May has been a solid month for mixed martial arts, with two UFC events resulting in some significant movement in the rankings.
No fighter’s stock has risen more than Cole Harbour, N.S.’s T.J. Grant, who earned a lightweight title shot after finishing perennial contender Gray Maynard in devastating fashion at UFC 160. Grant still sits third on the Canadian pound-for-pound list behind Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald; he also sits third on the lightweight list behind Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis.
Grant is now 5-0 at lightweight and his last two wins have been as impressive as it can get. He now will focus on Henderson in the hopes to become the third UFC champion from Canada in the promotion’s history.
Glover Teixeira cemented his spot as the most dangerous potential contender for light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones after submitting James Te-Huna in less than three minutes at UFC 160. Teixeira extended his win streak to 19, with 17 of those victories coming by stoppage.
Another impressive showing at the Memorial Day Weekend event came from Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov, who moved into the top 10 at lightweight. Nurmagomedov improved to 20-0 as a pro after owning Abel Trujillo for three rounds.
John Lineker moved up a few spots at flyweight after yet another impressive win, while George Roop knocked former WEC champion Brian Bowles out of the bantamweight top 10.
With that, here are sportsnet.ca’s MMA rankings for the month of May.
Jump to: Pound-for-pound | Canadians | Women
Jump to: Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight
Jump to: Welterweight | Lightweight | Featherweight
Jump to: Bantamweight | Flyweight
POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Georges St-Pierre
As always there are minor adjustments he can make, but he’s the most well-rounded fighter in the sport.
2. Anderson Silva
His ability to finish elite fighters is uncanny.
3. Jose Aldo
Almost untouchable in his division.
4. Cain Velasquez
Between size and skill, he may be overall the most dangerous fighter in the UFC.
5. Jon Jones
Has a reach that confuses opponents and a constantly improving skill set.
6. Benson Henderson
He is making a habit of winning close decisions.
7. Demetrious Johnson
The fastest fighter in MMA and has skills everywhere.
8. Dominick Cruz
Injury problems have plagued him but Cruz is still one of the best.
9. Joseph Benavidez
Possibly the best fighter who’s not currently a UFC champion.
10. Renan Barao
Striking, grappling, finishing instinct. He’s got it all.
Honourable mention: Junior dos Santos, Anthony Pettis, Urijah Faber, Pat Curran
CANADIAN POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Georges St-Pierre
Has fought in Canada in his last four contests but won’t in his next bout against Johny Hendricks.
2. Rory MacDonald
Meets Jake Ellenberger in July.
3. T.J. Grant
Earned a title shot with his huge KO of Gray Maynard at UFC 160.
4. Jordan Mein
Was TKO’d by Matt Brown on short notice on April 20.
5. Ivan Menjivar
Looking to bounce back from loss to Urijah Faber at UFC 157.
6. Mark Bocek
A solid lightweight looking to get back into contention.
7. Claude Patrick
Has been injured and hasn’t fought since December 2011.
8. Ryan Jimmo
Set to fight Igor Pokrajac at UFC 161 in Winnipeg.
9. Yves Jabouin
Meets Dustin Pague in Winnipeg.
10. Sam Stout
Faces Strikeforce veteran Isaac Vallie-Flagg on June 15 at UFC 161.
Honourable mention: Nick Ring, Antonio Carvalho, Mitch Gagnon, Jesse Ronson, Sean Pierson, John Makdessi
FEMALE POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Cristiane Santos
Will rematch Marloes Coenen in Invicta FC in July. Wants Rousey at 140-pound catchweight one day.
2. Ronda Rousey
Will coach TUF 18 against and then fight Zingano later this year.
3. Cat Zingano
Zingano looked great in her UFC debut, TKOing Tate.
4. Sarah Kaufman
Waiting tot make her UFC debut sometime this year.
5. Miesha Tate
Goes up against Liz Carmouche at UFC on FOX 8.
6. Sara McMann
TKO’d Sheila Gaff in one round at UFC 159 in her UFC debut.
7. Marloes Coenen
Wants to avenge loss to Cyborg and has the chance this summer.
8. Megumi Fujii
Beat Mei Yamaguchi in December, but hasn’t been too active lately.
9. Jessica Eye
Withdrew from bout with Munah Holland at Bellator 95 with back injury.
