As if mixed martial arts (MMA) rankings weren't divisive and controversial enough from division-to-division, the pound-for-pound debate is far and away the most spirited ... and complicated.
There is no real concrete way to determine if Dominick Cruz could defeat Junior dos Santos if the two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions were the same size. They aren't, with about 100 pounds difference in size and power. However, they are both very talented and bring something special into the Octagon that sets them apart from their peers.
The good news is that there are exceptions to the confines of the pound-for-pound discussion.
Two-division fighters such as Anderson Silva, who can pretty much beat up anyone on any given night, do exists. In fact, Silva might very well compete in three different weight classes before he calls is a career, challenging the champions who sit above (Jon Jones) and below him (Georges St. Pierre).
Until that happens, however, and until more fighters compete beyond their respective divisions, we can only theorize.
Below is a list of the SB Nation Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- as well as every other major MMA promotion -- as compiled by MMAmania, MMA Fighting and Bloody Elbow.
Check it out:
- Anderson Silva
- Jon Jones
- Georges St. Pierre
- Jose Aldo
- Junior dos Santos
- Ben Henderson
- Dominick Cruz
- Frankie Edgar
- Dan Henderson
- Demetrious Johnson
As already mentioned, Silva has a real chance to make a concrete case to make this list a reality. So, too, do Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, who will collide in the UFC 156 main event on Super Bowl weekend 2013.
Hopefully, more will follow.
Alright Maniacs, you've heard from us, now let's hear from you. Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world are ...?