On Saturday, UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson had a tremendous performance in a one-sided decision over Nate Diaz. As a result he earned a much-deserved (though likely debated) move up a few spots in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Also, Alexander Gustafsson made a jump on the light-heavyweight list, while Rory MacDonald solidified his place among the best welterweights in the world.
With that, we give you Sportsnet.ca’s latest mixed martial arts rankings.
Of course, with three more UFC events in 2012 and some heavyweight bouts on tap, there could well be some movement before the new year.
But for now…
Sportsnet.ca’s December 2012 MMA rankings:
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. Benson Henderson
He is a stylistic matchup nightmare for all lightweights.
5. Jon Jones
Overcame adversity and gained a lot of respect at UFC 152.
6. Junior dos Santos
Has arguably the best boxing in MMA and the ability to keep any fight standing.
7. Dominick Cruz
Recovering from a torn ACL; must rehab like GSP did.
8. Demetrious Johnson
The fastest fighter in MMA and has skills everywhere.
9. Cain Velasquez
When he’s healthy he’s as good as anyone in MMA and right now he’s healthy.
10. Joseph Benavidez
Was barely outpointed by Johnson at UFC 152.
Honourable mention: Frankie Edgar, Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, Nate Marquardt, Rashad Evans
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
Meets Matt Wiman in January.
4. Ivan Menjivar
Faces Urijah Faber at UFC 157. Won Submission of the Night at UFC 154.
5. Mark Bocek
Was outmatched by Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 154.
6. Jordan Mein
Dismantled Forrest Petz with elbows at SFS7.
7. Claude Patrick
Has been injured but recently earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
8. Ryan Jimmo
Has won 17 straight and had a seven-second knockout in his UFC debut.
9. Yves Jabouin
Has won three of his last four fights by decision.
10. Nick Ring
Was not cleared by doctors before UFC 154 due to illness.
Honourable mention: Antonio Carvalho, Mitch Gagnon, Jesse Ronson, Sean Pierson, Sam Stout, John Makdessi
FEMALE POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Ronda Rousey
The first female UFC champion.
2. Sarah Kaufman
Could soon make her way to the UFC.
3. Miesha Tate
Submitted Julie Kedzie in a Fight of the Year candidate.
4. Sara McMann
Is unbeaten, impressive and improving.
5. Jessica Aguilar
Has won nine of ten fights.
6. Zoila Gurgel
Picked up a win at Bellator 78.
7. Megumi Fujii
Coming off second career loss.
8. Jessica Penne
Became Invicta FC atomweight champion in October.
9. Marloes Coenen
Not afraid to call out Rousey and other top fighters.
10. Liz Carmouche
Faces Rousey in the main event at UFC 157.
Honourable mention: 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. Junior dos Santos
Meets Velasquez on Dec. 29 at UFC 155.
2. Cain Velasquez
The most well-rounded heavyweight is focused and wants his belt back.
3. Fabricio Werdum
Will coach TUF Brazil 2 against Big Nog.
4. Daniel Cormier
Faces Dion Staring in January.
5. Alistair Overeem
Wanted a title shot but gets Bigfoot instead.
6. Antonio Silva
Nearly decapitated Travis Browne, now looks to do the same to Overeem.
7. Shane Carwin
Knee injury forced him out of TUF 16 finale bout vs. Big Country.
8. Frank Mir
Recovering from some injuries. Will be back in 2013.
9. Roy Nelson
Now takes on TUF 10 rival Matt Mitrione after Carwin pulled out.
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. Rashad Evans
Returns against Lil Nog in February.
3. Dan Henderson
Luckily didn’t need surgery on his injured knee, meets Machida next.
4. Lyoto Machida
Takes on Hendo at UFC 157.
5. Phil Davis
Was to face Forrest Griffin at UFC 155 but Griffin pulled out.
6. Alexander Gustafsson
Topped Shogun by unanimous decision, likely earned a title shot.
7. Mauricio Rua
Was outdueled by Gustafsson on prime time TV.
8. Glover Teixeira
Pulverized Fabio Maldonado at UFC 153, faces Rampage on FOX in January.
9. Ryan Bader
Will fight Vladimir Matyushenko on Jan. 26.
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Back from injury to fight Evans in early 2013.
Honourable mention: Thiago Silva, Quinton Jackson, Gegard Mousasi
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. Anderson Silva
Fights on another frequency than most in the UFC.
2. Michael Bisping
Travels to Brazil to fight Belfort in January.
3. Alan Belcher
Takes on Yushin Okami at UFC 155.
4. Chris Weidman
Recovering from shoulder surgery.
5. Vitor Belfort
Showed heart against Jones at UFC 152 but middleweight is his home.
6. Luke Rockhold
Recovering from injury but will return in 2013.
7. Hector Lombard
Fights Rousimar Palhares in Australia in December.
8. Ronaldo Souza
Meets Lorenz Larkin in January.
9. Tim Boetsch
Looks to stay unbeaten at middleweight against Philippou.
