HEAVYWEIGHT 206-265
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Cain Velasquez 7.662 7.662
2 Alistair Overeem 6.785 6.785
3 Junior dos Santos 6.332 6.332
4 Antonio Silva 6.234 6.234
5 Brock Lesnar 6.205 7.205
6 Josh Barnett 6.182 6.421
7 Fabricio Werdum 5.785 6.335
8 Frank Mir 5.586 5.919
9 Shane Carwin 5.332 6.291
10 Mike Russow 5.315 5.315
Big boys Cheick Kongo (#17) and Matt Mitrione (#19) will swing for the fences at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, NV.
LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT 186-205
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Jon Jones 7.199 7.199
2 Dan Henderson 6.767 6.767
3 Rashad Evans 6.499 6.596
4 Lyoto Machida 6.326 7.159
5 Quinton Jackson 6.08 6.27
6 Alexander Gustafsson 5.789 5.789
7 Mauricio Rua 5.699 6.928
8 Forrest Griffin 5.655 6.117
9 Vladimir Matyushenko 5.247 5.247
10 Muhammed Lawal 5.113 6.113
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones (#1) will put his title on the line against Rampage Jackson (#5) at UFC 135 on Sept. 24 in Denver, CO.
MIDDLEWEIGHT 171-185
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Anderson Silva 7.445 7.445
2 Yushin Okami 6.107 6.107
3 Mark Munoz 6.016 6.016
4 Ronaldo Souza 5.971 5.971
5 Chael Sonnen 5.945 6.672
6 Vitor Belfort 5.932 6.37
7 Alan Belcher 5.696 5.696
8 Hector Lombard 5.686 5.686
9 Michael Bisping 5.671 5.671
10 Chris Leben 5.478 5.478
Chael Sonnen (#5) returns after a year-long layoff to lock horns with streaking Brian Stann (#11) at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, TX.
WELTERWEIGHT 156-170
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Georges St-Pierre 6.985 6.985
2 Jon Fitch 6.331 6.331
3 BJ Penn 6.331 6.485
4 Nick Diaz 6.291 6.291
5 Carlos Condit 6.178 6.178
6 Jake Shields 5.955 6.482
7 Josh Koscheck 5.916 5.916
8 Brian Ebersole 5.569 5.569
9 Diego Sanchez 5.489 5.489
10 Tyron Woodley 5.182 5.182
Tyron Woodley (#10) and Brian Ebersole (#8) crack the top 10 for the first time with victories over Dennis Hallman (#34) and Paul Daley (#31).
LIGHTWEIGHT 146-155
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Gilbert Melendez 6.374 6.374
2 Gray Maynard 6.132 6.132
3 Frankie Edgar 6.132 6.462
4 Clay Guida 5.985 5.985
5 Shinya Aoki 5.868 5.937
6 Benson Henderson 5.828 5.828
7 Dennis Siver 5.72 5.72
8 Melvin Guillard 5.702 5.702
9 Donald Cerrone 5.294 5.294
10 Tatsuya Kawajiri 5.206 5.214
Melvin Guillard (#8) will go for his sixth win in a row when he tangles with Joe Lauzon (#23) at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, TX.
FEATHERWEIGHT 136-145
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Jose Aldo 5.617 5.617
2 Joe Warren 5.492 5.492
3 Chad Mendes 5.243 5.243
4 Kenny Florian 4.928 5.83
5 Patricio Freire 4.923 4.923
6 Hatsu Hioki 4.764 4.764
7 Mark Hominick 4.324 4.324
8 Erik Koch 4.299 4.299
9 Bibiano Fernandes 4.275 5.166
10 Hiroyuki Takaya 4.275 5.275
Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (#2) makes his drop to bantamweight to take on Alexis Vila at Bellator 51 on Sept. 24.
BANTAMWEIGHT 126-135
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Dominick Cruz 5.48 5.48
2 Joseph Benavidez 5.015 5.015
3 Demetrious Johnson 4.872 4.872
4 Urijah Faber 4.48 4.828
5 Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado 4.369 4.369
6 Brian Bowles 4.334 5.334
7 Scott Jorgensen 4.131 4.177
8 Zach Makovsky 4.019 4.019
9 Miguel Torres 3.872 4.749
10 Eddie Wineland 3.828 4.117
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz (#1) will defend his title against Demetrious Johnson (#3) at UFC Live on Oct. 1 in Washington D.C.
READERS’ CHOICE POUND FOR POUND
RANK FIGHTER
1 Anderson Silva
2 Georges StPierre
3 Jose Aldo
4 Jon Jones
5 Cain Velasquez
6 Frankie Edgar
7 Dominick Cruz
8 Junior dos Santos
9 BJ Penn
10 Gilbert Melendez
Two lightweights made the readers’ cut this month: Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez (#10) and UFC Champion Frankie Edgar (#6).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does there seem to be an emphasis on the heavier weight classes?
Heavier weight classes have higher point totals for two main reasons; 1) The heavier weight class fighters dominated early MMA bouts due to open weight classes and the grand prix formats. 2) Fighters earn point premiums when fights end through stoppage (TKO, KO, or Submission). Heavier weight class fights generally do not “go the distance” as often as lighter weight classes. Furthermore, the lightest weight classes (Feather, Bantam, etc.) aren’t as established and do not have the history of the heavier weight classes. For example, just because Urijah Faber does not have the same point total as a Fedor Emelianenko or an Anderson Silva, it does not mean he is any less dominant in his weight class.
How long before an inactive fighter is dropped from the rankings?
If a fighter goes 18 months without a qualifying fight, he will be dropped from the rankings.
How does FIGHT! determine which fights qualify for the rankings?
At its sole discretion, FIGHT! qualifies fights from national and international organizations that are deemed to have both the incentive and reputation for signing top level fighters to their fight cards.
What other qualifications are there for a fighter to be ranked?
A fighter must have at least three qualifying fights to be ranked. Furthermore, if a fighter is suspended from fighting, he will be ineligible for ranking until re-instated. A fighter is ranked in a particular weight class once he has had either three qualifying fights or it has been determined that he has made a move to that weight class.
What if I disagree with the rankings?
Feel free to debate our rankings on our forum and vote on our reader ranked “pound for pound” at www.fightmagazine.com.
FOR COMPLETE AND UP-TO-DATE RANKINGS, VISIT WWW.FIGHTMAGAZINE.COM
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