MMA: Power Ranking the Top 25 Pound-for-Pound Fighters Outside the UFC

After a long week for the UFC that included two events, UFC 127 and UFC on Versus 3, the organization had the weekend off. Meanwhile, Strikeforce and Bellator held simultaneous events on Saturday. Both promotions showcased some of their best fighters.

At Strikeforce: Columbus, Dan Henderson, who was once known as one of the better fighters in the UFC, showed the MMA world why he is now one of the best fighters outside of the UFC by claiming the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

With the non-UFC stars that competed this weekend in mind, here are the top 25 pound-for-pound fighters that fight outside of the world's largest MMA organization.

25. Robbie Lawler

Currently with Strikeforce, Robbie Lawler holds notable wins over Melvin Manhoef, Murilo Rua, Scott Smith, Frank Trigg, Chris Lytle and Matt Lindland. Lawler is also a former EliteXC Middleweight Champion.

Although Lawler is 2-3 in his last five fights, his losses have come against some of the best in the word in Jake Shields, Ronaldo Souza and Renato Sobral.

24. Ben Askren

A two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion at the University of Missouri, Ben Askren has transformed into one of the most promising young mixed martial artists in the world. 

Undefeated in seven professional fights, Askren defeated Ryan Thomas, Dan Hornbuckle and Lyman Good en route to becoming the Bellator Welterweight Champion. 

23. Renato Sobral

Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral has defeated fighters like Robbie Lawler, Chael Sonnen, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Mauricio Rua over the course of his career.

Although the 35-year-old Sobral lost to Dan Henderson in his last fight, he has still won six of his last eight fights. 

22. Hector Lombard

Hector Lombard, the current Bellator Middleweight Champion, has won 16 consecutive bouts and will attempt to extend that streak with a win over Falaniko Vitale in May 2011. 

Lombard's last loss came more than four years ago against Gegard Mousasi.

21. Josh Barnett

A winner of six straight, Josh Barnett is preparing to fight in the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix against Brett Rogers. 

Barnett has won against the likes of Pedro Rizzo, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Semmy Schilt and Aleksander Emelianenko. Meanwhile, Barnett's only losses of his career have been again Rizzo, Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic.

20. Gegard Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi holds an outstanding record of 30-3-1. After vacating his Dream Middleweight Championship, Mousasi recently claimed the Dream Light Heavyweight Championship.

Mousasi has beaten Renato Sobral, Ronaldo Souza and Melvin Manhoef while fighting for Dream and Strikeforce. Mousasi's next fight will come against Mike Kyle in April 2011.

19. Muhammed Lawal

After beginning his career with seven straight wins on the way to capturing the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, Muhammed Lawal suffered his first loss against Rafael Cavalcante in August 2010.

The most impressive win of Lawal's career came in his title-clinching fight against Gegard Mousasi. 

18. Fedor Emelianenko

Prior his recent and well-documented back-to-back losses against Fabrico Werdum and Antonio Silva, the only other loss of Fedor Emelianenko's decade-long career was due to a stoppage because of a cut he suffered 17 seconds into a fight.

A former Pride Heavyweight Champion, Emelianenko has defeated a long list of some of the best heavyweights in the history of the sport.

17. Rafael Cavalcante

In August 2010, Rafael Cavalcante became Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion by defeating Muhammed Lawal.

In his first title defense, Cavalcante rocked Dan Henderson in the first round of the fight. However, Henderson recovered and dethroned Cavalcante with a knockout in the third round.  

16. Joe Warren

With his win over Joe Soto at Bellator 27, Joe Warren became the Bellator Featherweight Champion. Warren also holds a win over UFC fighter Norimfumi Yamamoto.

At 6-1, the only loss of Warren's career came against former Dream Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes. 

15. Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem, the current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, will have the opportunity to avenge a prior loss when he fights Fabricio Werdum in the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in June 2011.

Undefeated in the last three years, Overeem's fight with Werdum will also give him the opportunity to answer his doubters' questions about the level of competition he has faced.  

14. Antonio Silva

After losing to Fabricio Werdum in November 2009, Antonio Silva has defeated Andrei Arlovski, Mike Kyle and Fedor Emelianenko. Now in the semifinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Silva will await the winner of a fight between Werdum and Alistair Overeem.

Aside from Werdum, former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Silva has only lost one other time in his 18-fight career.

13. Bibiano Fernandes

In his last fight, Bibiano Fernandes lost his Dream Featherweight Championship to Hiroyuki Takaya in a decision. In addition to a win over Takaya earlier in his career, Fernandes also has beaten Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren. 

