Who is the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world?

By Alistair Hendrie

To determine the best fighter in the world, you need to take into account plenty of factors: form, skill, opposition and dominance, for example. So, if a champion defends his or her crown via a string of finishes, does that equal or better a run of decisions?

It’s a debate which rings around gyms, television studios, offices and of course pubs all over the world, and that’s exactly why Alistair Hendrie Sport will be releasing its pound-for-pound list at the start of every month.

To qualify for the list, a fighter should be considered active, so although Jon Jones, for instance, is one of the most skilled and dominant fighters on the planet, he is yet to return from his doping suspension, leaving him dormant for the moment.

Now that you know the criteria we’re looking for and pre-requisites for entry, take a look at the pound-for-pound best mixed martial artists in the world.

December 2018 - Men

1 – Daniel Cormier (USA) (205lbs)
2 – Demetrious Johnson (USA) (125lbs)
3 – Max Holloway (USA) (145lbs)
4 – Stipe Miocic (USA) (265lbs)
5 – Robert Whittaker (AUS) (185lbs)
6 – Tyron Woodley (USA) (170lbs)
7 – Khabib Nurmagomedov (RUS) (155lbs)
8 – TJ Dillashaw (USA) (135lbs)
9 – Henry Cejudo (USA) (125lbs)
10 – Tony Ferguson (USA) (155lbs)
11 – Jose Aldo (BRA) (145lbs)
12 – Cody Garbrandt (USA) (135lbs)
13 – Dustin Poirier (USA) (155lbs) (+1)
14 – Rafael dos Anjos (BRA) (170lbs) (-1)
15 – Yoel Romero (CUB) (185lbs)
16 – Robbie Lawler (USA) (170lbs)
17 – Dominic Cruz (USA) (135lbs)
18 – Brian Ortega (USA) (145lbs)
19 – Kamaru Usman (NIG) (170lbs) (+3)
20 – Stephen Thompson (USA) (170lbs) (-1)
21 – Frankie Edgar (USA) (145lbs) (-1)
22 – Kevin Lee (USA) (155lbs) (-1)
23 – Francis Ngannou (FRA) (265lbs) (+1)
24 – Derrick Lewis (USA) (265lbs) (-1)
25 – Marlon Moraes (BRA) (135lbs)


December 2018 - Women

1 – Amanda Nunes (BRA) (135lbs)
2 – Rose Namajunas (USA) (115lbs)
3 – Joanna Jedrzejczyk (POL) (115lbs)
4 – Cris Cyborg (BRA) (145lbs)
5 – Valentina Shevchenko (KYR) (125lbs)
6 – Jessica Andrade (BRA) (115lbs)
7 – Tecia Torres (USA) (115lbs)
8 – Holly Holm (USA) (145lbs)
9 – Raquel Pennington (USA) (135lbs)
10 – Claudia Gadhela (BRA) (115lbs)
11 – Karolina Kowalkiewicz (POL) (115lbs)
12 – Carla Esparza (USA) (115lbs)
13 – Tonya Evinger (USA) (135lbs)
14 – Megan Anderson (USA) (135lbs)
15 – Cynthia Calvillo (USA) (115lbs) (+2)
16 – Germaine de Randamie (NED) (145lbs) (+2)
17 – Barb Honchak (USA) (125lbs) (-2)
18 – Felice Herrig (USA) (115lbs) (-2)
19 – Alexis Davis (CAN) (125lbs)
20 – Julliana Pena (USA) (135lbs)
21 – Angela Lee (CAN) (105lbs)
22 – Sara McMann (USA) (135lbs)
23 – Jennifer Maia (BRA) (125lbs)
24 – Liz Carmouche (USA) (125lbs)
25 – Michelle Waterson (USA) (115lbs) (NE)

Whether you agree or disagree with our standings, join in the discussion and let us know your pound-for-pound lists on Twitter.

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