The last month saw some movement in the rankings as usual, but most significantly in divisions at opposite ends of the weight scale.
Two heavyweight bouts with titles on the line saw some fighters move up and some move down, while a mini-tournament bout finally broke a tie in the flyweight list.
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 any thoughts and arguments to @MikeyJ_MMA.
These rankings were created with the following criteria kept in mind: A fighter’s recent performances and record, their quality of competition, and their overall skill set. The pound-for-pound list takes into consideration how the fighter’s skill set would transfer over to a different weight class.
Here are sportsnet.ca’s mixed martial arts rankings for June 2012.
Jump to: Pound-for-pound | Canadians | Women
Jump to: Heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Welterweight
Jump to: Lightweight | Featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight
POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Jose Aldo
On one of the most dominant streaks in Zuffa’s history.
2. Georges St-Pierre
He’s been out for a while, but still the most well-rounded fighter in MMA.
3. Anderson Silva
Looking to humble Chael Sonnen in July.
4. Dominick Cruz
Recently tore his ACL and will miss upwards of nine months.
5. Junior dos Santos
Has arguably the best boxing in MMA and the ability to keep any fight standing.
6. Jon Jones
His length is his strongest asset and people just can’t solve it.
7. Benson Henderson
Incredible cardio, durability, flexibility and mental fortitude.
8. Dan Henderson
One of the all-time best and dangerous in three weight classes.
9. Joseph Benavidez
Finally at home competing in the flyweight division.
10. Frankie Edgar
Can take loads of punishment and keep moving forward.
Honourable mention: Rashad Evans, Carlos Condit, Cain Velasquez, Urijah Faber, Nick Diaz
CANADIAN POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Georges St-Pierre
Will defend his title against Carlos Condit, likely late in 2012.
2. Rory MacDonald
After latest win he’s no longer a prospect, now he’s a contender.
3. Ivan Menjivar
Even closer to the top of the 135-pound division with Cruz out.
4. Mark Bocek
Looked solid in win over fellow Canadian John Alessio at UFC 145.
5. T.J. Grant
Impressive win over Carlo Prater on May 15. A force at lightweight.
6. Claude Patrick
Takes on James Head at UFC 149 in Calgary.
7. Yves Jabouin
Meets Brad Pickett in England in September.
8. Roland Delorme
Welcomes Bibiano Fernandes to the UFC at Calgary’s first event.
9. Jordan Mein
One of the top welterweights in Strikeforce. Meets Tyler Stinson in July.
10. Sam Stout
Set to face Spencer Fisher for a third time on June 22.
Honourable mention: Nick Denis, Mark Hominick, Krzysztof Soszynski, John Alessio, Patrick Cote, Sean Pierson, Chris Clements
FEMALE POUND-FOR-POUND
1. Ronda Rousey
Trains with some of the best UFC fighters. Defends belt against Kaufman next.
2. Sarah Kaufman
The Canadian looks to be the first to defeat Rousey.
3. Miesha Tate
Healing up her injured elbow.
4. Zoila Gurgel
Recovering from an ACL injury.
5. Jessica Aguilar
Edged out Fujii at Bellator 69.
6. Megumi Fujii
Came up just shy against Aguilar.
7. Tara LaRosa
Possesses an impressive 21-2 record.
8. Marloes Coenen
Beat Romy Ruyssen on April 28 and proceeded to call out Rousey.
9. Alexis Davis
Canada’s second best female fighter.
10.Amanda Nunes
Huge knockout power.
Honourable mention: Hiroko Yamanaka, Ayaka Hamasaki, Sara McMann
Note: Cristiane (Cyborg) Santos would have been on the list but is not eligible due to her failed drug test and subsequent one-year suspension.
HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Junior dos Santos
Defended his belt against Mir at UFC 146 with relative ease.
2. Cain Velasquez
Turned Antonio Silva to a bloody mess very quickly.
3. Fabricio Werdum
Meets Mike Russow at UFC 147.
4. Daniel Cormier
Was on point against Barnett in Strikeforce GP final.
5. Alistair Overeem
Currently in no man’s land.
6. Frank Mir
Was simply outclassed by JDS, but still a dangerous heavyweight.
7. Shane Carwin
Expected to return before the end of 2012.
8. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Returns at UFC 149 against Cheick Kongo.
9. Roy Nelson
Seemingly only loses to top contenders.
10. Stipe Miocic
Had a breakout performance at UFC 146 to remain unbeaten.
Honourable mention: Josh Barnett, Ben Rothwell, Antonio Silva, Stefan Struve, Travis Browne
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Jon Jones
Handled Evans at UFC 145, but looked human in doing so.
2. Rashad Evans
Was not aggressive against Jones like he had promised.
3. Dan Henderson
Will fight Jones for title at UFC 151 on Sept. 1.
4. Mauricio Rua
Moved off UFC 149. Now fights Brandon Vera in August.
5. Lyoto Machida
Fights Bader at UFC on FOX 4 in August.
6. Phil Davis
Welcomes Wagner Prado to the UFC on Aug. 4.
7. Alexander Gustafsson
Dominated a talented Thiago Silva in Sweden.
8. Ryan Bader
Has tough test coming up against Machida.
9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Often injury plagued, but still one of the best.
10. Gegard Mousasi
Says he wants a shot at Jones one day.
Honourable mention: Glover Teixeira, Thiago Silva, Forrest Griffin, Igor Pokrajac, Fabio Maldonado
MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. Anderson Silva
Headlines UFC 148 against nemesis Chael Sonnen.
2. Chael Sonnen
See above.
3. Vitor Belfort
Pulled out of UFC 147 fight with fellow TUF Brazil coach Wanderlei Silva.
