mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 11.24.15: Pound for Pound
Ten of the 15 ranked fighters in this month’s 411 MMA Pound for Pound Rankings will compete in December or January. Upsets are bound to happen, right? Maybe it’s just the aftermath of Holly Holm’s upset win over Ronda Rousey from earlier this month. Are fighters like Jose Aldo (who has not fought since last October) or Dominick Cruz (last September) bound to lose for the first time in several years? That would mean Conor McGregor and T.J. Dillashaw, respectively, would become the undisputed kings of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
There is also Chris Weidman, a clean middleweight champion in a division that has been clouded over the years by failed drug tests from Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. His opponent at UFC 194 in about three weeks is Luke Rockhold, not an understated man (he has talked lots of trash over the years), but is he capable of being the man to finally hand Weidman his first defeat? Meanwhile, “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone will FINALLY have his first shot at a UFC championship when he has his rematch with Rafael dos Anjos on Fox next month.
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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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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: Jon Jones has officially been reinstated by the UFC and if his social media is to be believed, it sounds like April 2016 is when his return to the octagon may be. The most controversial champion in recent memory, Jones was stripped of the light heavyweight title earlier this year when he was involved in a hit-and-run incident (this was about five months after he tested positive for cocaine, it turned out). Now, looking towards the future, Jones appears to be in the best physical shape of his life. He posted pictures of his new physique he worked on by powerlifting and if you didn’t know better, you could safely assume he had no body fat anymore.
2) Jose Aldo (25-1)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: September 9, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes – January 14, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
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: Is there any 125-pound fighter in the world who can stop Demetrious Johnson? Since dropping down to 125 in 2012, he is unbeaten and his championship defenses are not even close contests. His next challenger appears likely to be former U.S. Olympic wrestler Henry Cejudo, who improved to 10-0 Saturday with a win over Jussier da Silva.
4) Chris Weidman (13-0)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Mark Munoz – Win via KO (elbow and punches) – UFC on Fuel: Munoz vs. Weidman – July 11, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Luke Rockhold – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
5) Rafael dos Anjos (23-7)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 26, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC on FOX – December 19, 2015
6) T.J. Dillashaw (12-2)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: February 7, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Renan Barao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FOX – 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
– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Loss via decision (spit) – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields – October 9, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Dominick Cruz – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
Comment:
7) 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. Cain Velasquez – TBA – TBA
Comment: Disappointingly, the UFC has released the fact that Werdum’s first title defense will be an immediate rematch against Cain Velasquez.
8) Dominick Cruz (20-1)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: September 3, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Joseph Benavidez – Win via decision (split) – WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 – August 18, 2010
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
9) 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
Comment: Cormier defended the UFC light heavyweight title for the first time in October when he bested Alexander Gustafsson in a five-round war. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to start a long training camp (after Thanksgiving, of course) wit the sole purpose to stop Jon Jones in the spring. It may not be a prolonged camp for that purpose just yet, but I don’t see how he spends every day in the gym without focusing on ways to beat the most dominant fighter of this generation.
10) Frankie Edgar (19-4-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 6 fights:
– 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
– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar – February 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chad Mendes – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
11) Luke Rockhold (13-2)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: October 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold – May 18, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chris Weidman – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
12) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (26-10, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 20, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Carlos Condit – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
13) “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (18-3)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: January 27, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos – March 14, 2015
– vs. Gilbert Melendez – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 – December 6, 2014
– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (liver kick) – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson – January 26, 2013
– vs. Joe Lauzon – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson – February 25, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Eddie Alvarez – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
14) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (18-2)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: July 14, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Max Holloway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen – August 17, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jose Aldo – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
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- TBA – UFC
Closing Comments: Benson Henderson received additional votes.
