Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Stipe Miocic (16-2)

It is historically difficult to defend the UFC heavyweight title, but Miocic did it in thrilling, high-pressure fashion at UFC 203. After snatching the title from Fabricio Werdum in Brazil in May, Miocic went home to Cleveland, where he overcame being rocked by Alistair Overeem several times to knock out the Dutchman in the first round. The question for Miocic now becomes whether he will rematch Werdum next or stake his throne against former champion Cain Velasquez.

2. Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1)

It was anticipated that Werdum would try to bounce back from his heavyweight title loss to Stipe Miocic in May at the expense of Ben Rothwell. However, when former victim Travis Browne replaced an injured Rothwell in the UFC 203 co-main event, it was no worry to the Brazilian. Werdum nearly finished Browne early but settled for a second unanimous decision over “Hapa” before getting a front kick in on Browne’s trainer Edmond Tarverdyan, too. Werdum now hopes he gets the next crack at the UFC heavyweight crown in a rematch with Miocic.

3. Cain Velasquez (14-2)

Velasquez’s July demolition of Travis Browne was a reminder that the former UFC heavyweight kingpin is still one of the most dangerous men in the division, but his immediate fate rests in the hands of UFC brass. Velasquez may be a favorite to regain that belt from current champion Stipe Miocic if blessed with a title shot, but the American Kickboxing Academy product may have to take a back seat to Fabricio Werdum, the man who dethroned him. Werdum just beat Browne at UFC 203 and is calling for a Miocic rematch.

4. Alistair Overeem (41-15, 1 NC)

Almost five years after his ballyhooed UFC debut, Overeem finally earned a UFC heavyweight title shot behind an impressive four-fight winning streak. However, “The Demolition Man” was on the wrong side of destruction at UFC 203 in Cleveland: He landed heavy blows on Stipe Miocic, but the UFC heavyweight champ rocked Overeem worse and eventually pounded him out cold in the first round.

5. Junior dos Santos (18-4)

Dos Santos executed a perfect game plan in his April 10 bout with Ben Rothwell, as the hard-hitting Brazilian used his speed and boxing prowess to beat “Big Ben” to the punch for five rounds. It was the sharpest outing for “Cigano” since he lost his UFC heavyweight belt to Cain Velasquez in 2013; now, dos Santos will look to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011.

6. Ben Rothwell (36-10)

Rothwell’s surprise four-fight winning streak was snapped by Junior dos Santos in April, but the Wisconsin native was afforded a big-name fight in his return, signing on to face recently dethroned champ Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203 on Sept. 10. However, Rothwell suffered an undisclosed injury in training and was forced to pull out of the event, with Travis Browne stepping into his spot against the former UFC heavyweight boss.

7. Josh Barnett (35-8)

Barnett was shocked, via submission no less, by Ben Rothwell in January. “The Warmaster” got right back to work in his next Octagon outing, however, choking out Andrei Arlovski in the third round in Hamburg, Germany, to earn another historically notable heavyweight scalp while keeping himself relevant at 38 years old.

8. Andrei Arlovski (25-13, 1 NC)

Arlovski suffered his third consecutive loss to fellow former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett on Sept. 3 in Germany. Despite his third-round submission defeat adding to his losing streak and his being 37 years old, Arlovski remains a viable heavyweight due to his experience and athleticism, as well as a division that largely forgives advancing age.

9. Vitaly Minakov (18-0)

Eighteen opponents have tested Minakov and every single one of them has failed. Most recently, it was long-time K-1 veteran Peter Graham on June 17, as he was victimized by an armbar from the Fight Nights Team star in 62 seconds. The question surrounding the former Bellator MMA heavyweight champ is not whether or not he is an elite heavyweight -- he most certainly is -- but whether or not he will ever become a full-time fighter and wind up in the UFC.

10. Travis Browne (18-5-1)

Browne fell to 2-3 in his last five fights, having stepped in on short notice to replace Ben Rothwell against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203. Werdum had previously bested him over 25 minutes back in April 2014. The Brazilian did the same thing in their rematch, this time over 15 minutes, handing Browne consecutive losses for the first time in his career and reinforcing the stratification of the heavyweight elite.

Other Contenders: Mark Hunt, Derrick Lewis, Brock Lesnar, Ruslan Magomedov, Matt Mitrione

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