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: 4-1 (W-Overeem, W-Werdum, W-Hunt, W-Arlovski, L-dos Santos)
Next Fight: TBA
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: 5-4 (W-Browne, L-Miocic, W-Velasquez, W-Hunt, W-Browne, L-Overeem, L-dos Santos, W-Overeem, L-Arlovski)
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: 5-2 (W-Browne, L-Velasquez, W-dos Santos, W-dos Santos, L-dos Santos, W-Lesnar, W-Rothwell)
Next Fight: TBA
Cain is looking like a killer again.
4) (4) Alistair Overeem – UFC – 28 points
Record: 41-15 (1 NC)
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 5-4 (L-Miocic, W-Arlovski, W-dos Santos, L-Rothwell, L-Browne, W-Lesnar, W-Werdum, W-Hunt, L-Werdum)
Next Fight: TBA
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: TBA
Shoulder surgery has JDS on the shelf for a bit.
6) (tied) (6) Josh Barnett – UFC – 13 points
Record: 35-8
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 2-2 (W-Arlovski, L-Rothwell, L-Browne, W-Hunt)
Next Fight: TBA
An impressive performance against Andrei Arlovski has launched Barnett back into the top 10.
6) (tied) (7) Ben Rothwell – UFC – 13 points
Record: 36-10
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 2-4 (L-dos Santos, W-Barnett, W-Overeem, L-Hunt, L-Velasquez, L-Arlovski)
Next Fight: TBA
Rothwell had no answer for JDS. And now he’s on the DL after knee surgery.
8) (8) Brock Lesnar – UFC – 10 points
Record: 6-3
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (W-Hunt, L-Overeem, L-Velasquez)
Next Fight: TBA
His run-in with the USADA probably means that’s the last we’ve seen of Lesnar in the cage.
9) (10) Travis Browne – UFC – 7 points
Record: 18-5-1
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 2-4 (L-Werdum, L-Velasquez, L-Arlvoski, W-Barnett, L-Werdum, W-Overeem)
Next Fight: TBA
Travis Browne’s career has hit the skids.
10) (tied) (9) Andrei Arlovski – UFC – 5 points
Record: 25-13 (1 NC)
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 3-3 (L-Barnett, L-Overeem, L-Miocic, W-Browne, W-Rothwell, W-Werdum)
Next Fight: TBA
The Pitbull’s career resurgence appears to be over.
10) (tied) (NR) Vitaly Minakov – Bellator/EFN – 5 points
Record: 18-0
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: TBA
Hopefully Minakov can iron out his contract difficulties and get back into the Bellator cage soon.
10) (tied) (NR) Mark Hunt – UFC – 5 points
Record: 12-11-1
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 1-6 (L-Lesnar, L-Miocic, L-Werdum, L-dos Santos, W-Rothwell, L-Overeem, L-Barnett)
Next Fight: TBA
Will we ever see the disgruntled Super Samoan in the octagon again?
Bubbling under: Derrick Lewis
Check back this Friday for our Light Heavyweight rankings
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