It’s finally here. Thecagenews.com crew has spent many sleepless nights poring over footage and records and watching training sessions to peg the best of the best in Utah’s MMA scene. After much deliberation, we have compiled a list of talent that we feel fits the billing, as the top pound for pound fighters the Wild West has to offer.

1. DaMarques “Darkness” Johnson

Timing is everything, and Darkness is on fire. With a streak of several quality wins and more important matchups on the horizon, this Jeremy Horn prodigy will likely be on the big stage by this time next year. Unreal striking ability, superb submissions, and above all, a newly clear perspective make DaMarques Johnson the most dangerous fighter in Utah. Did we forget to mention Darkness has just sign with MMA super agent Monte Cox?

2. Steven Siler

This young dark horse earns the number two spot by taking on the best and coming out on top. Two more monstrous opponents loom in the near future, but the phenom is confident and ready to prove he is the best. This star of the Mori Academy is slick on the ground and possesses all the tools to make it big. With youth on his side, Siler has perhaps the greatest “upside” of any fighter to make this list.

3. Derek “The Gentleman” Downey

Don’t count on knee surgery to keep the Gentleman down for too long. The king of the castle in Utah’s stacked Middleweight division will stay on top after coming out of retirement earlier this year using world class submission skills and brutal ground and pound. Downey boasts a gaudy record, extremely well rounded skill set, and more confidence than Tito Ortiz. With the Throwdown team behind him, this consummate family man has all the right tools to make a run at the big leagues

4. Steven “Razor” Sharp

The fan favorite of Utah MMA is a rarity in that his fighting prowess actually lives up to his skill as a showman. His return to the Utah scene was rendered anticlimactic due to an injury, but a highly anticipated matchup between the Razor and Siler should be all that it promises come September. This pink-haired wonder is the pride of Absolute MMA and a pioneer who helped put Utah MMA on the map. Few holes in his game and a sick work ethic solidify his spot among the best.

5. James “Birddog” Birdsley

Love him or hate him, Birddog is a fighter to the bone. Despite a recent slow period, Birddog rounds out the list by virtue of his win list. The 30+ names that have fallen to the Birddog’s bite include a who’s who of Utah’s lighter division fighters. A never-say-die attitude and gritty fight style make Birddog a formidable opponent for any local fighter, which may explain why it is so hard for him to find fights in this own backyard. One of the most impressive fighters to come out of the Elite Performance stable, James Birdsley was just plain born to fight.

There you have it folks. The pound for pound best in the greatest MMA state in America. Fists flew, people cried, but thecagenews.com staff is confident that we got it right. No favoritism or pity votes here, only the baddest of the bad. And if you are wondering how Razor edged out The Birddog on this list but not in the weight class rankings, well that can be explained by Birdsley’s recent loss. This is MMA, and like it or not you are only as good as your last fight.