Sports Illustrated ranked its 50 fittest athletes in all of sports and the list features seven mixed martial artists, with UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones coming in at No. 4 on the men’s side and former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm clocking in at No. 9.
Sports Illustrated worked with a panel of trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, performance experts and more to come up with the list. All athletes were assessed “based on characteristics that define fitness and conditioning: strength, speed, endurance, agility, flexibility and skill in his or her respective sport.” Everything from an athlete’s diet to the variety of workouts in his or her training regime were considered.
It’s not surprising that track and field athletes topped both the men’s and women’s sides with decathlete and 2012 Olympic champion Ashton Eaton leading the way for the men and heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill standing tall for the women. But the world of mixed martial arts had a strong presence as well.
On the women’s side, Holm was joined by former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (No. 19), UFC women’s strawweight contender Michelle Waterson (No. 26) and the current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (No. 30).
Jones, who will face Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, was pegged at No. 4 thanks to adding powerlifting to his training regime, which has resulted in an even more carved-up physique. He ranked behind only Eaton, LeBron James and CrossFit monster Ben Smith. Trailing behind Jones was UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (No. 17) and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor (No. 39).
