MMA News and Discussion Thread

[Enter Blue Guy]

Oh yeah, that was in the part of the interview I forgot to post.

Wanderlei Silva to train with EWB board members in Ohio. Silva Fight Team, head trainer Wanderlei Silva, assistant trainer Biggz.

Credit: MMA News

[ACCBiggz]

We have decided against Silva Fight Team a couple hours ago... Phoenix Fighting, going to give Wandy a rebirth through the ashes just long enough for him to put Chuck down on the mat.

Realistically, if Wanderlei would take Chuck down, no easy task, but with the UFC rules of allowing elbow.... YIKES!

[Enter Blue Guy]

The elbows for Wandy and Shogun will be delicious. I'm more excited to see Shogun do some damage with elbows to the head, because he can throw a wicked elbow to the body on the ground, but Wandy Thai clinching an opponent and putting them up against the cage, no escape... That is what I can't wait to see out of him.

Edited August 1, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture is set to star in “The Scorpion King: The Akkadian,” a major motion picture from Universal Studios.

[Enter Blue Guy]

A Gomi vs. KID bout near?

Ok, so that video seems like nothing more than a highlight reel of a gay Japanese beach party, but I got this translation off of the sherdog forum.

For those of you that dont know japanese, at the end when they interview gomi, One of the questions asked was basically "regarding what the news papers reported on you joining Heros....." and Gomi manager replied "about that, nothing has been confirmed yet" then gomi says "but i look forward to it"

Edited August 3, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

KID will get beat.

[Enter Blue Guy]

I say KID will KO Gomi.

Short and to the point. Greatest debate ever.

[Enter Blue Guy]

UFC.com says Ryoto Machida vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura for UFC 76.

It took me awhile to really appreciate Nakamura, but now I think he is the most underrated fighter out there. And I am missing Pride like crazy, so seeing Kaz out there will be great. And somebody desperately needs to beat Machida.

Edited August 3, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

It'll be a fun fight to watch. However, Gomi has decent wrestling, decent stand-up, and can take a shot. KID stands at 5'4" which gives Gomi a significant height and reach advantage. KID would have to get inside the reach to hit Gomi and he could use his size to control the tempo. Granted Gomi is only 5'8" himself.

[Enter Blue Guy]

I could care less who wins, I think both guys are amazing fighters, but I'm not a huge fan of either. I just want to see a good fight.

The reach is a good point. Gomi has great standing knees to go with his solid hands. No brainer that KID has the better hands, but yeah the reach and close range knees will make it a task and a half for KID to get to Gomi. Then again, the reach coupled with the solid hands of Genki Sudo were what I thought would give him a chance and look what happened there, sans the questionable stoppage. Though Gomi has better hands then Sudo... So we'll just have to watch and see.

Edited August 3, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[Enter Blue Guy]

Joe Lauzon penciled in for 78, training with BJ

The following is an excerpt from an exclusive scoop on the UFCMania.com website:

Joe Lauzon �" lightweight fighter and former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 �" is tentatively scheduled to fight at UFC 78 on November 17 from the Prudential Arena in Newark, New Jersey, UFCmania.com learned earlier this morning.

No opponent has been named at this time. However, 155-pound fighters Kenny Florian and Frank Edgar are possibilities, considering both are also expected to appear that evening and have not been matched up with opponents, either.

According to our source, Lauzon underwent knee surgery this week to repair a tendon tear that had been bothering him before TUF 5 even began. He will head out to Hawaii to train with TUF 5 coach BJ Penn in September and expects to make a full recovery in time for the November event.

[ACCBiggz]

Yeah he was scheduled to already be in Hawaii and training, but the knee surgery pushed that back. He is going to be there for a minimum of one year and said if everything goes as planned may be there for two years.

[Enter Blue Guy]

All news from MMA News.com

Diego Leaves Jackson Camp

The following is a note from yesterday's Albuquerque Tribune:

On the same card, Albuquerque welterweight Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez (17-1) returns to the ring after his first pro loss, to take on Jon Fitch (18-2-1) of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Speaking of Sanchez, he has parted ways with trainer Greg Jackson and is relocating to California. Meanwhile, Sanchez's conqueror, Josh Koscheck (9-1), has a showdown set with former welterweight champion, Canadian Georges St. Pierre (13-2), who continues to fight out of the Duke City. That bout is set for Aug. 25 at UFC 74.

Edited August 7, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[Enter Blue Guy]

From Sherdog

Several sources have confirmed to Sherdog.com that the popular Kenny Florian (Pictures) will replace hard-hitting Spencer Fisher (Pictures) after a staph infection in the King's right knee forced the southpaw to bow out of his UFC Fight Night main event clash with Din Thomas (Pictures) on Sept. 19.

While the bout is not signed, it has been verbally agreed upon on by both sides, Sherdog.com has learned.

Fisher is one of several fighters in the Bettendorf, Iowa gym stricken with staph recently, said the lightweight's trainer, Pat Miletich (Pictures).

