Consensus Rankings:   Official  |  Member Designed  |  This Ranking Updated 5 days, 17 hrs ago  |  All By Vispian

1. 1

   

   Toki Tamaru

   0-0-0

   Honourable Kickboxing Mention of the Year. Dude did a Shogun 2005 esque year
   

2. 2

   

   Nadaka Yoshinari

   0-0-0

   Honourable MT Mention of the year. Dude had an active af year and achieved arguably the most
   

3. 3

   

   Sean Strickland

   "Tarzan"

   28-6-0

   Closed out last year with a razor close fight with Cannonier (which I thought he won), took a short notice fight and kinda exposed Imavov to open up the year. Back to Back closing and opening a year! Then turned around fighting unranked Abus when asked and dominated him. The took a short notice fight and beat Izzy 5-0 or 4-1 completely dominating what some call the best striker in the world in a fight no one gave him a shot in via striking. And has been announced to open up the first PPV of next year agasint the rightful no. 1 contender in Dricus. Dude it doesnt get much better than that.
   

4. 4

   

   Chihiro Suzuki

   12-3-0, 1 NC

   Has one of the most craziest careers and deserved to be mentioned 100% in the top 3. This year he beat Rios a top 10 kickboxer, and lost to Koike in MMA. But then came back and knocked out Patricio Pitbull one of the best fighters to have not fought in the UFC and now just won the Rizin FW belt knocking out Karamov in Azerbaijan via upkick and brutal 20 punch combo after in a fight no one gave him a chance in. Plus rumours of him defending his or challenging Pitbull for his Bellator belt on NYE to close out the year is sweet af.
   

5. 5

   

   Tom Aspinall

   14-3-0

   Recovered from a horrid knee injury, put in the work with the rehab, returned against a tougher but unassuming top 10 HW in Tybura, was willing to call out Gane and make the fight, got dodged then took the sort notice interim fight against Pavlovich the most dodged and dangerous HW. Whilst being injured on two week notice. Came in unfit and beat Pavlovich at his own game. You combine that with the work he has put into creating his won HW gym not only for himself but the other HWs around in both in major promotions like De Fries and Parkin, but on the regional level with Houlton, Pavel or Mindaugus. Its really important for the development of good talent in the division. Dude had one of the best comeback years.
   

6. 6

   

   Vicente Luque

   "The Silent Assassin"

   22-10-1

   Came back after a long layoff from a brain bleed KO and won. Has been rebooked again to fight Garry. If he wins he deserved this spot.
   

7. 7

   

   Alexander Volkanovski

   "The Great"

   26-4-0

   Now there is some controversy with this placement but I have to put Alex over Islam, winning is not the only factor on this list, context and comeback are very important. Dude opened up the year and put on a banger of a fight where he nearly upset and KOed Islam bu the end of the fight, being extremely competitive in a fight no one gave him much of a chance in. Returned against Yair in his most dangerous FW striking matchup and dominated him. Had elbow surgery and took a short notice 1 week rematch with Islam. Which he lost but saved the card and bet on himself.
   

8. 8

   

   Islam Makhachev

   25-1-0

   Islam has the January fight with Volk which although is more of a negative on him nearly losing, it was a great fight against an amazing opponent but the inactivity and then beating Volk on a short notice who clearly wasn't in the best shape doesn't really add much. He didn't overcome anything, didn't put away the doubters, didn't bet on himself in anything extraordinary. Just got two really good wins over the same opponent in which both have contextual Asterix's. But still I think he deserves top 5 at least for the moment.
   

9. 9

   

   Dricus Du Plessis

   "Stillknocks"

   21-2-0

   Dricus has a dominant but also iffy performance against Brunson but what is remarkable is the huge upset over Whittaker, demoloshing him on the feet and on the ground. One of the biggest upset of the year.
   

10. 10

    

    Sergei Pavlovich

    18-2-0

    On an incredible run and fighting for the Interim against Aspinall. Despite losing the dude was stoic, respectful and put on an all-time HW run for a title shot.
    

