Top 10 Pound for Pound MMA Fighters in the World 1/20
Who is the best in the world in the ultra popular world of Mixed Martial Arts? With leagues in Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, and the U.S., fighters have the freedom and choice of where and who they want to fight, which many times earns them fame and fortune.
Many monthly lists come out giving a top 10-grade to fighters in each individual weight class and don’t venture to call out a single “best of the best.” This is a great way to keep up with MMA, but for those interested in reading about the best fighters worldwide and not just in the mainstream UFC, it’s rather conventional.
Below is our ranking of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, regardless of weight class.
1. Anderson Silva – 185/205 (UFC)
Silva is the best technical striker in MMA. He picks his opponents apart methodically and has lifted himself to a higher level than anyone else at 185 and some feel 205, as well. He brings a great Muay Thai clinch, has solid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and can finish off black belts on the ground. There’s not much else you can say about Silva; just feel sorry for his next victim.
2. Georges St. Pierre – 170 (UFC/UCC)
St. Pierre has dangerous knockout power in his hands and kicks, coupled with great wrestling and jiu jitsu styles. He has taken down the best in the world at 170 including Olympic Judo black belts, American college wrestlers, and dominant kick boxers. His nickname of “Rush” is well earned as he usually pushes the pace and is quick to finish his opponent. If he stops BJ Penn again and moves up in weight class, he’d be considered the best overall.
3. Fedor Emelianenko – Heavyweight (Affliction/Pride)
Emelianeko has never been stopped by an opponent in a fight (he suffered one loss due to a doctor stoppage) and has the largest list of victims in MMA. Why not the top spot? If he beats Arlovski at “Afflictions Day of Reckoning”, then only the excitement of Pierre and Silva would keep him out. Emelianenko is still the best heavyweight in the world with heavy hands, world championship Sambo and ground and pound. Many US fans don’t know much about Fedor because he fought for some time in Japan and Russia, but after squaring off with Tim Silvia and Arlovski, he will cement his place in MMA history.
4. BJ Penn – 155/170 (UFC/K1)
Penn has all the tools to be the best. He has amazing dexterity and flexibility for his jiu jitsu game, as well as knockout boxing skills. He has fought at many different weight classes and has been successful in most. Perhaps his only downside is his mental game. Despite this, he has dominated the 155 lightweight class and has been successful at 170 in the UFC. He could become the only person to hold two titles at one time in the UFC.
5. Rashad Evans – 205 (UFC)
Evans is an undefeated 18-0-1 Michigan State wrestler who has knockout power in hands and feet, and gave the most brutal knockout Chuck Liddell has ever endured. He is the new UFC light heavyweight champ and has shown improvement in his stand up boxing and cardio, which was once a weakness. If another big name fight goes his way, he could move up the list.
6. Miguel Torres- 135 (WEC)
No one else in the WEC has beaten down their opponents like Torres has. He is a tough kid from a rough neighborhood who happens to have a black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu, his own training center, and the WEC bantamweight title. So far, no one has come close to taking his belt and in most cases they receive a beating inside the cage.
7. Thiago Alves – 170 (UFC)
Thiago is another UFC welterweight who has knocked off big names in a hurry. Huge wins over Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck have given him number one contender rankings in the UFC. Brutal Muay Thai striking and powerful knockout punching power will keep him high on most MMA lists of 170-pound fighters. At such a young age and with the fortune of having a great team at his disposal, he should only continue his rise to the top.
8. Quinton Jackson – 205 (UFC/Pride/WFA)
A long time unknown in the U.S. fighting in Pride, Jackson’s boxing skills have sky rocketed his ability in the octagon. Rampage brings it all to the table – wrestling, huge slams, and great hands. A great showing against Wanderlei Silva has put him back into title contention and as long as his legal issues stay out of the way, he may be back in the mix for a belt.
9. Urijah Faber – 145 (WEC)
Exciting, energetic, and “natural” are all used to describe the California Kid. One of the more wild and thrilling fighters with solid striking and submissions, Faber doesn’t normally disappoint. Though he lost his title to Mike Brown, he is still 21-2 and will most likely get his rematch for the featherweight belt with another victory over Jens Pulver.
