Mixed martial arts is a sport that can turn unknown athletes into superstars overnight.
Driven by unpredictability, split-second decision-making and raw talent, the possibilities are endless when the cage door shuts and the action begins.
But to truly measure up to the greats of a sport that encompasses various disciplines from all corners of the world, one must captivate.
It’s a professional goal for almost every fighter competing today, especially considering future fortunes and fan approval often rely on flash knockouts, bloody warfare and arm-snapping submissions.
Then and only then can a fighter rise to the level of greatness. One who is an unparalleled pound-for-pound.
Current UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman embraces all of these attributes and then some.
Undefeated at 13-0, the New Yorker has decisively beaten the best in the world throughout his five-year UFC career.
With victories over former pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva, former UFC light heavyweight champions Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida, and world-class grappling specialist Demian Maia via ground-and-pound, Weidman has chopped down Brazil’s best assets with relative ease.
But do his efforts mirror that of the best in the world?
Should he be considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport right now?
Let us discuss.
The first point in favor of Weidman should revolve around the fact that he defeated Silva on two separate occasions.
People will surely mock his first victory via second-round knockout at UFC 162, a fight in which The Spider weaved his own web of defeat, but the sport of MMA has no room for unwarranted pillory.
Weidman did what he needed to do in order to dethrone the greatest fighter of all time. He outpointed the master of marksmanship.
As for his second victory over Silva at UFC 168, a fight that ended with one of the most gruesome injuries ever, The All American stood tall after a second-round check of a Silva leg kick left the Brazilian broken and defeated.
Whether Silva was plagued before that championship rematch by father time or not, we need to pay homage to the detail and precision Weidman operates with.
Never have we seen Silva get dropped with one punch and never have we seen a check of the leg tie a knot on a legendary career.
The second point in Weidman‘s case is that he’s been more impressive inside of the cage than the man who currently sits atop the pound-for-pound throne, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
With seven-straight title defenses over the likes of Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes, Kenny Florian and Ricardo Lamas, Aldo’s claim looks good on paper.
But when you consider that he has only finished one of those fights before the fourth round (two in total), the Brazilian’s resume starts to resemble fools gold.
Sure he has been an admirable champion with undying talent, but the 28-year-old hasn’t brought the same conviction with him to the cage that Weidman has.
Because for the middleweight champ, who has done all of his work in just over six years as a professional (Aldo has done it in nearly 11), six finishes in nine UFC appearances speak for themselves.
Heck, Weidman may have accomplished more in 13 pro fights than anyone ever.
Not to mention he and UFC bantamweight kingpin TJ Dillashaw are the only two current champions to have never been taken down in their promotional careers.
Now while Aldo’s near 10-year unbeaten streak certainly commands some of the spotlight, he seems more of a fighter afloat rather than one making improvements towards perfection.
But the candidates don’t stop with No. 1.
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson looks and acts like the quintessential pound-for-pound candidate (he’s actually No. 3), but his six-straight UFC title defenses are smeared by a laughable crop of contenders when compared to that of Weidman and Aldo.
Divisional standouts like Chris Cariaso, Kyoji Horiguchi, John Moraga and Ali Bagautinov are good at what they do, but they aren’t going to help move the needle DJ’s way when discussing the best in the game.
And even though Johnson’s skill set and technique (which may be the most sound ever) may be playing a role in making good title contenders look average, his surrounding environment is unfortunately limiting his headway.
That leaves us with Weidman and his combination of all things pound-for-pound.
From his undefeated professional record to his unparalleled progression in such a short time in this sport, from his finishing rate to an undeniably clad resume, the 30-year-old is the most obvious choice.
And if he debunks the red-hot Luke Rockhold later this year and Aldo falls victim to the Irish takeover at UFC 189, then changing the pound-for-pound rankings would be as easy as pie.
But even despite their future contributions to the sport, Weidman should be revered as the best in the game right now.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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