Ranking All 9 UFC Champions on Their Level of 'Unbeatability'
Any given combat sports organization is built upon its champions, and the UFC is no different.
A lengthy tenure as a division's top dog can immortalize a fighter, as we have seen with Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. A brief reign, however, can leave a fighter in a position no different than any other lifelong contender, as we have seen with Ricco Rodriguez and Evan Tanner.
The name of the title game is longevity and for the first time in a long while, the UFC's belts are held by a blend of well-entrenched elites and young blood.
What fighters, though, are on pace to enter the greatest-of-all-time discussion? Which ones will become a footnote in UFC title history?
Find out right here!
9. Johny Hendricks
1 of 9
Division: Welterweight
No. of Title Defenses: 0
Next Opponent: Robbie Lawler
How Can He Be Beaten?
While Fedor Emelianenko demonstrated long ago how to brilliantly flow back and forth between grappling and striking, Johny Hendricks is still a ways away from reaching his full potential. While high-level wrestling and true one-punch knockout power can bring a fighter a very long way, technical strikers with steely takedown defense can get the better of fighters of Hendricks' ilk. Not only that, but we have seen Hendricks regularly struggle against wily veterans with wrestling bases if he can't land one of his signature left hands.
Who Could Pull it Off?
While most UFC champions had a baseline of excellence before capturing the belt, Johny Hendricks has looked utterly mediocre at points during his career. Because of that, and the absurd amount of talent near the top of the welterweight division today, there are numerous fighters who could conceivably beat Hendricks, including Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley, Hector Lombard and Robbie Lawler.
How Likely Are We to See it?
Hendricks should be regarded as the favorite in any potential title fight at this time, but his place at the top of this list speaks for itself. Hendricks was taken to the brink of defeat by Robbie Lawler back in March (many, including yours truly, scored the fight in favor of Lawler), and there's no reason to think that Lawler can't get the nod when they face off at UFC 181.
Additionally, as stated, if Hendricks can't land his right hand against fighters with strong wrestling games, the cracks in Hendricks' overall game tend to show. That was the case against fighters like Mike Pierce, Rick Story and Josh Koscheck. There's a very real possibility that trend would continue with fighters like MacDonald and Woodley.
8. TJ Dillashaw
2 of 9
Division: Bantamweight
No. of Title Defenses: 1
Next Opponent: Dominick Cruz (?)
How Can He Be Beaten?
Skill for skill, TJ Dillashaw is actually one of the best champions in the game today. The trouble for the UFC's newest champion is that he is a particularly slow starter. While Dillashaw's back-to-back Round 5 knockouts were both impressive feats, the Alpha Male product has lost two UFC fights now due to his 10-minute 0-to-60.
Who Could Pull it Off?
The bantamweight title discussion, in spite of Dillashaw's undeniable abilities, begins and ends with Dominick Cruz. Cruz circa 2011 would likely be a top-three pound-for-pound fighter today, and if his skills remain intact, it is tough to envision Dillashaw winning their eventual showdown. Past that, fighters with one-punch knockout power also have a deceptively decent shot against Dillashaw, in particular Renan Barao, Johny Eduardo and (if he somehow makes his way to the UFC) Marlon Moraes.
How Likely Are We to See it?
To reiterate, this writer will be putting (figurative) money down on Dominick Cruz if they face off in 2015. Past that, however, it is hard to point to anybody else as a particularly strong threat for Dillashaw.
While Dillashaw was defeated by Raphael Assuncao last year, the win came via razor-thin split decision, as Assuncao capitalized on Dillashaw's difficulties getting out of the gate. However, those troubles are substantially less profound with Dillashaw afforded two more rounds to ply his trade.
As such, his only real fear outside getting Cruzed is getting knocked out early, the same way he was when he was beaten by John Dodson for The Ultimate Fighter season 14 title. That, however, is not an especially great fear, as he utterly dominated the division's greatest knockout threat, Barao.
7. Anthony Pettis
3 of 9
Division: Lightweight
No. of Title Defenses: 0
Next Opponent: Gilbert Melendez
How Can He Be Beaten?
Anthony Pettis' striking game is borderline otherworldly. From his ability to control distance to his marvelous cage-cutting skills, Pettis is one of the most technical there is in the stand-up game. The big "but," of course, is his wrestling game.
While it's easy to point to his 2011 loss to Clay Guida and say "it probably takes more than three years to fix that," the reality is that Pettis, similar to Carlos Condit, employs an inherently high-risk, high-reward style. Because of that, he finds himself at risk of being out-pointed by anybody with particularly strong wrestling or striking.
Who Could Pull it Off?
Assuming Pettis is as good as he was a year ago, most fighters with a good blend of striking, offensive wrestling and cardio are capable of beating Pettis. That group almost exclusively includes Gilbert Melendez, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ben Henderson.
How Likely Are We to See it?
