The 411 MMA Top 5 12.07.09: Week Twenty-Three – Favorite Lightweight Fighters

Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.07.2009

From Clay Guida, Diego Sanchez and BJ Penn to Shinya Aoki, Kenny Florian and Eddie Alvarez, the 411 MMA writers say that these are some of their favorite lightweight fighters! Check out the full column to see what fighters made the list and why!



Welcome:
Welcome back to the MMA Top 5! What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 MMA will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all of these topics rank on people's list, we will create an overall Top 5 list. It's highly non-official and final, like WAMMA.


This week's topic is…



FAVORITE LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHTERS!


Jeremy Lambert

5. Takanori Gomi - Maybe he's not what he once was but he's still one of the best Lightweights of all time and one of my favorites. He has the sprawl and brawl mentality that I love and he's usually involved in very entertaining stand up wars. His fight with Nick Diaz is one of my favorite Lightweight fights of all time. He also as a personality that made him a big star in Japan.

4. Nate Diaz - Like his brother Nick, Nate is a scrapper who is rarely in a dull fight. His style either leads to fun stand up battles or exciting grappling contests. The main thing I like about Nate though is personality because he's a guy who stirs things up. He's not one to take shit and he backs up a lot of the shit he talks. Lets just hope he matures exactly like his brother.

3. Joachim Hansen - I'm a fan of anyone who likes to stand and bang and that's what "Hellboy" does best. He's always looking for that KO and that's what makes him so entertaining. He's fought a handful of the best fighters in the world so you know he's not afraid of competition. Plus any man who just walks away after kneeing their opponent in the head is a great man.

2. BJ Penn - The best Lightweight in the world and certainly one of the most entertaining Lightweights inside and outside the Octagon. We know the skills BJ has when it comes to fighting but I'm a fan of BJ Penn because of the stuff he says leading up to his fights. Can he be a baby after losses? Yes. But he's one of the best at hyping fights and getting fans to hate either him or his opponent. Combine that with his actual fighting skills and Penn becomes can't miss television.

1. Clay Guida - No one should be shocked by this. I named my column after the guy for Christ's sake. He's a ball of energy who never stops fighting and is one of the coolest fighters I've ever talked to. He's not the best fighter and he's not technically sound but he brings 200% to every fight and you've got to kill him to beat him. Plus, win or lose, he's rarely in a boring fight. And how can you not love him singing his own walk in music and then getting slapped by his brother (the cleanest shots Jason Guida will ever land in his MMA career) before he enters the Octagon? He's a man after my own heart.

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Larry Csonka

5. Ben Henderson - Over the last year or so I have become a big fan of Ben Henderson. I will never claim him to be the best lightweight fighter, but I dig his fights, and the crazy Troy Polamalu hair in a frenzy is cool to see. I can't wait to see him vs. Varner.

4. Shinya Aoki - It's all about the wacky pants…

3. Eddie Alvarez - Eddie Alvarez is a very exciting young fighter, and between his Dream work and Bellator run, has solidified himself as a top lightweight. I don't recall being disappointed by an Eddie Alvarez fight, and he is a guy that I wish was in Strikeforce or the UFC so that I could see him more.

2. BJ Penn - He's BJ Penn. When he is motivated and staying in his weight class, the man is simply awesome. Watching BJ Penn is always a pleasure because you just have this feeling that you are watching greatness when you see him. His last four wins over Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian show you just how awesome he is.

1. Clay Guida - Again, this is not the BEST, but favorite lightweights, and for me, it is Clay Guida. Some think he is boring, but the awesome fights with Diego Sanchez and Tyson Griffin are proof that the modern day caveman can deliver exciting fights. He is always working, never gets tired and when he is on a card, I make sure to watch the card just to see him.

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Samer Kadi

5. Joachim Hansen - If you think lightweights don't have knockout power then you need to check out Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen. In my opinion, Hansen is one of the most exciting fighters in the world with a highlight reel that rivals most light heavyweights. His battle with Eddie Alvarez remains one of the greatest lightweight fights ever and his knockouts of Imanari, Uno and Azeredo are a thing of beauty. He's also the master of the "walk away knockout".



4. Shinya Aoki - I used to be a bigger fan of Aoki but his drama queen act inside the ring has started to get on my nerves. With that said, I'm a sucker for submission wizards and Aoki happens to be one of the best. Who can forget his gogoplata win over Joachim Hansen or his "Aokiplata" last year? Watching Aoki on the ground is a pleasure.

3. Donald Cerrone - If you didn't know about Donald Cerrone, you do now after his epic fight of the year with Benson Henderson. His title fight with Jamie Varner earlier this year was fantastic, regardless of the controversial finish. I love fighters who fight well off their backs and Cerrone happens to be one of the best in the division. I still don't understand how Henderson survived the submission onslaught.

