MCGRATH: Ranking the top ten pound for pound fighters in MMA

By David McGrath, MMATORCH contributor

Jun 9, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Robert Whittaker (red gloves) defeats Yoel Romero (blue gloves) during UFC 225 at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jon Jones (UFC light heavyweight champion)

Jones is back and in as dominant form as he has ever been. Since returning from suspension, Jones has dominated Alexander Gustafson and Anthony Smith and looked virtuous in doing so. The only question as always with Jones is his personal life in order? The only thing that can beat Jon Jones is Jon Jones.

2. Daniel Cormier (UFC heavyweight champion)

Cormier is one of the Top 5 Mixed Martial Artists of all time. Cormier has looked quicker and his hands heavier at heavyweight, with wins over Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis on short notice Cormier at age 40, just has a few fights left in his epic career.

3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (UFC lightweight champion)

Nobody has emaculated and utterly dominated other professional fighters quite like the Dagestani Numagomedov. Coming off a dominant performance of Conor McGregor and a suspension for the post-fight brawl, look for Khabib to return in November against either Max Holloway or Dustin Poirier.

4. Max Holloway (UFC featherweight champion)

Holloway is on a 13 fight winning streak. Max absolutely annihilated featherweight contender and rising star Brian Ortega in December, putting on a striking clinic. A massive opportunity awaits Holloway in April, facing Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight title.

5. Henry Cejudo (UFC flyweight champion)

When your last two wins are TJ Dillashaw and Demitrious Johnson it is hard not to crack the top 5 in the pound for pound rankings. Cejudo has reinvented his career and looked dominant against TJ Dillashaw in January.

6. Amanda Nunes (UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion)

Nunes is on one of the most impressive streaks in UFC history. With a knockout of Cris Cyborg, a win against Raquel Pennington, a knockout of Ronda Rousey, and wins over Miesha Tate and Valentina Shevchenko, Nunes is now the greatest female fighter of all time.

7. Kamaru Usman (UFC welterweight champion)

Usman has looked other-worldly dominant against both Tyron Woodley and Rafael Dos Anjos. Usman dominated Woodley Saturday and won the welterweight championship, cementing himself as the best welterweight in the world with a matchup with Colby Covington looming.

8. Robert Whittaker (UFC middleweight champion)

I am including Whittaker because of the impressive nature of his last two wins over Yoel Romero. Whittaker is going to face the winner of Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum to unify the title, sometime in the fall most likely.

9. Tony Ferguson

Ferguson is the lineal lightweight champion, only losing to a cable on a Fox set. It is puzzling to me that he turned down a shot at the interim lightweight title. Look for Ferguson to face either Al Iaquinta or Conor McGregor next.


NEXT: LIKE TOM BRADY AND MICHAEL JORDAN, JON JONES IS THE SUREST BET IN SPORTS


10. Rose Namajunas (UFC strawweight champion)

Namajunas is coming off two brilliant wins but has been off for a good bit recovering from the Conor McGregor bus attack. Namajunas will defend her title in May in Brazil against top contender Jessica Andrade.

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