The 411 Mixed Martial Arts Top 10 09.20.06: Part One

Posted by Caleb Newby on 09.20.2006

Check out inaugural edition of the official 411 Top 10 MMA fighters in the world by weight class with commentary on each fighter. Today Lightweight and Welterweight…

Welcome to the first ever 411 MMA Top 10 rankings. I am your host, organizer, and writer of The Tap-Out here at 411, Caleb Newby. This edition we will have Lightweight and Welterweights. Check back tomorrow for Middleweights through Heavyweights.

Let me explain how this works before we get to the rankings. A panel of six experts ranks their top 10 fighters per weight class, heavyweight through lightweight. A first place vote gets the fighter ten points, second place nine and so on to where a tenth place vote equals one point. From there it's just simple adding the totals and ranking the fighters by points.

Also with each fighter you will find their record over their past 10 bouts, their record against fellow top 10 fighters in their weight class within those past 10 fights, their next opponent (if known) as well as a write up on the fighter by one of our panel. Speaking of the panel, they are all associated with 411's past or present and avid MMA followers. And with one exception, they've all won a prestigious 411 Fan Forums Pick'em Title. Here they are followed by the weight division they are writing on:

Caleb Newby: Host and organizer
Ryan Mancuso: Lightweights
Pete Forster: Welterweights
Brad Jennette: Middleweights
Jon Hartley: Light-Heavyweights
Michael Huckaby: Heavyweights

Send any feedback my way and I'll be sure to pass it on to the boys. Now let's get to it!

LIGHTWEIGHT TOP 10

by Ryan Mancuso


1. Takanori Gomi (3 first place votes)

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 3-1-0
Next opponent: Unannounced, November 5th

The number one ranking goes to PRIDE Lightweight Champion Takanori Gomi. Despite his loss to Marcus Aurelio last April, Gomi still holds onto the top spot in the rankings. The list of opponents that Gomi had defeated during his PRIDE career is very impressive and worthy of a number 1 ranking. The list includes Hayato Sakurai, Rumina Sato, Dokonjonsuke Mishima, Ralph Gracie (in 6 seconds), Luiz Azeredo (twice) and Jadson Costa. It looks like the dominant Gomi is back after his victory over David Baron at the last Bushido show. Gomi has a lot of fighters who want a shot at him. There are rematches with Marcus Aurelio, Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri along with new fights in Mitsuhiro Ishida and Gilbert Melendez.


2. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Last 10 fights: 8-1-1
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 2-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The number two ranking goes to SHOOTO Welterweight Champion (which is their version of the 155 pound weight class) Tatsuya Kawajiri. Kawajiri is a top level lightweight, and he might be the one guy whom Gomi would not want to face at this moment. I say that because Kawajiri has been 2 for 2 in avenging losses. Kawajiri is only man to have defeated Vitor Ribeiro. He didn't just defeat Ribeiro, but he stopped him too. Gomi is the only loss on Kawajiri's record that has not been rematched. Some other names that Kawajiri has defeated include Yves Edwards and Luiz Firmino. Besides Gomi, the most anticipated fight for Kawajiri is a rematch with Joachim Hansen. These two men met at a big SHOOTO event this past February, but ended very quickly when Hansen was DQ'ed for using a low blow and Kawajiri couldn't continue the fight.


3. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (3 first place votes)

Last 10 fights: 10-0-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 1-0-0
Next opponent: TBA

The number three ranking goes to K-1 HEROS Champion Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. Kid has been successful for most of his MMA career with victories over guys like Genki Sudo, Royler Gracie, Caol Uno and Ian Schaffa. There is some controversy over Kid being in the rankings at all. Recently, Kid announced that he was giving up MMA to pursue his dream of going to the Olympics and compete in freestyle wrestling. I think he should still be on the rankings because he did fight this past May. It has been 5 months since he last fought, but some fighters remain inactive that long and has no effect on their rank. My feeling is that he should only be removed from the rankings if he doesn't fight at all for the rest of the year.


T4. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 2-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The number four ranking goes to Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro. He is the best lightweight that isn't signed to UFC, PRIDE or K-1. I hope one of those organizations does pick him up soon. He has defeated some great fighters like Joachim Hansen, Ivan Menjivar, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Mitsuhiro Ishida. As mentioned earlier, his only loss was to Kawajiri in December 2004. The future is definitely bright for Ribeiro, but one of those major organizations needs to sign him up. Otherwise, his rank might drop real soon.