10. Andrei Arlovski – Heavyweight (Affliction/UFC)
The “Pitbull”, Arlovski is a former UFC heavyweight champion, a pro boxer, and Sambo champion. He has the tools to be the best heavyweight in MMA, but the biggest question regarding him is which fighter will enter the ring: the ultra-aggressive striker, which earned him his belt, or the calmer methodical version, which has cost him his title? With his upcoming fight with Fedor looming, the result will place him among the best or place him as just another good heavyweight. He has shown knockout power and good submission skills against top contenders in the UFC.
–Written By TSR Contributor John Duke
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom.
I saw a similar list in the MMA rankings at another site and I personally think you have Fedor ranked too low. I guess we may know more after tomorrow night!
Thanks for the comment, and yes there
are other top ten lists out there that change
the ordering up.
On Fedor, the only reason he is not higher is he has not fought in the biggest show, the UFC.
Dont forget PrideFC while a great thing, had different rules and more stand up striking.
I think some of the better BJJ heavyweights in the UFC would have better luck against him.
With that said, if he destroys Arlovski, it will be hard to not rank him higher.
fedor is the best. pound for pound, eye for eye, teeth for teeth or warever. he wins to andrei arlovski a UFC champìopn. nobody UFC champion can destroy to the last emperor FEDOR EMELIANENKO.
Well he came back and beat Andrei.
He is really a true champion, but he sure
didnt look solid at first. He is lucky Arlovski’s
chin is as weak as it is.
He still is an awesome MMA fighter.
Yeah, I think Fedor proved a lot with the knockout in less than 3 1/2 minutes.
Well he proved he can take a beating for a while
and get in a punch on an over cocky showboating Arlovski. And once again the Pitbull’s chin fails.
But Fedor didnt look great, and even looked frustrated until the laps in judgment on Arlovski’s part. Still Fedor is the man and Champ.
I think it is quite possible that Fedor’s strategy was to lure Arlovski in so that he could get the KO. It’s well known that Arlovski has a weak chin and gets overzealous on the attack if he thinks there is an opening. He did it against sylvia in the UFC.
Looking at that last fight, Arlovski gave him a kick and Fedor falls back harder than what the kick would have dictated. Arlovski rushes in and Fedor is already swinging because he knew Arlovski took the bait.
Fedor is well known to be a very intelligent fighter (he comes from the land of chess players) and I think had a great strategy that worked perfectly. To say Fedor “came back” is to imply that he was in some sort of trouble, which I don’t think he ever was.
Fedor has never received the respect he deserves and that he is not ranked as the best fighter in MMA history is no surprise. Although I think he is the greatest fighter in MMA history (pound for pound or otherwise). I would put anybody in their prime up against Fedor anyday.
By the way, John, you state that your low ranking of Fedor is because he has not fought in the UFC and “I think some of the better BJJ heavyweights in the UFC would have better luck against him.”
Who for instance? Mir? Mir has already gone on record saying that Fedor is the best fighter in the world.
I can’t think of any other UFC HW’s that could beat Fedor. Lesnar might have a shot because of his punching power.
Arlovski looked to be in control until Fedor caught him. I agree with Jungledeath’s comments that Fedor is a very intelligent fighter, but to imply that what happened before Fedor blasted Arlovski with that overhand right was a part of Fedor’s game plan may be giving him a little too much credit.
Fedor always had a striker’s chance against Arlovski because he has had a suspect chin at times. I think Fedor would much rather look to create angles with his foot work and openings with faints rather than to let himself be picked apart with strikes in hopes that his opponent made a mistake. I know that’s what happened but not a lot of fighters choose to go that route so early into a fight. Ali did it against Foreman but that was in the later rounds when he exhausted every other option.
Lastly the kick that Arlovski threw that sent Fedor back into the corner appeared to be front kick or a check kick. It’s usually thrown in two ways, the first is quickly and in a very similar fashion as a boxer throws a jab with his lead hand. Seth Petruzelli threw a similar kick against Kimbo Slice before he connected with the right hook that put Slice on the mat. In that case where this type of check kick is throw your opponent wouldn’t go flying a few feet back like Fedor did.
