fight drug test last month, he has yet to be suspended. In fact, he has not even had a hearing in Nevada regarding his two test failures. However, expectations are for him to eventually receive at least a one-year suspension (and this is not even considering any punishment from USADA). So, in the mean time, he is considered the best fighter in the world.
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3VN21wOq2A
4) “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 – 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
5) Jose Aldo (26-2)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: September 9, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_RKcHCwrs
6) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (14-1)
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
7) Max Holloway (16-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: December 4, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping – June 4, 2016
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanumous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira – August 23, 2015
– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
– vs. Cole Miller – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Daniel Cormier (18-1)
Birthday: March 20, 1979
Height: 5’9
Weight: 239
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes – July 9, 2016
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Frankie Edgar (20-5-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 6 fights:
– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Tyron Woodley (16-4)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: April 17, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015
– vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le – August 23, 2014
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov – June 14, 2014
– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: It was 18 months since we had seen Tyron Woodley fight in the octagon. The long layoff did not negatively impact him at all, apparently, because Woodley knocked out Lawler in 132 seconds. He’s now the man at 170-pounds and a fight with Wonderboy Thompson appears to be the next title fight. Perhaps Georges St. Pierre will be coaxed back into action, though if it has not happened already, why now all of a sudden?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19eultjIwAQ
11) T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: February 7, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: T.J. avenged one of his three professional losses at UFC 200 with his decision victory over Raphael Assuncao. It, too, was not a close fight as Dillashaw’s movement and bursts of offense kept the Brazilian in check.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL-Gc9cuX_s
12) 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:
– vs. Dan Henderson – UFC – Fall 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFW5Dob3G8
13) 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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydjUB_x0GRk
14) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (27-11, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 20, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Eddie Alvarez (28-4)
Birthday: November 11, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 7, 2016
– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Gilbert Melendez – Win via decision (split) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 178: Alvarez vs. Cerrone – September 27, 2014
– vs. Michael Chandler – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 106 – November 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Closing Comments: Khabib Nurmagomedov received additional votes.
