Pound for pound

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{short description|Ranking used in combat sports}}

Pound for pound is a ranking used in combat sports, such as boxing,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4184227.stm|title=BBC pound-for-pound British rankings|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 June 2011}} wrestling,{{cite web |last1=Bader |first1=Mark |title=USA Men's P4P Freestyle Rankings |url=https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/5066106-usa-mens-p4p-freestyle-rankings |date=May 31, 2017 |website=FloWrestling |access-date=20 October 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181020053100/https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/5066106-usa-mens-p4p-freestyle-rankings |archive-date=20 October 2018 }} or mixed martial arts,{{cite web|url=http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/features/viewarticle.php?id=4258|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423000351/http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/features/viewarticle.php?id=4258|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 April 2010|title=The pound for pound debate|publisher=Fighters Only Magazine|access-date=29 June 2010}} adjusted to compensate for weight class. As fighters in different weight classes do not compete directly, determining the best fighter pound for pound requires subjective judgment, and ratings often vary as a result.

Boxing

{{main|Boxing pound for pound rankings}}

In boxing, the term was historically associated with fighters such as Benny Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson who were widely considered to be the most skilled fighters of their day, to distinguish them from the generally more popular (and better compensated) heavyweight champions.{{cite web | url = http://www.hbo.com/boxing/inside/features/article/pound-for-pound-a-history.html | title = Pound-for-Pound: A History | access-date = 17 June 2012 | last = Dettloff | first = William | work = HBO.com | archive-date = 9 May 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150509014259/http://www.hbo.com/boxing/inside/features/article/pound-for-pound-a-history.html | url-status = dead }} Since 1990, The Ring magazine has maintained a pound for pound ranking of fighters.

Mixed martial arts

{{main|UFC Rankings|Bellator MMA Rankings|ONE Championship Rankings}}

Some mixed martial arts promotions have pound-for-pound rankings, including Ultimate Fighting Championship since 2013, ONE Championship since 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://www.onefc.com/news/one-championship-unveils-first-official-athlete-rankings/ |title=ONE Championship Unveils First Official Athlete Rankings |website=ONE Championship |date=27 April 2020}} and Bellator MMA since 2021.{{cite web |title=UFC releases its first official fighter rankings |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/ufc-fighter-rankings-february-2013/ |website=Sportsnet |date=5 February 2013}}{{cite web |title=Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings: Patricio Pitbull, Cris Cyborg top pound-for-pound lists in inaugural tabulation |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/bellator-mma-fighter-rankings-patricio-pitbull-cris-cyborg-top-pound-for-pound-lists-in-inaugural-tabulation/ |website=CBS Sports |date=29 March 2021}} There are also multiple unofficial MMA pound-for-pound rankings, including by ESPN.com,{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24067525/mma-pound-pound-rankings-just-one-small-move-men-top-10-voters-add-new-names |title=MMA pound-for-pound rankings: Just one small move in men's top 10, but voters add new names |date= 23 September 2022 |website=ESPN.com}} Sherdog,{{cite web |title=Sherdog's Pound-for-Pound Top 10 Rankings |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/Sherdogs-PoundforPound-Top-10-Rankings-187778 |website=Sherdog |date=22 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=Sherdog's WMMA Pound-for-Pound Top 10 |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/Sherdogs-WMMA-PoundforPound-Top-10-187779 |website=Sherdog |date=22 August 2022}} Fight Matrix,{{cite web |title=Pound for Pound |url=https://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/pound-for-pound/ |website=Fight Matrix |access-date=16 October 2022}}{{cite web |title=Women's Pound for Pound |url=https://www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/womens-pound-for-pound/ |website=Fight Matrix |access-date=16 October 2022}} MMA Fighting{{cite web |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/13/23350128/mma-pound-for-pound-rankings-september-2022-khamzat-chimaev-smashes-his-way-into-top-20 |first1=Shaun |last1=Al-Shatti |title=MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings, September 2022: Khamzat Chimaev smashes his way into top 20 |website=MMA Fighting |date=13 September 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421193740/https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/13/23350128/mma-pound-for-pound-rankings-september-2022-khamzat-chimaev-smashes-his-way-into-top-20 |archive-date= Apr 21, 2023 }} and Tapology.{{cite web |title=The Current Best Pound-for-Pound MMA Fighters |url=https://www.tapology.com/rankings/current-top-ten-best-pound-for-pound-mma-and-ufc-fighters |website=Tapology MMA Rankings |access-date=12 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=The Current Best Pound-for-Pound Female MMA Fighters |url=https://www.tapology.com/rankings/33-current-best-pound-for-pound-female-mma-fighters |website=Tapology MMA Rankings |access-date=12 May 2021}}

Kickboxing / Muay Thai

{{also|ONE Championship Rankings}}

ONE Championship publishes pound-for-pound rankings for kickboxing and Muay Thai since 2020. Combat Press and Beyond Kickboxing also publish pound-for-pound rankings for kickboxing.{{cite web |title=Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: May 2021 |url=https://combatpress.com/2021/05/combat-press-kickboxing-rankings-may-2021/ |first1=Zach |last1=Aittama |website=Combat Press |date=10 May 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009205159/https://combatpress.com/2021/05/combat-press-kickboxing-rankings-may-2021/ |archive-date= Oct 9, 2023 }}{{Cite tweet |user=beyond_kick |number=1245123183579103232 |author=Beyond Kickboxing |title=Our P4P Kickboxing Rankings for April 2020. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517190756/https://twitter.com/beyond_kick/status/1245123183579103232 |archive-date= May 17, 2021 }}

References

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