The absolute top 30 under 30 in MMA

For the second year in a row, Beyond the Cage has ranked the top 30 male fighters under the age of 30 years old in MMA. The list was compiled by Beyond the Cage hosts Jim Gramm & Dave Sadler by using the following criteria; Championship/title contender status, rank in weight class, record/level of competition in last calender year (Oct. ’12-’13) and potential to improve.

The 2013 list is below along with the list from 2012 for comparison. Let us know what you think the comment section below!

2013 List

(off by age: Nick Diaz #9, Cain Velasquez #10, Jim Miller #21, Donald Cerrone #25, Ryan Bader #28) Removed by Injury/Inactivity #8 Dominick Cruz

*1st year on list (Also included spots moved up or down from 2012 list)

1. Jon Jones UFC LHW Champion (last year #1)
2. Jose Aldo UFC FW Champion (last year #3) +1
3. Mighty Mouse UFC FLY Champion (last year #4) +1
4. Renan Barao UFC Interim BW Champion (last year #7) +3
5. Anthony Pettis UFC LW Champion (last year #24) +19
6. Chris Weidman UFC MW Champion (last year #11) +5
7. Junior Dos Santos UFC HW (last year #2) -5
8. Alexander Gustafsson UFC LHW (last year #20) +12
9. Johny Hendricks UFC WW (last year #14) +5
10. Ben Henderson UFC LW (last year #5) -5
11. Chad Mendes UFC FW (last year #18) +7
12. Pat Curran Bellator FW Champion (last year #13) +1
13. Joseph Benavidez UFC FLY (last year #12) -1
14. Carlos Condit UFC WW (last year #6) -8
15. Phil Davis UFC LHW (last year #16) +1
16. Michael McDonald UFC BW (last year #19) +3
17. Michael Chandler Bellator LW Champion (last year #30) +13
18. Rory MacDonald UFC WW*
19. Cub Swanson UFC FW*
20. Ben Askren Bellator WW Champion (last year #29) +9
21. TJ Grant UFC LW*
22. Luke Rockhold UFC MW (last year #17) -5
23. Nate Diaz UFC LW (last year #15) -8
24. Jake Ellenberger UFC WW (last year #23) -1
25. Ian McCall UFC FLY (last year #22) -3
26. Eddie Wineland UFC BW*
27. John Dodson UFC FLY (last year #27) 0
28. Alexander Shlemenko Bellator MW Champion*
29. Korean Zombie UFC FW (last year #26) -3
30. Eduardo Dantas Bellator BW Champion*

~ 2012 List ~

1. Jon Jones UFC LHW Champion
2. Junior Dos Santos UFC HW
3. Jose Aldo UFC FW Champion
4. Mighty Mouse UFC FLY Champion
5. Ben Henderson UFC LW
6. Carlos Condit UFC WW
7. Renan Barao UFC Interim BW Champion
8. Dominick Cruz UFC BW Champion
9. Nick Diaz UFC WW
10. Cain Velasquez UFC HW
11. Chris Weidman UFC MW Champion
12. Joseph Benavidez UFC FLY
13. Pat Curran Bellator FW Champion
14. Johny Hendricks UFC WW
15. Nate Diaz UFC LW
16. Phil Davis UFC LHW
17. Luke Rockhold UFC MW
18. Chad Mendes UFC FW
19. Michael McDonald UFC BW
20. Alexander Gustafsson UFC LHW
21. Jim Miller UFC LW
22. Ian McCall UFC FLY
23. Jake Ellenberger UFC WW
24. Anthony Pettis UFC LW
25. Donald Cerrone UFC LW
26. Korean Zombie UFC FW
27. John Dodson UFC FLY
28. Ryan Bader UFC LHW
29. Ben Askren Bellator WW Champion
30. Michael Chandler Bellator LW Champion