For a long time now, fight enthusiast and handicappers have attempted to figure out the Best Pound-For-Pound Fighter in the boxing ring. Remember when it was Tyson in his heyday or Roy Jones killing it in several weight classes, or Pacquiao and Mayweather? Boxing fans wanted to pick one fighter as the best. It’s the same for MMA, and the debate continues to heat up as Mixed Martial Arts is starting to overcome the popularity of boxing.
So, who do you think the best pound for pound fighter on the planet is? So many like Jon Jones but Jose Aldo has come on strong as of late with dominating performances. Brock Lesnar considered himself unbeatable and the Baddest Man on the Planet. That was until both Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin took it to him.
MMA Futures looked at Las Vegas odds makers, fight record and quality of opponent to compile this list. The beauty of MMA is that the list changes so quickly so please let us know what you think. Here we go…
MMA FUTURES TOP TEN
#10
Dominick Cruz
Age: 29
Record :20-1
Country: USA
Twitter: @TheDomin8
Following a long layoff due to injury, Cruz recently returned and looked to be in fine form to get back to the top of the Bantamweight heap. One win over TJ Dillashaw will catapult him back to his spot near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, where he was before injury..
#9
Robbie Lawler
Age: 32
Record: 25-10-1
Country: USA
Twitter: @Ruthless_RL
Despite being around the fight game for a long time, Robbie Lawler has finally become the UFC Welterweight champion with a close win over Johny Hendricks. He will have a long list of contenders to defend against, but Lawler looks like he’s in peak condition.
#8
TJ Dillashaw
Age: 29
Record: 11-2
Country: USA
Twitter: @TJDillashaw
Dillashaw shocked the world with a decisive win over former Top-10 ranked Renan Barao last May, now he will need to defend his title against former champ Dominick Cruz in order to maintain his recent elevation in ranking and his new Bantamweight title.
#7
Ronda Rousey
Age: 28
Record: 10-0
Country: USA
Twitter: @RondaRousey
Women have become a permanent fixture in the UFC thanks to the dominance of UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. The former Olympic Judo medalist won her first eight fights via armbar and she has recently showed that she is ever-evolving as a striker by finishing former Olympic medalist Sara McMann and Alexis Davis via first-round TKO.
#6
Anthony Pettis
Age: 28
Record: 18-2
Country: USA
Twitter: @Showtimepettis
The former WEC and current UFC Lightweight champion has finally established himself as the best Lightweight fighter in the world. He will have a long list of challengers to face in the UFC Lightweight division, but injuries continue to keep his immensely entertaining Octagon appearances few and far between.
#5
Demetrious Johnson
Age: 28
Record: 21-2
Country: USA
Twitter: @MightyMouseUFC
Demetrious Johnson has established himself as the best little man in MMA with recent wins over the best Flyweight fighters in the UFC. Johnson has also contended for the title at Bantamweight, recording wins against some of the best 135-pound fighters in MMA.
#4
Chris Weidman
Age: 28
Record: 12-0
Country: USA
Twitter: @ChrisWeidmanUFC
Tim Williams possesses all the tools you would expect from a UFC fighter. He is an effective striker with a dominant ground game. He has appeared on the Ultimate Fighter twice and in his last fight beat UFC fighter Ron Stallings. He doesn’t have the KO power that you see in some Middleweights but that doesn’t seem to matter. He has finished every fight and his only loss was due to a cut. A win over Strikeforce and Bellator veteran Anthony Smith later this month could earn him a shot in the UFC.
#3
Cain Velasquez
Age: 32
Record:13-1
Country: USA
Twitter: @cainmma
Cain Velasquez finished his trilogy with Junior dos Santos in dominant fashion and showed the MMA world that he is indeed the baddest man on the planet. His lone loss was shrouded in rumors of injuries and his dominance over every opponent he’s faced earns him the No. 3 spot on the pound-for-pound Top 10 list as the best Heavyweight in the world.
#2
Jose Aldo
Age: 28
Record: 25-1
Country: Brazil
Twitter: @josealdojunior
Jose Aldo has put together a streak of 18 straight wins that include nine title defenses. He has also burned through most of the top talent in the UFC Featherweight division, losing few rounds along the way. A potential step up to Lightweight is likely in Aldo’s future as his weight cuts at 145 pounds continue to be more difficult for him to make.
#1
Jon Jones
Age: 27
Country: USA
Record: 21-1
Twitter: @JonnyBones
Jon “Bones” Jones continues to be the man at 205 pounds. He has burned through the Light Heavyweight division beating numerous former champs and the best that the UFC has to offer in challengers. The only man left for him to beat at 205 pounds is the undefeated Daniel Cormier, which he will try to do in the New Year.