10. Michelle Waterson
“The Karate Hottie” became the Invicta FC atomweight champion by beating Jessica Penne just over one year after having a child.
Honourable mention: Jessica Aguilar, Liz Carmouche, Alexis Davis, Tara LaRosa, Amanda Nunes, Shayna Baszler, Germaine de Randamie, Julie Kedzie, Jennifer Maia, Zoila Gurgel, Jessica Penne
HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Cain Velasquez
Made quick work of Antonio Silva… again.
2. Junior dos Santos
Went to war with Mark Hunt KO’d him with a spinning heel kick at UFC 160 to earn another title shot.
3. Fabricio Werdum
Fights Big Nog in June.
4. Daniel Cormier
Was successful in UFC debut against Mir at UFC on FOX 7.
5. Antonio Silva
His rematch against Velasquez didn’t go well, but he’s still a dangerous contender.
6. Roy Nelson
KO’d Cheick Kongo at UFC 159; takes on Stipe Miocic on short notice at UFC 161.
7. Alistair Overeem
Will return against Travis Browne at UFC on FOX Sports 1: 1.
8. Travis Browne
Coming off big KO of Gabriel Gonzaga. See above.
9. Frank Mir
Has lost two straight.
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Bout with countryman Werdum will be a challenge.
Honourable mention: Mark Hunt, Stefan Struve, Josh Barnett, Stipe Miocic
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Jon Jones
Recovering from grotesque broken toe. Next opponent is unknown but there are plenty of options.
2. Glover Teixeira
Dominated James Te-Huna at UFC 160. The most dangerous contender in the division.
3. Lyoto Machida
Wants title shot or bout with Gustafsson.
4. Phil Davis
Reportedly wants a fight with Teixeira.
5. Alexander Gustafsson
Very close to a title shot but hasn’t fought since April 2012.
6. Gegard Mousasi
Thoroughly dismantled an outmatched Ilir Latifi in Sweden.
7. Dan Henderson
Headlines against Rashad Evans in Winnipeg.
8. Ryan Bader
Forced out of a UFC 160 fight with Teixeira. Likely returns in the summer.
9. Mauricio Rua
Meets Lil Nog in an anticipated rematch at UFC 161 in Winnipeg.
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Will rematch Shogun many years after fighting him in Pride.
Honourable mention: Rashad Evans, Thiago Silva, James Te-Huna
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. Anderson Silva
Meets Weidman in UFC 162 main event.
2. Vitor Belfort
KO’d Rockhold in spectacular fashion in Brazil.
3. Chris Weidman
GSP thinks Weidman will finish Silva.
4. Ronaldo Souza
Was brilliant in his UFC debut against Chris Camozzi. Meets Okami at UFC 164.
5. Michael Bisping
Defeated Belcher at UFC 159.
6. Luke Rockhold
Debut against Belfort didn’t end well.
7. Yushin Okami
In for a tough test against Jacare.
8. Alan Belcher
Needed stitches on his eye after a poke from Bisping ended the fight at UFC 159.
9. Hector Lombard
Didn’t fight with enough urgency against Okami; may move to 170 pounds.
10. Constantinos Philippou
Pulled out of his scheduled fight with Jacare with an injury.
Honourable mention: Tim Boetsch, Brian Stann, Mark Munoz, Rousimar Palhares
WELTERWEIGHT
1. Georges St-Pierre
Meets Hendricks at some point in the fall.
2. Johny Hendricks
No denying he’s the No. 1 contender.
3. Carlos Condit
Vows to work on his wrestling after he fought tooth-and-nail against Hendricks at UFC 158.
4. Demian Maia
Has been fantastic at 170 pounds. Expected to fight Koscheck at UFC 163.
5. Rory MacDonald
In tough against Ellenberger in July.
6. Jake Ellenberger
Believes he’ll get a title shot of he beats Rory.
7. Nick Diaz
Looked flat against GSP and made excuses afterwards. He may actually be retired but it’s hard to tell with Diaz.
8. Jon Fitch
Will debut in World Series of Fighting on June 14 against fellow UFC castoff Josh Burkman.
9. Mike Pierce
The most underrated welterweight. Expected to face David Mitchell on July 6 at UFC 162.
10. Martin Kampmann
Still waiting for an opponent after a perfect Hendricks punch at UFC 154.