2. Kenny Florian - I like Kenny Florian both in and outside the Octagon. He did a fantastic job in the commentating booth on the two occasions where he replaced Joe Rogan, and his work on MMA Live is admirable. The man knows the sport and is a true student of his game. I also love his cerebral approach to fighting. He knows how to pick his spot, possesses some great Muay Thai highlighted by some wicked elbows and a great ground game. His fight with Clay Guida this weekend promises to be an epic one. Which brings me to…

1. Clay Guida - It just amazes me how some people call this man boring. The funny thing is, the naysayers only came out after the Mac Danzig bout, which was admittedly lackluster. To counter that argument, I'll name the following fights. Do you yourself a favor and check them out: Guida-Melendez, Guida-Thomas, Guida-Huerta and of course the recent Guida-Sanchez. You also might want to check out my personal favorite UFC fight of all time, Clay Guida Vs Tyson Griffin.

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Jonathan Solomon

5. Spencer Fisher - How can you not like a guy who loves to send out a few WOOOOOOs? Fisher may never be near the top of the UFC division but he is always fun to watch fight. It seems like he has been around forever and he's one of those strong Miletich fighters so you know the man is tough. WOOOO!

4. Diego Sanchez - Since dropping down to 155, he may look different but he brings the same motor and drive. His unique excitement may only be matched by Clay Guida. In the cage, Sanchez's stand-up has improved dramatically and he is still a great overall wrestler.

3. Shinya Aoki - Certainly, Aoki is one of the most frustrating fighters to watch. However, even though EVERYONE knows what he will try to do, most cannot stop him. His only loss this past year was against a big welterweight in Sakurai. He made Joachim Hansen and Eddie Alvarez submit recently despite the fact both men are great strikers. Let's see him fight Penn and see how well he can do against another godly submission fighter.

2. Clay Guida - Hell yeah. The 27-year old has fought 35 times that we know of and always goes balls to the wall. There is no slow speed when it comes to Guida. He has fought nearly all of the big names in American MMA (except for Penn and Sherk) and has been in at least two fight of the year candidates (2007 vs. Huerta, 2009 vs. Sanchez). If you have any doubts, check out his fight with Sanchez set to music, below.



1. B.J. Penn - The greatest lightweight to ever put on a pair of gloves. Ever since returning to the UFCs lightweight division in 2007, he has been unstoppable. He has also finished each of his four opponents (Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian). Penn is great to watch because he's a legend on the ground and he can box with the best of them. He is truly one of the legends of the sport and we are enjoying his prime right now.

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Daniel Bonnizzio

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ben Henderson - Smooth is right as Benson shows his heart in all his fights and never loses his cool.

BJ Penn - World-class BJJ, some of the greatest technical boxing ever, this champion has it all.


5. Joe Stevenson - Not a world-beater by any means of the term, but "Daddy" just holds a spot in my heart for some reason. Noted for his vicious guillotine, even supposedly nearly submitting Frank Mir with a one-armed guillotine, Stevenson has some highlight finishes, but in a career full of ups and down (recently on an up) I would love to see him eventually make his way back up the lightweight ladder. Maybe even a rematch sometime with the next man?

4. Diego Sanchez - Had he been at lightweight a little longer I would have ranked him higher but the fact stands he's been a lightweight for all of two fights, translating into ten months of time as a 155 pounder. Not quite enough to really mean something. Apparently losing some of his finishing power as well has dropped him down as he should have been able to finish Joe in their fight (though it could be the first-time cut) and although he almost got the KO win over Clay, Clay's chin was just too strong... Wait, maybe it's just poor timing that's not letting him finish opponents? Anyways, Diego's pace and sheer talent nets him here on the list.

3. Kenny Florian - A smart man who does his fair share promoting MMA on ESPN MMA Live. It's great to see him get out and really do stuff to help the sport, and sadly the only reason that he's not higher here is that fact he has lost not once but twice in championship efforts. Besides that, how many times do you see a Ben Stiller clone walking around? Exactly. Despite coming off a depressing submission loss to BJ Penn, that's not stopping him as he takes on perennial motor machine...

2. Clay Guida - In my memory I don't recall ever disliking this man for anything. He has only two speeds: walk, and fight balls out. This guy turns it up to 11 for every fight, and it shows in his fans. The people love him and he loves the people. He never disrespects anyone and is always friendly. Clay's a true fan of the sport just like us, and it's that mentality of being a fan over a fighter that makes him so lovable. Plus, the guy looks like he could be in one of those Geico cavemen commercials with no makeup. How do you not love that?

