These rankings are compiled by Total MMA contributor, Tom Gentleman. He explains his criteria as follows…

“I use any and all match results of note. That pretty much being EVERYTHING I come across. The list is updated nearly every day.

Some things are judgement calls like Werdum-Kharitonov-Overeem or something. If a guy hasn’t been winning in a weight class he is now competing in then this is reflected as a lack of accomplishment (see BJ Penn currently at WW). I don’t weight older reults as heavy as recent ones (thus Pedro Rizzo isn’t ranked higher than Andre Arlovski, etc).

I do not use a “who I think would beat who” method ever. I hate that. That is the root of most people’s arguments with my lists.”

Heavyweights

Light Heavyweights

Middleweights

Welterweights

Lightweights

Featherweights