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Last Updated: 5/6/2012 12:57:23 PM
Computerized All-Time Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
The all-time rankings reflect the overall careers of MMA fighters. When observing these lists, it is important to consider the following:
- All-time rankings are division-specific, whereas the current rankings are division-adjusted. Therefore, a fighter CAN be ranked in more than one division.
- Longevity at or near the top of the division plays a huge role in where a fighter is ranked. All of the rankings are career-long, with the exception of the division dominance list, which ranks fighters based on their most dominant period. Only extreme cases of past-prime bad performances are mostly excused from the rankings. Divisional strength is also a large factor in accumulating all-time ranking points.
- Head-to-head results have a minor, but direct effect.
- These rankings are not updated as often as the current rankings. Please check the last updated date at the top of the page.
- The nature of the rankings requires them for the most part, to be “slow” in reacting to actions made by current fighters. Think ‘rolling average’, versus immediate change when looking for effects from recent fights.
- Fluctuations in the position of active fighters may be a frequent occurrence. This is merely due to how these rankings are calculated. However, fluctuations may also accompany mathematical revisions or data updates.
- The all-time division dominance has minimum requirements for divisional tenure.
- Early Pancrase (pre-mid 2000) bouts were open-weight. Due to the impact of these matches, the “credit” is assigned to fighters within the division that these fighters would’ve competed in had there been weight divisions, but only from early 1998 and on (when UFC started adapting several weight divisions). Surrounding data (in terms of chronology) is analyzed to determine a division. If one cannot be definitively determined, the credit will be assigned to the fighter for Heavyweight+.
I’m thinking of making this a new ranking in the all-time list. This is a Top 25 of all fighters not found in any of the Top 25s above. Sort of a “Best of the Rest”. Guys who didn’t quite make the Top 25.. or guys who spent time in many different divisions.
Norifumi Yamamoto
Carlos Newton
Manabu Yamada
Uchu Tatsumi
Jason DeLucia
Vladimir Matyushenko
Akihiro Gono
Ricco Rodriguez
Kiyoshi Tamura
Joe Doerksen
Gabriel Gonzaga
Thales Leites
Ikuhisa Minowa
Gilbert Yvel
Akitoshi Tamura
Heath Herring
Cheick Kongo
Josh Thomson
Antonio Silva
Joe Stevenson
Phillip Miller
Dan Severn
Denis Kang
Martin Kampmann
Jay Hieron
This DD list is a little different.. you have to have some good tenure in the division to make the all-time list.
Will Benavidez make Peak Division Dominance Top 25?
Yes, Gary. Being top-ranked with stronger competition results in an increased standing… so it is slanted toward modern fighters in that aspect.
Sorry if answered already, but is this all-time list skewed, (intentionally or unintentionally), to favour guys who are more modern because there are more fighters to be measured against as time goes on?
Guys that seem lower, but were most certainly quite dominant in their time would include Vovchanchin, Menne, Frank Shamrock, Dan Severn, etc.
Would someone like Mousasi score higher because he’s in a bigger pond now, compared to when Frank Shamrock completely dominated his era?
It’s hard to imagine Mousasi being mentioned before Frank Shamrock in a conversation about all-time great LHWS, or Lesnar before Vovchanchin in the HWs, etc.
Thanks for the prompt reply. As always, it’s greatly appreciated.
Sanchez 39, Cruz 57… of course, Sanchez is probably peaked out.
Jcs, Could you tell us where Dominick Cruz and Diego Sanchez are ranked on the all-time absolute list?
Nice to see GSP in the #2 spot- it’s long overdue.
Did not expect Fedor to get overtaken…