T4. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai

Last 10 fights: 7-3-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 2-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The fourth ranking is a tie between Hayato "Mach" Sakurai and Vitor Ribeiro. Ever since Sakurai dropped down to lightweight, there has been new life in his amazing career. He has beaten some impressive fighters in his career that include, Frank Trigg, Caol Uno, Luiz Azeredo, Shinya Aoki, Jens Pulver and Joachim Hansen. Despite losing to Gomi at the New Year's Eve show, Sakurai continues his winning ways at the last two Bushido shows and always a threat to the top fighters in the division. It is difficult to tell Sakurai's immediate future. Will he have rematches with Gomi or Hansen, or will he start fighting guys from the T-Blood camp in Kawajiri and Ishida.


6. Mitsuhiro Ishida

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 1-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

Mitsuhiro Ishida made big waves when he convincingly defeated Marcus Aurelio at the Bushido show in June. He is Kawajiri's wrestling coach, but managed to transfer his wrestling into a very promising MMA career. Ishida is currently on a 7 fight winning streak with his last loss being to Vitor Riberio via decision in July 2004. The future is bright for Ishida as his name is on the list for possible challengers to Gomi's PRIDE Lightweight Title.


7. Joachim Hansen

Last 10 fights: 8-2-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 0-2-0
Next opponent: TBA

The seventh ranked fighter is Joachim Hansen. Hansen has the most dangerous knee attack in the lightweight division. He has defeated some big names like Rumina Sato, Yves Edwards, Luiz Azeredo and Caol Uno. He was the first man to ever defeat Takanori Gomi. Hansen hasn't fought since the Bushido show last April against Azeredo. That period of inactivity may have dropped him a few rankings.

Hansen's future is full with possible rematches against Gomi, Sakurai and Kawajiri. I think it would be cool if UFC could make a deal with Hansen to fight Yves Edwards in a rematch from their great fight at Bushido 9, but I am doubtful that will ever happen.


8. Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio

Last 10 fights: 8-2-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 1-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The eighth ranked fighter is Marcus Aurelio. He made huge waves in the lightweight division when he choked out Takanori Gomi this past April. Even without the Gomi victory, he is very good and worthy of a top ten ranking. He won the ZST Grand Prix in January 2004 with victories over Masakazu Imanari, Remigijus Morkevicius and Rich Clementi in one night. His ranking took a hit with his loss to Ishida in June, but Aurelio stays strong in the top 10.

It is hard to tell what the future lies for him. There has to be a rematch with Gomi. If there is a rematch with Gomi and he loses, then who knows what else would be in store for Aurelio. With UFC brining back the lightweight division, Aurelio would be a good sign for them and show that they are serious about the division.


9. Genki "Neo-Samurai" Sudo

Last 10 fights: 8-2-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 0-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The very charismatic and talented Genki Sudo takes the ninth spot. Sudo has victories over Royler Gracie, Kazuyuki Miyata and Hiroyuki Takaya. He has even submitted fighters bigger than him like middleweight Nathan Marquardt and super heavyweight Butterbean. While there is controversy over an early stoppage, but the loss to Kid Yamamoto does count in the records. Even though he was fighting with an injury at the March HEROS show, but he did have difficulty in his victory against Ole Laursen. Along with MMA inactivity, those two fights hurt his rankings.

Genki's MMA future is hard to tell because he isn't in the 155 pound Grand Prix for K-1 HEROS. With Kid leaving MMA for the Olympics, a rematch between the two is not possible. He also recently lost to Ian Schaffa under K-1 rules.


10. Jens "Little Evil" Pulver

Last 10 fights: 7-3-0
Record vs. 411 LW top 10: 0-1-0
Next opponent: vs. Joe Lauzon

The tenth rank goes to Jens "Little Evil" Pulver. The only Lightweight champion in UFC's history rounds out the list. Jens has some impressive victories over Ultimate Fighter 2 Welterweight winner Joe Stevenson, Dennis Hallman (who defeated Matt Hughes twice by submission in 20 seconds years ago), Caol Uno and BJ Penn. However, Pulver's victory over Penn in January 2002 was his last win over a top 10 fighter. After leaving the UFC as champion, he tried his hand in pro boxing and fought in smaller groups like SHOOTO. Pulver went to PRIDE, but suffered devastating losses to Gomi and Sakurai.

It seems the future is bright for Pulver. He is back in the UFC and seems to be one of the featured attractions to the revived Lightweight division. Maybe Pulver's return to the UFC will see him once again become a top level lightweight in the world.

