https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/usa-today-sports-mma-junkie-rankings-oct-26-marvin-vettoris-gamble-pays-dividends
Pound For Pound Rankings
Already considered one of the greatest fighters of all-time, Jones says he wants to turn his attention to heavyweight and has no intention of returning to 205 pounds.
While he failed in his bid to become a champ-champ, Adesanya looked quite dominant in his most recent middleweight title defense and is expected to face Robert Whittaker next.
Volkanovski has certainly been tested in his time as UFC champion, but he continues to gut out impressive performance and now owns an incomprehensible 20-fight win streak.
Miocic apologized for deviating from the gameplan against the dangerous Francis Ngannou, a mistake that cost him the UFC heavyweight title.
The undefeated Bellator champion looked absolutely incredible in his run through the promotion’s featherweight grand prix and is willing to take on anyone in defense of his new title.
Time will tell if Bader’s days as an elite light heavyweight are done, but after a disappointing loss at 205 pounds, he still remains the Bellator heavyweight champion and will turn his attention there.
Whittaker is on quite the run since losing the UFC middleweight title and is waiting on an official date for a rematch with Israel Adesanya.
Honorable Mentions
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Oct. 26: Marvin Vettori’s gamble pays dividends
By MMAjunkie Staff |
October 26, 2021 10:00 pm ET
Marvin Vettori has dealt with his share of critics over the years, but it’s hard to find fault in his effort throughout the entirety of fight week at UFC Fight Night 196.
Presented with an incredibly difficult situation when his opponent, Paulo Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC), requested on fight week that their matchup be moved from middleweight to light heavyweight – a 20-pound switch on just a few days’ notice – Vettori (18-4-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) agreed to the change. Visibly smaller than his hard-hitting opponent on fight night, Vettori nevertheless was able to grind out an impressive decision win in the night’s main event.
While the fight did take place at 205 pounds, the result certainly has an impact on the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, here Vettori moves up two spots at now sits at No. 5.
“The Italian Dream” is hoping to earn another crack at the UFC middleweight title, and he’s certainly within striking distance of that opportunity.
Check out the new look at 185 pounds, as well as across all divisions, using the dropdown menu above.
Marvin Vettori, UFC Fight Night 196, Bellator, MMA Rankings, News, ONE Championship, PFL, Strikeforce, UFC
Ranking Criteria
The rankings take into account a fighter’s wins/losses, quality of competition, finishing rate/dominance and frequency of fights.
Fighters are no longer eligible to be ranked after they’ve been inactive for 24 months, either due to injuries, drug/conduct suspensions, contract disputes or self-imposed hiatuses.
Fighters serving drug/conduct suspensions are eligible to be ranked, so long as they’re not inactive for more than 24 months.
To the best of our ability, fighters will be ranked in their primary weight class. Catchweight fights and bouts outside the fighter’s primary weight class can have a positive or negative impact on the ranking. However, non-titleholders can be ranked in only one weight class at a given time, and in most cases, they won’t be ranked in a new weight class until they’ve had their first fight at that weight.
