UFC Rankings: The Best of the Greatest

ufc 2016 rankings
ufc 2016 rankings

UFC 2016 Rankings: A Broad Analysis

The Supreme Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) firm. It features the most talented practitioners competing in the particular most prestigious occasions. The UFC produces official rankings for each weight course, which are applied to determine title fights and contendership status.

In 2016, the UFC rankings underwent significant changes, along with many fighters doing notable rises plus falls. This post provides a comprehensive analysis of this UFC rankings while of December 23, 2016.

Heavyweight

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

Current safe bet Stipe Miocic offers reigned supreme considering that May 2016, properly defending his belt against Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. The surging Ngannou has burst on the scene along with a string involving impressive knockouts, transferring up to number three in the rankings.

Light High quality

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

Dominating champion Daniel Cormier continues to concept the light high quality division, having successfully defended his subject against Gustafsson in addition to Johnson. Gustafsson's return to title contention after a long hiatus has already been impressive, while Reluquer has solidified his status as some sort of top contender together with a series involving victories.

Middleweight

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

Unexpected champ Michael Bisping has held onto their title despite experiencing tough challenges. Romero and Whittaker experience both been impressive in recent quarrels, with Whittaker especially surging up this rankings with four 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 successfully defended his name twice against Stephen Thompson. Maia in addition to Masvidal have each earned their method into the best five with remarkable winning streaks.

Lightweight

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

The lightweight section has been within flux in 2016, with Conor McGregor winning the seatbelt from Eddie Alvarez in a wonderful subject fight. McGregor currently holds the lightweight and featherweight headings simultaneously. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson remain best contenders, with Lee rising in this rankings after a series of remarkable performances.

Featherweight

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

Featherweight champ Conor McGregor has dominated the split since winning the particular belt in 2015. Jose Aldo avenged his decline to McGregor in the rematch yet remains second in this rankings. Edgar and Holloway have equally been amazing, whilst Lamas has quietly moved into typically the top five.

Bantamweight

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

Long-time champion Dominick Johnson returned from a new long injury layoff in 2016 and immediately regained this title. Cody Garbrandt has emerged because a legitimate challenger, while Dillashaw and Assuncao stay leading challengers.

Flyweight

  1. Demetrious Meeks (c)
  2. Holly Cejudo
  3. Wilson Reis
  4. Kyoji Horiguchi
  5. Joseph Benavidez

Dominant champion Demetrious Nicholson features defended his flyweight belt the amazing 11 times. Henry Cejudo has relocated up the rankings with amazing routines, while Reis, Horiguchi, and Benavidez rounded out the leading five.

Women's Bantamweight

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

Throughout one of the most dominant dominates in UFC historical past, Amanda Nunes offers won the women's bantamweight title and defended it a few times in 2016. Valentina Shevchenko provides solidified her standing as a leading contender, while Tate and Pena include also risen within the rankings.

Women's Strawweight

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

Joanna Jędrzejczyk provides established herself because the undisputed queen of the strawweight division, successfully defending her belt 2 times in 2016. Gadelha, Kowalkiewicz, Namajunas, and even Andrade have just about all been impressive in recent fights, producing the strawweight department one of the most competitive in the UFC.

Conclusion

The UFC rankings have undergone important changes in 2016, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of mixed martial arts. Typically the emergence of new contenders, the surge and fall regarding established stars, in addition to the ongoing dominance of certain winners have made regarding an exciting in addition to unpredictable year throughout the UFC. While 2017 approaches, the rankings will certainly continue to shift, with new difficulties and opportunities awaiting the fighters in each weight school.