With her first UFC title defence on Saturday, Ronda Rousey cemented her spot atop the women’s pound-for-pound list (and at the rate she’s going, she could find herself in the overall pound-for-pound list, which saw some slight changes this month).
There were also some moves in the other lists, including a Bellator champion Eduardo Dantas moving into the bantamweight top 10, and a former Pride champ Dan Henderson dropping at light-heavyweight.
With that said, here are sportsnet.ca’s mixed martial arts rankings for February…
Jump to: Pound-for-pound | Canadians | Women
Jump to: Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
Jump to: Lightweight | Featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight
POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Georges St-Pierre
He is the most skilled, well-rounded mixed martial artist out there.
2. Anderson Silva
He does things other fighters can’t.
3. Jose Aldo
Almost untouchable in his division.
4. Cain Velasquez
He’s as good as anyone in MMA and he’s a champion again.
5. Benson Henderson
He is a stylistic matchup nightmare for all lightweights.
6. Jon Jones
Has a reach that confuses opponents and a constantly improving skill set.
7. Demetrious Johnson
The fastest fighter in MMA and has skills everywhere.
8. Dominick Cruz
Injury problems have plagued him of late but is still one of the best.
9. Joseph Benavidez
Possibly the best fighter not currently a UFC champion.
10. Junior dos Santos
Has some of the best boxing in MMA and a phenomenal chin. Can he bounce back from first UFC loss?
Honourable mention: Renan Barao, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, Lyoto Machida, Urijah Faber
CANADIAN POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Georges St-Pierre
Proved again at UFC 154 why he’s the greatest Canadian in MMA.
2. Rory MacDonald
People need to stop referring to him as a prospect.
3. T.J. Grant
Finally getting the recognition he deserves.
4. Ivan Menjivar
Was outclassed and submitted by Urijah Faber at UFC 157.
5. Mark Bocek
Looking to bounce back from loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 154.
6. Jordan Mein
Makes his UFC debut against Dan Miller at UFC 158.
7. Claude Patrick
Has been injured and hasn’t fought since December 2011.
8. Ryan Jimmo
Lost an exciting decision to James Te-Huna on Feb. 16.
9. Yves Jabouin
Meets Johnny Eduardo in hometown of Montreal in March.
10. Nick Ring
Faces TUF 11 castmate Chris Camozzi at UFC 158.
Honourable mention: Sam Stout, Antonio Carvalho, Mitch Gagnon, Jesse Ronson, Sean Pierson, John Makdessi
FEMALE POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Ronda Rousey
Became the first female to win a UFC fight.
2. Sarah Kaufman
Latest addition to UFC’s women’s division. Still fights Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 5 April 5.
3. Miesha Tate
Meets Cat Zingano at TUF 17 finale.
4. Sara McMann
Is unbeaten, impressive, improving and now in the UFC.
5. Jessica Aguilar
Has won nine of ten fights.
6. Jessica Penne
Became Invicta FC atomweight champion in October.
7. Marloes Coenen
Submitted Fiona Muxlow at DREAM 18.
8. Megumi Fujii
Beat Mei Yamaguchi in December.
9. Jessica Eye
Faces Munah Holland at Bellator 95 on April 4.
10. Zoila Gurgel
Meets Jennifer Maia at Invicta FC 5 on April 5.
Honourable mention: Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano; Alexis Davis, Tara LaRosa, Amanda Nunes, Shayna Baszler, Germaine de Randamie, Julie Kedzie, Ayaka Hamasaki
Note: Cristiane (Cyborg) Santos is not on the list due to her failed drug test and subsequent one-year suspension.
HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Cain Velasquez
Headlines UFC 160 against Antonio Silva.
2. Junior dos Santos
Will look to KO Overeem in UFC 160 co-main event.
3. Fabricio Werdum
Will coach TUF Brazil 2 against Big Nog then fight him.
4. Daniel Cormier
Faces Mir at UFC on Fox in April.
5. Antonio Silva
Earned a rematch against Velasquez with huge KO of Overeem.
6. Alistair Overeem
Lost by KO for first time since 2007, as Bigfoot blasted him. JDS up next.
7. Shane Carwin
If he ever gets healthy he’s one of the best in the division.
8. Frank Mir
Will Welcome Cormier to the UFC.
9. Roy Nelson
Meets Cheick Kongo at UFC 159.
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Not the same Big Nog as years past but will give Werdum a test.
Honourable mention: Travis Browne, Stefan Struve, Josh Barnett, Ben Rothwell, Stipe Miocic
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Jon Jones
Will defend his belt against Chael Sonnen after stint as TUF 17 coach.
2. Glover Teixeira
Meets Bader at UFC 160.
3. Lyoto Machida
Edged Hendo at UFC 157 in unimpressive win.
4. Dan Henderson
Couldn’t figure out Machida. Lost a close, split decision.
5. Phil Davis
Meets Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159.
6. Alexander Gustafsson
Very close to a title shot. Will welcome Mousasi to the UFC in April.
7. Mauricio Rua
Was outdueled by Gustafsson on prime time TV.
8. Ryan Bader
Made quick work of Vladimir Matyushenko. In tough against Teixeira.
9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Outscored Evans in forgettable UFC 156 win.
10. Gegard Mousasi
Makes UFC debut in April in Sweden.
Honourable mention: Rashad Evans, Thiago Silva, James Te-Huna, Quinton Jackson
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. Anderson Silva
Likely to fight Weidman next.
