UFC Rankings: The Very best of the Best

ufc 2016 rankings
ufc 2016 rankings

UFC 2016 Rankings: A Comprehensive Analysis

The Best Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. It features the most talented competitors competing in the most prestigious situations. The UFC releases official rankings with regard to each weight class, which are employed to determine subject fights and contendership status.

In 2016, the particular UFC rankings experienced significant changes, along with many fighters making notable rises and falls. This article provides a complete analysis of this UFC rankings while of December 31st, 2016.

Heavyweight

  1. Stipe Miocic (c)
  2. Alistair Overeem
  3. Francis Ngannou
  4. Derrick Lewis
  5. Andrei Arlovski

Current winner Stipe Miocic features reigned supreme due to the fact May 2016, efficiently defending his belt against Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. The surging Ngannou has burst on the scene with a string of impressive knockouts, shifting up to number three in the particular rankings.

Light Top quality

  1. Daniel Cormier (c)
  2. Anthony Johnson
  3. Alexander Gustafsson
  4. Thomas Bader
  5. Glover Teixeira

Dominant champion Daniel Cormier continues to principle the light heavyweight division, having effectively defended his title against Gustafsson and even Johnson. Gustafsson's come back to title legislation after a lengthy hiatus has already been impressive, while Bader has solidified their status as some sort of top contender together with a series regarding victories.

Middleweight

  1. Michael Bisping (c)
  2. Yoel Romero
  3. Robert Whittaker
  4. Gegard Mousasi
  5. Jacare Souza

Unexpected champ Michael Bisping features held onto his or her title despite experiencing tough challenges. Peregrino and Whittaker experience both been impressive in recent battles, with Whittaker particularly surging up typically the rankings with a number of consecutive wins.

Welterweight

  1. Tyron Woodley (c)
  2. Stephen Thompson
  3. Demian Maia
  4. Jorge Masvidal
  5. Rafael dos Anjos

Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has properly defended his subject twice against Sophie Thompson. Maia and even Masvidal have both earned their means into the top five with remarkable winning streaks.

Light

  1. Conor McGregor (c)
  2. Eddie Alvarez (c)
  3. Khabib Nurmagomedov
  4. Tony Ferguson
  5. Kevin Shelter

The lightweight split has been throughout flux in 2016, with Conor McGregor winning the belt from Eddie Alvarez in a memorable subject fight. McGregor currently holds the light and featherweight headings simultaneously. Nurmagomedov and even Ferguson remain leading contenders, with Windschatten rising in the particular rankings after a new series of amazing performances.

Featherweight

  1. Conor McGregor (c)
  2. Jose Aldo
  3. Frankie Edgar
  4. Greatest extent Holloway
  5. Ricardo Lamas

Featherweight winner Conor McGregor offers dominated the section since winning typically the belt in 2015. Jose Aldo avenged his reduction for you to McGregor in a rematch but is still second in this rankings. Edgar plus Holloway have the two been remarkable, when Lamas has gently moved into this top five.

Bantamweight

  1. Dominick Cruz (c)
  2. Cody Garbrandt
  3. TJ Dillashaw
  4. Raphael Assuncao
  5. Jimmie Rivera

Long-time champion Dominick Cruz returned from a new long injuries layoff in 2016 and immediately regained the particular title. Cody Garbrandt has come about as a legitimate challenger, while Dillashaw and even Assuncao continue being leading challengers.

Flyweight

  1. Demetrious Johnson (c)
  2. Henry Cejudo
  3. Wilson Reis
  4. Kyoji Horiguchi
  5. Frederick Benavidez

Dominant champion Demetrious Nicholson has defended his flyweight belt the amazing 11 times. Henry Cejudo has relocated up the rankings with impressive shows, while Reis, Horiguchi, and Benavidez circle out the best five.

Women's Bantamweight

  1. Amanda Nunes (c)
  2. Valentina Shevchenko
  3. Miesha Tate
  4. Guardia Rousey
  5. Julianna Peña

Within one of the particular most dominant dominates in UFC history, Amanda Nunes features won the women's bantamweight title plus defended it three times in 2016. Valentina Shevchenko offers solidified her standing as a best contender, while Tate and Pena have also risen inside the rankings.

Women's Strawweight

  1. Joanna Jędrzejczyk (c)
  2. Claudia Gadelha
  3. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
  4. Rose Namajunas
  5. Jessica Andrade

Joanna Jędrzejczyk has established herself since the undisputed full of the strawweight division, successfully defending her belt twice in 2016. Gadelha, Kowalkiewicz, Namajunas, and Andrade have all been impressive within recent fights, doing the strawweight department one of typically the most competitive throughout the UFC.

Summary

The UFC rankings have undergone substantial changes in 2016, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of merged martial arts. Typically the emergence of brand-new contenders, the surge and fall regarding established stars, and the ongoing dominance of certain champions have made with regard to an exciting in addition to unpredictable year throughout the UFC. As 2017 approaches, the rankings will certainly continue to switch, with new issues and opportunities waiting for the fighters throughout each weight class.