Pound-for-pound rankings: Frankie Edgar is number two in the world

Before you boycott all future columns with my name on them, those are UFC President Dana White's words.

He made that bold claim at the UFC 136 post-fight press conference last night (Oct. 8) when he was asked to break down Frankie Edgar's unbelievable comeback knockout victory over Gray Maynard at UFC 136 in Houston.

He even compared him to Rocky and Arturo Gatti:

"Frankie Edgar. It's funny because I grew up a boxing fan and watching Rocky movies, I love Rocky, but even when you watch Rocky you're like, 'This is such bullsh*t. Nobody would take that many punches and be able to come back and actually win a fight, it could never happen. Yeah, well. He reminds me... he's like the Arturo Gatti of MMA. I mean that's really what this kid is. I have so much respect for him and I'm going to say it here tonight and I don't care who disagrees, you're wrong and I'm right -- he's the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, period."

In fairness to White, he was very much a prisoner of the moment, having just witnessed one of the best fights in recent memory. Edgar put in a truly gutsy performance that deserves a lot of credit.

But this much?

White wasn't done heaping praise just yet. In fact, there's only one reason he doesn't rank Edgar number one pound-for-pound in the world:

"The only thing that keeps him from being number one is that Anderson Silva has not been beaten in the UFC since 2006 and most of that time he's been the champion. That's the only thing that keeps Frankie Edgar from being the number one pound-for-pound. If you really look at what pound-for-pound means, you cannot deny that Frankie Edgar is now number two. The guy weighs 145-pounds. He's beating people at 155-pounds. Tonight he beat a guy again who had him out of it, he was done in the first round and a guy who many people believed had his number ... he knocked him out tonight. I'm telling you, man, I've never seen any sh*t like that in my life. ... What he did tonight was amazing and he's the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, I don't give a sh*t was anybody else says, it's the truth."

Georges St. who?

According to White, the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world are as follows:

1. Anderson Silva
2. Frankie Edgar
3. Jon Jones

Those are the three he has confirmed but again, both Jones and Edgar earned their placement in the immediate aftermath of impressive victories at UFC 135 and UFC 136, respectively.

But what about Jose Aldo? Well, White really wants to see Edgar vacate the 155-pound title and move down to featherweight to battle the 145-pound king.

I suppose then we would better get to gauge White's analysis.

Until then, agree or disagree? Did Edgar's victory last night bump him all the way up to number two on your pound-for-pound rankings list?

Sound off, Maniacs.