B/R Official Rankings for September: The Top 25 Pound-for-Pound Fighters in MMA

This month, there was some serious movement in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Some of you are going to be quite angry about a big move near the top of the rankings. I welcome your comments and look forward to reading them.

In addition to that move, there are your other basic switches based on new writers contributing to the rankings this month.

Take a look at where everyone stands in this month's official Bleacher Report pound-for-pound rankings.

Contributors

These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web. For the latest MMA news and freshest MMA opinions, follow them on Twitter:

Andrew Saunders    @Saundersmma

Dan Hiergesell    @DHiergesell

Hunter Homistek    @HunterAHomistek

Joe Chacon    @JoeChacon

Jordy McElroy    @JordyMcElroy

Matt Juul    @MattJuulMMA

Matt Saccaro    @MattSaccaro

Nick Caron    @nicholascaron

Riley Kontek    @RileyKontek

Sal DeRose    @SalDeRoseMMA

Scott Harris    @ScottHarrisMMA

Sean Smith    @SeanSmithMMA

Tim McTiernan    @TimMcTiernan

Vince Carey    @vcareymma

No. 25: Martin Kampmann

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-5

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Jake Ellenberger at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale

Next Fight: Johny Hendricks at UFC 154

Previous Ranking: N/A

Martin Kampmann returns to the top 25 ranking as one of the top five welterweights in the world today.

Kampmann last fought Jake Ellenberger and, in another comeback victory, knocked out Ellenberger in the second round.

He will now fight Johny Hendricks for a No. 1 contender spot against the winner of Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit.

No. 24: Johny Hendricks

Promotion: UFC

Record: 13-1

Most Recent Fight: Split decision victory over Josh Koscheck at UFC on Fox 3

Next Fight: Martin Kampmann at UFC 154

Previous Ranking: 19

Johny Hendricks is another top welterweight and has proven he belongs at the top of the division with wins over two top five fighters in a row.

First, he knocked out Jon Fitch in seconds, and then he earned a decision over Josh Koscheck.

Now he will face Martin Kampmann for a No. 1 contender spot.

No. 23: Chad Mendes

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-1

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Cody McKenzie at UFC 148

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 25

Chad Mendes is widely considered to be the No. 2 featherweight in the world, and with a 30-second victory over Cody McKenzie, he certainly proved he is high in the division.

Prior to the McKenzie fight, Mendes lost a title fight to Jose Aldo by first-round knockout.

He will be gunning for another shot at Aldo likely with one more win.

No. 22: Mauricio Rua

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-6

Most Recent Fight: TKO victory over Brandon Vera at UFC on Fox 4

Next Fight: Alexander Gustafsson at UFC on Fox 5

Previous Ranking: 24

Mauricio Rua is the former UFC light heavyweight champion and remains one of the top light heavyweights in the world.

Shogun was last seen at UFC on Fox 4, where he had a fantastic fight against Brandon Vera, which Shogun won by TKO in the fourth round.

Shogun's next fight will likely be a No. 1 contender fight against Alexander Gustafsson.

No. 21: Nate Diaz

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-7

Most Recent Fight: Submission victory over Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3

Next Fight: Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 5

Previous Ranking: 21

Nate Diaz is hitting his stride in the lightweight division. Since returning from a stint at welterweight, Diaz has gone 3-0 with two finishes and an absolute beatdown of Donald Cerrone.

Now, he will fight Benson Henderson for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC on Fox 5.

Don't miss it.

No. 20: Urijah Faber

Promotion: UFC

Record: 26-6

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Renan Barao at UFC 149

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 18

Urijah Faber is the former WEC featherweight champion, but has been unable to find championship level success since transferring to the UFC.

Faber has lost both title fights he was involved in, a fight against Dominick Cruz for the undisputed bantamweight title and a fight against Renan Barao for the interim bantamweight title.

His next fight is yet to be announced.

