MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings by FITE, Jan 2018
The Pound for Pound best fighters list is something that's been in the hearts and minds of fans for a long time. Everyone wants to know who the best all around fighter is. The P4P rankings have seen legendary names throughout the years - all time greats like Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Georges St-Pierre and Jose Aldo. And despite the fact that such lists are subjective, some fighters do tend to rise above others.
Now that 2018 is upon us, let's take a look at how that Pound For Pound ranking list looks:
1. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson is without a doubt the leader in the Pound for Pound ranks of any MMA list. With a record of 27 wins and only 2 losses, DJ made history this October at UFC 216 where he became the current record holder for most consecutive title defenses. He did that in spectacular fashion against a tough opponent in Ray Borg. DJ's record is a gallery of dominant wins over every single top contender in his weight class. That makes him the perfect P4P king.
2. Max Holloway
The Number 2 on our P4P list is Max "Blessed" Holloway, who has been on a vicious streak of 12 wins, capturing gold along the way. Ever since his 2013 loss to Conor McGregor, Max Holloway has been tearing through the rankings, beating dangerous fighters like Cub Swanson, Jeremy Stephens and Ricardo Lamas along the way. At the end of 2016 Max Holloway got his first taste of gold after defeating MMA great Anthony Pettis to win the interim Featherweight belt. Now being the unified Featherweight Champion, Max Holloway did the impossible and beat former champion and P4P great Jose Aldo not once but twice, both times by TKO.
3. Conor McGregor
The "Notorious" Conor McGregor comes around at Number 3 and who can argue his success? Holding belts in two divisions at the same time, beating opponents one after the next, avenging losses and going head to head with one of boxing's all time greatest - Floyd Mayweather. McGregor has been away from the sport for a long time now and many contenders on the P4P list seek to move above him. We'll see if that's the case when Conor returns to the Octagon.
4. Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier has done things that very few fighters in MMA history have. Having held belts in multiple organizations and being the current Cruiserweight Champion makes him one of the greatest threats in the Octagon. Having only lost to Jon Jones in his career, DC has victories over every other top contender and former champion in the promotion. Victories over Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson, Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva, Frank Mir, Josh Barnett and many others come to mind. DC's loss turned into NC to Jon Jones at UFC 214 puts a black dot on Cormier's great record and P4P positions. However he is without a doubt one of the greatest fighters of this era and has earned all of his stripes.
5. Stipe Miocic
The king of the heavyweights, Stipe Miocic comes at Number 5. With wins over Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum and many other top names in his division, Stipe is the ruler of the heavyweights. Having lots of KOs over top and tough fighters, Miocic seems to be unstoppable as of late. We'll see if that is indeed the case as he faces off against the most dangerous man in UFC to date - Francis Ngannou at UFC 220, on the 20th of January 2018.
6. T.J. Dillashaw
A mainstay in the P4P and top contender rankings, T.J. Dillashaw is a man all too familiar with UFC's Championship scene. With wins over most top fighters in his division, nobody questioned T.J.'s abilities. However his return from the depths at UFC 217 was nothing short of amazing. After being badly hurt by then champion and bitter rival Cody Garbrandt, T.J. regained his senses to TKO his opponent in the second round in spectacular fashion, gaining the belt and his spot back on the P4P list gaining the belt and his spot back on the P4P list.
7. Tony Ferguson
What can be said about Tony Ferguson? The Interim Lightweight Champion is without a doubt one of the most successful Ultimate Fighter winners. With big wins over former champion Rafael dos Anjos, Kevin Lee, Edson Barboza and many others, Ferguson has only one big mountain left to climb - a belt unification bout with Conor McGregor. We'll wait and see if that fight happens any time soon. If not, a match with Khabib Nurmagomedov would also be an interesting sight.
8. Tyron Woodley
The current Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has been cleaning house in his division. Wins over Robbie Lawler, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Carlos Condit and many others cement Woodley's claim at the P4P list. His two matches with Stephen Thompson, one of which being a Draw and the other a Majority Decision Win for Woodley do put some interesting questions up though. Often getting critiques for not finishing his opponents, Tyron Woodley has always faced the top fighters in his division and has fought hard and won against the best. Thus, his claim to a spot in the P4P list is undisputed.
9. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes has more than earned her nickname "Lioness". The current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, she holds wins over all time greats in women's mma - Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko. She has proven to be one of the toughest fighters all around and deserves her spot on the P4P list.
10. Cris Cyborg
The legendary Cristiane Justino. Cyborg is considered by many to be the definitive champion with the female fighters. The current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion has every right to that claim. Having 19 wins with an 84% KO ratio, she is without a doubt the scariest and most dangerous female fighter out there. In 2018 we'll be looking forward to Cris Cyborg moving even further up the P4P rankings as she seems to be on one of the biggest tears seen in her division.
With all that being said, let's hope 2018 brings us great matches and shakes things up.