Hey, hey, it's time for everybody's favorite topic! You know what I'm talking about ...
Pound! For! Pound!
Full disclosure: I remember sitting at a bar with another MMA reporter in Temecula, California, a few years ago and asking him something to the effect of, "What is it with people and pound-for-pound lists? Everybody has got one. None are really right or wrong. They're basically pointless."
The two of us then proceeded to argue about our pound-for-pound lists for at least 30 minutes, which is ultimately what's great about these lists. Even though I do still think they are rather pointless, they can be a lot of fun to argue about.
So, let's have some fun.
Let's take a look at my current pound-for-pound list and try to predict how it will change over the next 12 months. And keep an eye out for the female version coming soon.
Who will still make the list?
Current rank: No. 1
And I think he'll still be ranked No. 1. That would be quite something, since, according to the archives, I had DJ ranked No. 1 at this time last year as well. So, we're talking about the UFC flyweight champion holding down the No. 1 spot two years running.
I believe in the greatness of Jon Jones as much as the next guy, but Johnson has been more dominant (and active) in what I'd argue is a deeper division. He's the closet thing this sport has to a perfect fighter, and he has been for a while.
Current rank: No. 2
It's still strange to consider the very real possibility we haven't seen him at his best yet. Jones has admitted that prior to his arrest on a hit-and-run charge in April 2015, he never reached his full potential due to issues outside the cage. In the 18 months since, he has fought just once (against Ovince Saint Preux in April) and looked rusty.
I'm willing to bet on Jones in the next 12 months -- but even with his talent, that's probably somewhat of a risky bet. This sport is hard enough without the self-sabotage.
Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw
Current ranks: Nos. 3 and 4 respectively
I think I have Dillashaw ranked higher than most. I'm not sure about that since, as previously mentioned, I don't spend much time (i.e. none) looking at other pound-for-pound lists. I'm very comfortable with that, though.
Dillashaw is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game, and I never thought his controversial decision loss to Raphael Assuncao in 2013 was legit. He really only has one definitive loss in his career and that was in his fifth pro fight. And considering A) How high I rank Cruz and B) How close their bantamweight title bout was in January (which Cruz won by split decision) ... how can I rank Dillashaw much lower?
Who won't?
Current rank: No. 6
Sometimes MMA requires a great deal of reading between the lines. There's plenty of misdirection when it comes to what fighters say, what promoters say and what coaches are willing to divulge. In a lot of ways, this sport is one big mind game -- and that refers to trash talk between fighters as well as negotiations between athlete and promoter.
But with Aldo, at least right now, I'm kind of taking his comments about not wanting to fight at face value. Do I actually believe he'll never fight again? No, I don't. But do I believe there's a legitimate chance he has lost a little fire for cage fighting? I am willing to believe that. Whether due to inactivity or lack of motivation when he does step into a cage, I think Aldo could drop on this list.
Current rank: No. 8
It's the curse of being a heavyweight. It is really hard to stay on the pound-for-pound list as a heavyweight because you're always one split-second away from unconsciousness. I love Miocic's mental approach and I don't really expect him to lose. That's why he's on my list to begin with, but he's always at a higher risk of losing, simply because of the division he competes in.
Who could really go either way?
Current rank: No. 5
What is a pound-for-pound list? To me, it's trying your best to envision every fighter competing in the same weight class. So, by default, if McGregor wins UFC titles in multiple weight classes, that would be a big reason to rank him extremely high.
In other words, if McGregor, who holds the featherweight title, defeats lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez next month and holds two UFC championships ... and then goes on to defend one of them a couple times next year, he'll be in the conversation for best fighter in the world. At the same time, we still really haven't seen him against a well-prepared wrestler. That "wrestler question" still exists. Does he have a hole there? It remains to be seen.
What I'm trying to say is McGregor shooting up this list or falling off it completely are both feasible options to me. So, I really have no idea where he'll be come October 2017.
Which new fighters will crack this list?
I've been riding this train for a while now, injuries and all. Might as well see it through.
Four months ago, you could have made a case Rockhold was Top 5 during his middleweight title reign. One Michael Bisping left hook at UFC 199 has silenced that. I think we were probably right back then and Rockhold just had a bad night.