4. Alan Belcher
Outmatched Palhares on the ground then knocked him out.
5. Michael Bisping
Injury forced him off of UFC 149.
6. Mark Munoz
Closing in on a title shot. Takes on Weidman in July.
7. Tim Boetsch
Welcomes Lombard to the UFC.
8. Brian Stann
KO’d Alessio Sakara quickly.
9. Hector Lombard
Bellator’s longtime undisputed champion is now a UFC contender.
10. Rousimar Palhares
Couldn’t pull out the submission against Belcher.
Honourable mention: Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Yushin Okami
WELTERWEIGHT
1. Georges St-Pierre
Tentatively scheduled to meet Condit at UFC 154 in Montreal.
2. Carlos Condit
See above.
3. Nick Diaz
Recently suspended for one year. Out until at least February 2013.
4. Martin Kampmann
Became the first person to knockout Ellenberger.
5. Rory MacDonald
Welcomes BJ Penn back to the UFC at Toronto’s next event.
6. Jake Ellenberger
Couldn’t capitalize after rocking Kampmann early at the TUF Live finale.
7. Johny Hendricks
Looks like he’ll fight Kampmann for a title shot.
8. Josh Koscheck
Many thought he should have got the decision against Hendricks.
9. Jon Fitch
Sidelined with injury. Was to fight Aaron Simpson in July.
10. Thiago Alves
Injury forced him out of UFC 149 bout with Siyar Bahadurzada.
Honourable mention: Mike Pierce, Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, Siyar Bahadurzada, Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez, Mike Pyle
LIGHTWEIGHT
1. Benson Henderson
Takes on Edgar at UFC 150 in Denver on Aug. 11.
2. Gilbert Melendez
Defended his title against Josh Thomson in a close, exciting fight.
3. Frankie Edgar
Will try to regain belt in rematch with Henderson.
4. Nate Diaz
Looked better than ever against Jim Miller. Next in line for a title shot.
5. Gray Maynard
Next up is a bout with Clay Guida on June 22.
6. Anthony Pettis
Has a win over current champ Henderson.
7. Jim Miller
Coming off his first stoppage loss, but still world class.
8. Michael Chandler
Will defend his belt against Rick Hawn.
9. Donald Cerrone
Looked like vintage Cowboy in his win over Jeremy Stephens.
10. Eddie Alvarez
Dominated Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66.
Honourable mention: Jamie Varner, Edson Barboza, Clay Guida, Evan Dunham, Gleison Tibau, Rafael dos Anjos, Josh Thomson, Rick Hawn
FEATHERWEIGHT
1. Jose Aldo
His bout with Koch has been postponed due to injury.
2. Pat Curran
Will defend his belt against Patricio (Pitbull) Freire at Bellator 73.
3. Chad Mendes
Next up for Mendes is Cody McKenzie.
4. Hatsu Hioki
Takes on Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FX 4.
5. Eric Koch
Must sit and wait for Aldo to get healthy.
6. Chan Sung Jung
Put forth an incredible performance in his submission win over Poirier.
7. Dustin Poirier
Loss to Jung was his first at featherweight.
8. Yuri Alcantara
Next faces countryman Hacran Dias at UFC 147 in Brazil.
9. Dennis Siver
Takes on fellow striker Eddie Yagin at UFC 151.
10. Diego Nunes
Was on the losing end of a close bout with Siver.
Honourable mention: Daniel Straus, Charles Oliveira, Marlon Sandro, Bart Palaszewski, Jimy Hettes, Ricardo Lamas, Tatsuya Kawajiri
BANTAMWEIGHT
1. Dominick Cruz
Torn ACL forced him out of his bout with Faber. Will be out for up to nine months.
2. Urijah Faber
Fights Barao for the interim title in UFC 149’s new main event.
3. Renan Barao
Gets a shot at a belt due to Cruz injury.
4. Brian Bowles
Only career losses to Cruz and Faber.
5. Michael McDonald
Knocked out former WEC champ Miguel Torres in devastating fashion.
6. Brad Pickett
The Brit will fight Montreal’s Yves Jabouin in England.
7. Ivan Menjivar
See No. 3.
8. Eduardo Dantas
Recently beat Zach Makovsky to become Bellator’s 135-pound champ.
9. Eddie Wineland
Former WEC champ impressively KO’d Jorgensen.
10. Mike Easton
Is 2-0 in the UFC but currently recovering from injury.
Honourable mention: Scott Jorgensen, Miguel Torres, Zach Makovsky, Takeya Mizugaki, Marcos Galvao, Bibiano Fernandes
FLYWEIGHT
1. Joseph Benavidez
Will fight Johnson later this year for first UFC flyweight championship.
2. Demetrious Johnson
Adjusted beautifully to beat McCall in UFC on FX rematch.
3. Ian McCall
Was outdueled by Mighty Mouse.
4. Jussier da Silva
Should be on the UFC’s radar. Only career loss was to McCall.
5. Darrell Montague
Coming off big knockout win over Taylor McCorriston on May 10.
6. Ulysses Gomez
Former Tachi Palace Fights champion. Dangerous submission artist.
7. John Dodson
Won his first UFC flyweight bout despite breaking his hand.
8. Yasuhiro Urushitani
Coming off his first career knockout loss.
9. Timothy Elliott
Impressive showing in his UFC debut, despite the loss to Dodson.
10. Jose Maria Tome
Unbeaten in last 17 fights and 23 of his 28 career wins have come by stoppage.
Honourable mention: Louis Gaudinot, Darren Uyenoyama, Mamoru Yamaguchi, Rambaa Somdet
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.
Also, for comparison’s sake, here are the latest UFC CENTRAL rankings from Showdown Joe.
