Fightbeat's MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound

Fightbeat's esteemed MMA experts have collectively created the definitive MMA Pound-for-Pound Top 10 List.






10) Jake Shields—- An impressive 6 year win streak came to a crashing halt against GSP in April, but Jake’s recent run was enough to keep him listed among the best in the world. There is no shame in losing to GSP, but when it comes on the heels of a lackluster narrow decision win over Martin Kampmann, Shields might be on his way off this list.


9) Jon Fitch—- Despite only managing a draw with BJ Penn his last time out, Jon Fitch locks down the 9th spot. It’s difficult to discount a guy who has gone 21-1-1 over the last 9 years with the lone loss coming at the hands of the best fighter on the planet. Fitch is likely out 3-4 months following shoulder surgery.


8) Cain Velasquez—- It’s been 7 months since Cain’s destruction of Brock Lesnar catapulted him to the top of the UFC’s Heavyweight division. It seems improbable that a fighter with only 9 wins could garner such respect and standing. But there is something about Cain’s ability and drive that defies typical ranking methodology. A proposed October return versus the Carwin-JDS winner could solidify his spot.


7) Nick Diaz—- There are few things that generate as much heated discussion among MMA fans as the debate over where Nick Diaz belongs among MMA’s elite. His 13 and 1 record over the last 6 years and a successful 5 fight Strikeforce title run would seem to be enough to qualify for any Top 10 list. But Diaz has made it even more difficult for fans to ignore him as he has displayed an exciting penchant for beating opponents at their own games. Diaz has earned a shot at GSP and it will be difficult for the UFC to avoid making the fight happen.


6) Gilbert Melendez—- Much like Nick Diaz , fellow Team Cesar Gracie member Melendez has strongly stated his case to be the rightful challenger for a UFC title. With strong statement wins over Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajira, Melendez has placed himself among the very top of a crowded and talented 155 pound division. It will be difficult to find legitimate challengers on Strikeforce’s roster and Melendez will likely be a driving force behind future crossover bouts between Strikeforce and UFC fighters.


5) Frankie Edgar—- Edgar holds an impressive 13-1 record and literally forced BJ Penn out of the Lightweight division with two wins over the former 155 pound king. But his ranking creates an interesting quandary for MMA fans. Edgar is 0-1-1 against undefeated Gray Maynard who is NOT ranked this P4P list. A win against Maynard in their postponed third fight is a must if Edgar wants to retain his spot among MMA’s elite.


4) Jose Aldo—- Aldo’s dominance over the world’s best Featherweights was on full display again in April against Mark Hominick. Despite a difficult weight cut and a determined opponent, Aldo proved he is just on a different level from other 145 pound fighters. Finding viable challengers at 145 will difficult for the UFC beyond a potential fall match up with undefeated former Division-1 wrestling All-American, Chad Mendes.


3) Jon Jones—- Two months ago Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua would likely have occupied a top 10 spot on most pound-for-pound rankings. That would have been right before Jon Jones tossed him around the cage and left Shogun bloodied, beaten and unsure of his surroundings. The ease with which ‘Bones’ dispatched Rua is the primary reason Jones is now mentioned along with the best guys in the sport. And the dominant victory over Rua is not an anomaly. Jones has being equally destructive in all of his 14 MMA bouts.


2) Anderson Silva—- The UFC’s Middleweight Division has been absolutely owned by Silva for almost 5 years. MMA fans strongly suspected Silva was on the decline following his last minute submission victory over Chael Sonnen. However, most of those suspicions were quickly quieted with single front kick that also silenced Vitor Belfort back in February. The destruction of the over-matched Belfort really only proved yet again that Anderson Silva stands alone among the best 185 pound fighters in the world.


1) Georges St-Pierre—- The debate will likely rage on as to whether GSP or Silva is most deserving of the top spot. The one thing that can’t be questioned is the fact that St-Pierre has been the most clearly dominant fighter in MMA over the last 3 years. The UFC has tossed the MMA equivalent of a murder’s row at GSP and he has rarely yielded even a single inch. The clear, albeit lackluster, win in April over Jake Shields locked down the top spot for St-Pierre.

 

Me, Bob and TLC didn't have Shields in their top 10. That cost him.

 

Not really sure why Shields should be anything more than 10. When it came time to really step up to the plate against the elite of the elite, he fought like a wet lettuce.

Amazed Trpl didn't have him in his top 10 though, you seem like the biggest Shields fan here Trpl.

Personally I think Melendez over Diaz is insane. Diaz is significantly better and more proven.

 

yeah, having Melendez on their and not Penn is rediculous too. Fuckin, Trplsec.

 

It's no secret. I love that Cesar Gracie team. Shields is still one of my absolute favorites but he just hasn't looked like a Top 10 talent his last 2 times in the octagon. I also think GSP was there to be beaten after he started crying about his eye and Shields never pushed things.

And it's always tough because I do have Fitch in my top 10 despite a draw with Penn his last time out and the fact that Shields actually looked better against GSP than Fitch did.

