Top 25 Pound-for-Pound UFC Fighters Following UFC 159

Jon Jones still has some work to do to catch Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre in terms of UFC title defenses, but the light heavyweight champion continued to close that gap with a win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 on Saturday.

Even with a badly broken toe, Jones breezed through Sonnen and finished the fight with ground-and-pound in the final minute of the opening round. 

In beating Sonnen, Jones defended his 205-pound belt for a fifth consecutive time, tying Tito Ortiz for the UFC light heavyweight record. At only 25 years old, Jones is already cementing himself among the greatest fighters in MMA history.

Following Saturday's fights, let's see where Jones stands among the pound-for-pound best in the UFC today.

25. Chris Weidman

Record: 9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Mark Munoz

Next Fight: Anderson Silva at UFC 162

Chris Weidman has quickly risen in the UFC middleweight division and now finds himself with the opportunity to dethrone long-reigning champion Anderson Silva.

Undefeated in his MMA career, the 28-year-old has the potential to become one of the better fighters in MMA, but the greatest ever stands in his way right now.

With a win over Silva, Weidman would shake up the entire MMA landscape and throw a wrench if the UFC's plans for any super fights.

24. Vitor Belfort

Record: 22-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Michael Bisping

Next Fight: Luke Rockhold at UFC on FX 8

Vitor Belfort has lost to both middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but the former UFC titleholder isn't far away from earning another shot at UFC gold.

Having only lost to Silva and Jones since returning to the UFC roster, Belfort has solidified himself as one of the best middleweights in the world.

Should he beat former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold in May, it'd be difficult to name a fighter more deserving of a shot at the 185-pound belt.

23. Dan Henderson

Record: 29-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Lyoto Machida

Next Fight: Rashad Evans at UFC 161

Dan Henderson's opportunity to compete for the UFC light heavyweight title slipped away with his recent loss to Lyoto Machida.

At 42 years old, it's a chance that unfortunately may never come his way again.

If "Hendo" is to earn one last title shot before calling it quits, he'll need to find a way to beat Rashad Evans at UFC 161.

22. Lyoto Machida

Record: 19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Dan Henderson

Next Fight: TBD

Lyoto Machida was named the top light heavyweight contender after beating Dan Henderson in February, but 205-pound champion Jon Jones seems much more interested in defending his belt against a fresh challenger in Alexander Gustafsson.

Having only lost to Jones in his past four fights, Machida is clearly one of the two best contenders in the light heavyweight class, but he may have to campaign for the rematch with Jones because he was beaten so decisively the last time he faced the titleholder.

With Jones potentially looking at time off to recover from a toe injury, it's also possible that Machida could meet Gustafsson in a title shot eliminator.

21. Alexander Gustafsson

Record: 15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Mauricio Rua

Next Fight: TBD

Alexander Gustafsson emerged as one of the top light heavyweight contenders with his most recent win over Mauricio Rua.

However, in being forced out of a bout with Gegard Mousasi due to a cut, Gustafsson may have missed out on a chance to prove he's more deserving of a title shot than Lyoto Machida.

If 205-pound champion Jon Jones is out of action for an extended period due to a toe injury, though, Gustafsson could meet Machida in a matchup that would help make a decision for the UFC brass. 

20. Gray Maynard

Record: 12-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Clay Guida

Next Fight: T.J. Grant at UFC 160

Gray Maynard had a lackluster outing in his last Octagon appearance, but that had more to do with Clay Guida's unwillingness to engage than anything.

The only loss on Maynard's record is still one that came against Frankie Edgar, who could still be the lightweight champion had a controversial decision gone his way.

With a win over T.J. Grant at UFC 160, Maynard will have another chance to compete for UFC gold, this time against Benson Henderson.

19. Carlos Condit

Record: 28-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Johny Hendricks

Next Fight: TBD

Carlos Condit has lost back-to-back fights, but he can still be a serious welterweight contender with some improvements in his wrestling.

With losses to elite 170-pound fighters Georges St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks, it's going to be tough for Condit to earn another title shot.

That being said, Condit is 29 years old and still has the time to make the adjustments needed to return to the front of the line for an opportunity to reclaim UFC gold.

