Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Stipe Miocic (16-2)

In a year that was full of spectacular campaigns, Miocic’s was one of 2016’s very best. After starching former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski in 54 seconds, he hammered Fabricio Werdum to win the heavyweight crown and then made his first defense in thrilling fashion in his Cleveland backyard at UFC 203 in September, knocking out Alistair Overeem. Miocic has more than earned some time away from the Octagon, but his next opponent is now uncertain after the Werdum-Cain Velasquez rematch scheduled for UFC 207 fell apart.

2. Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1)

Werdum’s path to UFC championship redemption appeared to run through the man he took the title from in 2015 -- Cain Velasquez -- at UFC 207. Instead, Velasquez’s public admission of using cannabidiol led to his removal from the bout, and when the UFC offered Junior dos Santos as a replacement opponent on short notice, Werdum wanted more money to accept the bout, scuttling the fight entirely.

3. Cain Velasquez (14-2)

UFC 207 was supposed to afford Velasquez the chance to avenge his UFC title loss to Fabricio Werdum. Instead, Velasquez’s admission that he was prepping for surgery after the bout and was using cannabidiol for pain relief led the Nevada Athletic Commission to pull the oft-injured American Kickboxing Academy ace from the bout.

4. Alistair Overeem (41-15, 1 NC)

At UFC 203 in Cleveland in September, Overeem finally got a UFC heavyweight title shot, but he could not capitalize on his early offense and wound up getting laid out by Stipe Miocic. Now, Overeem will run back his 2008 submission win over Mark Hunt at UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas.

5. Junior dos Santos (18-4)

After Cain Velasquez was forced out of his slated UFC 207 rematch with Fabricio Werdum, dos Santos nearly stepped into his spot to rematch the man he shocked and knocked out in his UFC debut back in October 2008. However, Werdum wanted more money to accept the opponent change, so “Cigano” instead will stay in his previously scheduled bout -- another rematch versus a first-round knockout victim -- and face Stefan Struve when the UFC returns to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Feb. 19.

6. Ben Rothwell (36-10)

Rothwell’s surprise four-fight winning streak was snapped by Junior dos Santos in April, but the Wisconsin native was afforded a big-name fight in his return, signing on to face recently dethroned champ Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203 on Sept. 10. However, Rothwell suffered an undisclosed injury in training and was forced to pull out of the event, with Travis Browne stepping into his spot against the former UFC heavyweight boss.

7. Josh Barnett (35-8)

Despite an incredibly distinguished career and being one of MMA’s all-time greatest heavyweights, Barnett’s repeated drug test failures have haunted him. Now, it looks like that notorious reputation is going to get more sordid: The United States Anti-Doping Agency has flagged Barnett for an undisclosed banned substance related to a Dec. 9 drug test. If Barnett’s test failure is confirmed, it will be the former UFC champ’s fourth blown test since 2001.

8. Andrei Arlovski (25-13, 1 NC)

Arlovski is going on 18 years in the MMA game and has been finished in his last three outings. Unfortunately for the 37-year-old Belarus native, things are not about to get any easier for him: Arlovski takes on heavy-hitting, rising prospect Francis Ngannou at UFC on Fox 23 on Jan. 28 in Denver.

9. Vitaly Minakov (18-0)

The former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion has been content to wait out his contract with the promotion in hopes of moving to the UFC, and now, he is closer to his wish. Minakov has reportedly received an offer from the UFC that he is keen to accept, putting his undefeated career back on track and offering the UFC heavyweight division a new, immediate contender.

10. Derrick Lewis (17-4, 1 NC)

With five straight UFC wins, four of them by stoppage, Lewis is due for a step up in opposition. Following his December win over Shamil Abdurakhimov, “The Black Beast” was keen for his next fight to be against Travis Browne, and the Houston native is going to get his wish. Lewis-Browne is slated for UFC 208 on Feb. 11 in Brooklyn, New York.

Other Contenders: Travis Browne, Mark Hunt, Cheick Kongo, Francis Ngannou, Matt Mitrione

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