"They've been quarantined out of the gym," the trainer said. "It's not something you get from dirty mats or hospital equipment. It spreads from human to human contact."

[Enter Blue Guy]

From UFC Junkie...

Two more MFS fighters sidelined due to staph infection

Spencer Fisher apparently isn’t the only Miletich Fighting Systems fighter struck by a staph infection.

Teammates Drew McFedries and Tim Sylvia have also been infected, and McFedries still remains hospitalized, according to The Fight Network’s Brian Knapp.

According to the report:

According to Fisher, at least two other MFS fighters — heavy-handed middleweight Drew McFedries and former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia — have also been infected. McFedries remains in the hospital and has had a [sizable] piece of his leg removed, according to Fisher. His rumored October bout with Marvin Eastman at UFC 77 also appears in jeopardy.

All three fights train at MFS in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Sylvia was expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 77 in October or UFC 78 in November. He most recently lost a five-round unanimous decision to Randy Couture in a UFC 68 title fight back in March.

Earlier today we passed along Fisher’s bulletin that he had to pull out of his UFC Fight Night 11 main-event bout with Din Thomas. According to a source close to the UFC who spoke to UFCjunkie.com (www.ufcjunkie.com), Thomas will likely face Kenny Florian instead.

The 2007 fight season has been a bad one for fighters and staph infections. Diego Sanchez and Forrest Griffin are just a few of the numerous fighters who have been sidelined or affected by the highly contagious infections this year alone.

[ACCBiggz]

You know... it doesn't take much but some bleach and water at the end of the day to keep the mats and machines clean. All that needs to be addressed otherwise is people who have staph coming in and infecting others, but they need to really look at cleaning better as it may have prevented some of the infections.

[crazedfan]

Sherdog's first ever fighter rankings!

For the first time Sherdog.com is releasing official rankings spanning eight weight divisions. This is not a ranking based upon skill. Simply, the Sherdog.com ranking takes into account what fighters have accomplished in the ring or cage.

Imagine that each fighter holding the No. 1 position is the Sherdog.com champion: our ranking is intended to outline who would be next in line to challenge the man holding the belt ... and what the line extended to 10 fighters (except at flyweight where we limit it to five) would look like.

Criterion for the ranking mandates that a fighter must have competed during the past 12 months in the division in which they are ranked. Fighters currently under suspension for banned substances will not be considered for the ranking until their suspension has run its course. If a fighter appeals, they will be ranked until the appeal is heard.

Placement in the poll is based largely on results in competition and the strength of opposition.

With the addition of short explanations following each ranked fighter, we've attempted to provide insight as to why guys are ranked where they are. Though the sport still features fractured weight divisions, we've tried our best to address that in the placement of fighters.

In this poll there is one notable omission. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, one of the most talented fighters in the sport, is not ranked, as he has not fought at 145 pounds in nearly four years and his 155-pound resume isn't good enough to be considered a ranked lightweight.

Results will be updated as fights happen.

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianenko (26-1-0, 1 NC)

Easiest fighter to rank atop the polls in any division; the Russian is the most sought after free agent the sport has seen. Reigning PRIDE heavyweight champion Emelianenko is equal parts athleticism, brawn, brains, heart and skill -- a combination some have called the finest MMA has ever seen. His pace has slowed some with the demise of PRIDE, but suitors such as the UFC and K-1 have gone after his services. The only loss of his career was brutally erased when Fedor dismantled Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in April 2005. There is no timetable for his return to the ring. Fedor last fought in April, armbarring undersized American Matt Lindland as Russian President Vladimir Putin watched from ringside in St. Petersburg, Russia.

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (30-4-1, 1 NC)

Following a stellar career in PRIDE, where he owned the heavyweight title before Fedor showed up, Nogueira is now in the UFC, having recently out-pointed Heath Herring for the third time. Outside of Fedor, Nogueira might be the best heavyweight in the history of MMA, and one could make the case that regardless of what the Russian does, "Minotauro" will be regarded as the finest BJJ-based heavyweight the sport has seen.

3. Gabriel Gonzaga (8-1-0)

Napao is a perfect example of the fact that it doesn't take long to get your shot at glory in MMA. Piggybacking a stunning high-kick knockout of Mirko Filipovic, Gonzaga faces UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture Aug. 25 for a shot at the belt. A dangerous grappler, Gonzaga showed he's more than capable of finishing a fight with his fists or his feet, making him utterly dangerous each time he steps into the octagon.

4. Mirko Filipovic (22-5-2)

The Croatian striker is coming off a stunning loss to Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga, who knocked Filipovic out cold with a high kick. "Cro Cop" made his UFC debut in February of this year and looked sluggish against an overmatched Eddie Sanchez. However Filipovic has generally risen out of the ashes and appears to be utilizing a serious training in advance of his Sept. 8 fight with French kickboxing Cheick Kongo.