11+

11. 11

    

    Elves Brener

    16-3-0

    Dude is crazy. Next to Chihiro he has had the craziest run of fights this year. Beat Tukhugov in albeit very close maybe robbery decision, but proved he belonged. Than had a war with Guram finally breaking and KOing him in the 3rd round in an Oliveria esque performance. Then just came back with a quick rd 1 KO over Kaynan who btw is good just the short notice but a bit of a dent on the fight. Still hell of a rookie year and maybe a problem at LW. Hella fun at least.
    

12. 12

    

    Alex Pereira

    "Poatan"  |  10-2-0

    He lost against Israel in brutal fashion getting over confident when putting him against the fence, but came back after a brutal KO loss against Jan and showed off improved grappling and cemented a place in the LHW division against Jan. Then went on to win a 2nd belt against a returning Jiri. Dude may have had a setback but came back and recovered setting himself back arguable in a better way than last year.
    

13. 13

    

    Alexa Grasso

    16-3-1

    Got the win over Shev and despite a very close draw , there is still a bit of controversy around the performances. But either way a very good year finishing and drawing with one of the GOATs of WMMA and retaining the belt.
    

14. 14

    

    Leon Edwards

    "Rocky"  |  22-3-0, 1 NC

    Came back in March and dominated Usman winning 4-1 on my card. Then got rebooked to fight Colby. Could be a great year for the new Champ cementing his claim to the belt.
    

15. 15

    

    Jamahal Hill

    "Sweet Dreams"  |  12-2-0, 1 NC

    I still have to include Hill, coming on short notice and dominating Glover in the January PPV winning the belt and being the first to do so from the Contender series. Despite the Achilles injury forcing him to be out for the remaining year, he followed in Jiri's footsteps in vacating the belt and setting up Alex/Jiri for the Vacant belt!
    

16. 16

    

    Alexandre Pantoja

    "The Cannibal"  |  27-5-0

    Dude had a FOTY contender with Moreno and won the belt, putting an emotional twist on the win due to the meaning behind him achieving the dream. Scheduled to defend against Royval as well is great too. The only downside is has beat Moreno twice before this win already and already beat Royval. So it does dampen his wins.
    

17. 17

    

    Charles Oliveira

    "do Bronx"  |  34-10-0, 1 NC

    Came back after the somewhat humiliating fight with Islam last year with an amazing performance over Beniel in a fight many thought he would probably lose. In Canada btw a place he is 0-4? before this. The emotions when he won just show why he deserves a mention on the list. But pulling out of the Islam fight (for valid reasoning) and not having another fight scheduled for the year may put him further down by the end of the lsit.
    

18. 18

    

    Diego Lopes

    24-6-0

    Dude also has had a hell of a rookie year, went to War with Movsar in a fight he nearly subbed him several times and there is an argument he may have won 2 rounds. Either way dude came back and won against Tucker with an amazing sup and is matched up against Sabatini to close the year. Pulling that win off as well, combining the fact he is Grasso's BJJ coach for her grappling improvements may make him jump far up the rankings.
    

19. 19

    

    Benoit Saint-Denis

    "God of War"  |  13-2-0, 1 NC

    Dude has come in and brutalised Bonfim, Moises, Frevola in brutal fashion. What run a of banger fights
    

20. 20

    

    Tatiana Suarez

    10-0-0

    Honestly I can tell she is likely to take Erins spot or higher. She has two good wins this year one being Andrade and one being de la Rosa, both arnt great atm, but the context in overcoming her horrible knee injury and already ebign in title contention talks is the kind of comeback story we like see.
    

21. 21

    

    Jailton Almeida

    "Malhadinho"  |  20-3-0

    Got 3 great wins this year and is the new contender at HW below Aspinall/Pavlovich. But he did put on a snoozer against Lewis. A weird one.
    

22. 22

    

    Jack Della Maddalena

    17-2-0

    If he doesn't fight for the 4th time this year i may remove him as the context around two of the 3 fights isnt the best. 1 being nearly an embarrassing short notice loss and the other one being a technical but not that interesting fight against Holland. The Randy KO was dope tho.
    

23. 23

    

    Tatsuro Taira

    15-0-0

    Got tested by Chairez in his grit and got a great win over Aguilar and has attempted to be constantly active despite pull outs, short notice opponents, cancelled fights and catchweights. Looking to fight Hernandez to close out the year. Activity and keeping active despite the challenges thrown at him is commendable.