WELTERWEIGHT TOP 10

by Pete Forster


1. Matt Hughes (6 first place votes)

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 2-1-0
Next opponent: vs. #3 B.J. Penn, September 23rd

Matt Hughes has been called the most dominant welterweight of all times by many people over the past few years and it's a moniker few would argue with. Hughes has made the change from a wrestling machine to a complete mixed martial artist since he started his career. He is known mainly for his ground and pound and highlight reel slams. Hughes list of victims include such names as Frank Trigg, Carlos Newton and Georges St Pierre.

At UFC 63 Hughes will step into the ring with the only man to ever derail his otherwise perfect UFC record in B.J. Penn. Penn defeated Hughes for the welterweight title back in 2004 via a rear naked choke. Many people speculate that Hughes downfall in that fight was due to his own cockiness and not seeing Penn as a legitimate threat that had never fought at 170 until that point. No one can be sure who will win the fight at UFC 63 but what we can all be sure of is that Hughes won't take Penn lightly again. If Hughes wins this match he will be unquestionably the greatest welterweight of all times, yet in a division that contains young talents such as George St Pierre and Diego Sanchez Hughes still has plenty of challenges to face in his career ahead.


2. Georges "Rush" St. Pierre

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 3-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

George St Pierre is a wrestling/Jiu Jitsu stylist from Quebec. Much like Matt Hughes, St. Pierre's record reads like a who's who in the 170 class in MMA with names like Jason Miller, Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg, Karo Parisyan and even B.J. Penn. With that record it's no wonder many fans believe that Pierre might be the man to finally take the belt away from Matt Hughes for good.

St. Pierre was due to face Matt Hughes at UFC 63 in a rematch from UFC 50 which saw Hughes defeat St Pierre with a beautiful Kimura counter to armbar at the end of the first round. St. Pierre has said that he wasn't ready for Hughes at that point but feels his time is now. Unfortunately a groin injury has forced him to pull out of UFC 63 however he should be next in line to face the winner of the Penn vs. Hughes rematch.


T3. "The Prodigy" BJ Penn

Last 10 fights: 7-2-1
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 1-1-0
Next opponent: vs. #1 Matt Hughes, September 23rd

BJ Penn is arguably the most naturally talented fighter in all of MMA. His nickname of "The Prodigy" didn't come from nowhere like some. Penn gained his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in under four years, which is an amazing accomplishment when the average time it takes most people is 10 to 15 years. He was the first none Brazilian to win a gold medal in the black belt division of the Mundials held in Rio De Janeiro in 2000. When Penn made his way into the MMA world he ran through his opponents at 155 including Caol Uno, Joey Gilbert and TUF 4's Matt Serra and Din Thomas, losing only to Jens Pulver by split decision. Outside of the UFC Penn fought and defeated Japanese legend Takanori Gomi in his brother's Rumble on the Rock promotion before returning to the UFC and beating Matt Hughes in what is undoubtedly the most talked about match of his career. Penn left the UFC after that match following contract disputes but continued to fight in Japan and Hawaii. This year he returned to the UFC but was defeated by Georges St Pierre in a controversial bout.

Penn will try to go two for two against Matt Hughes at UFC 63, some people question Penn's heart after reports that he's given up on strict training and he appeared to gas a little during the second two rounds of the St. Pierre fight. Ironically it could be Penn taking Hughes too lightly in this match after Hughes took Penn lightly the first time. Upon finding out he was to face Matt Hughes, Penn said "I just can't wait to be a world champion again". The MMA world would sure like to know if he can be.


T3. "The Nightmare" Diego Sanchez

Last 10 fights: 10-0-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 1-0-0
Next opponent: vs. TBA

TUF 1 winner Sanchez seems to be the guy the internet loves to hate. If any other mixed martial artist had come out of King of the Cage as their undefeated champion then gone on to win his next five fights in the UFC (including two match of the year candidates with Nick Diaz and Karo Parisyan) he would be the darling of the internet. However, for whatever reason be it his attitude or the fact he was on a reality show, he never seems to catch a break on this big old world wide web. His answer? Just keep on winning.

Love him or hate him Sanchez is a force to be reckoned with at 170, his next fight will possibly be against the loser of Hughes vs. Penn at which point he will have his chance to silence his critics for good. Without a doubt at 24 years old Sanchez has been the success story of TUF so far. Will he be their first champion? Time will tell.