2. Hector Lombard
Fights Okami March 3.
3. Vitor Belfort
Will welcome Rockhold to UFC.
4. Chris Weidman
Recovering from shoulder surgery, could face Silva next.
5. Michael Bisping
Meets Belcher at UFC 159.
6. Luke Rockhold
Debuts in Octagon against Belfort.
7. Ronaldo Souza
Set to fight Philippou at UFC on FX 8.
8. Yushin Okami
Takes on Lombard next.
9. Alan Belcher
Faces Bisping at UFC 159.
10. Constantinos Philippou
Still improving, looks to beat “Jacare” next.
Honourable mention: Tim Boetsch, Brian Stann, Rousimar Palhares
Note: Chael Sonnen was No. 2 but has since moved up to the 205-pound division.
WELTERWEIGHT
1. Georges St-Pierre
Meets Diaz at UFC 158 in Montreal.
2. Carlos Condit
Faces Hendricks at UFC 158.
3. Nick Diaz
Gets his chance against GSP in enemy territory.
4. Demian Maia
Dominated Fitch at UFC 156. Becoming serious title threat.
5. Rory MacDonald
Injury forced him out of rematch with Condit.
6. Johny Hendricks
Moved up to co-main event status vs. Condit.
7. Jon Fitch
Fitch got out-Fitched by Maia then got cut by the UFC.
8. Martin Kampmann
Got caught by a perfect Hendricks punch.
9. Mike Pierce
Very underrated. Coming off solid win over Seth Baczynski.
10. Jake Ellenberger
Looks to regain contender status with win over Nate Marquardt at UFC 154.
Honourable mention: Tarec Saffiedine, Ben Askren, Nate Marquardt, Tyron Woodley, Dong Hyun Kim, Robbie Lawler, Thiago Alves, Erick Silva, Mike Pyle
LIGHTWEIGHT
1. Benson Henderson
Meets Melendez on April 20 on Fox.
2. Anthony Pettis
Will drop to featherweight to challenge Jose Aldo.
3. Nate Diaz
Takes on former Strikeforce champ Josh Thomson next.
4. Gilbert Melendez
Earned an immediate title shot since moving over from Strikeforce.
5. Gray Maynard
Will fight TJ Grant at UFC 160.
6. Michael Chandler
Submitted Rick Hawn at Bellator 85 in impressive fashion.
7. Donald Cerrone
Takes on fellow striker KJ Noons at UFC 160.
8. Jim Miller
Welcomes Pat Healy back to the UFC at UFC 159.
9. Eddie Alvarez
Should be in the UFC soon but in a legal battle with Bellator.
10. TJ Grant
Maynard will be his toughest test to date but he’s ready.
Honourable mention: Rafael dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Joe Lauzon, Jamie Varner, Evan Dunham, Gleison Tibau
FEATHERWEIGHT
1. Jose Aldo
Outclassed Edgar at UFC 156. Fights Pettis next.
2. Pat Curran
Beat Patricio Freire at Bellator 85 with beautiful combinations.
3. Chad Mendes
Takes on Clay Guida at UFC on FOX 7.
4. Ricardo Lamas
TKO’d Koch in bloody fashion.
5. Chan Sung Jung
Has been on the sidelines injured.
6. Cub Swanson
Continued hot strreak with win over Poirier.
7. Frankie Edgar
Did okay, but didn’t threaten Aldo at all in 145-pound debut.
8. Dustin Poirier
Came up just short against Swanson at UFC on FUEL TV 7.
9. Eric Koch
Coming off first career stoppage loss.
10. Dennis Siver
Extremely dangerous at 145 pounds.
Honourable mention: Nik Lentz, Diego Nunes, Hatsu Hioki, Patricio Friere, Rani Yahya, Hacran Dias, Darren Elkins, Clay Guida
BANTAMWEIGHT
1. Dominick Cruz
His return was pushed back after a setback in his knee’s rehab.
2. Renan Barao
Submitted McDonald and defended interim belt.
3. Urijah Faber
Looked fantastic in submission win over Menjivar at UFC 157.
4. Michael McDonald
Lost to Barao but will be at or near the top of this division for a long time.
5. Brian Bowles
Only career losses to Cruz and Faber.
6. Eddie Wineland
His striking was on point against Pickett.
7. Brad Pickett
Was a half step behind Wineland at UFC 155.
8. Ivan Menjivar
Couldn’t upset Faber.
9. Bibiano Fernandes
Finished the year by choking Yoshiro Maeda unconscious at DREAM 18.
10. Eduardo Dantas
KO’d his teammate Marcos Galvao impressively at Bellator 89.
Honourable mention: Scott Jorgensen, Raphael Assuncao, Mike Easton, Takeya Mizugaki, Erik Perez
FLYWEIGHT
1. Demetrious Johnson
Will defend his belt against Moraga.
2. Joseph Benavidez
Beat McCall at UFC 156 with a solid performance.
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
Was unsuccessful in his UFC debut.
7. Darren Uyenoyama
Has possibly the most dangerous ground game in the division.
8. Darrell Montague
Only loss at flyweight was to McCall.
9. Tim Elliott
Has won nine of his last 10.
10. John Lineker
Looked great against Yasuhiro Urushitani in Macau.
Honourable mention: Chris Cariaso, Ulysses Gomez, Jose Maria Tome, Louis Gaudinot, 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.