18. Urijah Faber

Record: 28-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Scott Jorgensen

Next Fight: TBD

Urijah Faber is already back in the mix for a bantamweight title shot despite having lost to champions Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao inside the Octagon.

Since losing to Barao, Faber has won back-to-back fights and is showing there's no better 135-pound contender than him.

It may take another win or two, but Faber is very likely to get another shot at a UFC championship eventually.

17. Johny Hendricks

Record: 15-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Carlos Condit

Next Fight: TBD

It took awhile, but Johny Hendricks has made it impossible for the UFC to not give him the next shot at welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

While Hendricks is still awaiting news on when his fight with St-Pierre will be, it's hard to imagine a scenario that that title shot would be taken away from him even if the Canadian champion were to temporarily step away from defending his belt for a super fight with Anderson Silva.

An NCAA wrestling champion, Hendricks does present some problems for St-Pierre and has a strong chance of being the one to end the titleholder's long reign.

16. Junior dos Santos

Record: 15-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Cain Velasquez

Next Fight: Mark Hunt at UFC 160

Junior dos Santos could not hold onto the UFC heavyweight title for long, losing it to the fighter he had originally taken it from in Cain Velasquez.

Holding a win over Velasquez in his pocket, Dos Santos likely won't have to do much to earn a rubber match with the champion, though.

An impressive win over Mark Hunt at UFC 160 could be all it takes for Dos Santos to return to a championship bout.

15. Anthony Pettis

Record: 14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Donald Cerrone

Next Fight: Jose Aldo at UFC 163

After a hiccup in his UFC debut against Clay Guida, Anthony Pettis returned to lightweight title contention with three straight victories.

Instead of waiting for a rematch with 155-pound champion Benson Henderson, though, Pettis called for a fight with featherweight titleholder Jose Aldo.

Intrigued by what should be an exciting striking matchup, the UFC brass agreed to give Pettis the opportunity to compete for the 145-pound belt.

14. John Dodson

Record: 15-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Demetrious Johnson

Next Fight: TBD

John Dodson came up short in his first UFC title defense against flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, but the TUF winner remains one of the most promising fighters to come out of the reality series.

Competing in a division that is still developing, Dodson should have a great chance to return to title contention quickly, especially if someone were to dethrone Johnson.

Though Dodson's next opponent has not been named, it would appear likely he'll compete against an elite flyweight and have a chance to earn a second title shot.

13. Joseph Benavidez

Record: 18-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC

Last Fight: Win vs. Darren Uyenoyama

Next Fight: TBD

Joseph Benavidez has won two fights since losing to Demetrious Johnson in the inaugural UFC flyweight title fight, and the Team Alpha Male fighter is already back near the top of the list of contenders hoping for a shot at the 125-pound championship.

Although he probably could have been awarded a title shot after his recent win over Ian McCall, Benavidez opted to continue making improvements before taking a rematch with "Mighty Mouse" and picked up another win over Darren Uyenoyama.

With John Moraga currently set to fight Johnson, Benavidez may not need one more win to set himself up for a second shot at the flyweight belt.

12. Gilbert Melendez

Record: 21-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Benson Henderson

Next Fight: TBD

Gilbert Melendez may not have won the title in his UFC debut against lightweight champion Benson Henderson, but he silenced his doubters by taking the fight to a controversial split decision.

Although some though an immediate rematch may have been in order, the winner of an upcoming bout between Gray Maynard and T.J. Grant will instead be next for Henderson.

Nonetheless, Melendez should find himself in a matchup that could return him to a title fight with one impressive win.

11. Frankie Edgar

Record: 14-4-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC

Last Fight: Loss vs. Jose Aldo

Next Fight: Charles Oliveira at UFC 162

Frankie Edgar's move to featherweight may have been unsuccessful initially, but he remains one of the most dangerous contenders in the division despite his loss to champion Jose Aldo.

For the first time in years, Edgar will now find himself in a non-title fight, which should take the pressure off and allow him to showcase his skills against an over-matched opponent in Charles Oliveira.

It might take a few wins, but Edgar should be back in the mix for a title shot before long.

10. Ronda Rousey

Record: 7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Liz Carmouche

Next Fight: TBD

Ronda Rousey may continue to only put one area of her skill set on display, but her armbar is all she's needed to dominate the women's bantamweight division only seven fights into her MMA career.

