Jon Jones and UFC’s 5 Most Undeserving P4P Fighters

As 2024 winds down, fight fans are eagerly anticipating what 2025 has in store. This year has delivered a whirlwind of jaw-dropping knockouts, thrilling battles, and seismic shifts across the UFC landscape. One standout moment was UFC 306, held at the awe-inspiring Las Vegas Sphere—a multi-billion-dollar arena showcasing cutting-edge visuals. It was on that stage that Merab Dvalishvili rewrote the bantamweight narrative, dethroning Sean O’Malley spectacularly.

Yet, amid all the excitement, one enduring issue continues to spark debate: the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Since their inception in 2013, these rankings have been a magnet for controversy. Determined by a panel of selected media members, the list has consistently faced scrutiny. UFC head honcho Dana White has been among its most vocal critics, particularly this year when Jon Jones was absent from the top spot.

Frustrated, White labeled the rankings as “the most ridiculous thing ever” and vowed to overhaul the system using AI in collaboration with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Unsurprisingly, people reacted negatively to the announcement. Beneath the surface, however, lies a deeper issue—glaring inconsistencies that have left fighters in positions they arguably don’t deserve. Let’s delve into the heart of the controversy and uncover what’s really going on.

1. Tom Aspinall 

Tom Aspinall emerged as one of Dana White’s standout prospects from the pandemic era in 2020. Unlike many other divisions, the heavyweight division is known for its fierce competition, and the Brit has embraced the challenge head-on. Unfazed by the danger, he has dominated every opponent placed before him. His rapid rise in the heavyweight ranks has been nothing short of remarkable—an explosive, hungry young contender with an uncanny ability to finish fights quickly. To date, Aspinall has finished seven of his nine opponents before the midway point of the first round, including a victory in his interim heavyweight title bout. Now sitting at #8 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, the question remains: Does the English heavyweight truly deserve this spot?

While

Tom Aspinall’s talent as a fighter is undeniable, the validity of his ranking is worth questioning. Just two spots below him in the pound-for-pound list sits UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, a fighter who has defended his title and fought more frequently in recent months. The interim champion, by contrast, has fought only three times in the past two years and nine months, while Pantoja has competed five times and won each of those bouts. This disparity in activity raises concerns about the consistency of the rankings, especially when fight frequency is a critical factor for the panel. It’s unclear what criteria are being used, but this comparison certainly warrants closer scrutiny.

2. Sean O’Malley

This year has been a challenging one for bantamweight star Sean O’Malley, as he not only lost his title but also dropped to #13 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. Prior to his pivotal fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, ‘Suga’ boldly stated, “I think I am close to catching Conor McGregor,” sparking significant buzz in the MMA world. While the former bantamweight champion is undoubtedly a young, skilled, and promising fighter, his current ranking at #13 raises a key question: does he truly belong there?

The answer isn’t so clear-cut. Sean O’Malley remains hungry and determined, and before his matchup with Dvalishvili, he had only one loss in his 12 UFC fights. However, his recent defeat to Dvalishvili marked his second loss in his last 13 fights, following an impressive four-year unbeaten streak. This recent setback has led many to question his placement in the rankings. On the other hand, his stunning knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling to claim the title in just two rounds certainly strengthens the case that O’Malley should occupy a higher spot than #13.

3. Belal Muhammad

Belal Muhammad has recently emerged as one of the most disliked figures in the UFC, despite holding the #5 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Earlier this year, he silenced many of his critics by dethroning former champion Leon Edwards in a grueling five-round battle. While there’s no denying the welterweight champion’s skill, his heavily ground-based wrestling style—often lacking in finishes—has earned him the label of a “boring” fighter. This perception has followed him since his UFC debut, with fans even joking about his fights. Darren Till famously remarked, “If you were fighting in my back garden, I’d close the curtains.”

With the growing demand for more striking and finishing action, many fans question whether Belal Muhammad truly deserves his #5 ranking, especially when compared to more exciting fighters like Dricus Du Plessis, who has finished top contenders like Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, and Merab Dvalishvili, who also ranks below him. These comparisons raise eyebrows and make one wonder if it’s time to rethink the ranking system—perhaps replacing human input with AI to ensure greater consistency and fairness.

4. Jon Jones

As a hardcore MMA fan, Dana White’s repeated declaration that “Jon Jones is the number 1 pound-for-pound fighter” throughout the year might be frustrating. Despite his persistent claims, the UFC’s pound-for-pound media panel remained unaffected, only moving ‘Bones’ from rank #3 to #2. This decision again triggered Dana White’s frustration. Yet, even this #2 ranking for Jon Jones is questionable, especially considering he recently surpassed UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in November. Pereira, the second most active fighter in the UFC after Kevin Holland, has been consistent in his fight schedule, while the reigning heavyweight champion has fought just twice in recent years, winning both bouts.

This disparity in activity raises concerns among fans, particularly given Alex Pereira’s impressive 9-1 record since his UFC debut in 2021. While Jon Jones undeniably remains a dominant force, many argue that the “level of activity” should be a key factor in determining rankings. Some even suggest a higher ranking for ‘Poatan’, though the debate continues. Perhaps AI could help address these inconsistencies and bring more fairness to the rankings.

5. Leon Edwards

The issue isn’t so much with former welterweight champion Leon Edwards being ranked #9, but with who he’s ranked ahead of. ‘Rocky’, once the standout of the division and unbeaten since 2015, suffered a solitary title loss to Belal Muhammad, a defeat that seemed to shake him, especially since it took place on his home turf. While Edwards has had an impressive career, he hasn’t quite outshone fighters like Max Holloway, one of the UFC’s best strikers, currently ranked at #12, or Alexander Volkanovski, the former #1 pound-for-pound fighter.

It’s difficult to justify Leon Edwards being ranked above someone like Sean O’Malley, who has an undeniable preference for knockout finishes, whereas the former welterweight champion’s bouts often go the distance without dramatic finishes.

As we near the end of the year, what’s your take on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings? Do you believe they are fair, or is there room for improvement? Or, like Tom Aspinall, do you think the whole concept of pound-for-pound rankings is “a load of sh-t”? Let us know your thoughts.