The second way a front kick can be thrown is more like a pushing motion. It’s delivered slower to the opponent and used with the purpose of creating space. Similar to how a boxer throws a pawing jab or purposely leaves his lead hand extended. This is how Arlovski threw that kick and why Fedor was sent flying back, not because he was playing possum. The kick is used as a measuring tactic so that the person throwing it can try to delivery a more devastating blow. Unfortunately for Arlovski he chose to use a strike that was slow to develop and one that he wasn’t in good range to throw.
I’m not making excuses for Arlovski I think he would need to execute a perfect game plan in order to beat Fedor if they were to fight again. Fedor is one of the best if not the best fighter in the world but Arlovski has the tools to beat him if he can avoid Fedor’s ground game. I even think he could take a good strike/strikes from Fedor, but he definitely can’t take one that lands right on the button.
I agree TXP
Thats how I saw it too.
Arlovski’s chin and over agressive style
has gotten him beat before, and Fedor
didnt look like he set up that looping right.
UFC heavyweights that I think “had” a chance
over Fedor’s career. Randy Coulture, Frank Mir, Arlovski in his prime,Brock is a beast, Pedro Rizzo.
Perhaps you misunderstood what I meant.
I Pride they’d keep the action going and stand up people alot from the ground. Look at Rampage vs Silva in Pride, Jackson controled it, got stood up and then ate knees. Very favorable for Silva.
The bulk of BJJ fighters where in the UFC.
Fedor didnt show me anything that makes him unbeatable. He finished Arlovski, but not dominating.
Your list is a joke.
Where is Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira?
1. Fedor
2. Nogueira
You can go ahead and put whomever you’d like after those two.
Antonio is on the top ten washed up and used to be list. Perhaps you missed a knockout loss to Frank Mir a month ago?
Or his squeak by victories over Tim Sylvia and Heath Herring?
Sorry but close ones and good fights from 8 years ago dont make it to a over all top 10.
He was a great fighter in Pride, usually, but really his talent is simple Jiu Jitsu moves and being able to take a near death beating. He has never dominated anyone in a LONG time.
Dont like it, wait till next weeks updated list.
Maybe it will please you more.
some people make list ranking MMA fighter based in their own opinion, that is why you see so many different ranking. This is not singing, is fight, and the winner are the best.
1 Fedor Emilianeko
2 Rashad Evans
Arlovski is a clown overpaid.
Well I dont think any top 10 in MMA
is not based on opinion, kind of the nature
of the beast.
With that said new top-ten coming out soon.
Silva walks around at 215 pounds which is a heavyweight. Fedor 230 and fights at 230.
If Silva is the best pound for pound fighter then why does he cut weight?
He could actually fight Fedor at his walking weight. So until he beats Fedor he shouldn’t be ranked #1.
Fedor has beaten guys over 300 lbs and he didn’t ask them to cut weight. Fedor is in a class of his own.
y’all are all stupid Anderson silva is the best fighter in the world no doubt he can hold the 170 185 and 205 belts if he tried and he has great ko power and connects with 80% of his strikes and had great conditioning…Anderson is the best no doubt and GSP is second to…fedor is not 1 or 2 he’s 3-5 somewhere in there…this list is great
Jimmy james
Are you kidding me? Rashad evans sucks. He barely won any of his fights and wont even admit he got knocked the f*** out by machida! His lame excuse is I got caught. He got caught 4 times in a span of 4 seconds he got owned. All his excuses are loser talk.
The top three guys on the list are right on. Their rank can be debated back and forth. I believe Fedor should be number one myself Anderson second and George third. I just believe that any guy who has never been knocked out or submitted and has fought as many top ranked opponents as Fedor (which include wins over 5 UFC heavyweight champions) has earned the right to be called the Best of the Best regardless of which stage it was fought on. Both Silva and St. Pierre have lost to multiple opponents by way of either knock out or submittion. Until someone knocks out or submitts Fedor, he is the Best of the of the Best hands down.
I hate to break it to you, but Arlovski’s not that great, Fedor is good, but i don’t think he’s been tested enough, honestly if he can beat some guys that currently fight in the UFC he deserves to be ranked higher. Arlovski, Jackson, Alves and Evans shouldn’t be up here, this list is wayyy outdated. People like Machida, Shogun and some other top guys now should be here. Machida destroyed Evans