In spite of all that, the stars have aligned perfectly for "Showtime." Nurmagomedov finds himself outside title contention at this time due to a knee injury, and Henderson's box-office dud status will likely keep him from ever getting a shot at gold again (oh, and he was knocked out by Rafael dos Anjos not long ago...that doesn't help).
With them out of the picture, Pettis has few opponents to fear. The two "money" fights on the table for Pettis at this time—bouts opposite Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz—both favor the champ. If one or both of those fights come to fruition, and things go sideways for Nurmagomedov over the next few months, there are not too many other fighters who can challenge him.
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6. Cain Velasquez
4 of 9
Division: Heavyweight
No. of Title Defenses: 2
Next Opponent: Unknown
How Can They Be Beaten?
From a physical and talent perspective, Cain Velasquez is already the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. Unfortunately, he is still a heavyweight. The slightest mistake against almost any opponent opens the door for an overhand right to slip in and put him on his back.
Who Could Pull it Off?
With two big, mean men facing off in every UFC heavyweight contest, pretty much any given fight can end in a knockout in either direction. Obviously, the biggest threats would be technically sound strikers, particularly those with diverse striking arsenals, most notably Junior dos Santos (who holds a win over Velasquez), Mark Hunt and (gulp) Alistair Overeem.
How Likely Are We to See it?
There is an enormous gap here between Pettis and Velasquez. While the first three fighters have demonstrated weakness in the past and have opponents who could exploit those opportunities, Velasquez possibly being knocked out is just kind of a fact of the division, and he has already twice beaten the best striker therein, Junior dos Santos.
Suffice it to say, it is tough to envision Velasquez (or any of the upcoming champions) losing, but it is certainly possible.
5. Jose Aldo
5 of 9
Division: Featherweight
No. of Title Defenses: 7
Next Opponent: Unknown
How Can They Be Beaten?
While Jose Aldo has rarely looked anything other than dominant, the blueprint to beating him has been known for a long while. Aldo looks his most dominant against wrestlers, having thoroughly beaten the likes of Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas. It is crafty strikers who tend to make Aldo look his worst, particularly in his bouts against Mark Hominick, Chan-Sung Jung and Frankie Edgar (who, in spite of being a wrestler, has high-level boxing).
Who Could Pull it Off?
Theoretically, any high-level striker with good use of angles and five rounds of cardio is capable of taking Aldo to the brink of defeat. Edgar did precisely that, sticking and moving around Aldo to the point where many had him winning the fight. There are three fighters in the UFC today who are capable of imitating that style; Edgar (obviously), Cub Swanson and Conor McGregor.
How Likely Are We to See it?
With how things have shaken out in the division, it seems as though Aldo is destined to face at least two of those three fighters in 2015. While Aldo is the clear favorite over any one of them, all of them would be capable of pulling off an upset.
Of course, Aldo's low-risk, high-reward style makes it quite difficult for even the best-prepared fighters to compete with him. It also makes it incredibly difficult to convince the judges that you've won a round when a jab or leg-kick can completely upend you. As such, it's tough to buy into him being beaten, even when it comes to fighters with a stylistic advantage.
4. Chris Weidman
6 of 9
Division: Middleweight
No. of Title Defenses: 2
Next Opponent: Vitor Belfort
How Can They Be Beaten?
The dominance shown by Chris Weidman to this point in his career is astounding and if somebody said that he was the most unbeatable champion in MMA today, it would be tough to disagree. In terms of wrestling skills, Weidman is a light-year away from the pack. His striking is expertly built around this fact, making him tough to advance on without walking into a punch or being taken down.
While Weidman put on a masterful performance against Lyoto Machida in July, two distinct weaknesses showed. First and most obvious was his cardio, as he wilted a bit in the championship rounds and found himself on the wrong end of several big strikes in the final frames. Second is that his striking defense is less than perfect, particularly when a dynamic striker presses the action.
Who Could Pull it Off?
When it comes to dynamic, pressure-focused strikers, look no further than Weidman's next opponent, Vitor Belfort. The thing is, while Belfort is perhaps the best in MMA at finishing a wounded opponent, he is a lifelong choker (check out my full breakdown here).
Past Belfort, however, there are not too many fighters who really have the tools to exploit the holes in Weidman's game. Luke Rockhold is an underrated striker who is at his best on offense, and Gegard Mousasi is a legitimate threat standing and on the ground (but is currently a mile away from a title shot).
How Likely Are We to See it?
While Weidman is not perfect, there are few potential challenges for the champ. Belfort is theoretically capable of finishing anyone at 185 pounds, and Rockhold has crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a dynamic striking game of his own that could chop down most anyone.
Alas, the blueprint for a fighter whocould beat Weidman is along the lines of an Anthony "Rumble" Johnson or Ben Henderson: an athlete with a wrestling base who predominantly gets by on a diverse striking attack. No such fighter really exists at 185 pounds.
3. Ronda Rousey
7 of 9
Division: Women's Bantamweight
No. of Title Defenses: 4
Next Opponent: Cat Zingano
How Can They Be Beaten?
