Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings: Patricio Pitbull, Cris Cyborg top pound-for-pound lists in inaugural tabulation
The official Bellator rankings are voted on by a panel of 17 media members
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3 min read
Ahead of its first event of 2021, Bellator has revealed the inaugural Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings. The rankings, voted on by a 17-member voting panel comprised of media members, feature nine divisions as well as pound-for-pound lists for both male and female fighters in the promotion.
Topping the pound-for-pound lists in these first rankings are Patricio Pitbull and Cris Cyborg. Pitbull holds both the featherweight and lightweight championships and will be defending the 145-pound title in the semifinals of the Featherweight World Grand Prix against No. 2 ranked Emmanuel Sanchez in the main event of Bellator 255 on April 2.
Cyborg has been dominant in her two trips to the Bellator cage, first beating Julia Budd in January 2020 to win the women's featherweight championship and successfully defending the title against Arlene Blencowe in October. Cyborg has held championships in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC and Bellator, making her the only fighter -- male or female -- to capture world championships across four major promotions.
Below is the full top-10 rankings for each division within the promotion.
Editor's note: CBS Sports insider Brian Campbell is a member of the 17-person voting panel.
Bellator Rankings (March 29)
Men's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Patricio Pitbull | 31-4 |
2. Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
3. Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
4. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
5. Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
6. Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
7. AJ Mckee | 17-0 |
8. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
9. Emmanuel Sanchez | 20-4 |
10. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
Bantamweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| Champion: Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
1. Sergio Pettis | 20-5 |
2. Patchy Mix | 13-1 |
3. Raufeon Stots | 15-1 |
4. James Gallagher | 11-1 |
5. Magomed Magomedov | 17-1 |
6. Leandro Higo | 20-5 |
7. Josh Hill | 20-3 |
8. Cass Bell | 5-1 |
9. Frans Mlambo | 9-5 |
10. Jornel Lugo | 5-0 |
Featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 31-4 |
1. AJ Mckee | 17-0 |
2. Emmanuel Sanchez | 20-4 |
3. Adam Borics | 16-1 |
4. Pedro Carvalho | 11-4 |
5. Daniel Weichel | 40-12 |
6. Aaron Pico | 7-3 |
7. Jay Jay Wilson | 7-0 |
8. Jeremy Kennedy | 16-2 |
9. Tywan Claxton | 6-2 |
10. Mads Burnell | 14-3 |
Lightweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 31-4 |
1. Brent Primus | 10-1 |
2. Patricky Pitbull | 23-9 |
3. Goiti Yamauchi | 25-4 |
4. Benson Henderson | 28-10 |
5. Sidney Outlaw | 15-4 |
6. Myles Jury | 19-5 |
7. Adam Piccolotti | 12-4 |
8. Alfie Davis | 14-3 |
9. Aviv Gozali | 5-0 |
10. Georgi Karakhanyan | 30-11-1 |
Welterweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
1. Michael Page | 18-1 |
2. Yaroslav Amasov | 25-0 |
3. Neiman Gracie | 10-1 |
4. Logan Storley | 11-1 |
5. Derek Anderson | 17-3 |
6. Jason Jackson | 13-4 |
7. Joey Davis | 8-0 |
8. Sabah Homasi | 15-8 |
9. Oliver Enkamp | 10-2 |
10. Jaleel Willis | 14-2 |
Middleweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
1. John Salter | 18-4 |
2. Anatoly Tokov | 29-2 |
3. Austin Vanderford | 10-0 |
4. Fabian Edwards | 9-1 |
5. Costello van Steenis | 13-2 |
6. Johnny Eblen | 7-0 |
7. Charlie Ward | 9-4 |
8. Mike Shipman | 14-3 |
9. Romero Cotton | 5-0 |
10. Ed Ruth | 8-3 |
Light heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
1. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
2. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
3. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
4. Lyoto Machida | 26-10 |
5. Julius Anglickas | 9-1 |
6. Grant Neal | 5-0 |
7. Christian Edwards | 4-0 |
8. Tyree Fortune | 5-0 |
9. Melvin Manhoef | 32-15-1 |
10. Alex Polizzi | 7-1 |
Heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
1. Timothy Johnson | 15-6 |
2. Cheick Kongo | 30-11-2 |
3. Valentin Moldavsky | 10-1 |
4. Fedor Emelianenko | 39-6 |
5. Linton Vassell | 20-8 |
6. Tyrell Fortune | 9-1 |
7. Steven Mowry | 8-0 |
8. Matt Mitrione | 13-8 |
9. Sergei Kharitonov | 32-8 |
10. Javy Ayala | 11-8 |
Women's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
2. Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
3. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
4. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
5. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
6. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
7. Liz Carmouche | 14-7 |
8. Cat Zingano | 11-4 |
9. Alejandra Lara | 9-3 |
10. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
Women's flyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
1. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
2. Liz Carmouche | 14-7 |
3. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
4. Alejandra Lara | 9-3 |
5. Kana Watanabe | 9-0-1 |
| 6. Kate Jackson | 11-5-1 |
| 7. Veta Arteaga | 5-4 |
| 8. Mandy Bohm | 7-0 |
| 9. Valerie Loureda | 3-0 |
| 10. Bruna Ellen | 5-3 |
Women's featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
1. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
2. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
3. Cat Zingano | 11-4 |
4. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
5. Sinead Kavanagh | 7-4 |
6. Janay Harding | 6-4 |
7. Leah McCourt | 4-1 |
8. Amanda Bell | 7-7 |
9. Olga Rubin | 6-2 |
10. Jessy Miele | 9-5 |