Other than Takaya, the only other fighters to defeat Fernandes are UFC fighters Urijah Faber and Norifumi Yamamoto.

12. Tatsuya Kawajiri

With an upcoming bout against Gilbert Melendez, Tatsiya Kawajiri will get the chance to show that he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Kawajiri's only losses in the last eight years have come against Takanori Gomi, Gilbert Melendez, Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki.

Meanwhile, Kawajiri has compiled wins over Yves Edwards, Vitor Ribeiro, Gesias Cavalcante and Josh Thomson.

11. Marlon Sandro

Marlon Sandro is 17-2 in his career and a former Sengoku Featherweight Champion. However, Sandro lost that title in his last fight, which was against Hatsu Hioki. Recently, Sandro decided to sign with Bellator Fighting Championships.

The only other loss of Sandro's career came against current UFC fighter Michihiro Omigawa.  

10. Paul Daley

After infamously being cut from the UFC after throwing a punch at Josh Koscheck well after the end of their fight, Paul Daley has won four consecutive fights. In April 2011, Daley is expected to compete for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship against Nick Diaz.

Daley has knockout wins over Martin Kampmann, Scott Smith, Duane Ludwig and Dustin Hazelett.

9. Hiroyuki Takaya

Outside of a split decision loss to Bibiano Fernandes, Hiroyuki Takaya has only lost to current UFC fighters within the last four years. Furthermore, Takaya recently avenged that loss to Fernandes and captured the Dream Featherweight Championship in the process.

Takaya has also defeated fighters such as Joachim Hanson, Chase Beebe, Yoshiro Maeda and Hatsu Hioki.

8. Fabricio Werdum

With three consecutive wins, Fabricio Werdum is quickly causing the UFC to rethink their decision to let him go. Considering the lack of depth in their heavyweight division, the UFC could certainly use a fighter like Werdum right now.

Werdum has defeated Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko in his last three fights. Werdum has also defeated Alistair Overeem, Gabriel Gonzaga, Brandon Vera and Aleksander Emelianenko. 

7. Hatsu Hioki

Hatsu Hioki's only loss in the last three years was a split decision against Michihiro Omigawa. More impressive are Hioki's wins over Masanori Kanehara and Marlon Sandro within the last two years.

With his win over Sandro, Hioki became the Sengoku Featherweight Champion. The UFC has expressed interest in signing Hioki, who is expected to be released from his contract with Sengoku in the near future.

6. Dan Henderson

After a loss to Jake Shields in a disappointing start to his post-UFC career, Dan Henderson has rebounded well. A knockout of Renato Sobral led to a title shot for Henderson against Rafael Cavalcante.

Henderson went on to become the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion with a third-round knockout against Cavalcante. 

5. Ronaldo Souza

Ronaldo Souza lost to Gegard Mousasi because of an unlikely upkick knockout, but that remains one of only two losses in the career of the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Souza's only other loss came in his first professional fight.

Souza holds wins against Robbie Lawler, Jason Miller and Tim Kennedy. The date and opponent for Souza's next title defense has not been determined.

4. Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz is currently on a nine-fight winning streak. Diaz's next fight, which is expected to be against Paul Daley in April 2011, will likely be his toughest test since leaving the UFC.

Among others, Diaz has defeated Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, Frank Shamrock, Evangelista Santos and K.J. Noons.

3. Eddie Alvarez

Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez has compiled an impressive 21-2 career record. The only two losses of Alvarez's career have come against Shinya Aoki and Nick Thompson.

In his last two fights, Alvarez defeated ex-UFC stand-outs Roger Huerta and Josh Neer. Over the course of his career, Alvarez has also won against fighters such as Tatsuya Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen. Alvarez's next fight will come against Pat Curran at Bellator 39 in April 2011.  

2. Shinya Aoki

Although it's hard to forget the embarrassment of his special-rules fight against Yuichiro Nagashima at Dynamite!! 2010, Shinya Aoki is still on quite a roll. With wins in nine out of his last 11 fights, Aoki's only losses during that time came against Gilbert Melendez and in a welterweight fight against Hayato Sakurai.

Also, Aoki holds wins over Marcus Aurelio, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Joachim Hansen, Eddie Alvarez and Caol Uno.

1. Gilbert Melendez

Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is 18-2 in his MMA career and has already avenged his two losses to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida. 

In addition, Melendez has won fights with Shinya Aoki, Clay Guida, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Hiroyuki Takaya. Melendez is expected to defend his title in a rematch with Kawajiri in April 2011.

Sean Smith is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @BR_Sean_Smith