5. Josh Barnett (20-5-0)

Barnett had one of the busiest years ever in 2006. Fighting seven times against quality -- even world-class -- opposition, Barnett went 5-2. Despite splitting a pair of decisions with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and suffering yet another loss to Mirko Filipovic, Barnett showed that he remains one of the sport's brightest prospects, and stands as America's best heavyweight. The fight-loving grappler captured the UFC heavyweight crown at the age of 24 before making his way overseas and eventually into PRIDE. Currently a free agent, Barnett would be a great acquisition for any promoter.

6. Randy Couture (15-8-0)

The Natural retired from competition after taking his third loss at 205 to Chuck Liddell. But a year later he saw an opportunity to face Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight strap and he jumped at it. Heavyweight was the division in which Couture rose to prominence, capturing the crown twice before doing it a third time against The Maine-iac in March. The 44-year-old wrestler turned MMA Hall of Famer defends his crown Aug. 25 against Gabriel Gonzaga.

7. Tim Sylvia (23-3-0)

Sylvia had an opportunity to become a star if he could defeat Randy Couture in March. Instead, he was dropped with the first punch and never recovered as Couture swarmed him for 25 minutes. The 6-foot-8 Sylvia is a counter puncher who carries a pretty stiff jab and heavy right hand. His decent-enough takedown defense has saved him against the likes of Jeff Monson, but Couture was a whole different animal. Currently Sylvia is battling a case of staph infection that made its way around the heavyweight's Bettendorf, Iowa gym.

8. Andrei Arlovski (11-5-0)

The Belarusian former UFC heavyweight champ has won two in a row since losing consecutive fights to Tim Sylvia. A knockout of Marcio Cruz and a decision against Fabricio Werdum have Arlovski part of the UFC heavyweight title picture again. An athletic fighter with proficient boxing and powerful leg-locks, Arlovski is an intimidating heavyweight when he decides to be aggressive. As the UFC heavyweight division continues to expand, Arlovski will surely have an opportunity to move up the list.

9. Fabricio Werdum (9-3-1)

Werdum has a tendency to under-perform, but he is a dangerous BJJ stylist and has shown an ability to survive on the feet. In his UFC debut in April, Werdum lost a unanimous decision against former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski. A training partner for fellow "Cro Cop," Werdum is reportedly getting ready to join Brazil's Chute Boxe academy.

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (11-3-0)

Matched against a heavyweight who will stand in front of him, or isn't a good enough grappler to get the fight on the floor, the brother of the No. 1-ranked Fedor has enough power and fast enough hands to finish a lot of fighters. But against the upper echelon he has always struggled, losing to Fabricio Werdum, Josh Barnett and Mirko Filipovic -- the only ranked fighters he's faced. Emelianenko submitted the inexperienced Jessie Gibson on July 21 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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Light Heavyweight

1. Mauricio Rua (16-2-0)

Considered the next generation Chute Boxe fighter, Rua broke out in 2005 to put together a Fighter of the Year effort in capturing the PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix crown. A blend of high-paced striking and frenetic mat work, "Shogun" holds wins over three fighters on this list, including current UFC heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. Rua makes his UFC debut versus Forrest Griffin in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 22.

2. Quinton Jackson (27-6-0)

"Rampage" appears to have worked past the troubles that haunted him after a tough series of fights in PRIDE, the last of which saw him go down to defeat to "Shogun" Rua. The exciting and flamboyant light heavyweight put himself on the map by blasting out Chuck Liddell in less than two minutes to capture the UFC belt, and can become the first man to hold UFC and PRIDE belts at the same time should he defeat Dan Henderson Sept. 8 in London.

3. Dan Henderson (22-5-0)

Undersized for the division, Dan Henderson is not a known name amongst many casual MMA fans. A scrappy former Olympic wrestler who's worked hard to integrate a dangerous striking game, punctuated by one of the best right hands in the sport, Henderson has continually defied the odds against heavier opposition. He'll get his shot again on Sept. 8 in London when he puts his PRIDE belt up for grabs against UFC champion Quinton Jackson.

4. Chuck Liddell (20-4-0)

Liddell saw his stretch as the baddest light heavyweight in the UFC come to an end when Quinton Jackson won early in the first round of their May bout. A heavy, accurate puncher, Liddell returns to the octagon on Sept. 22 against Keith Jardine. According to the UFC, two wins for Liddell and he'd find himself right in line for a shot back at the belt he captured by knocking out Randy Couture. If that happens, he could easily climb to the top of the list if he regains the UFC belt.

5. Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1, 1 NC)

The Brazilian mauler enjoyed one of the best stretches of any fighter in the history of MMA from 2000 through 2004, including two brutal stoppages over current UFC champion Quinton Jackson. Known for an aggressive fighting style and a penchant for KOs, Silva reigned as the 205-pound PRIDE champion until February of this year, when Dan Henderson dominated the fight in Las Vegas to win by knockout. Silva will likely make his UFC debut sometime before the end of the year.

6. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-1-0)

Africa's top mixed martial artist exploded upon the world stage in 2007 with early knockouts of Top 10 light heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. The accomplished judoka has relied on his hands, but he's also paid the price for slugging it out, suffering a stoppage loss to Chuck Liddell training partner Glover Teixeira last October. Sokoudjou verbally agreed to a deal with ProElite, but has since backed out and appears likely headed to K-1 HERO'S, with his proposed debut coming Sept .17.