1. Shinya Aoki - Once this guy gets a grip on you, you are done. Mounted gogoplata, armbars, triangles, neck cranks, the dreaded heel hook, even a standing armlock. This guy is truly a submission genius. While not exactly besting anybody with his K-1 level striking (ha) he makes up for it in spades with his ability to finish fights with spectacular submissions. Plus, the man wears magical submission pants. Bonus points.

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Jeffrey Harris

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Takanori Gomi - I put Gomi as an honorable mention because in his Pride days he was freaking amazing and stunning to watch.


5. Clay Guida - It seems my favorite lightweight fights tend to usually involve Clay Guida. The fights with Griffin, Huerta, and Sanchez were amazing to watch, the Sanchez fight especially for Guida's heart and staying power after taking some ugly shots and knockdowns. Unfortunately for Guida I don't see him becoming a champion in the UFC, but when fans want to see a great fight, Guida almost always brings it.

4. Donald Cerrone - Cerrone's fights this year probably rank among my top 10. His BJJ game is brilliant, but his poor takedown defense and wrestling has cost him the WEC lightweight title on two separate occassions. Still I look forward to seeing Cerrone making another mad run for it and getting a rematch either with Henderson or Varner somewhere down the line.

3. Joe Stevenson - Besides that I just think Stevenson is a cool dude, I really enjoy watching his fights as well. He came off a bad losing streak and has looked better than ever getting two great wins over Nate Diaz and Spencer Fisher. Stevenson looks like he's gone back to the wrestling and using it even more effectively. The way he took down Spencer Fisher and got him in the pocket and transitioned into that crucifix with those brutal elbows on the ground were awesome. Remember MMA fighters, ELBOWS ON THE GROUND ARE LEGAL! Except in Strikeforce.

2. Kenny Florian - Despite Kenny Florian getting shut down twice in title bouts, the dude's been a force to be reckoned with at lightweight. He won me some good money when he beat Huerta and shut Roger "This is a cake walk" Huerta's mouth. The problem is Florian's defeat at the hands of Penn might just show how big the difference between the contenders and the champion Penn is.

1. BJ Penn - Say what you want about him, but BJ Penn is still the champ and has proven himself to be an elite class of fighters in the world. His start this year was rough going up in weight for the rematch with GSP and he got smashed. But he came back strong and answered many of the doubts and critiques hanging over him yet again in the fight with Florian. Often do people bemoan Penn's lack of cardio and weak training, and yet he's proven time and time again in the last two years at lightweight that almost no one can touch him. He didn't have any trouble going into championship rounds with Kenny Florian who could only fruitlessly push Penn against the cage so he wouldn't be destroyed. He soundly beat Joe Stevenson to capture the title, and then took Sean Sherk apart with his boxing. Penn is the real deal folks. He just needs to let go of his grudge with GSP and forget about being welterweight champion again. It's his own fault he is no longer welterweight champion in the first place.

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Dan Plunkett

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Takanori Gomi - Had a great run from 2004-2006.

Roger Huerta - Hope he stays with MMA; has a lot of potential.

Donald Cerrone - Always involved in very exciting fights.


5. Shinya Aoki - Just a lot of fun to watch him work on the ground. He likes to go for flashier submissions (gogoplata, mounted gogoplata), which only endears him further to me. For my money, if anyone ever pulls off a Boston Crab, it'll be Aoki.

4. Diego Sanchez - YES! Diego always fights to win and has an undying confidence in himself that you have to admire. In the cage, he fights with great intensity and never gives up. Now that he's fighting at a weight better suited for him, "The Nightmare" will only get better.

3. Clay Guida - It doesn't matter that his UFC record is only 5-4. Who cares if 6 of those fights went to the scorecards? "The Carpenter" doesn't have boring fights and he doesn't quit. In June, he fought Diego Sanchez and was dominated in the first round. Then in rounds two and three, he took Sanchez down and made it a very close fight. This man is not human.

2. Eddie Alvarez - This man comes to fight. 2008 was Alvarez's breakout year, due to his performance in the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix. In that tournament, Alvarez fought and defeated two top lightweights in Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri, both of which were great fights. The 25-year-old then went on to win the Bellator Lightweight Championship following another good tournament performance.

1. BJ Penn - He's the best. BJ Penn fights are always fun to watch, but they're especially great when he's fighting at his right weight class (155). His ground game is world class, his takedown defense is great, and his boxing is arguably the best in the sport. I think he's a little under appreciated by fans after the GSP rematch, but rest assure, what BJ has accomplished in his career is nothing short of remarkable.

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AND 411's FAVORITE LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHTERS ARE…



5. Eddie Alvarez – 7pts.




4. Kenny Florian – 11pts.




3. Shinya Aoki – 13pts.




2. BJ Penn - 23pts.




1. Clay Guida – 27pts.

Come back next week for another edition of the MMA Top 5~!

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