MMA Pound-For-Pound Rankings (Updated 9-4-2010)

(Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports)

A changing of the guard? That could be an understatement. Frankie Edgar defeated B.J. Penn at UFC 118 to cement himself as the top Lightweight in the world. The victory also cemented his pound-for-pound status.

With his second consecutive loss, B.J. Penn bows out of the pound-for-pound rankings. His exit shouldn't be permanent. An invigorated Penn could one day reclaim his spot.

Meanwhile, the debate between Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre continues. Who is the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world?

Maybe one guy will lose and give us a clear-cut answer. If not, we can only hear out various opinions and hope for a super fight.

I'd like to read your opinions. I'll also answer any questions. Thanks for reading!

1) Anderson Silva

At UFC 117, Anderson Silva proved why he is considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

After getting dominated throughout the bout, Silva caught Chael Sonnen in a fight-ending triangle late in the fifth round. It was a signature ending that will be remembered for years to come.

Great athletes always find a way to win. Silva has been doing it frequently. The win over Sonnen extended his UFC record for most consecutive title defenses (7) and UFC victories (12).

2) Georges St. Pierre

If anyone has a claim to Anderson Silva’s spot, It’s the French-Canadian. Having avenged the only two losses on his record, Georges St. Pierre is theoretically undefeated.

He has laid waste to the UFC Welterweight division.

At UFC 111, St. Pierre dominated Dan Hardy for five rounds to pick up a unanimous decision.

A rematch with Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 is next on the agenda. Before that, the two will coach opposite one another on the 12th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

3) Jose Aldo

This devastating striker and Featherweight enigma has put the MMA world on notice.

Jose Aldo has dominated former Featherweight champions in Urijah Faber and Mike Brown back-to-back.

A division that was once considered stacked is quickly thinning due to Aldo’s otherworldly skill level.

At WEC 51, Aldo will defend his Featherweight title against Manny Gamburyan.

4) Frankie Edgar

Frankie Edgar proved he wasn’t a one-trick pony at UFC 112. At UFC 118, Edgar defeated B.J. Penn for the second consecutive time to retain his UFC Lightweight title.

It almost felt like a passing of the torch.

The celebration won’t last too long. A bully from a long time past awaits on an undecided date.

5) Jon Fitch

In MMA, Jon Fitch puts in work like a man on an assembly line. 13 of his 23 victories have come by decision.

Still, the decisions can’t topple this Welterweight standout’s impressive résumé. Fitch has compiled a 13-1 UFC record. His lone loss came from Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87.

He may have a chance to avenge that loss. At UFC 117, Fitch became the No. 1 contender for the Welterweight title after defeating Thiago Alves.

If St. Pierre defends at UFC 124, he will have his rematch. If not, Fitch may be faced with the daunting possibility of fighting his teammate, Josh Koscheck.

6) Jake Shields

In the Elite XC and Strikeforce, Jake Shields has dominated the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions.

At Strikeforce: Nashville, he retained his Middleweight title by taking a unanimous decision victory over former PRIDE Middleweight Champion, Dan Henderson.

Shields became a free agent after the bout and has since signed with the UFC.

Fans often talked about a dream fight between Shields and Georges St. Pierre. If the pieces fall in place, the dream could become a reality.

Shields will make his Welterweight return and UFC debut at UFC 121 against Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann.

7) Fedor Emelianenko

Like every fighter, Fedor is only human.

At Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum, Fedor suffered his first authentic MMA loss to two-time ADCC Heavyweight Champion, Fabricio Werdum.

It was a tough loss that reminded MMA fans that no fighter is invincible.

Fedor remains one of the great fighters of the sport and perhaps the best Heavyweight in the world.

8) Dominick Cruz

Post-Miguel Torres, Dominick Cruz looks like the guy to bring stability back to the WEC Bantamweight division.

At WEC 47, Cruz defeated Brian Bowles to become the Bantamweight Champion. His first defense came in his second decision victory over Joseph Benavidez at WEC 50.

The only loss on Cruz’s record comes from Urijah Faber in a Featherweight title bout back in March 2007. With Faber coming to Bantamweight, a rematch could be inevitable.

Things have changed since 2007. Cruz’s aggressive offense and solid defense makes him a nightmare opponent for anyone.

9) Mauricio Rua

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua righted a terrible wrong in his UFC 113 bout with Lyoto Machida.

Many thought Shogun beat Machida back in October 2009. Machida was awarded a controversial decision that set up the immediate rematch at UFC 113.

A first-round KO by Shogun erased the decision and years of living in Wanderlei Silva’s shadow.

By becoming the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Shogun earned the first major MMA title in his illustrious career.

His first defense will likely be against Rashad Evans; however, a knee injury will keep him sidelined until early 2011.

10) Lyoto Machida

Before October 2009, the puzzle that was Lyoto Machida baffled MMA pundits and fans alike.

It wasn’t until Mauricio "Shogun" Rua burst on the scene that fans finally saw the answer.

Shogun’s unorthodox striking and devastating leg kicks proved to be Machida’s Achilles heel.

Any fighter should be able to employ a similar tactic…right? Wrong. Lyoto Machida remains one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

One bad stylistic encounter doesn’t change that. Regardless of controversy, Machida beat Shogun at UFC 104. "The Dragon" will try to rebound at UFC 123 against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.