411's MMA Rankings 12.06.07: Light Heavyweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 12.06.2007
It's time to rank the Light Heavyweights again! Click here to see how your favorites in the UFC fared. Also, huge news on Gina Carano & a new face in the Top 10, which means that somebody is gone! All that and more, inside.......
Greetings all and welcome to the latest edition of 411's Official MMA Rankings! It's that time again....you know, THAT time! That's right, time to rank the Light Heavyweights again. This time around I can guarantee we have some new faces, and of course a lot of familiar faces. But first, we must touch up on a few things......
Gina Carano To Be An American Gladiator
This news is huge to me, why? Because Gina is GORGEOUS.
Mmmmmm yes. But anyways, why is this huge news? Because Gina is 5-0 as an MMA fighter and is about to explode onto the national scene where a lot more people will see how hot and talented she is. Her Gladiator name is going to be "Crush" because her hero growing up was pro wrestler Crush. No, but that would OWN wouldn't it? SHAKA BRAH! In all honesty, here's to Gina taking another step in her career and hopefully she avoids Hulk Hogan because word is......he's single ladies!
Oh, and Gina.....here's my myspace. The balls in your court now......
Now, on with the rankings!
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
Comments: OK Rampage, I've waited long enough. Don't you think it's time to get back in the Octagon and start "whooping that ass" again? I told the UFC once and I'm going to tell them again. Even if you don't think Forrest Griffin should get a title shot, give him one! A Rampage/Forrest fight would sell.....do you have ANY idea how popular Forrest is? Plus, Forrest took out Shogun who was #1 in A LOT of people's minds. Book the fight already! Rampage vs. Forrest......UFC 84 or such.
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:
- vs. Anderson Silva - UFC 82?
Comments: According to Thomas Gerbasi of the UFC, Dan Henderson will be facing the UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva sometime in March. This is a GREAT fight. Anderson Silva has already walked through the rest of the UFC's Middleweight division and needs to take out Hendo next. Will he? Time will tell. I can't wait for this fight......is it March yet?
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
Comments: Here we are folks! The road to Silva/Liddell is paved and we are on the way. Which fighter will avoid 3 straight losses? We will find out December 29th! Who do I think will win? Well, you will just have to wait for the 411 UFC 79 Round table for that little factoid.
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
Comments: It was recently announced that the former #1 Light Heavyweight will be returning to the Octagon in April! That's too long to wait for a Shogun fight. Why can't Shogun just face Rashad Evans in 2 months that way we can actually see if Rashad is for real?
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:
- vs. Lyoto Machida - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
Comments: YES! YES! YES! I was clamoring for the UFC to sign this guy since last May and when it looked like it wasn't going to happen, Zuffa snuck under my nose and signed Sokoudjou! Not only that, they also booked him to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 79 in a few weeks. Here's to hoping Soko can finish Machida in Round 1 and under 2 minutes! (Probably won't happen though)
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
Comments: I think Liddell has the Silva fight in the bag.........
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
Comments: Forrest still resembles a primate. What? The guy is injured......I have nothing new on him!
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
Comments: Nothing new to report on Jardine.
9) Rashad Evans (11-0-1)
Last ranking: 10
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Michael Bisping - Win via decision (split) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Rashad beat fellow TUF winner Michael Bisping last month at UFC 78. Dana White then said that Evans was now a Top 5 Light Heavyweight. So far, every single fighter on this list is a UFC guy, and I don't think you can argue that Evans is better than any of them. Hmmmmmmm. Talented? Yes. Top 5? Not quite. Finish off one or two of the guys ahead of you on this list, or drop weight......then he will crack the Top 5.
10) Thiago Silva (12-0)
Last ranking: Unranked
Last 3 fights:
- vs. Houston Alexander - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Tomasz Drwal - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. James Irvin - Win via TKO (knee injury) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Welcome to the Top 10, Thiago Silva! This guy has been a force since joining the UFC. He is 3-0 in the UFC (this year alone). He made his debut in 2005 and out of 12 fights he has 10 TKO's, 1 submission, and 1 decision. The dude's a house and will be a force to come in months/years.
On the bubble:
(On the bubble includes fighters who almost cracked the Top 10. These fighters remain serious threats in their current division)
Tito Ortiz (15-5-1)
Last ranking: 9
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
Lyoto Machida (11-0)
Last ranking: Unranked
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 ranking: Unranked
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 ranking: Unranked
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