Honourable mention: Tarec Saffiedine, Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, Dong Hyun Kim, Robbie Lawler, Thiago Alves, Erick Silva, Mike Pyle, Matt Brown, Rick Story
LIGHTWEIGHT
1. Benson Henderson
Looking to go 8-0 in the UFC when he meets Grant.
2. Anthony Pettis
Drops to featherweight to challenge Jose Aldo at UFC 163.
3. TJ Grant
Got by Maynard with a superb knockout win. Benson is next for the Canadaian who’s undefeated at lightweight.
4. Michael Chandler
Defends his belt against Dave Jansen at Bellator 96 on June 19.
5. Gilbert Melendez
Lost a close decision to Henderson in April.
6. Josh Thomson
Became the first fighter to finish Nate Diaz with strikes.
7. Eddie Alvarez
Currently in an ugly legal battle with Bellator.
8. Gray Maynard
TJ Grant made him look silly at UFC 160.
9. Pat Healy
Submitted Jim Miller in his return to the UFC. Now 9-1 at lightweight.
10. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Absolutely dominated Abel Trujillo at UFC 160 to improve to 20-0.
Honourable mention: Evan Dunham, Gleison Tibau, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Jim Miller, Rafael dos Anjos, Joe Lauzon, Jamie Varner
FEATHERWEIGHT
1. Jose Aldo
Pettis will be an interesting challenge.
2. Pat Curran
Defended his title by choking Shahbulat Shamhalaev out cold at Bellator 95.
3. Chad Mendes
A bout with Clay Guida is in the works for UFC 164.
4. Ricardo Lamas
Meets the Korean Zombie at UFC 162.
5. Chan Sung Jung
See above.
6. Cub Swanson
Meets Siver at UFC 162.
7. Frankie Edgar
Meets Charles Oliveira at UFC 162.
8. Dustin Poirier
Meets Koch at UFC 164.
9. Eric Koch
See above.
10. Dennis Siver
Returns to action against Swanson.
Honourable mention: Nik Lentz, Hacran Dias, Diego Nunes, Hatsu Hioki, Patricio Friere, Rani Yahya, Clay Guida
BANTAMWEIGHT
1. Dominick Cruz
His return was pushed back after a setback in his knee’s rehab.
2. Renan Barao
An injury forced him out of his UFC 161 bout with Wineland.
3. Urijah Faber
Submitted Scott Jorgensen at the TUF 17 finale.
4. Michael McDonald
Lost to Barao but will be at or near the top of this division for a long time.
5. Eddie Wineland
Bout with Barao was delayed.
6. Brad Pickett
Coming off fantastic fight and win over face Mike Easton in Sweden.
7. T.J. Dillashaw
Currently on a great streak of impressive stoppage wins.
8. Bibiano Fernandes
Faces Koetsu Okazaki for the Interim ONE FC bantamwight title May 31.
9. Eduardo Dantas
KO’d his teammate Marcos Galvao impressively at Bellator 89.
10. Mike Easton
Coming off split-decision battle with Pickett.
Honourable mention: Ivan Menjivar, George Roop, Brian Bowles, Scott Jorgensen, Raphael Assuncao, Takeya Mizugaki, Erik Perez
FLYWEIGHT
1. Demetrious Johnson
Will defend his belt against Moraga next.
2. Joseph Benavidez
Stopped Uyenoyama with a body shot.
3. Ian McCall
Lost a competitive decision to Benavidez.
4. John Dodson
Nearly became UFC champ after dropping Mighty Mouse more than once.
5. John Moraga
Earned a title shot after back-to-back stoppage wins.
6. Jussier da Silva
Dominated Chris Cariaso on the ground May 18.
7. Louis Gaudinot
Hasn’t competed in over a year due to injuries.
8. John Lineker
TKO’d Azamat Gashimov in Brazil and has looked fantastic of late.
9. Darrell Montague
Beat Mamoru Yamaguchi in December. Only loss at flyweight was to McCall.
10. Tim Elliott
Has won nine of his last 10.
Honourable mention: Chris Cariaso, Ulysses Gomez, Jose Maria Tome, Mamoru Yamaguchi, Rambaa Somdet, Yasuhiro Urushitani
MMA rankings are subjective, and ultimately have no real bearing on how fights should or do play out, but they inevitably get fans talking about the sport and its best fighters. Send your thoughts and arguments to @MikeyJ_MMA.