10. Constantinos Philippou
Steps in for Weidman to fight Boetsch at UFC 155.
Honourable mention: Brian Stann, Rousimar Palhares, Yushin Okami
Note: Chael Sonnen was No. 2 but has since moved up to the 205-pound division.
WELTERWEIGHT
1. Georges St-Pierre
Looked better than ever against Condit at UFC 154.
2. Carlos Condit
Pushed GSP to the limit and proved his worth.
3. Nick Diaz
Wasn’t impressed with GSP’s performance.
4. Nate Marquardt
The Strikeforce champion meets Tarec Saffiedine in January.
5. Johny Hendricks
Planked Kampmann in Montreal. GSP says he’s the top contender.
6. Rory MacDonald
Battered BJ Penn in biggest win of his career.
7. Demian Maia
After disposing of Rick Story, he is one of the biggest threats in the division.
8. Jon Fitch
He impressed at UFC 153 and fights Maia next.
9. Martin Kampmann
Got caught by a perfect Hendricks punch.
10. Jake Ellenberger
Beat Jay Hieron in a forgettable performance.
Honourable mention: Mike Pierce, Dong Hyun Kim, Josh Koscheck, Thiago Alves, Erick Silva, Mike Pyle
LIGHTWEIGHT
1. Benson Henderson
On his way to becoming the most dominant lightweight in UFC history.
2. Nate Diaz
Dominated by Bendo but showed his toughness.
3. Gilbert Melendez
The UFC is next for the Strikeforce champ.
4. Gray Maynard
Injury forced him out of UFC 155 bout with Lauzon.
5. Anthony Pettis
A bout with Cerrone is set for January.
6. Donald Cerrone
Doesn’t like Pettis and will have the chance to settle the score.
7. Michael Chandler
Will defend his Bellator title against Rick Hawn.
8. Eddie Alvarez
Being courted by the UFC. Knocked out Patricky Freire at Bellator 76 with spectacular head-kick.
9. Jim Miller
Steps in for Maynard against J-Lau.
10. Joe Lauzon
Coming off big win over Jamie Varner. Fights Jim Miller next.
Honourable mention: Rafael dos Anjos, TJ Grant, Matt Wiman, Evan Dunham, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Gleison Tibau, Josh Thomson
FEATHERWEIGHT
1. Jose Aldo
Headlines UFC 156 against Edgar.
2. Pat Curran
Out with an injury but is Bellator’s top talent.
3. Chad Mendes
Meets Yaotzin Meza on at UFC on FX 6.
4. Eric Koch
Title bout with Aldo fell apart several times. Now fights Lamas.
5. Chan Sung Jung
Closing in on a title shot.
6. Dustin Poirier
Faces Jonathan Brookins at TUF 16 finale.
7. Ricardo Lamas
A win over Koch could get him a title shot.
8. Frankie Edgar
Got an immediate title shot when he made the drop to 145.
9. Cub Swanson
A third straight win in the UFC and two straight KO of the Night awards.
10. Dennis Siver
Outclassed Nam Phan at UFC on FOX 5.
Honourable mention: Diego Nunes, Hatsu Hioki, Nik Lentz, Rani Yahya, Hacran Dias, Darren Elkins, Yuri Alcantara
BANTAMWEIGHT
1. Dominick Cruz
His return was pushed back after a setback in his knee’s rehab.
2. Renan Barao
Will defend interim belt against McDonald.
3. Urijah Faber
Takes on Menjivar at UFC 157.
4. Brian Bowles
Only career losses to Cruz and Faber.
5. Michael McDonald
Will fight Barao for interim strap.
6. Brad Pickett
KO’d Yves Jabouin with one of the best punches of the year. Meets Wineland next.
7. Bibiano Fernandes
Coming off dominant win over Gustavo Falciroli in ONE FC.
8. Eddie Wineland
His fight with Pickett should be a barnburner.
9. Ivan Menjivar
Performed brilliantly at UFC 154.
10. Scott Jorgensen
Earned Submission and Fight of the Night at UFC on FOX 5.
Honourable mention: Mike Easton, Eduardo Dantas, , Takeya Mizugaki
FLYWEIGHT
1. Demetrious Johnson
His first title challanger will be Dodson.
2. Joseph Benavidez
Heartbroken after close, split decision loss to Mighty Mouse.
3. Ian McCall
Currently dealing with some legal troubles.
4. John Dodson
Can he go from TUF champ to UFC champ?
5. Darrell Montague
Hasn’t had a fight since May.
6. Jussier da Silva
Was unsuccessful in his UFC debut against Dodson.
7. John Moraga
Coming off blistering KO win over Ulysses Gomez in his UFC debut.
8. John Lineker
Looked great against Yasuhiro Urushitani in Macau.
9. Chris Cariaso
Had success at 135 but could make waves at 125.
10. Darren Uyenoyama
Submitted Phil Harris and showed why his ground game is so feared.
Honourable mention: Timothy Elliott, 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.
