Miocic now No. 5 in UFC rankings

Another first-round knockout by Stipe Miocic has meant another step up in UFC.com’s pound-forpound fighter rankings.

The rankings were released this week, and the heavyweight champion moved up one spot from his previous ranking of No. 6 at No. 5.

“TOP 5 P4P!” Miocic tweeted on May 19.

Miocic improved to 17-2 in his career with a KO of challenger Junior dos Santos on May 13 at UFC 211 in Dallas. Miocic used a vicious right hand and then a flurry of lefts to get the KO.

Miocic’s is the only heavyweight listed on the pound-for-pound list.

The top five includes (in order) flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, lightweight champ Conor McGregor, light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, and featherweight champ Jose Aldo.

After Miocic, the rest of the top 10 includes: Cody Garbrandt, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Dominick Cruz, Tyron Woodley and Michael Bisping.

Miocic, an Eastlake graduate, can make history with a win in his next fight. He’s defended his belt twice, and no UFC heavyweight has been successful attempting to make it three straight.

Along with Miocic, four other heavyweights have defended their belt twice.

Asked recently why it’s been so difficult for a UFC heavyweight to hold onto the belt, Miocic replied: “Because they haven’t been me.”

When Miocic fights next is the big question. Since May 2016, he’s fought three times.

If he skips one of those cycles — that being every four months — Miocic should be in line to fight again in early 2018.