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
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
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
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
