The Rankings: The Heavyweights: Feb 6, 2017

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

                        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 (rumored)

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: 5-3 (W-Browne, L-Miocic, W-Velasquez, W-Hunt, W-Browne, L-Overeem, L-dos Santos, W-Overeem)
            Next Fight: TBA

Back on the winning track.

3) (3)  Cain Velasquez – UFC – 33 points
             Record: 14-2
             Last Five Fights: 4-1
             Record vs Top 10: 4-2 (W-Browne, 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 – 28 points
            Record: 41-15 (1 NC)
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 4-4 (L-Miocic, W-dos Santos, L-Rothwell, L-Browne, W-Lesnar, W-Werdum, W-Hunt, L-Werdum)
            Next Fight: vs #9 Mark Hunt – UFC 209 – Mar 4th

No UFC gold for you (at least not yet).

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

Shoulder surgery had JDS on the shelf for a bit, but now it’s looking like he’s going to get another crack at the gold next.

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 is healed up and putting out fight challenges once more.

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

An impressive performance against Andrei Arlovski launched Barnett back into the top 10.

8) (tied) (9) Mark Hunt – UFC – 8 points
                        Record: 12-10-1, 1 NC
                        Last Five Fights: 2-2, 1 NC
                        Record vs Top 10: 1-5 (L-Miocic, L-Werdum, L-dos Santos, W-Rothwell, L-Overeem, L-Barnett)
                        Next Fight: vs #4 Alistair Overeem – UFC 209 – Mar 4th

The disgruntled Super Samoan is headed back into the octagon in March.

8) (tied) (NR) Francis Ngannou – UFC – 8 points

                        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.

10) (8) Travis Browne – UFC – 6 points
            Record: 18-5-1
            Last Five Fights: 2-3
            Record vs Top 10: 2-3 (L-Werdum, L-Velasquez, W-Barnett, L-Werdum, W-Overeem)
            Next Fight: vs Derrick Lewis – UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Browne – Feb 19th

Travis Browne’s career has hit the skids.

Dropped off: (10) Andrei Arlovski

Check back this Friday for our Light Heavyweight rankings