7. Ricardo Arona (13-5-0)

A dominant grappler, Arona amassed an impressive record with just two defeats (Fedor Emelianenko in 2000 and Quinton Jackson in 2004 before becoming the first light heavyweight in five years to defeat Wanderlei Silva. However, three losses (Silva, Shogun and Sokoudjou) have come in his last four fights, with the only win a stoppage over Alistair Overeem. Arona is a tough match-up for anyone in the division.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-3-0)

"Minotoro" has just three fights in three years, and is 1-2 during that span, but a record that features wins against the likes of Guy Mezger, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kazushi Sakuraba, Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson means Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's twin brother is pretty good. His loss in the PRIDE 205-pound Grand Prix to Mauricio Rua was perhaps the fight of the year. In February, Sokoudjou stunned Nogueira to win by KO. Little Nog has since concentrated on boxing, where he took third in his divisions at the just-completed Pan American Games in Rio.

9. Rashad Evans (10-0-1)

Evans had an opportunity to solidify his status as a top contender in the UFC when he faced Tito Ortiz in July. The resulting draw (Evans would have lost if not for a point deduction on Ortiz for grabbing the cage fencing) showed that Evans has what it takes to compete at the sport's highest levels, but he lacks the experience and overall game to take that next step. A rumored rematch between Evans and Ortiz seems in line for the Oct. UFC in Cincinnati.

10. Jason Lambert (23-6-0)

Four wins in five UFC fights, including a win over Renato Sobral in his last outing, puts Lambert in the Top 10. Lambert's move down to 205 from heavyweight has paid off extremely well for the Californian, who uses a pressure attack to work people over in the clinch and on the ground. Lambert fights American Top Team's Wilson Gouveia on Sept. 22 at UFC 76.

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Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (19-4-0)

First-round knockouts of Rich Franklin and Nathan Marquardt. Capturing the UFC middleweight crown. Just one loss in two and half years (via DQ no less). Anderson Silva easily deserves the top spot at 185 pounds. His next challenge comes Oct. 20 against Franklin in the former champion's hometown.

2. Paulo Filho (15-0-0)

The undefeated Brazilian ranks in this high due to his unblemished record and the way he's won the majority of his fights. A dominant grappler, Filho showed off some powerful strikes in stopping Canadian Joe Doerksen on Aug. 5 to capture the vacant WEC title. Jason Miller or Joe Riggs could be Filho's next opponent, though neither match the level of opposition he would have found in the UFC, EliteXC or K-1 HERO'S.

3. Dan Henderson (22-5-0)

He's only had five fights at the weight but Dan Henderson's 2006 run to win the PRIDE 183-pound title is enough to place him in the top three. Ask most fighters who ranks No. 1 in the division, and Henderson's name comes up quite often. Yet it's his lack of a win over a Top 10 fighter (though he has defeated quality opposition) that prevents him from making the top two.

4. Rich Franklin (22-2-0, 1 NC)

A well rounded, hard working, smart fighter, Franklin was forced to regroup after losing his UFC belt to Anderson Silva last October. Coming back from the brutal KO, "Ace" forced Jason MacDonald to quit after two rounds and recently won on points against the ranked Yushin Okami. Franklin faces Silva again, this time in the former champ's hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio on Oct. 20.

5. Matt Lindland (20-5-0)

Lindland has been a rogue fighter since the UFC tore up his contract in Aug. 2005. A bad loss to David Terrell kept "The Law" out of the UFC title picture before he was discarded, and outside the UFC Lindland has shown improved overall skills. The problem for Lindland is that he hasn't faced a ranked middleweight in quite some time, and instead has gone off to fight at 205 and heavyweight (where he was armbarred by Fedor Emelianenko in less than three minutes). He needs a chance to fight top-tier opposition if he's going to be ranked any higher.

6. Nathan Marquardt (25-7-2)

Marquardt found himself overwhelmed by UFC champion Anderson Silva in July. Though many thought Marquardt provided a bad style match for Silva, his chin failed to hold up against the champion's strikes. Marquardt is a highly skilled, deeply experienced fighter who has held respected titles such as Japan's King of Pancrase. Four wins in five UFC fights made fans hip to his talents, but a somewhat methodical fighting style and muted demeanor have kept his star dim to this point.

7. Denis Kang (27-8-1)

Kang is a gifted athlete with fast hands and a well-rounded game. He began to gain notoriety during the PRIDE 183-pound tournament in 2006, and made it to the finals before losing by split decision to Kazuo Misaki. Currently a free agent, Kang is being pursued by the major organizations. He appears to have all the tools to make it into the top three, but he's lacking a win over a top-ranked foe to propel him there.

8. Yushin Okami (20-4-0)

Okami is arguably the best Japanese fighter to participate on the cage-fighting circuit. The lanky middleweight is coming off a decision loss to Rich Franklin in June, a bout he appeared close to winning by submission in the third round. With a 4-1 in the UFC and a solid overall ledger, Okami, just 26, is a fighter that could climb the list.

