The Times’ first top-10 MMA power rankings
The lengthy absence of Ronda Rousey, the doping-connected hiatus of former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and the fact that Conor McGregor is coming off a loss leads to an interesting scramble for pound-for-pound superiority in mixed martial arts.
As The Times unveils its first top-10 MMA power rankings, here’s a basic rundown of our criteria:
While success in the octagon trumps all other categories, there has to be interest in the fighter. The confidence and personality of UFC featherweight champion McGregor gains him points that UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson loses because Johnson seems bored by the lack of competition in his weight class.
Depth of division counts, too. This helps new UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. Her future could include a round-robin of bouts with former champions Rousey, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm and rising contenders Julianna Pena and Valentina Shevchenko.
Fighting entertainment value also trumps the boring grapplers who drain energy from arenas, so a wicked puncher like UFC women’s straw-weight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk receives additional credit for her aggressive style.
The Times will post MMA rankings in advance of key fights, such as Saturday’s UFC 202, headlined by McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz. Todd Martin also provides a monthly list of best MMA fighters by weight class.
Here’s our top 10:
1. Daniel Cormier; San Jose; light-heavyweight; 18-1.
The UFC champion was an underdog going into his battle with Jon Jones, until the ex-champ tested positive for a banned substance to ruin their UFC 200 date. Cormier weathered a weight-cut and a new assignment against Anderson Silva to keep his belt.
Next fight: Expected to meet the winner of Saturday’s UFC 202 co-main event between Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira by Jan. 1.
2. Dominick Cruz; San Diego; bantamweight; 22-1.
In January Cruz returned from an extended injury layoff to take the UFC belt from T.J. Dillashaw, then settled the trilogy, in his favor, against rival Urijah Faber in June at the Forum.
Next fight: Rematch with Dillashaw or a date with UFC 202 entrant Cody Garbrandt.
3. Demetrious Johnson; Parkland, Wash.; flyweight; 24-2-1.
Ruled this division for three years, including a first-round dismissal of Olympic wrestler Henry Cejudo in April. Johnson should consider the riches of jumping to bantamweight.
Next fight: Uncertain. Suffered a training injury last month that caused him to scrap UFC 201 date versus Wilson Reis.
4. Conor McGregor; Ireland; featherweight; 19-3.
Never balked at the idea of pursuing rematch with former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz at 170 pounds (some 25 pounds above the featherweight limit).
Next fight: Saturday in UFC 202 main event versus Diaz.
5. Stipe Miocic; Cleveland; heavyweight; 15-2.
Responded to 2014 loss to Junior Dos Santos with an onslaught of knockout punches to cast aside Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski, and later trekked to Brazil to beat then-UFC champion Fabricio Werdum.
Next fight: Title defense versus Alistair Overeem in Sept. 10 main event of UFC 203 in Cleveland.
6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk; Poland; straw-weight; 12-0.
Endured mental battle of “The Ultimate Fighter” series and overcame a two-round deficit against Claudia Gadelha to win a decision last month and restamp herself as one of the organization’s toughest.
Next fight: Wants to be on the UFC’s first New York card in November and fellow unbeaten Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz is the No. 2 contender.
7. Jose Aldo; Brazil; featherweight; 26-2.
His 13-second knockout loss to McGregor in December seemed eons ago after he dominated Frankie Edgar in a sensational striking display at UFC 200 last month to claim the interim title.
Next fight: Either McGregor agrees to return to 145 pounds for a rematch, or the full belt is again Aldo’s.
8. Tyron Woodley; St. Louis; welterweight; 16-3.
Proved his mettle with a first-round title-fight knockout of Robbie Lawler. Now the 34-year-old wants to seize the best fights possible, including luring Georges St-Pierre out of retirement and Nick Diaz.
Next fight: For first title defense he would likely face top contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
9. Amanda Nunes; Brazil; bantamweight; 13-4.
The UFC’s newest bantamweight champion rests uneasily on her throne after successive losses by ex-champs Rousey, Holm and Tate. Nunes showed killer instinct to hammer Tate with punches and finished her by submission in the first round of UFC 200.
Next fight: Could be Rousey, if the popular ex-champ can return by January. If not, Pena should be the choice.
10. Eddie Alvarez; Philadelphia; lightweight; 28-4.
By knocking out Rafael dos Anjos to capture the UFC belt, Alvarez is positioned for a slew of big-name opponents, including Nate Diaz, McGregor and top contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
Next fight: Results from UFC 202 will determine his next foe.
OTHERS TO WATCH: 11. Michael Bisping (middleweight); 12. Cain Velasquez (heavyweight); 13. T.J. Dillashaw (bantamweight); 14. Luke Rockhold (middleweight); 15. Ronda Rousey (bantamweight).
