Zuffa, U.S. dominate the rankings

Among MMA's top fighters, heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko is in the minority in both promotion and nationality. Darryl Dennis/Icon SMI MMA Rankings Click on the divisions to view the rankings Heavyweight Light Heavyweight Middleweight Welterweight Lightweight Featherweight Bantamweight

Stepping into a new year seems like a fine time to pause for a snapshot of mixed martial arts' weight classes. MMA has sprouted vibrant divisions from heavyweight down to 135, creating scenarios for relevant fight after relevant fight. And a look at seven of the most widely utilized classes reveals just how rich Zuffa has become with elite fighters.

Nearly 60 percent of the men listed compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship or World Extreme Cagefighting. Outside of the Fedor Emelianenko-led heavyweight division, Zuffa-promoted champions reign atop the light heavyweight through bantamweight divisions. Need more? In two divisions -- 205 pounds and 170 -- Zuffa fighters hold nine of 10 positions.

It's foolish to deny the strength of Zuffa's roster compared to any one promotional competitor. But, in bundling together some of the world's best, it's also clear some weight classes offer talent that's underappreciated due to a lack of exposure.

Take middleweight, for instance. While UFC champion Anderson Silva leads the pack, half of the ranked fighters compete outside the UFC. Robbie Lawler, Gegard Mousasi, Matt Lindland -- they may never have a chance to fight Silva.

The ratio is even worse when looking at heavyweight and lightweight; only four in 10 fighters in each class are under contract to the UFC.

Ranking each division, I took into account a fighter's record, his level of opposition and dominance in victory. That's it. I didn't have many ground rules in putting this together. Some fighters were placed in two divisions because it seemed like the right thing to do. Others weren't. In the end, I tried to compile rankings that reflected the top talent from division to division. (Also included are names that didn't quite make the cut, but should be on your radar.)

If nothing else, the rankings should provide some semblance of order for fighters clawing at recognition, and fans hoping to make sense of it all. More importantly, rankings can also act as a check to ensure legit contenders receive title opportunities. (Yeah, I know, that's pipe dream stuff.)

One final thought: pay attention to the nationalities. While 40 of the 70 ranked fighters hail from the U.S., only six have European roots. Fourteen Brazilians made the cut, compared to 11 from Japan. It appears, at least for the time being, that America is the leading manufacturer of top mixed martial artists.

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianenko (Russia)
2. Andrei Arlovski (Belarus/U.S.)
3. Josh Barnett (U.S.)
4. Frank Mir (U.S.)
5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil)
6. Brock Lesnar (U.S.)
7. Randy Couture (U.S.)
8. Tim Sylvia (U.S.)
9. Ben Rothwell (U.S.)
10. Sergei Kharitonov (Russia)

Others receiving consideration: Alistair Overeem, Cheick Kongo, Aleksander Emelianenko, Antonio Silva, Junior dos Santos

Light Heavyweight

1. Rashad Evans (U.S.)
2. Quinton Jackson (U.S.)}
3. Forrest Griffin (U.S.)
4. Lyoto Machida (Brazil)
5. Dan Henderson (U.S.)
6. Chuck Liddell (U.S.)
7. Wanderlei Silva (Brazil)
8. Keith Jardine (U.S.)
9. Vladimir Matyushenko (Belarus/U.S.)
10. Thiago Silva (Brazil)

Others receiving consideration: Rich Franklin, Luis Arthur Cane, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Tito Ortiz

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (Brazil)
2. Robbie Lawler (U.S.)
3. Yushin Okami (Japan)
4. Gegard Mousasi (Holland)
5. Dan Henderson (U.S.)
6. Thales Leites (Brazil)
7. Nate Marquardt (U.S.)
8. Matt Lindland (U.S.)
9. Jorge Santiago (Brazil)
10. Frank Trigg (U.S.)

Others receiving consideration: Chael Sonnen, Yoshiro Akiyama, Demian Maia, Paulo Filho

Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (Canada)
2. Jon Fitch (U.S.)
3. Thiago Alves (Brazil)
4. Josh Koscheck (U.S.)
5. Jake Shields (U.S.)
6. Matt Hughes (U.S.)
7. Diego Sanchez (U.S.)
8. Carlos Condit (U.S.)
9. Karo Parisyan (Armenia/U.S.)
10. Matt Serra (U.S.)

Others receiving consideration: Paul Daley, Dustin Hazelett, Jay Hieron, Mike Swick

Lightweight

1. B.J. Penn (U.S.)
2. Shinya Aoki (Japan)
3. Sean Sherk (U.S.)
4. Joachim Hansen (Norway)
5. Kenny Florian (U.S.)
6. Eddie Alvarez (U.S.)
7. Gesias Cavalcante (Brazil)
8. Josh Thomson (U.S.)
9. Satoru Kitaoka (Japan)
10. Gray Maynard (U.S.)

Others receiving consideration: Frank Edgar, Tyson Griffin, Gilbert Melendez, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri

Featherweight

1. Mike Thomas Brown (U.S.)
2. Urijah Faber (U.S.)
3. Wagnney Fabiano (Brazil)
4. Leonard Garcia (U.S.)
5. Hatsu Hioki (Japan)
6. Jeff Curran (U.S.)
7. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (Japan)
8. Masakazu Imanari (Japan)
9. Takeshi Inoue (Japan)
10. Jose Aldo (Brazil)

Others receiving consideration: Akitoshi Tamura, Hiroyuki Takaya, Rafael Assuncao, Josh Grispi

Bantamweight

1. Miguel Torres (U.S.)
2. Brian Bowles (U.S.)
3. Masakatsu Ueda (Japan)
4. Koetsu Okazaki (Japan)
5. Atsushi Yamamoto (Japan)
6. Marcos Galvao (Brazil)
7. Takeya Mizugaki (Japan)
8. Will Ribeiro (Brazil)
9. Chase Beebe (U.S.)
10. Wilson Reis (Brazil)

Others receiving consideration: Boa Quach, Rani Yahya, Yoshiro Maeda, Masakazu Imanari