9. Robbie Lawler (14-4-0)

The hard-punching Lawler's win over Trigg puts him in the ninth spot, this despite his submission loss to Jason Miller in Sept. '06. Lawler has won six of seven fights starting in 2005 against the likes of Trigg, Joey Villasenor and Falaniko Vitale twice. The quiet Iowan is slated put his ICON belt on the line against EliteXC champ Murilo Rua Sept. 15 in Honolulu.

10. Frank Trigg (15-6-0)

After losing to Carlos Condit in the spring of 2006, "Twinkle Toes" took a hiatus from MMA before bulking up 15 pounds to join the middleweight division. Most thought the young Jason Miller would trounce Trigg, but the powerful wrestler pounded out "Mayhem" out in the second round. A decision win over Kazuo Misaki secured a Top 10 ranking despite falling to Robbie Lawler in four rounds last March, which cost him the ICON belt he won versus Miller.

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Welterweight

1. Matt Serra (9-4-0)

Using a series of strikes to finish then UFC champion Georges St. Pierre in February, New York's Matt Serra picked a good time to rack up his first stoppage victory -- something no one outside of Long Island thought he could do. The squat welterweight has fluctuated between 170 and 155 pounds, and appears to have all of a sudden found his power. Noted for his BJJ game, Serra will likely have his guard put to the test when he defends his belt against former two-time champion Matt Hughes in November.

2. Georges St. Pierre (13-2-0)

An incredible two-year run saw the French Canadian capture the UFC welterweight belt while defeating the likes of Jason Miller, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn and Matt Hughes. No one gave Matt Serra a chance of beating GSP when the two met in April, yet Serra blasted out the champ to take the coveted UFC crown. St. Pierre can either get right back into the fold or take a serious hit when he faces Josh Koscheck inside the octagon at UFC 74.

3. Matt Hughes (41-5-0)

Perennially ranked amongst the top three at his weight, Matt Hughes is widely regarded as one of the sport's most dominant fighters at 170 pounds. His stunning loss to Georges St. Pierre knocked him down a peg, but a convincing decision over veteran Chris Lytle in March of this year helped get Hughes, who returned to his wrestling roots in that fight, back on track. Hughes will face UFC champ Matt Serra at the conclusion of the sixth season of SpikeTV's "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show.

4. Josh Koscheck (9-1-0)

A last-second loss to Drew Fickett is the only blemish on the powerful wrestler's ledger. Koscheck has worked incredibly hard to improve his striking, and in his last fight with rival Diego Sanchez he showed a quality stand-up repertoire. In just 10 fights he has shot into the top five, and now sits on the cusp of a UFC welterweight title shot. Koscheck would jump into the top three with a win over former champion Georges St. Pierre Aug. 25 in Las Vegas.

5. Diego Sanchez (17-1-0)

Undefeated before losing by decision to Josh Koscheck in one of his worst efforts as a pro, Sanchez has an opportunity to immediately get back in UFC title contention if he can beat Jon Fitch on the undercard of Couture-Gonzaga, Aug. 25 in Las Vegas. Sanchez has recently left his childhood home of Albuquerque, New Mexico and longtime trainer Greg Jackson to be with his child in San Diego, Calif. What role this will play in his future success remains to be seen.

6. Jon Fitch (14-2-0, 1 NC)

People are just now beginning to realize how good a mixed martial artist the former Purdue University wrestler has become. All that's stopping Fitch from moving into the top five is a win against the bigger names in the division. He gets his shot Aug. 25 against Diego Sanchez.

7. Karo Parisyan (17-4-0)

There's no doubt that Karo Parisyan is one of the best welterweights in the world, but losses to Diego Sanchez and Georges St. Pierre relegate him to No. 7, which in the loaded welterweight division isn't all that bad. Impressive in a recent defeat of Josh Burkman, Parisyan, still young at 24, would love to get a crack at the UFC title he was promised. Continuing to win will be the quickest way to that achievement.

8. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (11-2-0)

Making a claim as the most dynamic submission fighter on the list, Aoki's status is uncertain after Zuffa's purchase of PRIDE. Having recently fought at 161 pounds, there was debate as where to rank the tights-wearing Japanese fighter, but his position as Shooto champion at 167 pounds (Aoki defeated Akira Kikuchi (Pictures), who holds a win over Shields in 2004 and is just on the outside of the top 10) means he belongs here.

9. Jake Shields (Pictures) (18-4-1)

Shields' fighting style isn't exactly like the Boise St. Broncos' offense. The large welterweight, who cuts down from as heavy as 190 pounds in the days leading up to a fight, employs a methodical, technical style that has confounded many of the opponents he's faced. Shields is slated to step back into the cage on Sept. 15 against Renato "Charuto" Verissimo in Honolulu, Hawaii.

