HEAVYWEIGHT 206-265
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Cain Velasquez 7.662 7.662
2 Alistair Overeem 6.785 6.785
3 Josh Barnett 6.438 6.438
4 Junior dos Santos 6.332 6.332
5 Brock Lesnar 6.205 7.205
6 Fabricio Werdum 5.785 6.335
7 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 5.763 6.875
8 Frank Mir 5.586 5.919
9 Shane Carwin 5.332 6.291
10 Daniel Cormier 5.329 5.329
BJJ black belts Frank Mir (#8) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (#7) with tangle with each other at UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto, Ontario.
LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT 186-205
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Jon Jones 7.389 7.389
2 Dan Henderson 6.767 6.767
3 Rashad Evans 6.499 6.596
4 Mauricio Rua 6.427 6.928
5 Lyoto Machida 6.326 7.159
6 Quinton Jackson 5.889 6.27
7 Alexander Gustafsson 5.789 5.789
8 Muhammed Lawal 5.681 6.113
9 Vladimir Matyushenko 5.247 5.247
10 Phil Davis 5.086 5.086
After more than two years fighting in Strikeforce, Dan Henderson (#2) returns to the UFC to lock horns with Mauricio Rua (#4) at UFC 139 in San Jose, CA, on Nov. 19.
MIDDLEWEIGHT 171-185
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Anderson Silva 7.526 7.526
2 Chael Sonnen 6.413 6.672
3 Yushin Okami 6.026 6.107
4 Mark Munoz 6.016 6.016
5 Vitor Belfort 5.932 6.37
6 Alan Belcher 5.696 5.696
7 Hector Lombard 5.686 5.686
8 Michael Bisping 5.671 5.671
9 Chris Leben 5.478 5.478
10 Siyar Bahadurzada 5.206 5.206
TUF coaches Jason Miller (#22) and Michael Bisping (#8) will settle their differences in the Octagon on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas.
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 Josh Koscheck 6.285 6.285
6 Carlos Condit 6.178 6.178
7 Jake Ellenberger 5.725 5.725
8 Brian Ebersole 5.569 5.569
9 Diego Sanchez 5.489 5.489
10 Anthony Johnson 5.248 5.248
Anthony Johnson (#10) cracks the top-10 list after a firstround TKO of Charlie Brenneman (#43) in October.
LIGHTWEIGHT 146-155
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Frankie Edgar 6.882 6.882
2 Gilbert Melendez 6.374 6.374
3 Clay Guida 5.985 5.985
4 Shinya Aoki 5.868 5.937
5 Benson Henderson 5.828 5.828
6 Dennis Siver 5.72 5.72
7 Joe Lauzon 5.449 5.449
8 Gray Maynard 5.382 6.132
9 Donald Cerrone 5.294 5.294
10 Tatsuya Kawajiri 5.246 5.246
After a fourth-round TKO of Gray Maynard (#8) at UFC 136, Frankie Edgar (#1) overtakes the top spot from Gilbert Melendez (#2).
FEATHERWEIGHT 136-145
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Jose Aldo 5.772 5.772
2 Chad Mendes 5.243 5.243
3 Patricio Freire 4.923 4.923
4 Kenny Florian 4.772 5.83
5 Hatsu Hioki 4.764 4.764
6 Joe Warren 4.492 5.492
7 Hiroyuki Takaya 4.386 5.275
8 Erik Koch 4.368 4.368
9 Mark Hominick 4.324 4.324
10 Bibiano Fernandes 4.275 5.166
Mark Hominick (#9) will try to bury “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (#48) at UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto, Ontario.
BANTAMWEIGHT 126-135
RANK FIGHTER PTS HIGH
1 Dominick Cruz 5.676 5.676
2 Joseph Benavidez 5.015 5.015
3 Demetrious Johnson 4.676 4.872
4 Urijah Faber 4.48 4.828
5 Renan do Nascimento Mota 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
Miguel Torres (#9) is back in action against Nick Pace (#37) at UFC 139 on Nov. 19 in San Jose, CA.
READERS’ CHOICE POUND FOR POUND
RANK FIGHTER
1 Anderson Silva
2 Georges StPierre
3 Jon Jones
4 Jose Aldo
5 Cain Velasquez
6 Frankie Edgar
7 Dominick Cruz
8 Junior dos Santos
9 Gilbert Melendez
10 BJ Penn
According to UFC president Dana White, Frankie Edgar (#6) is the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, behind Anderson Silva (#1).
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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