The Rankings: The Heavyweights: Mar 20, 2017

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The Rankings are just that – The MMA Manifesto’s rankings of the best fighters in mixed martial arts today.  Check back every Monday and Friday for our rankings of a different weight class.  Next up: The Heavyweight Rankings.

Voting Panel: Jeff Fox, Daniel Vreeland, Ryan MacDonald, and Ricky Leone.

 

*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings

 

CLICK ON FIGHTER’S NAME FOR DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT

 

The Heavyweight Rankings

 

1) (Last ranking – 1Stipe Miocic – UFC Heavyweight Champion – 40 points (out of 40)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 02: Stipe Miocic of the United States talks to the media during the UFC Adelaide Media Opportunity at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on March 2, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by David Mariuz/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 02: Stipe Miocic of the United States talks to the media during the UFC Adelaide Media Opportunity at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on March 2, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by David Mariuz/Getty Images)

                        Record: 16-2
                        Last Five Fights: 4-1
                        Record vs Top 10: 3-1 (W-Overeem, W-Werdum, W-Hunt, L-dos Santos)
                        Next Fight: vs #5 Junior dos Santos – UFC 211 – May 13th

One title defense under his belt.  How many more to go?

 

2) (2) Fabricio Werdum – UFC – 35 points
            Record: 21-6-1
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 3-3 (L-Miocic, W-Velasquez, W-Hunt, L-Overeem, L-dos Santos, W-Overeem)
            Next Fight: TBA

Back on the winning track.

 

3) (3)  Cain Velasquez – UFC – 32 points
             Record: 14-2
             Last Five Fights: 4-1
             Record vs Top 10: 3-2 (L-Velasquez, W-dos Santos, W-dos Santos, L-dos Santos, W-Rothwell)
             Next Fight: TBA

Cain is looking like a killer again (if he could just stay healthy).

 

4) (4) Alistair Overeem – UFC – 29 points
            Record: 42-15 (1 NC)
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 5-3 (W-Hunt, L-Miocic, W-dos Santos, L-Rothwell, W-Lesnar, W-Werdum, W-Hunt, L-Werdum)
            Next Fight: TBA

The Reem showed against Mark Hunt that he still has lots of fight left in him.

 

5) (5) Junior dos Santos – UFC – 24 points
            Record: 18-4
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 5-3 (W-Rothwell, L-Overeem, W-Miocic, W-Hunt, L-Velasquez, L-Velasquez, W-Velasquez, W-Werdum)
            Next Fight: vs #1 Stipe Miocic – UFC 211 – May 13th

Crack number two at regaining his belt is coming up next for JDS.

 

6) (6) Ben Rothwell – UFC – 16 points
            Record: 36-10
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 2-3 (L-dos Santos, W-Barnett, W-Overeem, L-Hunt, L-Velasquez)
            Next Fight: TBA

Big Ben’s return might be put on ice due to a potential USADA violation.

 

7) (7) Josh Barnett – UFC – 13 points
            Record: 35-8
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (L-Rothwell, W-Hunt)
            Next Fight: TBA

Speaking of potential USADA violations, Barnett could be in some trouble himself.

 

8) (8) Francis Ngannou – UFC – 10 points

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 28: Francis Ngannou (white trunks) of Cameroon knocks down Andrei Arlovski of Belarus (black trunks) in the first round of the Heavyweight division during the UFC Fight Night at the Pepsi Center on January 28, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 28: Francis Ngannou (white trunks) of Cameroon knocks down Andrei Arlovski of Belarus (black trunks) in the first round of the Heavyweight division during the UFC Fight Night at the Pepsi Center on January 28, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

                        Record: 10-1
                        Last Five Fights: 5-0
                        Record vs Top 10: 0-0
                        Next Fight: TBA

The Predator is a scary presence in the cage.

 

9) (NR) Derrick Lewis – UFC – 8 points
              Record: 18-4-1
              Last Five Fights: 5-0
              Record vs Top 10: 0-0
              Next Fight: vs #10 Mark Hunt – UFC Fight Night 110 – Jun 11th (rumored)

Six straight wins has The Black Beast into our top 10.

 

10) (tied) (NR) Vitaly Minakov – Bellator/EFN – 6 points
                             Record: 19-0
                             Last Five Fights: 5-0
                             Record vs Top 10: 0-0
                             Next Fight: TBA

A 19-0 record as a heavyweight is very impressive.

 

10) (tied) (8) Mark Hunt – UFC – 6 points
                        Record: 12-11-1, 1 NC
                        Last Five Fights: 2-2, 1 NC
                        Record vs Top 10: 1-6 (L-Overeem, L-Miocic, L-Werdum, L-dos Santos, W-Rothwell, L-Overeem, L-Barnett)
                        Next Fight: vs #9 Derrick Lewis – UFC Fight Night 110 – Jun 11th (rumored)

Is this the end for the Super Samoan as a top heavyweight?

 

Dropped off: (10) Travis Browne

Bubbling under: Curtis Blaydes

 

Check back this Friday for our Light Heavyweight rankings

 

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