Ronda Rousey has been scary-good to this point in her MMA career, finishing all her opponents thus far and encountering minimal resistance in the process. Because of that, picking out weaknesses is largely a theoretical practice, rather than extrapolating from opponents' success. As such, there are two areas where Rousey could find herself at a disadvantage.
First, elite-level wrestlers have a historical advantage over Judoka that is too lopsided to ignore. Additionally, while Rousey's advances as a striker over the last two years are profound, she would still find herself at a disadvantage to lifelong boxers and kickboxers.
Who Could Pull it Off?
Sara McMann was supposed to be the first serious threat to Rousey, but you wouldn't be able to tell by how the fight went. Nonetheless, McMann remains a dangerous opponent for Rousey, who has yet to be tested on her back and is yet to actually face a formidable wrestler for longer than 66 seconds.
As for strikers, Holly Holm is likely on the fast track to title contention, set up for one of the most egregious showcase matches in UFC history. As a former top-level boxer, Holm is possibly the greatest striker in women's MMA today and should hold a legitimate advantage over Rousey. Oh, and there's Cris "Cyborg" Justino always looming...
How Likely Are We to See it?
Rousey has already beaten most of the UFC's top-10 female bantamweights, and the current crop of contenders don't have a particularly great chance against her. Cat Zingano, the top contender, is at a huge stylistic disadvantage, given that her greatest tool (clinch striking) plays directly into Rousey's greatest strength (clinch takedowns). Meanwhile, Bethe Correia and Sarah Kaufman lack the pure punching power to really stop the cyclone that is Rousey.
By far, Rousey's greatest outstanding threats are Holm and Justino. Cyborg is rightly regarded as the greater threat to Rousey, but even then, it is open to debate how the fight would go. Rousey has never really been tested standing and tends to get punched while setting up the clinch, while Cyborg has never really been challenged on the ground and would not have the strength advantage her style is largely built around.
2. Jon Jones
8 of 9
Division: Light Heavyweight
No. of Title Defenses: 7
Next Opponent: Daniel Cormier
How Can They Be Beaten?
While Jon Jones has already made a strong case as MMA's greatest of all time, the light heavyweight division as a whole is starting to catch up to him...a little. Jones long held the distinction of being one of the few true light heavyweights at the top of the division, fighting against potential (and/or actual) middleweights such as Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. While Jones has still been excellent, comparably impressive physical specimens have been putting up some strong resistance against what was once nonchalant dominance.
Jones' wrestling doesn't quite seem to be what it once was, completing just 24 percent of his takedown attempts over his last 10 rounds of work. That cracks the door open for high-level strikers and world-class wrestlers to potentially edge Jones out on score cards.
Who Could Pull it Off?
Obviously, the discussion of who could beat Jon Jones starts with Alexander Gustafsson, who was a fourth-round spinning elbow away from doing just that when they faced off at UFC 165. Daniel Cormier, who will face Jones in January, is also certainly worth mentioning, given his strong kickboxing and his possibly-best-in-the-sport wrestling skills. Finally, Anthony Johnson's fearsome striking attack certainly looks like a potential challenge for Jones.
How Likely Are We to See it?
That's the million dollar question, really. There is a profound physical difference between the elite light heavyweights of today and the ones of 2012. While Jones dispatched Glover Teixeira with ease, Phil Davis exposed just how incomplete a fighter he truly is. Because of that, it is relatively open to speculation how dominant Jones can continue to be.
However, when the discussion is "how dominant can he continue to be" and not "can he beat these contenders," it speaks volumes about how good Jones still is. He will continue to be a colossal favorite from here on out, and even if he doesn't toy with opponents like a cat with a mouse, decisive wins remain the standard for him.
1. Demetrious Johnson
9 of 9
Division: Flyweight
No. of Title Defenses: 5
Next Opponent: Unknown
How Can They Be Beaten?
No champion in the UFC has been as dominant over the last two years as Demetrious Johnson. While Johnson hasn't been facing particularly stiff competition, even legitimately fearsome contenders like Joseph Benavidez and Ali Bagautinov have been easy pickings for "Mighty Mouse." As the best wrestler in the division and quite possibly the best striker, basically the only hope for beating him is with a fluke knockout.
Who Could Pull it Off?
While people have been questioning the finishing abilities of fighters in the flyweight division since its inception, 125 pounds is dominated by dudes with stopping power. While Johnson is quite the finisher in his own way, the two hardest punchers in the division happen to be John Lineker and John Dodson.
How Likely Are We to See it?
Not very. Lineker is quite possibly the least nimble fighter in the division, and while he can punch insanely hard for a man of his size, his lack of explosiveness leaves him at an incredible disadvantage against Johnson. John Dodson, however, is nothing if not combustible and destructive.
Dodson gave Johnson the hardest fight of his flyweight career, but even after clipping him twice in the early goings, Johnson battled back and got the unanimous-decision nod. In the time since, Johnson has polished his stand-up to a mirror sheen while Dodson sustained a serious knee injury. That has the makings of a stronger showing by "Mighty Mouse."
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