No. 19: Demetrious Johnson

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-2-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Ian McCall at UFC on FX 3

Next Fight: Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152

Previous Ranking: 22

Demetrious Johnson was a top-five bantamweight, and since dropping to flyweight, he is preparing to fight for the inaugural flyweight title.

He has a chance to make history as the first UFC flyweight champion if he can earn a victory over Joseph Benavidez.

They will fight at UFC 152.

No. 18: Lyoto Machida

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-3

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 4

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 20

Lyoto Machida has proven that he remains one of the top light heavyweights in the world, as he knocked out Ryan Bader in the second round of their fight at UFC on Fox 4.

Machida has notable victories over Randy Couture, Mauricio Rua and Ryan Bader.

His next fight is yet to be announced.

No. 17: Cain Velasquez

Promotion: UFC

Record: 10-1

Most Recent Fight: TKO victory over Antonio Silva at UFC 146

Next Fight: Junior dos Santos at UFC 155

Previous Ranking: 14

Cain Velasquez is the former UFC heavyweight champion and is looking to become a two-time heavyweight champion, as he will have a rematch with Junior dos Santos at UFC 155.

Velasquez lost the title to dos Santos when he was knocked out at UFC on Fox 1 in just over one minute.

After that, Velasquez earned a bloody first-round TKO over Antonio Silva.

No. 16: Gray Maynard

Promotion: UFC

Record: 11-1-1 [1 NC]

Most Recent Fight: Split decision victory over Clay Guida at UFC on FX 4

Next Fight: Joe Lauzon at UFC 155

Previous Ranking: 16

Gray Maynard is probably the closest a fighter has ever been to holding the title without actually getting it.

In two fights against Frankie Edgar, Maynard had a chance to finish him and win the title, but alas, he did not.

His next fight will be against Joe Lauzon at UFC 155.

No. 15: Gilbert Melendez

Promotion: Strikeforce

Record: 21-2

Most Recent Fight: Split decision victory over Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Next Fight: Pat Healy at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy

Previous Ranking: 17

Up next is the only fighter who is not in the UFC, Gilbert Melendez.

Melendez' last fight wasn't his most impressive, but a win is a win, and he improved to 21-2 in his career.

His next fight will be against Pat Healy on September 29, where he will look to cement himself as a top lightweight.

No. 14: Chael Sonnen

Promotion: UFC

Record: 27-12-1

Most Recent Fight: TKO loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 148

Next Fight: Forrest Griffin at UFC 155

Previous Ranking: 12

Chael Sonnen has a serious claim to being a top pound-for-pound fighter now, as he is moving up to light heavyweight from the middleweight division.

His last three fights in the middleweight division, he went 2-1 with wins over Michael Bisping and Brian Stann and the lone loss to Anderson Silva.

His next fight will be a rematch of an early fight in his career against Forrest Griffin.

No. 13: Rashad Evans

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-2-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Jon Jones at UFC 145

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 11

Rashad Evans has teased a move to middleweight, but for now remains in the light heavyweight division and has said he wants one more fight in the division before possibly moving down.

His last fight saw him lose a unanimous decision to former training partner Jon Jones.

His next fight is yet to be announced, although it will hopefully be before the end of this year.

No. 12: Joseph Benavidez

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-2

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2

Next Fight: Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152

Previous Ranking: 13

As a former top contender in the bantamweight division and now a top contender in the featherweight division, Joseph Benavidez is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

His divisional debut saw him knock out Yasuhiro Urushitani in the second round.

Now he'll face Demetrious Johnson for the inaugural flyweight title.

No. 11: Dan Henderson

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-8

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Mauricio Rua at UFC 139

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 15

Dan Henderson is one of the best fighters in the world today.

His last six fights have seen him earn knockout victories at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

In his most recent fight, he earned a unanimous decision over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in what many are calling the greatest fight of all-time.

No. 10: Renan Barao

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-1 [1 NC]

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Urijah Faber at UFC 149

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 10

Renan Barao is the interim UFC bantamweight champion and has one of the longest win streaks in MMA—perhaps the longest.

