Six new champions were crowned in UFC 2016, an extraordinary number for a sport that was built on the backs of dominant titleholders. MMA has long been billed as a sport where anything can happen, and this year the adage has never been truer.
Which UFC Champion Is “Safest”?
We answer that question with our official UFC Champions Rankings. There are several key factors in the rankings, including strength of competition, recent performances and fight scheduling. Take a look and let us know if you agree or disagree with our UFC betting picks in the comments below.
If a champion has an upcoming fight, we’ve got the fight odds listed, courtesy of BookMaker.eu (lines updated daily).
Top 10 UFC Championship Rankings
1. Demetrious Johnson (Flyweight Champion)
Next Fight: TBD
Biggest Threats: None
“Mighty Mouse” is the easiest champ to rank in our October UFC power rankings, and it’s not even close. He needs just four more wins to top Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses.
That may seem like a high number, but take into account that Johnson has already beaten everybody in the top ten – in some cases twice. In fact, he hasn’t even really been challenged.
The current season of The Ultimate Fighter will pit the winner against DJ, but it’s more of a desperation play to feed the champ somebody new. That’s right, the UFC has to resort to a gimmick to find new challengers for Johnson.
2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (Women’s Strawweight)
Next Fight: UFC 205, November 12
Biggest Threats: Claudia Gadelha
UFC Odds: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (+270) vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk (-330)
Like a few other fighters on this list, Joanna Champion is a titleholder with only one real credible threat. But unlike anyone else, Jedrzejczyk has beaten that threat twice.
With Claudia Gadelha sent back in line, the next women up in the rankings really don’t seem capable of snatching the belt away. Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza – they all have flaws that J-Check would easily expose.
3. Dominick Cruz (Bantamweight Champion)
Next Fight: TBD
Biggest Threats: T.J. Dillashaw
Cruz seems to be fully recovered from the slew of major injuries that robbed him of nearly three of his prime years. And his elusive style still seems unsolvable after all that time.
However, his fight with T.J. Dillashaw to recapture the belt could have gone either way, and until he puts the Elevation Fight Team product away a second time, there will always be doubts on whether he has a stranglehold on the division.
What props up his ranking is that the dropoff after T.J. is steep – and Dillashaw is having trouble securing the matchup.
4. Conor McGregor (Featherweight Champion)
Next Fight: UFC 205, November 12
UFC Odds: Eddie Alvarez +125 vs Conor McGregor -145
Biggest Threats: Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Max Holloway
McGregor’s power separates him from the pack, but he has three major obstacles to clear. First, he needs to beat Jose Aldo again to prove the first fight wasn’t a fluke punch.
Second, a rematch with an improved Max Holloway would prove how good he is in comparison to the rest of the class. And third, beating Frankie Edgar would silence the doubts about his wrestling once and for all.
5. Daniel Cormier (Light Heavyweight)
Next Fight: UFC 206, December 10
UFC Odds: Daniel Cormier -115 vs Anthony Johnson -115 (Read more here)
Biggest Threats: Anthony Johnson, Jon Jones
If Cormier were to face Jon Jones, he’d occupy one of the last two spots on this list. That’s the reality when (arguably) the greatest fighter of all time is lurking in the background.
But with Jones still suspended for PEDs, we have to take a look at how Cormier stacks up against the current roster. He’s already beaten Anthony Johnson, and if he does it again the next guys on the list are Alexander Gustafsson (who he already beat), Glover Teixeira and Ryan Bader.
DC would easily be favored against any of them. What hurts DC the most is his age: at 37, time will catch up to him sooner than later.
6. Stipe Miocic (Heavyweight Champion)
Next Fight: TBD
Biggest Threats: Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos
Miocic could be the man that breaks the heavyweight curse. As in, he could be the first fighter to defend the strap three times.
Consecutive first-round knockouts of Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem shows us he’s got the requisite punching power, and his background as a Golden Gloves champion and former D-1 collegiate wrestler adds up to the most well-rounded guy in the division.
Still, he’s in the most unpredictable division in the UFC, and he’d be an underdog against Cain Velasquez. That brings his ranking down a bit.
7. Tyron Woodley (Welterweight Champion)
Next Fight: UFC 205, November 12
UFC Odds: Tyron Woodley +150 vs Stephen Thompson -175
Biggest Threats: Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia
T-Wood is the most difficult champion to rank by far. He is by far the most explosive athlete at 170 pounds, and if he gets by “Wonderboy” next month, it’s not hard to see him taking out the next group of contenders like Demian Maia, Carlos Condit or Donald Cerrone. But still, he’s the underdog against Thompson, and we have to dock him for that.
8. Amanda Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight)
Next Fight: Amanda Nunes +220 vs Ronda Rousey -280 (Read more here)
The new 135-pound queen is a difficult champ to rank. At times – like in her first-round KO of Miesha Tate – she looks like an unstoppable monster.
But in the past, she’s had all sorts of trouble against lesser fighters. But let’s assume she is now fully realizing her potential. Like Woodley, there is nobody more explosive in the division.
Nunes is punishing Muay Thai ace and a submission savant to boot. When her offense is clicking on all cylinders, there really is nobody else that puts it all together like Nunes.
9. Michael Bisping (Middleweight Champion)
Next Fight: TBD
Biggest Threats: Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza, Yoel Romero
Bisping is still the middleweight champion after being gifted a 46-year old Dan Henderson for his first title defense. But against the top four guys in the division, the Brit would be an obvious underdog.
It’s not that Bisping isn’t a great fighter, but there is a reason he was never seriously considered championship material until serendipitous events led to his unlikely title shot and knockout or Luke Rockhold.
10. Eddie Alvarez (Lightweight Champion)
Next Fight: UFC 205, November 12
UFC Odds: Conor McGregor -145 vs Eddie Alvarez +125
Biggest Threats: Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson
Like Bisping, Alvarez is likely seen as a “beatable” champion by the lightweight elite. Save for a flash knockout of Rafael dos Anjos, he’s been somewhat disappointing since joining the UFC as a former Bellator champion.
He’s got plenty of grit, but that will only get you so far – especially with killers like McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson waiting in the wings. The lightweight division is the deepest in the UFC, and any champion has a tough road ahead.
For live UFC odds, be sure to check out our MMA Fight Odds Section.