And Jarhead brings up Penn who was another struggle for me. Penn is 1-2-1 over his last 4 fights. BUT 3 of those were against guys on THIS Top 10 list. Honestly though, who does Penn deserve to bump off the list?

That's why I'm glad this is a collective list and not just my rankings. Blame yourselves!!!!!

 

Only you and Joony didn't have Melendez ranked. And Godfather had him at 3.

The people have spoken.

PS... Not even an honorable mention for Fancy Pants....:giggle:

 

Melendez level of competition at 155 over his career is second to none.

Diaz doesn't even compare. The best guy he's fought since scrubbing out of the UFC is freakin Paul Daley.

 

No.

 

TLC, you fuckin crack me up man! You have rode every single Diaz opponent's nuts since you came on this board. Now that he mowed through all of them, you now play revisionist and say they all sucked!:doh:

Gilbert Melendez's level of competition is average at the very best. Compare it to Penn and its laughable. His best win is over Aoki, which was definitely a nice win. Besides that the next best is Josh Thompson who probably isn't in the top 20 LW's in the world.

 

I could easily list 4 or 5 guys who's level of competition at 155 shits all over that of Melendez. It's not even the same ball park.

 

Kawajiri(2x)

Guida?

As for Thomson, yeah, he probably is top 20. Especially when Melendez beat him.

 

As for Diaz, the only one I thought would beat him is Zaromskis. And that had more to do with Diaz than Zaromskis.

Zaromskis is very obviously a terrible fighter.

 

Kawajiri is a solid vet, at very best a B fighter. As is Guida. Thompson MAYBE was top 20 in the world when Melendez beat him, and that was after Thompson beat him first.

I am pretty sure you told everyone that Daley would beat Diaz, I am just too lazy to look it up. You said Zaromski would kick his head into the seats.

 

He said "Daley will walk through Diaz's girly puches"

 

Months before the fight......I picked Diaz for the fight on fight night.

Kawajiri is not a B fighter. Even saying something like that says you don't really follow MMA, or the LW division.

 

No, but seriously, if Guida, Thomson, Kawajiri and Ishida are just average wins.

One must wonder how great wins are over a shot Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sherk, Diego and Florian are....:dunno:

 

That's absurd even by your standards TLC.

Melendez can't compare to Diaz, Diaz is much better.

But it's hard to even have a proper conversation with you about Diaz, seeing as you are a very obvious hater.

You were supremely confident Zaromskis would beat him ::

 

Gil Melendez beat Guida who had over 20 fights in like his 8th fight ever.

His level of improvement is also insane. His striking gets better everytime. Great wrestler, ridiculous scrambler.

Saying Diaz is much better is blind nuthuggery, especially considering Melendez literally just crushed a guy who a few years ago was the consensus number 1 lightweight on the planet, and Diaz just got by Paul Daley...nearly got knocked out while doing it.

 

Not nuthuggery at all, I've been a Diaz fan for years, but it's not like I love the guy.

And I have absolutely nothing against Melendez, he's a good fighter, but he is 1 and 1 with Thomson and doesn't seem to improve as much as you think he does fight to fight.

Tristan Yunker beat Guida in his FOURTH fight, and by 1st round armbar, trumping Melendez's split decision win. Is he also better than Diaz? ::

Diaz has been crushing everyone he's faced since leaving the UFC and getting his act together, including guys you picked over him, including Gomi when he was still good, and even beat Daley standing, which no one else has done. Who cares if he got rocked a couple of times, bottom line is he beat Daley down at his own game.

 

He also lost to Joe Riggs. So?

 

No matter how you slice it, the biggest name on Gilbert's resume is Clay Guida. And Guida has 11 loses so how special is it?

And get real. Ishida couldn't carry the jockstrap of guys like Florian, Sanchez, Sherk, or even Stevenson.

But also remember, you didn't say Gilbert had bigger wins than anyone else. You said his LEVEL OF COMPETITION AT 155 was second to none.

That is just stupid.

 

Aoki and Kawajiri are much greater than Guida.

Secondly, I don't doubt for a second Ishida would beat Stevenson. Stevenson is a bum.

 

We must have totally different letter grading scales. I consider an A fighter to be world class elite level. Which clearly Kawajiri is not. Hence he is just under that, a solid vet, a solid B fighter.


I'm so glad you're back. No one else makes retarded posts as well as you do.

 

probably a worse post than saying Gilbert Melendez's level of comp is second to none. you are definitely bringing your "A" game to this thread.

 

Stevenson got one punch knocked out by Mac Danzig....::


Also, weird how a guy who was number one in the world as recently as 2005, and has still been going strong since isn't considered an elite fighter.

If that's the case, BJ hasn't beaten any elite fighters in years.

 

I was a fan of Kawajiri, loved his style especially during Pride. I would love to see a ranking that had him #1 in the world, I don't think he was ever even #1 in Pride, probably not even top 3. At this point in his career, I would MAYBE pick him over Mac Danzig. Probably not though.