10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)

The young Albuquerque fighter has compiled quite a record, most recently defending his WEC title by submitting Brock Larson (Pictures) in the opening round. Condit's participation in last year's Rumble on the Rock tournament put him on the map, though he ended the event losing to Shields. A bad defeat against Pat Healy (Pictures) followed, but the 23-year-old fighter has reeled off six wins in a row to squeak into the final slot at 170 pounds. To get any higher, he needs to hope WEC brings in serious competition.

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Lightweight

1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (27-3-0, 1 ND)

Gomi's submission loss in February to Nick Diaz (Pictures) was overturned when Nevada ruled that the Californian had marijuana in his system, which when added to the fact that Gomi has fought at 161 pounds for the past three years makes this ranking tenuous. A 2006 submission loss to Marcus Aurelio doesn't help either, but Gomi avenged being put to sleep by winning a decision in Nov. of last year. Even with all that working against him, Gomi stands atop the heap of a deep and exciting weight division with wins over the likes of Kawajiri, Ishida, and Sakurai.

2. Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (12-0-0)

After notching the biggest win of his outstanding young career on New Year's Eve against Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Melendez has spent the first seventh months of 2007 twiddling his thumbs like most of PRIDE's former lightweights. Thankfully, Strikeforce has saved the day, as their 155-pound champ will return to action against a yet-to-be-named opponent on Sept. 29, and will live out what most 25 year olds could only dream about: beating up a guy at the Playboy Mansion.

3. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (19-4-2)

After a tough break in his split decision loss to Melendez, Kawajiri went back home to the drawing board in his home of Ibaraki to train. Of course, due to PRIDE getting pillaged, that's as far as he's gotten in seven months. Kawajiri has said he would love to fight stateside in the cage, but it seems that opportunity isn't exactly forthcoming. However, leading Shooto promoter Sustain has a card slated for Nov. 8 that could use his starpower, and it would provide a nice opportunity for "Crusher" to vent his frustrations in the ring.

4. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-1-0)

A perennial elite lightweight, Shaolin's competition since his Dec. 2004 loss to Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) has ranged from solid-but-unspectacular to woefully inadequate. Thankfully, a strong challenge should be right around the corner for Ribeiro, who could very well face fellow Brazilian stalwart Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) in the ongoing HERO'S tournament as early as Sept. 17.

5. Sean Sherk (Pictures) (32-2-1)

The UFC champion's steroid saga will be prolonged for another few months as the California State Athletic Commission granted Sherk a continuance in order for he and doping attorney extraordinaire Howard Jacobs to prepare their case for the next CSAC meeting on Oct. 31. The real downer? Putting the breaks on a Nov. superfight with B.J. Penn (Pictures).

6. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (15-3-1)

(See Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures)).

7. Joachim Hansen (Pictures) (15-5-1)

MMA's foremost Norseman is another unfortunate victim of the PRIDE buyout, having signed a five-fight deal with DSE just before his Feb. win over Jason Ireland (Pictures). Now, "Hellboy" is looking to field offers, and if suitors aren't forthcoming, he'll resume amateur boxing when Norway's amateur season begins in Sept.

8. Marcus Aurelio (14-4-0)

Aurelio was wise in being one of the first former PRIDE fighters to secure a new deal following the PRIDE buyout. Looking for his first win since April of last year, when he shocked the world against Takanori Gomi (Pictures), Aurelio will make his UFC debut on Aug. 25 to take on Clay Guida (Pictures) in a UFC 74 preliminary bout.

9. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti (Pictures) (12-1-1)

Injury axed the defending HERO'S tournament champion from his July bout with Andre "Dida" Amade, but it appears Fight Entertainment Group will slot "JZ" into the semifinals on Sept. 17. Don't be surprised if FEG lines up a Brazilian vs. Brazilian semifinal again this year as they did last; instead, be overjoyed at the prospect of a JZ-Shaolin clash.

10. B.J. Penn (11-4-1)

This was the most difficult ranking to make of the entire bunch. Penn possesses an incredible amount of skill and is universally lauded by fighters and fans as being one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA. But he had not fought at 155 in nearly three and a half years before recently dispatching former UFC lightweight champ Jens Pulver, who has slipped down the ranks since the two first met in Jan. 2002. Because he is 7-1-1 overall at 155, the Hawaiian nabs the final spot over Joe Stevenson. Penn was scheduled to face UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk in Nov. but that is on hold with news of Sherk's alleged positive steroid test. Wins over a couple ranked fighters would propel Penn to the top of the list.

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Featherweight

1. Akitoshi Tamura (11-5-2)

In a world without Sokoudjou, Akitoshi Tamura would be a lock for 2007's most improved fighter. Tamura has knocked off three top-notch opponents in a row, avenging two career losses and picking up a Shooto world title along the way. The real task for Tamura, who daylights as a physical therapist, is to prove his recent windfall of success is no fluke.

2. Urijah Faber (19-1-0)

The face of the featherweights in North America, Faber's crackling bout with Chance Farrar in June served as an exemplar of what 145'ers bring to the table. The only thing stopping "The California Kid" from topping this list is his glossy record which features mostly tough, but not outstanding opponents. However, this may change very quickly with the additions of fighters like Pulver, Curran and Yahya to the WEC, where Faber stands as featherweight champ, and the fact many top Japanese fighters have begun to recognize Faber as an elite fighter.

