Junior Dos Santos and 25 Fighters That Put the Power in Power Rankings

When succeeded by the word "rankings," the word "power" is usually synonymous with "effectiveness." 

Power rankings seek to place a group in order of descending abilities and accomplishments to establish the best and worst, and everything in between.

For the purpose of this list, we are putting a little spin on the method. Rather than seeking out the 25 best fighters, we are taking the term at its most literal, and acknowledging the most powerful of the mixed martial artists that populate MMA power rankings.

For inclusion on this list, a fighter must logically fit on an accredited traditional power-ranking list. After all, this is determining who puts the power in power rankings.

As a second point of criteria, power can take many forms. It can manifest in one-punch knockouts or explosive double-leg takedowns. It can be exhibited by vicious submissions or jaw-dropping throws.

All forms of power are acknowledged by this list.

Jose Aldo

Aldo relies on a combination of speed and power in the striking game. He uses his quickness to land a lot, and uses his power to make the hits count.

With 13 knockouts in 22 fights, Aldo is arguably the most powerful striker in the featherweight division.

If you need confirmation, check out all eight seconds of his WEC contest with Cub Swanson.

Ben Askren

"Funky" possesses some of the most powerful takedowns in all of MMA.

It doesn't matter whether he has a full body lock or is pinching a baby toe, once he gets a hold of his opponent, it is only a matter of time before Askren puts him on his back.

If he could couple his powerful shots and clinch with powerful hands or explosive submissions, Askren would quickly become one of the most talked-about phenoms in the sport.  

For now, he remains a wrestler, but an extremely powerful one.

Vitor Belfort

Belfort's hands are perhaps better known as fast, than powerful. But in truth, it is a combination of these two attributes that make him one of the most feared strikers in the history of mixed martial arts.

Belfort throws straight punches right down the pipe quicker than you can bat an eye. The kicker is that they aren't just to score points. They end fights.

Few fighters have ever been able to match the explosiveness of "The Phenom," and it is difficult to imagine that many ever will. 

Joseph Benavidez

It is pretty rare to find raw power in the 125 pound division, but Benavidez definitely has some. 

Whether it's throwing his opponent in the clinch, shooting a vicious double-leg takedown, or using his right hook to end a fight, Benavidez is not forgiving of his opposition's mistakes.

He will hold a power advantage over any opponent the flyweight division can throw at him.

Shane Carwin

Shane Carwin is the embodiment of the essence of power.

None of his 12 career wins have taken longer than 3:48, which tells you all you really need to know.

One clean punch from "The Engineer," and it is all over.

Daniel Cormier

Cormier is best known for his powerful takedowns, but a recent knockout win over Antonio Silva suggests that his raw strength is beginning to seep into other areas of his game.

As the 33-year-old continues to round himself, look for his knockout count to climb.  

Junior Dos Santos

Dos Santos is a Brazilian knockout machine. 

He began his incredible run to the UFC heavyweight championship by annihilating the seven men unfortunate enough to be put in the cage with him. 

When he was finally given the opportunity to grasp UFC gold, Dos Santos wasted no time fooling around, knocking out Cain Velasquez in a mere 1:04.

Dos Santos is one of the most efficient pure boxers in the heavyweight division, and has finished every man he has faced, save for Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin, whom he owns decision wins over.

Tim Boetsch

"The Barbarian" announced his arrival in the UFC by knocking out David Heath with a slam. 

In addition to being able to pick people up and drop them on their head, Boetsch is an extremely powerful wrestler and puncher. 

Since his drop to 185 pounds a year ago, his power seems all the more exaggerated, and it will function as one of his primary assets as his career develops. 

Jake Ellenberger

The aptly named "Juggernaut" hits like a hammer. Just ask Jake Shields.

In addition to strong punches, Ellenberger is capable of putting nearly any welterweight on his back, save for maybe a few of the division's most accomplished wrestlers.

Urijah Faber

Faber's body type spells power. He looks like someone crammed 200 pounds of muscle into a 135-pound body.

Faber is extremely strong for a bantamweight and uses his power in conjunction with superb agility and a well-rounded skill set.

Faber's strength is most clearly exhibited in his takedowns and in his submissions while on top of his opponents.

Alexander Gustafsson

In five UFC wins, Gustafsson has a perfect finishing record, with three knockouts and two submissions.

The Swede is not afraid to take a punch to give one, largely because he knows the one he gives will hurt more than the one he takes.

Gustafsson's next fight comes against another powerful light heavyweight, Thiago Silva.

Ben Henderson

Other opponents have made Frankie Edgar look undersized, but Henderson made the former champion look like a pre-teen.

Henderson is a big, long fighter with crisp punches and very strong wrestling. He may not hit as hard as some other top lightweights, but few division rivals can manhandle opponents like Henderson.

Dan Henderson

While watching Dan Henderson compete in MMA, you cannot help but wonder why no one notices the iron bar he holds in his right hand.