Barao won the title at UFC 149 when he beat Urijah Faber by unanimous decision.

He has said he will wait for Dominick Cruz to come back to fight him, but for now, his next fight is unannounced.

No. 9: Frankie Edgar

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-3-1

Most Recent Fight: Split decision loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 150

Next Fight: Jose Aldo at UFC 153

Previous Ranking: 8

Frankie Edgar lost two straight fights in the lightweight division. They were two close, competitive fights with Benson Henderson, but he lost.

And that finally forced Edgar to drop down to the featherweight division. Then, something happened that nobody expected.

Erik Koch got injured, and Frankie Edgar stepped in to face Jose Aldo.

We're getting our superfight, folks.

No. 8: Carlos Condit

Promotion: UFC

Record: 28-5

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 143

Next Fight: Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154

Previous Ranking: 9

Carlos Condit is the current interim welterweight champion and has been sitting on the sidelines since February, when he won the interim title by defeating Nick Diaz.

He is set to face Georges St-Pierre to unify the titles at UFC 154.

No. 7: Benson Henderson

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-2

Most Recent Fight: Split decision victory over Frankie Edgar at UFC 150

Next Fight: Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5

Previous Ranking: 7

Benson Henderson is the UFC's most recent initial champion, but he has also had the most controversial title defenses.

He will have a chance to earn a dominant victory when he takes on Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC on Fox 5.

No. 6: Junior Dos Santos

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-1

Most Recent Fight: TKO victory over Frank Mir at UFC 146

Next Fight: Cain Velasquez at UFC 155

Previous Ranking: 5

Junior dos Santos is the UFC heavyweight champion and has been utterly dominant in his UFC reign.

He has finished all but two opponents, and two he didn't finish; he beat down for 15 whole minutes.

His next fight will be a rematch of the fight in which he earned the title, a fight with Cain Velasquez at UFC 155.

No. 5: Dominick Cruz

Promotion: UFC

Record: 19-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 6

Up next is the current UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz.

Cruz suffered a torn ACL and has been out for a long time. To give you a timeframe, he has not fought since the Fox deal went into effect.

Yeah, that long.

His next fight upon return will likely be against Renan Barao.

No. 4: Georges St-Pierre

Promotion: UFC

Record: 22-2

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Jake Shields at UFC 129

Next Fight: Carlos Condit at UFC 154

Previous Ranking: 3

Remember when I teased a switch up top that fans wouldn't be pleased with? That is that switch.

Georges St-Pierre's extended layoff due to injury has caused him to drop from second, to third, now to fourth in the official B/R rankings.

St-Pierre is scheduled for a return fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 154 to unify the welterweight titles.

No. 3: Jose Aldo

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-1

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 142

Next Fight: Frankie Edgar at UFC 153

Previous Ranking: 4

Jose Aldo was long considered the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter, but then Jon Jones came up and snaked his spot.

Now, due to the extended time off that GSP has gone through, Aldo has reclaimed the No. 3 spot in the rankings.

His next fight will be against the former lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, at UFC 153 in Brazil.

No. 2: Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Rashad Evans at UFC 145

Next Fight: Vitor Belfort at UFC 152

Previous Ranking: 2

Jon Jones keeps his No. 2 spot in the rankings for another month, although I'm sure he hasn't earned any more fans in the process.

After essentially forcing the cancellation of UFC 151 by refusing to take a short notice fight, Jones has become the villain in almost everyone's eyes.

His next fight will be against Vitor Belfort on September 22.

No. 1: Anderson Silva

Promotion: UFC

Record: 32-4

Most Recent Fight: TKO victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 148

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 1

Duh.

Anderson Silva is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. In the UFC, he is 15-0 with 13 finishes and just decimated his closest competition ever.

His next fight is yet to be announced, but it's being rumored that it will be against GSP, if GSP gets past Carlos Condit at UFC 154.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @TimMcTiernan.