411's MMA Rankings 11.01.07: Light Heavyweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 11.01.2007
The latest MMA rankings done, 411 style! Has anybody been able to step up and impress enough of us to take out Rampage? What's this about Dan Henderson fighting at UFC 79? Does the undefeated Lyoto Machida finally crack the Top 10? Plus, a video of Brock Lesnar's MMA debut! Smell the goodness!
Welcome to the latest edition of 411's MMA Rankings. As always, I'm your host, Dustin James. We are ranking the best Light Heavyweights in the World this time around. The last time we ranked the Light Heavyweights was immediately after UFC 76, you know....the one where Shogun & Liddell lost. So with time and another UFC event gone and passed (UFC 77) have our feelings changed since then? Probably not a whole lot, but you will read on anyways because curiosity is a bitch! But first, a few others thing to discuss.
The potential of UFC 79
This show has BIGGEST SHOW EVER traces all over it. First, you have the greatness of Matt Hughes/Matt Serra. That fight is huge just based on their distaste for each other shown every week on The Ultimate Fighter. Then, you have Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva. This fight has a ton of hype. It has been billed as a "dream fight" for awhile now, and it's finally going to happen! Let's hope it doesn't go the way of Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg and completely stink the house. Then again, it's freaking Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva! It's going to be a scrap fest, especially since it's Wanderlei's return to the UFC.
But here's the rumor that gets my interest peaked. Dan Henderson was giving an interview on the Bubba the Love Sponge show and he reportedly said he's in negotiations for a fight possibly at UFC 79. Wow. This already stacked card (also includes the real life hatred of Melvin Guillard & Rich Clementi) could feature Hendo!!!! Hendo said on the show that he might be fighting on the card, and also made mention that it might be at 185 lbs! So, the question arises....who would Hendo face at Middleweight? I personally don't know, but I'd like to recommend a name. Maybe you have heard of him. His name is Anderson Silva. Imagine that, PRIDE Middleweight Champ vs. UFC Middleweight Champ! Plus, Silva vs. Hendo is huge enough, screw the unification! Hell, screw the titles, I just want to see that fight! Bottom line is, UFC 79 is shaping up to be freakin sweet. Even if Hendo/Silva doesn't happen.
Now the reason you clicked on this......
411's Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Quinton Jackson (28-6-1)
Last ranking: 1
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Dan Henderson - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Marvin Eastman - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Notes: Rampage holds onto his top spot......taking all the top votes! How's that for a unanimous #1? Rampage's next contenders name has at least finally become a rumor! The latest one is that the winner of the Bisping/Evans fight at UFC 78 is going to face Rampage for the title. Either way, I believe that either one of those guys would be an overwhelming underdog against Rampage. Why? Because he's Rampage! Bring it on TUF guys!
2) Dan Henderson (22-6)
Last ranking: 2
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Quinton Jackson - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - Win via KO (left hook) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Vitor Belfort - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Notes: Like I said above, Hendo is rumored to be fighting at UFC 79, thus making it the biggest show in UFC history! Especially if he fights at 185 lbs and faces the unstoppable Anderson Silva. Can you imagine the heads exploding of MMA fanatics everywhere if this fight was added to the card? Man, would it be crazy. Either way, Hendo NEEDS to get on this card!
3) Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1-1)
Last ranking: 3
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Dan Henderson - Loss via KO (left hook) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Mirko Cro Cop - Loss via KO (head kick) - PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
- vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute - July 7, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Chuck Liddell - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
Notes: The UFC FINALLY made it official by announcing the fight we all knew was going to happen! Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, yes folks, it's ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! Like I've been spewing all report, the fight is set to happen at UFC 79 and it seems like forever ago that this fight started as a rumor, and is FINALLY going to get settled. Either way, the guy who loses here is fucked. Both fighters have lost 2 fights in a row and to lose 3 in a row.....that's just unacceptable.
4) Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-3)
Last ranking: 4
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Forrest Griffin - Loss via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Alistair Overeem - Win via KO (strikes) - PRIDE 33: Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Notes: Nothing new to report.
5) Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-1)
Last ranking: 5
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Ricardo Arona - Win via KO (punch) - PRIDE 34: Kamikaze - April 8, 2007
- vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE 33 - Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Glover Teixeira - Loss via KO (strikes) - WEC 24 - Full Force - October 12, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Notes: Nothing new to report.
6) Chuck Liddell (20-5)
Last ranking: 6
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Keith Jardine - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Quinton Jackson - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Tito Ortiz - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 66- Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
Notes: See Silva, Wanderlei
7) Forrest Griffin (15-4)
Last ranking: 7
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Mauricio Rua - Win by submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Hector Ramirez - Win by decision (unanimous) - UFC 72: Victory - July 16, 2007
- vs. Keith Jardine - Loss by TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Notes: It was recently announced that Forrest underwent shoulder surgery. It was a problem that Forrest had for awhile and decided it would be the perfect time to go under the knife. I mean, what the hell. The holiday's are coming up! Who doesn't want pain killers for that? I'd expect Forrest to return sometime in April or May. Hell, the guy's on fire and they need to get him back as soon as possible.
8) Keith Jardine (13-3-1)
Last ranking: 8
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Win by decision (split) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Houston Alexander - Loss by KO (punches) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Forrest Griffin - Win by TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Notes: Nothing new to report.
9) Tito Ortiz (15-5-1)
Last ranking: 10
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Rashad Evans - Draw - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
- vs. Ken Shamrock - Win via TKO (punches) - Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3: The Final Chapter - October 10, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Notes: Tito's scheduled rematch with Rashad Evans is off. The UFC announced that Rashad Evans would be facing Michael Bisping at UFC 78 instead. Tito now has to line up another fight and get back in the game because hell, he gets a fight cancelled and moves up ONE spot in the rankings!
10) Rashad Evans (10-0-1)
Last ranking: 9
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Tito Ortiz - Draw - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Sean Salmon - Win via KO (high kick) - UFC Fight Night 8 - January 25, 2007
- vs. Jason Lambert - Win via KO (strikes) - UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn - September 23, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Michael Bisping - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
Notes: Like I mentioned earlier, Evans rematch with Ortiz is off and he will now be facing Michael Bisping. Bisping hasn't looked tremendous in his last few encounters, but Evans bored me to tears in his Ortiz fight as well. I'm bent on who to take here, because hell.......both fighters are still technically undefeated.
On the bubble:
(On the bubble includes fighters who almost cracked the Top 10. These fighters remain serious threats in their current division)
Lyoto Machida (11-0)
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. David Heath - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 70: Nations Collide - April 21, 2007
- vs. Sam Hoger - Win via decision - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Ricardo Arona (13-5)
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Loss via KO (punch) - PRIDE 34: Kamikaze - April 8, 2007
- vs. Alistair Overeem - Win via submission (strikes) - PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - Loss via decision (split) - PRIDE Shockwave 2005 - December 31, 2005
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-3)
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Loss via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Alistair Overeem - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute - July 7, 2006
- vs. Mauricio Rua - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 - June 6, 2005
Houston Alexander (9-1)
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Alessio Sakara - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. Keith Jardine - Win via KO (punch) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Todd Allee - No contest - Extreme Challenge 76 - March 31, 2007
Featured fights:
Shogun Rua vs. Eric Wanderlei - September 6, 2003
Wanderlei Silva vs. Eugene Jackson - April 27, 1999
And a tribute to the UFC's newest signing......Brock Lesnar's MMA debut!