I mean, he does hold one, right? No one hits THIS hard with a fist. Do they?

His knockout of Michael Bisping looked like a car colliding with a mosquito.

In his last four contests, "Hendo" has scored three knockouts, and put Mauricio "Shogun" Rua on queer street en route to a decision win. 

Very few tools in MMA are as singularly powerful as Henderson's overhand right.

Johny Hendricks

It takes more than a little bit of power to put away the ultimate grinder, Jon Fitch. It takes a lot of power. Hendricks-type power.

Before his fight with Hendricks, Fitch had only been knocked out one time, and that came all the way back in 2002.

Mark Hunt

Mark Hunt is a power enigma. Looking at him, you wouldn't think he could turn out a man's lights with a stiff cross.

Looks can be deceiving.

Below a somewhat doughy exterior, Hunt possesses massive reserves of punching power, which have allowed him to achieve five of his eight wins by knockout.

Erik Koch

Everything about Koch is explosive. His takedowns are explosive. His submissions are explosive. His punches and kicks are explosive. 

While he doesn't have the resume to vouch for the amount of punching power he actually has, it shouldn't be long before the featherweight prospect begins racking up a body count and garnering serious attention for a shot against Jose Aldo. 

Hector Lombard

Hector Lombard is ridiculously powerful.

The Cuban judo master has dynamite in his hands and can turn an opponent upside-down from the clinch with seeming ease. 

Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard is a big 155lb-er that hits hard and shoots a double-leg with power unmatched in the lightweight division.

Maynard has struggled to finish fights throughout his career, but has ridden a powerful wrestling game to an impressive 10-1-1 record.

Chad Mendes

Like Maynard, Mendes does not have a terrific finishing record, but that does not suggest an absence of power.

"Money" is an explosive athlete with arguably the best double-leg takedown in the featherweight division. When he shoots, he does so with viciousness and power rarely seen in the 145-pound weight class.

At 26-years-of-age, Mendes is still relatively new to MMA, having compiled less than four years of professional experience. As he continues to develop his all-around game, look for the power of his takedowns to emerge in other areas of his game.

Mark Munoz

If you've seen a picture of Munoz outside of the Octagon (like this one), chances are he was smiling in it. But don't let the general pleasantness he exudes fool you. Munoz can be utterly vicious.

"The Filipino Wrecking Machine" hits pretty hard on the feet and owns a powerful shot, but what really sets him apart is his ground and pound.

Few fighters are capable of doing in the mount what Munoz can do from the guard. He possesses what is quite possibly the most powerful arsenal of ground strikes in all of mixed martial arts.

Rousimar Palhares

Few fighters in MMA compete with a ferocity to match that of Palhares.

Every time the guy hurls a punch, it is intended to knock his opponent's head into the10th row. Every time he grabs a leg, arm, or neck, he holds it with the intention of damaging it.

In addition to fighting with some seriously bad intentions, "Toquinho" is built like a cube. His compact frame allows him to fit a great sum of power into a 185-pound body.

Dennis Siver

At lightweight, Dennis Siver looked like a freight train and hit like a hammer. At featherweight? We'll have to wait and see.

One thing is for certain, though. The drop in class will ensure the German holds a power advantage over nearly any opponent he will face.

Brian Stann

Since making the move from light heavyweight to middleweight, Stann has put together a solid 3-1 record. He is big for the division, and hits as hard as anyone else at 185 pounds. 

While Stann's reliance on his natural power mitigated his success early in his career, he seems to be developing a skill set to match his inherent abilities, which makes him a horror in the middleweight division.

Chael Sonnen

Sonnen may not own a lengthy list of knockout wins, but few men in the middleweight division can foil his powerful takedowns.

Whether it's via a shot or the clinch, Sonnen moves bodies with a power viewers can sense, and opponents can't match.

Georges St-Pierre

St-Pierre may not seem like he wields excessive power, but his unrivaled athleticism grants him an explosiveness that no one has figured out yet.

His takedowns have serious heat, and putting St-Pierre on his back is almost unheard of.

While he lacks one-punch knockout power, GSP makes the cut for the same reason as the aforementioned Sonnen—extremely powerful wrestling.

James Te-Huna

Te-Huna possesses more power in either hand than most fighters have in their entire body.

The Australian hits with thundering pop that has earned him three knockouts in his three UFC victories. 

Regardless of his opponent, if James Te-Huna lands a clean punch, right or left, the man is going to sleep.

Just Missed the Cut

There are many other mixed martial artists worthy of making this list, but all are on the outside looking in.

Guys like Thiago Silva, Sean Sherk, Melvin Guillard and Alistair Overeem miss out for a variety of reasons. Beyond them, there are a bevy of others that warranted consideration, but just couldn't beat out any of those included.

Feel free to add to the list by dropping a comment below.