3. Takeshi Inoue (13-2-0)

A quick win last month over Marc Duncan does little to salve the sting of his Shooto world title loss to Akitoshi Tamura in May. Lion likely will see his next duty on Nov. 8.

4. Antonio Carvalho (10-2-0)

Moving to Tokyo and training with Hiroyuki Abe has paid off handsomely for the Canadian BJJ black belt, who defeated Hioki in May before showing his stand-up skills and winning a bout in Shootboxing late last month. "Pato" isn't looking to slow down, and has already informed Shooto promoters of his desire to compete at Sept. 22's BACK TO OUR ROOTS 05 card.

5. Hatsu Hioki (12-2-1)

The vertically-inclined TKO champion dropped a hotly competitive split decision loss to Antonio Carvalho this past May, and was looking to get back into action against unknown Brazilian "Coelho" Gustavo Franca on Aug. 11 in his native Nagoya. However, injury has forced Hioki from the HEAT 4 card, and Katsuya Toida will be taking his place. An Oct. 8 homecoming at SHOOTO GIG CENTRAL or a TKO date later in the year are the most likely next stops for Hioki.

6. Jeff Curran (28-8-1)

"The Big Frog" had a much tougher go of things in his Aug. 5 bout with unknown Stephen Ledbetter, but was able to take a unanimous decision, keeping the potential for a future fight with Urijah Faber intact.

7. Masakazu Imanari (12-5-1)

MMA's crown prince of leg-locks overcame some early offense from imported Korean Jong Man Kim on Aug. 5 to notch a first-round armbar victory. The current DEEP and Cage Rage champion figures to defend either one or both of his trinkets later this year.

8. Yoshiro Maeda (21-4-1)

Pancrase's champion poster-boy whacked Danny Batten in April and will be summoned back to action in Tokyo on Sept. 5 against a yet-to-be-named opponent. The biggest hurdle for the 25-year-old Maeda, who has all the tools to be an elite fighter, is overcoming his reputation as a flake and a choke artist.

9. Tenkei Fujimiya (7-1-2)

2005's Shooto rookie champ at 143 pounds has had a rough go of things in recent months, first drawing the always tricky Katsuya Toida last Nov. and then losing in a rematch to now-world champ Akitoshi Tamura in Feb. -- two bouts he was favored to win. Fujimiya will have a chance to get back on track when he makes his stateside debut in California Aug. 18 against the well-traveled Bao Quach.

10. Danny Batten (11-5-3)

Batten is coming off of a spanking at the hands of Pancrase king Maeda in April. But Batten still has decent wins over the likes of Emmanuel Fernandez, Damacio Page and Kyotaro Nakao, and is the best the weight has to offer in the United Kingdom.

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Bantamweight

1. Akitoshi Hokazono (6-0-2)

The king of Shooto's 132-pound class, Hokazono remains one of MMA's largest enigmas. In effortless back-to-back thrashings of Marcos Louro and Kenji Osawa to capture the vacant Shooto crown, Hokazono looked like a pound-for-pound king. Yet, he only fights once or twice a year, and insists MMA is a hobby for him. Worse yet, his much-anticipated July title clash with former champ Ryota Matsune was cancelled after the oft-injured Matsune suffered a torn bicep and a broken rib. American promoters would be smart to nab the 30-year-old Osakan and give him a stage to let his potential shine through.

2. Marcos "Louro" Galvao (6-1-0)

A dominant grappler with the style you would expect from a Nova Uniao competitor, Galvao notched an impressive win over Kenji Osawa in May. With his handlers presently shopping him stateside and with some luck, North American fans could get to see one of the absolute best in the weight class very soon.

3. Koetsu Okazaki (5-0-1)

After an 18-month layoff, Okazaki returned in June 2006 and has rattled off successive wins over Hiroyuki Tanaka, So Tazawa and Atsushi Yamamoto. The well-rounded pupil of Dokonjonosuke Mishima is perhaps the best kept secret in Shooto's 132-pound division, and another solid win may make him the most worthy challenger to Hokazono's title.

4. Kenji Osawa (12-6-1)

After dropping a decision loss to Marcos Louro in May, Osawa is back in the saddle already with a rematch against Australian-based Brazilian Daniel Lima scheduled for Sept. 22. The two met in Nov. 2005, in a bout that ended in a disappointing draw. Osawa will now have the opportunity to show two years worth of improvements, as he too has ambitions of fighting in the U.S.

5. Atsushi Yamamoto (10-4-1)

Yamamoto's decision to leave Pancrase, whose smallest weight class is 141 pounds, for pro Shooto where he can compete at his more natural weight of 132 pounds was a fantastic decision. Although he dropped his last bout to Okazaki in May, the bout was both highly entertaining and competitive, and his Feb. win over Takeya Mizugaki showed that this division is where the KID Yamamoto pupil belongs.

