Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Stipe Miocic (16-2)

The UFC's reigning and defending heavyweight champion has been outspoken recently about his desire for a newer, fatter contract, feeling as though he let himself down by being a “company man” and signing his previous deal without negotiating. However, Miocic may get the chance to avenge his only loss in the last four years later in 2017, as talks are underway for him to defend his title against former champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas.

2. Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1)

Werdum’s path to UFC championship redemption appeared to run through the man he took the title from in 2015 -- Cain Velasquez -- at UFC 207. Instead, Velasquez’s public admission of using cannabidiol led to his removal from the bout, and when the UFC offered Junior dos Santos as a replacement opponent on short notice, Werdum wanted more money to accept the bout, scuttling the fight entirely.

3. Cain Velasquez (14-2)

UFC 207 was supposed to afford Velasquez the chance to avenge his UFC title loss to Fabricio Werdum. Instead, Velasquez’s admission that he was prepping for surgery after the bout and was using cannabidiol for pain relief led the Nevada Athletic Commission to pull the oft-injured American Kickboxing Academy ace from the bout.

4. Alistair Overeem (41-15, 1 NC)

At UFC 203 in Cleveland in September, Overeem finally got a UFC heavyweight title shot, but he could not capitalize on his early offense and wound up getting laid out by Stipe Miocic. Now, Overeem will run back his 2008 submission win over Mark Hunt at UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas.

5. Junior dos Santos (18-4)

There was not much inspiring about dos Santos getting lined up to rematch Stefan Struve on Feb. 19 in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night card Halifax, Nova Scotia. Struve's injury left dos Santos without an opponent and eventually led to his being pulled from the card. However, negotiations are now underway for “Cigano” to potentially rematch Stipe Miocic at UFC 211 in Dallas on May 13. Dos Santos, the last man to defeat the current champion, won a five-round unanimous decision over Miocic in December 2014.

6. Ben Rothwell (36-10)

Rothwell’s surprise four-fight winning streak was snapped by Junior dos Santos in April, but the Wisconsin native was afforded a big-name fight in his return, signing on to face recently dethroned champ Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203 on Sept. 10. However, Rothwell suffered an undisclosed injury in training and was forced to pull out of the event, with Travis Browne stepping into his spot against the former UFC heavyweight boss.

7. Josh Barnett (35-8)

Despite an incredibly distinguished career and being one of MMA’s all-time greatest heavyweights, Barnett’s repeated drug test failures have haunted him. Now, it looks like that notorious reputation is going to get more sordid: The United States Anti-Doping Agency has flagged Barnett for an undisclosed banned substance related to a Dec. 9 drug test. If Barnett’s test failure is confirmed, it will be the former UFC champ’s fourth blown test since 2001.

8. Francis Ngannou (10-1)

One of the most exciting heavyweight prospects in years, Ngannou showed up in the UFC just 14 months ago and has since gone 5-0 with five stoppages. In his second network television appearance on Fox, Ngannou easily destroyed former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in a mere 92 seconds and announced his arrival among the division's elite, all while still wielding massive, untapped potential.

9. Vitaly Minakov (18-0)

The former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion has been content to wait out his contract with the promotion in hopes of moving to the UFC, and now, he is closer to his wish. Minakov has reportedly received an offer from the UFC that he is keen to accept, putting his undefeated career back on track and offering the UFC heavyweight division a new, immediate contender.

10. Derrick Lewis (17-4, 1 NC)

The dissolution of the Junior dos Santos-Stefan Struve rematch for the UFC's Feb. 19 card meant that the company's return to Halifax needed a new main event. The organization found it by rescheduling a bout set for UFC 208: Lewis will now get his second UFC Fight Night main event slot when he takes on Travis Browne eight days later than previously expected in Nova Scotia.

Other Contenders: Andrei Arlovski, Travis Browne, Mark Hunt, Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione

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