It wasn’t an easy task, but JOE’s Fergus Ryan has selected who he believes to be the ten best pound for pound fighters in MMA. Read on to see who made the cut.
By Fergus Ryan
1. Anderson “The Spider” Silva (pictured above)
UFC Middleweight Champion
Record: 27-4
Undefeated in his last 12 outings, Silva is the most dominant UFC Champ in the promotion’s history with seven defences, and has also notched a couple of victories at light heavyweight. With the exception of the Leites and Maia debacles, he generally finishes fights decisively, giving him the nod over GSP.
2. Georges “Rush” St. Pierre
UFC Welterweight Champion
Record: 21-2
Prides himself on being a true martial artist, his dedication to perfection has seen him become the best wrestler in the UFC, yet GSP has no wrestling pedigree. His last five defences of the belt have lasted 24 of the scheduled 25 rounds. It’s his lack of finishes that sees him finish in second.
3. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Record: 23-4
Before signing for the UFC, Shogun blitzed all before him in Japan but never reached the pinnacle in his division as a training partner (Wanderlei Silva) had got there before him. His narrow loss to Machida was scotched by the obliterating win in their second tilt. Rua has potentially the toughest division and the scope to get to number one.
4. Alastair “The Reem” Overeem
DREAM and Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion
Record: 34-11
The Dutchman is not everyone’s cup of tea. But with the DREAM and Strikeforce heavyweight belts around his waist, he has to be judged on his three-and-a-half-year nine-fight winning streak.
5. Jose “Scarface” Aldo
UFC Featherweight Champion
Record: 18-1
Adding the lighter weight categories to the UFC will allow the world to see the talent that is Jose Aldo. Having beaten divisional top dogs Swanson, Brown and Faber (three former title holders) and with only one loss on his record in a 19-fight career, the 24-year old will feature in the Top 10 for a while yet.
6. Cain Velasquez
UFC Heavyweight Champion
Record: 9-0
With only nine fights on his record it might be premature to have him in a pound for pound Top 10. However, the maturity with which he disposed of Brock Lesnar to take the title deserves a fast track into the list.
7. BJ “The Prodigy” Penn
Record: 16-7
The record doesn’t seem that impressive, but Penn is a true Pound for Pound fighter, having been a champion at lightweight and welterweight and fought at middleweight and heavyweight. His 21-second destruction of Matt Hughes means we can’t write off Penn just yet.
8. Jake Shields
Record: 31-4
Going undefeated since 2005, Shields claimed the EliteXC welterweight title and Strikeforce middleweight title. Challenging GSP next for his UFC title, Shields can silence critics who question whether he would have had as much success had he made the UFC earlier.
9. Nick Diaz
Record 32-7
By virtue of being EliteXC’s lightweight champ and Strikeforce welterweight champ, Diaz deserves credit in a Pound for Pound list. He may have unfinished business in the UFC and continuing to win will see his return come sooner rather than later.
10. Jon “Bones” Jones
Record: 12-1
Another fledgling superstar, Jones is hands down the biggest prospect in MMA today. In his 13 fights he has yet to look like he can be beaten (his only loss was a disqualification while man-handling Matt Hamill). His next fight with Ryan Bader will cement his status as the up and comer if victorious.
