Professional MMA Rankings

See Who Rules the MMA Landscape

At FIGHT! Magazine, we believe there is a need for a completely objective and unbiased ranking system for fighters to replace the myriad of subjective rankings that have become skewed, in many instances, by fighter popularity. In an effort to address this issue FIGHT! Magazine brings you its computerized rankings system.

Why does there seem to be an emphasis on the heavier weight classes? Heavier eight classes have higher point totals primarily for two reasons; 1) the heavier weight class fighters dominated early MMA bouts due to open weight classes and the grand prix formats, 2) Fighter earn point premiums when fights end through stoppage (TKO, KO, or Submission). Heavier weight class fight 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.

Why are Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Flyweight combined into one Under 145 ranking? Because there are only 10-pound gaps between the weight classes, there is a lot of movement between them. It is common for a fighter to fight one fight at Bantam and the next at Feather. This may change in the future, but only after these lighter classes become more established.

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? As 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 the 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 reasonably 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.

Readers Choice

view full readers choice rankings »

Heavyweight (265)

view full heavyweight rankings »

Light Heavyweight (205)

view full light heavyweight rankings »

Middleweight (185)

view full middleweight rankings »

Welterweight (170)

view full welterweight rankings »

Lightweight (155)

view full lightweight rankings »

Featherweight (145)

view full featherweight rankings »

Bantamweight (135)

view full bantamweight rankings »


	FIGHTER SEARCH: HOME MAGAZINE Magazine Archives Purchase Back Issues Subscribe FIGHTER RANKINGS Heavyweight Light Heavyweight Middleweight Welterweight Lightweight Featherweight Bantamweight Reader's Choice EVENTS Upcoming Events Past Events NEWS & FEATURES MMA VIDEOS Most Recent Videos Most Watched FIGHT! Life Videos MMA PHOTOS MMA Events Photo Shoots FIGHT! Girls After Parties MMA Personalities MMA BLOGS MMA GLOSSARY SUBSCRIPTIONS New Subscription Renew Subscription Change Address Subscription FAQs FIGHTER RANKINGS TOP RANKINGS HEAVYWEIGHT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT WELTERWEIGHT LIGHTWEIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT BANTAMWEIGHT READER'S CHOICE Professional MMA Rankings See Who Rules the MMA Landscape At FIGHT! Magazine, we believe there is a need for a completely objective and unbiased ranking system for fighters to replace the myriad of subjective rankings that have become skewed, in many instances, by fighter popularity. In an effort to address this issue FIGHT! Magazine brings you its computerized rankings system. Why does there seem to be an emphasis on the heavier weight classes? Heavier eight classes have higher point totals primarily for two reasons; 1) the heavier weight class fighters dominated early MMA bouts due to open weight classes and the grand prix formats, 2) Fighter earn point premiums when fights end through stoppage (TKO, KO, or Submission). Heavier weight class fight 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. Why are Featherweight, Bantamweight, and Flyweight combined into one Under 145 ranking? Because there are only 10-pound gaps between the weight classes, there is a lot of movement between them. It is common for a fighter to fight one fight at Bantam and the next at Feather. This may change in the future, but only after these lighter classes become more established. 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? As 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 the 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 reasonably 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. Readers Choice 1. Georges St-Pierre 2. Anderson Silva 3. Mauricio Rua 4. Jose Aldo 5. Fedor Emelianenko view full readers choice rankings » Heavyweight (265) 1. Brock Lesnar 7.184 2. Cain Velasquez 6.689 3. Fedor Emelianenko 6.627 4. Fabricio Werdum 6.360 5. Alistair Overeem 6.231 view full heavyweight rankings » Light Heavyweight (205) 1. Mauricio Rua 6.610 2. Rashad Evans 6.349 3. Lyoto Machida 6.205 4. Muhammed Lawal 5.909 5. Randy Couture 5.652 view full light heavyweight rankings » Middleweight (185) 1. Chael Sonnen 6.724 2. Anderson Silva 6.717 3. Jake Shields 6.500 4. Vitor Belfort 5.931 5. Nate Marquardt 5.724 view full middleweight rankings » Welterweight (170) 1. Georges St-Pierre 7.028 2. Josh Koscheck 5.996 3. Thiago Alves 5.971 4. Nick Diaz 5.861 5. Dan Hardy 5.617 view full welterweight rankings » Lightweight (155) 1. Frankie Edgar 6.468 2. Gilbert Melendez 6.159 3. Shinya Aoki 6.072 4. George Sotiropoulos 5.896 5. Benson Henderson 5.552 view full lightweight rankings » Featherweight (145) 1. Bibiano Fernandes 5.367 2. Jose Aldo 5.198 3. Michihiro Omigawa 5.018 4. Josh Grispi 4.877 5. Marlon Sandro 4.729 view full featherweight rankings » Bantamweight (135) 1. Dominic Cruz 5.041 2. Joseph Benavidez 4.678 3. Brian Bowles 4.314 4. Scott Jorgensen 3.992 5. Wagnney Fabiano 3.965 view full bantamweight rankings » HOME \| MAGAZINE \| FIGHTER RANKINGS \| EVENTS \| NEWS & FEATURES \| MMA BLOGS \| PHOTOS \| SUBSCRIPTIONS \| CONTACT