The Second-Best Fighter in Every UFC Weight Class
With the deepest and most talent-rich divisions in the game today, the UFC is overrun with deserving title contenders.
From former champions to undefeated phenoms, the nine weight classes that make up the promotion offer a variety of world-class skill sets and perfected crafts.
But somewhere along the lines, the truly elite fighters need to stand out from the rest and separate from the pack.
In that sense, based on production, potential and proficiency, here is the second-best fighter in each UFC division.
Women's Bantamweight: Cat Zingano
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Outside of champion Ronda Rousey, Cat Zingano is the most dominant female fighter competing in the UFC today.
With an ability to rise to the occasion wherever a fight may take her, the undefeated 32-year-old is deadly in the clinch, powerful on the ground and overwhelming on the move.
In other words, Zingano poses threats like no other bantamweight in the division, which is why she has finished seven of her eight pro victories.
Flyweight: John Dodson
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John Dodson remains the only contender to ever truly put fear into flyweight kingpin Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson.
Equipped with one of the quickest offensive skill sets around, if not the quickest, Dodson has the unique ability to hit opponents at the drop of a dime and hit them hard—harder than any other 125-pounder on the planet.
Considering how prolific and unstoppable Johnson seems at the moment and how dominant Dodson is over the rest of the pack, it's becoming more and more evident that The Magician will become the flyweight version of Junior Dos Santos.
Bantamweight: Dominick Cruz
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While other prime choices like former champion Renan Barao and perennial top contender Urijah Faber come to mind, Dominick Cruz is a fighter waiting to break back out.
As a removed titleholder who encompasses arguably the best footwork and angling in the promotion today, Cruz is an obvious choice for Comeback Fighter of the Year should he find success in 2015.
But he needs to remain healthy before anything else. If he can do that, Cruz's natural capabilities and refined experience will once again place him atop the division.
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Featherweight: Frankie Edgar
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Jose Aldo is Jose Aldo.
His abilities at 145 pounds will never falter. That's just the way it is.
But aside from the champ, Frankie Edgar is easily the most complete fighter on the featherweight roster.
So while Chad Mendes may possess more punching power and Cub Swanson trickier striking techniques, it is Edgar who can battle for five straight rounds and score the points needed to win a close fight.
Lightweight: Khabib Nurmagomedov
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At this point in the game there's no denying a 22-0 record.
That's the sort of perfection that 26-year-old Russian prodigy Khabib Nurmagomedov rides every time he steps inside of the Octagon.
With steadfast striking, a remarkable wrestling pedigree and a motor that resembles that of heavyweight standout Cain Velasquez, The Eagle is hands down one of the most unstoppable and feared lightweights in the UFC today.
Welterweight: Rory MacDonald
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Robbie Lawler defeated Rory MacDonald at UFC 167, but he needed a near-perfect third round to come back and win a split decision.
That loss remains MacDonald's only blemish on his record since his first professional defeat at the hands of Carlos Condit back in 2010.
In any case, GSP 2.0 remains the most athletically inclined welterweight in the game—one who can adapt to any in-cage environment and disrupt an opponent's game plan like he was blowing out his birthday candles.
It's only a matter of time before MacDonald sports a UFC title around his waist.
Sorry, Johny.
Middleweight: Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
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Until Anderson Silva can come back strong, prove his health and continue to defy Father Time, he'll consequently be left off this list.
That leaves former Strikeforce champ and current UFC dynamo Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza as the second-best middleweight in the promotion.
You could obviously make a case for Vitor Belfort or even Lyoto Machida, but since his striking has evolved exponentially over the past few years, Souza is a more well-rounded fighter than his Brazilian counterparts.
Chris Weidman truly has his hands full at the top of one of the deepest divisions around.
Light Heavyweight: Alexander Gustafsson
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If it wasn't for Jon "Bones" Jones, then Alexander Gustafsson would be the UFC light heavyweight champion.
Capable of outpointing any other divisional foe through unique striking and unprecedented reach, The Mauler's offensive output would be too much for any fighter not named Jones.
Daniel Cormier could pose a threat due to his wrestling, but the size difference (6'5" vs. 5'11") would be too much.
Gustafsson remains No. 2 until either Jones beats him decisively or DC upsets the champ in early 2015.
Heavyweight: Junior Dos Santos
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In the most bizarre situation in any UFC weight class today, Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos are arguably the two best fighters the heavyweight division has ever seen.
The fact that they are competing at the same time and that one truly has the edge over the other hurts JDS' chances of ever regaining his championship.
That's like having Tom Brady play backup quarterback to Peyton Manning.
Whichever way you spin it, Dos Santos is easily the best heavyweight in the world without a strap to call his own.
Heck, he may even be more popular worldwide than Velasquez is at this point.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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