After beating Liz Carmouche in her UFC debut, Rousey will now appear as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter opposite Cat Zingano.

The coaching spot will give Rousey a chance to continue her efforts to aid the explosion in popularity of women's MMA.

9. Cain Velasquez

Record: 11-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Junior dos Santos

Next Fight: Antonio Silva at UFC 160

With his win over Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez joined a select group of two-time UFC champions.

Following a rematch of a fight he had originally lost, Velasquez will now defend his belt against an opponent he has already beaten in Antonio Silva.

The heavyweight title has proven difficult to hold onto over the years, and Velasquez will inevitably have to meet Dos Santos in a rubber match that should prove dangerous.

8. Renan Barao

Record: 32-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Michael McDonald

Next Fight: Eddie Wineland at UFC 161

Renan Barao will soon have a chance to be the first UFC fighter to defend an interim title on multiple occasions.

Already having defended his belt from Michael McDonald, Barao will be challenged by Eddie Wineland in the UFC 161 main event.

If Barao beats Wineland, he may finally get the opportunity to battle fellow bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, who is finally nearing a full recovery from multiple knee injuries.

7. Demetrious Johnson

Record: 17-2-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. John Dodson

Next Fight: John Moraga at UFC on Fox 8

With wins over Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson, Demetrious Johnson appears to be on his way toward a long reign as flyweight champion.

The next test for "Mighty Mouse" will be John Moraga, who has torn through his flyweight competition since joining the UFC roster.

As the first 125-pound champion, every win will make Johnson harder to catch in the UFC record books in terms of divisional dominance.

6. Benson Henderson

Record: 18-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Gilbert Melendez

Next Fight: TBD

Though Benson Henderson has not been dominating many opponents, he continues to win on the scorecards. 

Eventually, Henderson's inability to finish evenly matched opponents is going to catch up with him, but he's already on the verge of breaking UFC lightweight records.

Next up for the lightweight champion will be a title defense against the winner of a UFC 160 bout between Gray Maynard and T.J. Grant.

5. Dominick Cruz

Record: 19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Demetrious Johnson

Next Fight: TBD

It's been a year-and-a-half since Dominick Cruz last stepped into the Octagon, but he's still one of the best in the game until proven otherwise.

When Cruz does come back from injury, Renan Barao will be waiting for him, and that'll be an extremely tough task for a fighter coming off of such a long hiatus.

Hopefully, Cruz does not suffer any more setbacks, because his return would make the 135-pound class much more interesting.

4. Jose Aldo

Record: 22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Frankie Edgar

Next Fight: Anthony Pettis at UFC 163

In beating a former lightweight champion in Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo solidified himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA.

With a win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 163, Aldo may decide to move to 155 pounds and begin testing himself in a new division.

Only injuries and rough weight cuts have given Aldo problems under the Zuffa banner, so competing in the lightweight class could eliminate one of those issues.

3. Jon Jones

Record: 18-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Chael Sonnen

Next Fight: TBD

With Chael Sonnen in the rear-view mirror, Jon Jones can now look forward to facing more difficult challenges.

Sonnen has strong wrestling, but there's no denying he talked his way into a light heavyweight title shot without truly earning it.

Once Jones recovers from a nasty toe injury, he could meet Lyoto Machida or Alexander Gustafsson.

2. Georges St-Pierre

Record: 24-2 MMA, 18-2 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Nick Diaz

Next Fight: TBD

Like Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre's most recent challenger was also coming off of a loss, but the welterweight champion actually requested that matchup with Nick Diaz.

Now, St-Pierre likely faces a much more difficult foe in Johny Hendricks. Hendricks has blazed a path through some of the best 170-pound fighters in the world to earn his shot at St-Pierre.

A superfight with Anderson Silva would give St-Pierre a chance to top this list, but that matchup continues to be placed on the back burner and may never happen.  

1. Anderson Silva

Record: 33-4 MMA, 16-0 UFC

Last Fight: Won vs. Stephan Bonnar

Next Fight: Chris Weidman at UFC 162

Until he finally loses or retires, Anderson Silva deserves to sit atop the list of top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA.

Silva's reign as champion has been one that may never be matched. 

At UFC 162, Silva will aim for an astounding 11th straight title defense against Chris Weidman, who actually does present some serious style problems to the champion.