5. Karo Parisyan

Last 10 fights: 8-2-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 0-2-0
Next opponent: TBA

Karo Parisyan is quite possibly the most successful judoka in MMA. His amazing throws make him a very exciting fighter to watch and he holds wins over TUF 4 members Matt Serra, Chris Lytle and Shonie Carter among others. Karo was scheduled to face Matt Hughes for the title at UFC 56, unfortunately injury forced him out of the bout and with the return of B.J. Penn coupled with the meteoric rise of Georges St Pierre, Parisyan has been unable to get back to his number one contenders position. His last fight with Diego Sanchez was a match of the year candidate although Karo seemed to loose his steam in the third round which allowed Sanchez to get the nod.

Parisyan is at a crossroads in his career at the moment. Whether or not he can bounce back and climb back to the top of the welterweight division remains to be seen. It won't be an easy job with the competition that's there at the moment, but with Karos unorthodox but exciting style chances are he'll be fun to watch either way.


6. Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk

Last 10 fights: 9-1-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 0-1-0
Next opponent: vs. Kenny Florian, October 14th

Sean Sherk is a hugely talented wrestler whose only two losses have been at the hands of Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes (who he took to a five round decision). For a good while he was considered the most talented man in MMA without a Pride or UFC contract. Standing at only 5'6 Sherk has dominated most of his opponents but has never quite made it to the big prize.

In theory this should be Sherk's first and last entry into the welterweight rankings here at 411. His next fight will be at 155 for the UFC lightweight title against Kenny Florian. However, because he is yet to fight there we felt he should be ranked at welterweight for now. Sherk is expected to be the man at 155 and I don't doubt that he will be. It will be interesting to see what the drop in weight has done to Sherk who has always had one of the more muscular bodies at 170. Plenty of challenges lie ahead for "The Muscle Shark" at 155.


T7. Jon Fitch

Last 10 fights: 10-0-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 1-0-0
Next opponent: vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka, October 14th

Jon Fitch is the dark horse of the UFC welterweight division, with wins in the UFC over Josh Burkman, Brock Larson and Theigo Alves and is undefeated in MMA since joining the American kickboxing academy.

Fitch's future is uncertain, for all of his success he is still a relative unknown to the mainstream fans, which could see him lost in the shuffle in the UFC's stacked welterweight division. He is rumored to be fighting at UFC 64 against Kuniyoshi Hironaka. Hopefully if Fitch can secure the win he can continue to make his way up the welterweight ranks.


T7. Jake Shields

Last 10 fights: 8-1-1
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 0-0-0
Next opponent: TBA

Cesar Gracie student Jake Shields is the highest ranked welterweight here to have never fought in the UFC, his biggest success so far has been winning the Rumble on the Rock four man tournament in April this year which also featured Frank Trigg, Steve Berger, and Carlos Condit.

Shields should end up in the UFC sooner rather than later and is another real talent to look out for. While he is talented some question how exciting a fighter he is which may get in his way in a division so spoilt for choice, but if he keeps racking up those wins the UFC will be forced to take notice soon enough before Pride or one of the upstart promotions gets there first.


9. Shinya Aoki

Last 10 fights: 6-2-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 0-0-0
Next opponent: TBA

Aoki is best known for his accomplishments in Japan in shooto events although he made his Pride debut at Bushido 12 defeating Jason black via triangle choke in the first round.

Aoki is a talented guy who would do well in the states if he ever decided to venture this way, however it's more likely he'll stay in Japan at this point. His next opponent may well be Shigetoshi Iwase after the controversy of their last fight which ended with a DQ after a low blow.


10. Josh Burkman

Last 10 fights: 7-3-0
Record vs. 411 WW top 10: 0-1-0
Next opponent: TBA

The second TUFer to make it onto the top 10 rankings Josh Burkman is a solid welterweight competitor who first made his name in the UFC for leaving the Ultimate fighter house after breaking his arm in a fight with Melvin Gillard (a fight which Burkman won). Since then Burkman has notched up impressive wins over Sammy Morgan, Drew Fickett and Josh Neer, with one loss to Jon Fitch. Before entering the UFC Burkman lost a match with Jeremy horn which became famous because after the bell had rung, the usual "nice guy" Horn actually spat on Burkman as he lay unconcuiss on the Mat, Horn later claimed this was a reaction to comments Burkman had made about a female friend of his before the bout.

Josh Burkman is a talented fighter, he has made it no secret that he would like to face Deigo Sanchez to see who the best TUF welterweight is, however at this point he will probably take a gatekeeper roll for the time being. If Burkman can continue to improve and fight the way he has been though I fully expect him to be in this top 10 for some time to come.


That will do it for today. Tomorrow we move up in weight class!