Sherdog.com’s Pound-for-Pound Top 10

---

Jon Jones’ brash talk has earned him the label of “arrogant” from more than a few MMA fans. However, is it really arrogance when “Bones” continually backs up all of his words with strong performances against top-tier fighters?

Jones had to solve one of his toughest riddles yet at UFC 182, where he faced Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in a long-delayed clash with more bad blood than any title fight in recent memory. While Cormier gave the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder trouble early in the fight, Jones’ superior striking and conditioning took over in the latter rounds. As he predicted, Jones all but erased Cormier’s supposed wrestling advantage, holding the American Kickboxing Academy fighter in the clinch and stuffing takedowns throughout the 25-minute encounter.

In earning a clear-cut decision against a previously unbeaten fighter of Cormier’s grit and caliber, Jones further solidified his reputation as the top mixed martial artist operating today. By the same token, in hanging tough for five rounds with MMA royalty, Cormier proved himself deserving of his spot in the pound-for-pound top 10. Though significantly shorter and at a tremendous 12-inch reach disadvantage, Cormier punched well in the clinch and gave Jones one of the hardest fights of his championship reign, equaled only by once and possibly future contender Alexander Gustafsson.

Related: Sherdog Divisional Rankings

1. Jon Jones (21-1)

The UFC’s 205-pound king continues to find ways to beat all those placed before him. At UFC 182, it was Daniel Cormier who clashed with Jones after a protracted battle of words in what was expected to be the hardest fight of the Jackson-Wink MMA fighter’s title reign. Though “DC” did not go down quietly, Jones neutralized the wrestler’s takedown attempts and used his freakish reach to punish Cormier with strikes, both at range and in the clinch. Having secured a five-round unanimous decision -- with all three judges giving Jones four rounds to Cormier’s one -- “Bones” stands as the most decorated light heavyweight champ in UFC history, with eight consecutive title defenses.

2. Jose Aldo (25-1)

Aldo was unable to score a second knockout of Chad Mendes in their UFC 179 rematch, but the end result was perhaps even more satisfying and more indicative of Aldo’s status as a pound-for-pound great. The featherweight ruler battled through more than a little adversity across his 25 minutes with Mendes, surviving an uppercut-induced knockdown to kick things into another gear and outclass Team Alpha Male standout on the feet down the stretch. While there will continue to be questions regarding the Brazilian champion’s ability to stay healthy, the results from Aldo’s UFC title bouts to date are indisputable: seven defenses, seven wins.

3. Chris Weidman (12-0)

The “All-American” showed his all-around skills with a decisive title defense against ex-light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 175. While Machida was able to tag the Serra-Longo Fight Team representative in the waning moments of their five-round encounter, the work Weidman did with his hands, kicks and takedowns through the first four frames was more than enough to retain his UFC middleweight title. The New Yorker’s unblemished resume now includes victories over two of Brazil’s finest fighters -- Machida and Anderson Silva (twice) -- and Weidman could soon add a third, as he is expected to meet a newly testosterone replacement therapy-free Vitor Belfort at UFC 184 in February.

4. Anthony Pettis (18-2)

Few runs in the history of the lightweight division can match what Pettis has accomplished over the past three years. Though often sidelined by injuries, “Showtime” has torn through a murderers’ row of 155-pound talent, knocking out the likes of Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon before claiming UFC gold by submitting the nigh-unsubmittable Benson Henderson. Pettis’ latest feat came at UFC 181, where he became the first man to stop Gilbert Melendez with a brilliant second-round guillotine choke. Pettis’ next defense will come against surging Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 in March.

5. Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1)

In the two years he has held the UFC flyweight title, Johnson has made it clear: When it comes to 125-pounders, there is “Mighty Mouse,” and then there is everyone else. The 28-year-old Matt Hume pupil made an example of Chris Cariaso at UFC 178, forcing the overmatched Californian to submit to a kimura -- a first in an Ultimate Fighting Championship title bout. Johnson’s lauded speed and well-polished, all-around skill set have now carried him to seven consecutive victories, including five straight title defenses against the likes of Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson.

6. Cain Velasquez (13-1)

Velasquez removed any doubt relating to the identity of the best heavyweight in the world by administering a brutal beating to Junior dos Santos at UFC 166. The final bout of the trilogy was never really in doubt, as the American Kickboxing Academy ace dominated in the clinch and rarely allowed his opponent any space to unleash his formidable boxing. Velasquez dropped his opponent in the third round and earned the stoppage late in the fifth, where dos Santos finally wilted after hitting his head on the canvas following a failed guillotine attempt. Unfortunately, injuries have kept Velasquez from the cage in the year since, his most recent setback coming in the form of a knee sprain which knocked the champion out of his UFC 180 engagement with rival “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” coach Fabricio Werdum.

7. Anderson Silva (33-6)

When Silva suffered a gruesome leg injury in his rematch with Chris Weidman at UFC 168, many rightfully wondered if we had seen the last of the former pound-for-pound king and long-reigning UFC middleweight champ. As it turns out, “The Spider” will spend a little more than a year out of action, as Silva resumed sparring in July and recently stated that his leg was "95-percent" healed. Upon his return in January, the 39-year-old Brazilian is scheduled to face former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz in a long-discussed super fight at UFC 183.

8. Daniel Cormier (15-1)

Entering the sport later than most, Cormier went on a remarkable run during the first five years of his MMA career. The former Olympian took out the likes of Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva and Frank Mir, even while spending most of that run as an undersized heavyweight. After dropping to 205 pounds, the 35-year-old was expected to give UFC champion Jon Jones a much-needed run for his money, and that Cormier did in the main event of UFC 182. However, after taking a round from the champion early, Cormier faded down the stretch, overwhelmed by Jones’ size and athleticism, and “DC” was handed his first mixed martial arts loss via five-round unanimous decision.

9. Robbie Lawler (25-10, 1 NC)

Despite lagging in the middle rounds of his UFC 181 rematch with Johny Hendricks, Lawler charged hard down the home stretch and did enough to earn a split decision, along with the UFC welterweight title. Little was expected of Lawler when he re-entered the Octagon in 2013, having gone 3-5 during his stint with Strikeforce. However, the Pat Miletich protégé has blossomed in his second UFC run, knocking off contenders like Matt Brown and up-and-comers like Rory MacDonald on his way to the belt. It remains to be seen whether Lawler will next conclude his trilogy with Hendricks or make his first title defense in a rematch with MacDonald.

10. Johny Hendricks (16-3)

Hendricks kept the pressure on Robbie Lawler throughout their five-round affair at UFC 181, but pressure was not enough to sway the judges, two of whom sided with Lawler, costing “Bigg Rigg” his welterweight belt. Despite suffering losses to Lawler and Georges St. Pierre in two of his last three outings, Hendricks’ decision losses have come by the narrowest of margins, both in 25-minute title fights. With his thunderous left hand and formidable wrestling chops, the former Oklahoma State University Cowboy remains a tall task for anyone at 170 pounds. While nothing has been decided, Hendricks may get a chance to reclaim his belt from Lawler in a rubber match.