6. Ryota Matsune (15-1-1)

After vacating the Shooto world title in Feb. 2005 and spending 18 months on the shelf due to a knee injury, it was hoped 2007 would offer a return to form for "The Shooto Junkie." Then, a week out from his much-anticipated July world title bout with Akitoshi Hokazono, Matsune pulled out due to a broken rib and torn bicep. Matsune is only 25 and has plenty of time to get healed and back into peak form, but this is getting ridiculous.

7. Takeya Mizugaki (6-2-2)

The Shooto 2005 rookie MVP didn't get the win he needed greatly against 2006 rookie ace Masakatsu Ueda last month, but he came away with a draw, and looked fully recovered from a knee injury which plagued him earlier in the year, and showed some sensational defensive wrestling. The 23-year-old Mizugaki still has all the raw tools to one day wear Shooto's world crown.

8. Masakatsu Ueda (5-0-1)

While he wasn't able to get the W against Mizugaki in July, Ueda showed unbelievable cardio and pace, and was able to snag at least one judge's scorecard. It's onward and upward for last year's 132-pound rookie king, whose dominant wrestling and technical ground skills will test any fighter in the division.

9. Miguel Torres (18-1-0)

The most accomplished North American in the weight class, it is a tragedy that despite competing in Shooto Americas events for years and remaining a fixture of the Shooto world rankings, Torres was never able to earn a ticket to Shooto Japan to face the best in the weight class. He reportedly inked a deal with bodogFIGHT in April, where he would be making a more permanent move to 145 pounds, but nothing has materialized yet.

10. Chase Beebe (10-1-0)

A big fish in a small but developing pond, the WEC's 135-pound champ looked fantastic in his grueling 25-minute title win over Eddie Wineland in March. He's reportedly in for another tough assignment Sept. 5. Should he win, there are no excuses for him not facing the best in the class.

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Flyweight

1. Shinichi "BJ" Kojima (8-1-4)

There can be no debate about who rules Shooto's 123-pound division. However, that is not to say that all is rosy for BJ: after the gift of the year in his first title defense against Yasuhiro Urushitani, the champion was less than stellar in his July non-title bout with Yasuhiro Akagi. With two judges having draws on their cards through two rounds, BJ's vigorous ear-boxing from back-control caused one of Akagi's cauliflowers to explode and bleed profusely, prompting a doctor stoppage late in the final frame. BJ's departure from the Abi Ani Combat Club doesn't quite seem like the best idea in hindsight, especially with Mamoru and Urushitani both out for blood.

2. Mamoru Yamaguchi (18-3-3)

The longtime ruler of the 123-pounders, Shooto's afroed ace returned to the ring in June for his first bout since his shocking title loss to BJ last October. Mamoru's potent striking proved far too much for the green-but-always-game Yusei Shimokawa, as the former champ took a lopsided unanimous decision. Mamoru is now set for a Sept. 22 rematch with Yasuhiro Urushitani, the man he defeated to become the first 123-pound king of pro Shooto in Dec. 2003. The winner will likely be the next challenger to BJ's throne.

3. Yasuhiro Urushitani (13-3-4)

Good grief for "Good Lacquer." Urushitani was completely and utterly victimized by the judges in his March title bout with BJ, who inexplicably ruled the fight a split draw after 15 minutes of technical striking domination from Urushitani. One of the most slick and stylish fighters in MMA, Urushitani will have a chance to kill two birds with one stone Sept. 22, as he rematches Mamoru, likely with another title shot hanging in the balance.

4. Masaaki Sugawara (6-1-0)

Masatoshi Abe's upset loss to Yuki Shoujou last month opened the door for new blood to take a jump up in the ranks. Perhaps none of the division's up-and-comers are more deserving than lanky and exciting Sugawara, who sports quality wins over the aforementioned Shoujou, and Toshimichi Akagi, whom he punched out in the first round in June.

5. Yusei Shimokawa (5-3-0)

Numbers can't tell the whole story for Shimokawa. Since '05, he's lost only to BJ and Mamoru, while picking up quality wins over the likes of Yuki Shoujou, Toshimichi Akagi and Yasuhiro Akagi, in one of 2006's most sensational bouts.

Edited August 10, 2007 by crazedfan

[Enter Blue Guy]

YES! Sherdog! The only rankings that have Franklin ahead of Matt Lindland, Aoki at welterweight, AND Jason Lambert ranked top 10! Finally, rankings I can be at ease with.

EDIT: Actually, putting Lambert in top 10 WITH the champions ranked as well, I don't agree with (I'd put him at 12 in that case), but nice to see somebody out there realizing how underrated Lambert is.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy

[ACCBiggz]

They are so-so.

[Enter Blue Guy]

What a tick.... Where the shit is Sakurai?!? Plus Aurelio, minus Mach is facked, man!

Heavyweight, Middleweight, and Welterweight are damn near spot on, IMO. Light Heavy and Lightweight are debatable.

EDIT: Of course all rankings mean shit when you add the opinions to assholes factor.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Enter Blue Guy