In the latest update to the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings, Alexandre Pantoja has made a significant leap after successfully defending his flyweight title at UFC 301. However, the big news is who he surpassed to reach his current position. The former pound-for-pound king, Jon Jones, has been knocked out of the top five rankings.
The drop in Jones’ ranking can be attributed to a change in the panel structure, with the number of voters decreasing from eight to seven. This shift had a notable impact on Jones, causing him to slide to sixth place on the consensus list, the lowest he has ever been since the independent rankings began in July 2021.
Jones’ decline is not solely due to the numbers but also his inactivity in the sport. Despite being one of MMA’s greatest fighters, Jones has only had one fight in the past four years, a win over Ciryl Gane. His reluctance to take on certain opponents and his focus on a preferred heavyweight matchup with Stipe Miocic have also contributed to his fall in the rankings.
Similarly, another legend in the sport, Cris Cyborg, has also experienced a drop in her pound-for-pound ranking, falling to seventh place. Cyborg’s lack of compelling competition in the featherweight division and her recent wins not resonating with fans have led to her descent in the rankings.
The changes in the top 10 rankings highlight the dynamic nature of the sport and the importance of staying active and engaging in meaningful matchups to maintain a high pound-for-pound status. As the saying goes, in MMA, it’s all about “what have you done for us lately?”