(Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images).
Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest growing sports in pop culture. Not only has this affected the United States, but it seems to have captured the world. In the UFC and other MMA promotions we have seen competitors come from all around the globe to compete.
Now we will take a look at the best fighters pound-for-pound by continent. In fantasy match-ups we will see what continent’s fighters dominate the world spectrum.
Let’s get started—and don’t put your money on Team Antarctica.
Lightweight Division
North America: BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, U.S.A, 13-5-1
South America: Hermes Franca, Brazil, 19-7-0
Europe: Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen, Norway, 19-7-1
Asia: Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, Japan, 35-8-2
Judging by the group of contenders in this weight class, it is apparent that North America, specifically the United States dominates the Lightweight contenders.
Kenny Florian, Sean Sherk, Frank Edgar, and Diego Sanchez all hail from the that area. BJ Penn still remains top of that group until somebody upends him.
Franca has wins over WEC's Mike Brown, Spencer Fisher, and Nate Diaz, but has been upended by the tops of the weight class like Frankie Edgar and Sean Sherk.
Hansen and Sakurai are both now fighting in Dream, with Sakurai beating another country favorite, Shinya Aoki, in his last fight. He also has wins over Frank Trigg, Mac Danzig, and Jens Pulver.
Penn still out-matches these guys on the ground and on the feet. Penn has proven himself against some of the best in the world.
Second best is what will drive the rest of the combatants as Penn gets the nod.
Penn is the best in the world at his weight class; and even if he falls off, it's another North American who will take that honor. Now on to the weight class where "The Prodigy" failed at in his last fight...
Winner: BJ Penn, North America
Runner Up: Hermes Franca, South America
Third: Hayato Sakurai, Asia
Fourth: Joachim Hansen, Europe
Welterweight Division
North America: Georges "Rush" St. Pierre, Canada, 18-2
South America: Thiago "The Pitbull" Alves, Brazil, 16-3
Europe: Martin "Hitman" Kampmann, Denmark, 15-2
Asia: Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida, Japan, 11-3
When the average losses of opponents is two and one half, you know you are in a tough weight class. Unfortunately, it looks as is St. Pierre dominates the Welterweight Division.
St. Pierre has losses to Matt Serra and Matt Hughes, both of which he has avenged. After dismantling a tough opponent in Jon Fitch and beating UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn, St. Pierre is the standard for the Welterweight Division.
His biggest competition lies in Thiago Alves, who he will face at UFC 100. Alves has beaten Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck to prove he can give St. Pierre a run at the title.
Kampmmann has an impressive 15-win and two-loss record and has tremendous potential to do big things in this division. Unfortunatly, I don't think a win over Carlos Condit is impressing anybody just yet. He will have to prove himself against the likes of a Jon Fitch or Ben Saunders.
Yoshida was flat-out knocked silly by Koscheck, and although he only has three losses, I believe him to be the weakest of the group.
Alves has the opportunity to prove me wrong, but St. Pierre is so good at everything he does. Not only may he be the best in his weight in the world. He may be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Winner: George St. Pierre, North America
Runner Up: Thiago Alves,South America
Third: Martin Kampmann, Europe
Fourth: Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Asia
Middleweight Division
North America: Dan "Hollywood" Henderson, U.S.A, 24-7
South America:
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