UFC Power Rankings: February 2021

1) Wins and losses over the last year.

2) Quality of the opponents faced.

3) Quality of the win, in this order: a split decision victory over a top-five fighter will weigh more heavily than a dominant victory over a top-ten fighter as an example.

And then we have the extracurriculars:

4) Star Power: “Star power” denotes the fighter’s recent popularity. After all, a win is only as significant in how many fans and pundits it gets buzzing. You can fulfill the top-three criteria in flying colors but if nobody cares, you lose points.

5) Status: And finally, “Status” is the fighter’s background accomplishments. If a fighter hasn’t been as impressive in recent memory but is still a “Champ Champ” or an all-time P4P great, that warrants points.

Either way, everyone on this list is a top UFC fighter and one to look out for with online sports betting.

Honorable Mentions: Just Missed The Cut

• Justin Gaethje
• Petr Yan (Bantamweight Champion)
• Max Holloway
• Alexander Volkanovski (Featherweight Champion)
• Weili Zhang (Strawweight Champion)

10. Jon Jones

Jones is still the greatest fighter of his generation, but he hasn’t been that impressive lately. He is coming off a controversial decision victory over Dominick Reyes, who just got knocked out by the current champ Jan Blachowicz. The former two-time light heavyweight champion hangs on to the final spot thanks to his all-time status.

Next Fight: TBD (possibly at heavyweight)

9. Deiveson Figueiredo (Flyweight Champion)

The fact Figueiredo has made flyweights relevant in just over a year when the great Demetrious Johnson couldn’t do it in over six speaks volumes. Figueiredo has a badass nickname [Deus Da Guerra (God of War)] and has consistently produced epic fights even in non-winning causes such as when he drew Brandon Moreno.

Next Fight: Rematch versus Moreno (Date TBA)

8. Valentina Shevchenko (Flyweight Champion)

The only thing holding Shevchenko from being top-five in lists like these are the quality of her opponents, though that isn’t her fault. But it’s hard to get excited over a fighter who is too methodical in their fights. Again, not her fault. But it’s the same reason Johnson couldn’t convince fans to care about the (male) flyweights in his time.

Next Fight: TBD (possibly fighting Joane Calderwood next)

7. Jan Blachowicz (Light Heavyweight Champion)

The new UFC light heavyweight champion finally gets some respect. If we factored in UFC betting odds on this list, Blachowicz would be top-three. The Polish pugilist KO’d Dominick Reyes and won the vacant strap to cap off his four fight win streak. He’s also won eight of his last nine and is set for a “champ versus champ” showdown.

Next Fight: Defending against middleweight champ Israel Adesanya (UFC 259 , Mar. 6)

6. Kamaru Usman (Welterweight Champion)

He may only have two title defenses to his name, but Usman is already appearing as dominant as some guy named Georges St-Pierre. If Nurmagomedov stays retired, Usman may be the UFC’s most dominant wrestler. A dominant win over Burns will cement him as a P4P contender.

Next Fight: Defending against Gilbert Burns (UFC 258, Feb. 13)

5. Stipe Miocic (Heavyweight Champion)

Miocic is the greatest heavyweight of all time. His two victories over Daniel Cormier have put him as a pound-for-pound great, but it might be his dominant win over Francis Ngannou. If Miocic can ice Ngannou again and ride off into the sunset, that may just go down as the greatest finish to an MMA career.

Next Fight: Defending against Francis Ngannou in a rematch (UFC 260, Mar. 27)

4. Dustin Poirier

The only thing missing in the Hall of Fame career of the UFC’s most exciting fighter is a title belt. But hell, give him the B.M.F. strap as well. Poirier has beaten five champions on his way to becoming the first man to knock out Conor McGregor thus opening the door for more money fights for “The Diamond.” That is arguably worth more than a belt.

Next Fight: TBD (potentially rematching Conor McGregor for the trilogy)

3. Israel Adesanya (Middleweight Champion)

If Nurmagomedov is the greatest wrestler in MMA, then Adesanya is the greatest striker. Undefeated at 20-0, “The Last Stylebender” has wowed fans with both style and skills. His emasculation of Paulo Costa will rank as one of the all-time best. Think prime Anderson Silva but cooler and possibly even better.

Next Fight: Fighting Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title (UFC 259 , Mar. 6)

2. Amanda Nunes (Bantamweight & Featherweight Champion)

McGregor may have been the first to be crowned “champ champ,” but Amanda Nunes is the best at being it as she’s defended both straps emphatically. She was pretty quiet in 2020 with a decisive win over Felicia Spencer. But just before fans become bored of “The Lioness,” she pulls out a highlight reel finish and that could be the case soon.

Next Fight: Defending featherweight title against Megan Anderson  (UFC 259 , Mar. 6)

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov (Lightweight Champion)

Dana White hasn’t fully accepted the idea that Nurmagomedov is done, and we agree. Nurmagomedov is biding his time as he’s practically beaten the division’s best, last choking Gaethje unconscious. Nothing short of a legendary fight will bring him back.

Next Fight: TBD (rumored to be fighting St-Pierre next )