Official Rankings Update: 6.20.13
After each live event, the UFC polls various members of the media to update its rankings in each weight division…
After each live event, the UFC polls various members of the media to update its rankings in each weight division as well as the pound for pound rankings. With only a couple meaningful bouts at this past weekend’s UFC 161, the heavyweight division and light heavyweight divisions is where we saw the most movement:
Heavyweight Champion: Cain Velasquez
1 Junior dos Santos
2 Daniel Cormier
3 Fabricio Werdum
4 Antonio Silva
5 Alistair Overeem +1
6 Frank Mir +1
7 Roy Nelson -2
8 Stipe Miocic *NR
9 Travis Browne -1
10 Josh Barnett *NR
Lightheavyweight Champion: Jon Jones
1 Lyoto Machida
2 Alexander Gustafsson
3 Glover Teixeira +1
4 Rashad Evans +2
5 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
6 Dan Henderson -3
7 Mauricio Rua
8 Phil Davis
9 Gegard Mousasi
10 Ryan Bader
The UFC 161 main event between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson was a pivotal match-up in the light heavyweight division. With his win, Evans moved into fourth in the rankings and will likely find himself in a number one contenders bout to determine who will the winner of the Jon Jones versus Alexander Gustafson. With a loss, Dan Henderson moved ranked sixth and at his age could mean the end of his title inspirations.
The co-main event of UFC 161 also caused a shake up in the heavyweight rankings. Roy Nelson was ranked fifth and dropped two sports with his loss to Stipe Miocic who entered the heavyweight rankings with his win. Also now that he has signed with the UFC, Josh Barnett entered the rankings as tenth.