At the start of every month, The Post’s MMA blogger Marc Raimondi ranks the sport’s top 10 fighters followed by the next 10.
In September, No. 2 Jon Jones and No. 10 Demetrious Johnson were in action. Jones defended his UFC light heavyweight title by beating Vitor Belfort by fourth-round submission. Johnson beat Joseph Benavidez by five-round decision to win the UFC’s first-ever flyweight title.
This month, we’ll get top pound-for-pound fighter Anderson Silva against Stephan Bonnar on Oct. 13 at UFC 153 in Rio.
Here’s the list:
1. Anderson Silva (32-4)
The UFC middleweight champion hasn’t lost since 2006 and has held this distinction for quite awhile. Very few will question his spot here – UFC president Dana White has called Silva the best of all time. He just can’t slip up Oct. 13 against massive underdog Stephan Bonnar in a fight that will take place at light heavyweight.
Last fight: def. Chael Sonnen via second-round TKO (UFC 148 – July 7, 2012)
Next fight: vs. Stephan Bonnar (UFC 153 – Oct. 13, 2012)
2. Jon Jones (17-1)
For the first time, Jones had some adversity in a fight. Vitor Belfort locked in an armbar in the opening minutes and Jones, arm hyperextended and all, fought out of it and came back to dominate the fight to retain his UFC light heavyweight title. If Silva is the best of all time, Jones, 25, has a chance to surpass him someday.
Last fight: def. Vitor Belfort via fourth-round submission (UFC 152 – Sept. 22, 2012)
3. Jose Aldo (21-1)
The UFC featherweight champion hasn’t fought since January after two injuries, the latest to his foot after a motorcycle crash. When he’s in there, Aldo is pure class – undefeated in his tenure with Zuffa with a handful of highlight reel knockouts.
Last fight: def. Chad Mendes via first-round KO (UFC 142 – Jan. 14, 2012)
4. Georges St-Pierre (22-2)
It seems like forever since St-Pierre has stepped into the UFC cage. The welterweight champion has been out with injuries, the latest a torn ACL, for a year and a half, which is why he’s this far down in the rankings.
Last fight: def. Jake Shields via unanimous decision (UFC 129 – April 30, 2011)
Next fight: vs. Carlos Condit (UFC 154 – Nov. 17, 2012)
5. Dominick Cruz (19-1)
A stint as a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” was supposed to lead up to Cruz defending his UFC bantamweight title against fellow coach Urijah Faber in July. Except a torn ACL knocked Cruz out and he won’t be back until at least the spring.
Last fight: def. Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision (UFC Live – Oct. 1, 2011)
6. Junior dos Santos (15-1)
Undefeated in the UFC, dos Santos is starting to be considered as one of the top fighters in the world. The heavyweight champion has dominated in every fight, but he’ll get a better version of Cain Velasquez, who he knocked out in just over a minute last year, in December.
Last fight: def. Frank Mir via second-round TKO (UFC 146 – May 26, 2012)
Next fight: vs. Cain Velasquez (UFC 155 – Dec. 29, 2012)
7. Benson Henderson (17-2)
It’s hard to beat someone twice by as little as Henderson beat Frankie Edgar, but he found a way in both UFC lightweight title fights despite controversial judges’ decisions. Henderson’s incredible athleticism and versatility make him someone who can rise even further up these rankings.
Last fight: def. Frankie Edgar via split decision (UFC 150 – Aug. 11, 2012)
Next fight: vs. Nate Diaz (UFC on Fox 5 – Dec. 8, 2012)
8. Frankie Edgar (14-3-1)
Edgar almost went from challenging for the UFC lightweight title he once held to moving down and fighting for the featherweight crown against Jose Aldo. But Aldo got hurt and now Edgar is left without an opponent for the time being.
Last fight: lost to Benson Henderson via split decision (UFC 150 – Aug. 11, 2012)
9. Cain Velasquez (10-1)
It’s been a rough two years for Velasquez, the former UFC heavyweight champion. He came back from a shoulder injury only to be knocked out by Junior dos Santos last November in just over a minute. Velasquez will get a rematch with dos Santos for the title in December.
Last fight: def. Antonio Silva via first-round TKO (UFC 146 – May 26, 2012)
Next fight: vs. Junior dos Santos (UFC 155 – Dec. 29, 2012)
10. Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1)
Once a No. 1 contender for the UFC bantamweight, Johnson finally got to fight at a more adequate weight class when the UFC started a flyweight division. Johnson ended up winning the title tournament last weekend by beating Joseph Benavidez.
Last fight: def. Joseph Benavidez via unanimous decision (UFC 152 – Sept. 22, 2012)
Next 10:
11. Dan Henderson (29-8)
12. Rashad Evans (22-2-1)
13. Alistair Overeem (36-11)
14. Chael Sonnen (27-12-1)
15. Mauricio Rua (21-6)
16. Carlos Condit (28-5)
17. Nick Diaz (26-8)
18. Gilbert Melendez (21-2)
19. Lyoto Machida (18-3)
20. Daniel Cormier (10-0)