411's Official MMA Rankings 04.17.08: Middleweight Rankings

Posted by Dustin James on 04.17.2008

Yes, yes, yes! It is time once again for the MMA staff at 411 to rank the best fighters in the Middleweight division! Not only that, but we also have a preview of this weekend's UFC 83, as well as MMA fighters squaring off against their twins??? What could this possibly mean? You have to read to find out! 411's Dustin James gives you all the juicy details inside......

Welcome, welcome, welcome! It is time once again for the gorgeous staff here at 411mania to rank the best middleweight fighters in MMA! Not only that, but I also have a pretty damn good preview of this weekend's UFC 83 to pimp out for ya. Oh, and did I mention that I'm getting ULTRA-WITTY this week with a new section I like to call "Separated At Birth". What does all this mean? You will have to READ ON to find out! Trust me, it's pretty good this week.........

UFC 83 Preview!



Yes, it's been awhile since I have previewed a fight card for you guys. And since I have been getting emails asking me to write a little more.....I will grant your wish!

-Jonathan Goulet (21-9-0-1) (Wins: 10 KOs, 8 submissions, 3 decisions) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-4) (Wins: 2 KOs, 4 submissions, 5 decisions)

Fact: Hironanka is currently 1-2 in the UFC, both losses coming from Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, the top two contenders for the UFC Welterweight title.

-Brad Morris (8-2) (Wins: 2 KOs, 3 submissions, 3 decisions) vs. Cain Velasquez (2-0) (Wins: 2 KOs)

Fact: This is the UFC debut for both men.

-Rich Clementi (30-12-1) (Wins: 10 KOs, 14 submissions, 6 decisions) vs. Sam Stout (13-3-1) (Wins: 8 KOs, 1 submission, 4 decisions)

Fact: This will be the 5th fight in the UFC for Rich Clementi, since January of 2007!

-Ed Herman (14-4) (Wins: 4 KOs, 9 submissions, 1 decision) vs. Demian Maia (6-0) (Wins: 1 KO, 4 submissions, 1 decision)

Fact: Ed Herman is currently on a 3 fight win streak. He didn't lose at all in 2007 and finished all of his opponents.

-Jason Day (16-5) (Wins: 7 KOs, 8 submissions, 1 decision) vs. Alan Belcher (12-4) (Wins: 7 KOs, 4 submissions, 1 decision)

Fact: Jason Day will be making his UFC debut.

-Joe Doerksen (39-11) (Wins: 5 KOs, 31 submissions, 3 decisions) vs. Jason MacDonald (19-9) (Wins: 2 KOs, 16 submissions, 1 decision)

Fact: These two previously fought each other in UCW back in 2005. MacDonald picked up the win with a rear naked choke in the 4th round.

-Mark Bocek (5-1) (Wins: 1 KO, 3 submissions, 1 decision) vs. Mac Danzig (17-4-1) (Wins: 4 KOs, 9 submissions, 4 decisions)

Fact: This will be Mac Danzig's first fight since winning the Ultimate Fighter season 6.

-Charles McCarthy (10-4) (Wins: 10 submissions) vs. Michael Bisping (14-1) (Wins: 9 KOs, 4 submissions, 1 decision)

Fact: This will be Michael Bisping's first fight since dropping down to the UFC's middleweight division.

-Nate Quarry (9-2) (Wins: 6 KOs, 2 submissions, 1 decision) vs. Kalib Starnes (8-2-1) (Wins: 2 KOs, 5 submissions, 1 decision)

Fact: This will only be Nate Quarry's second fight in two years.

-Travis Lutter (9-4) (Wins: 1 KO, 7 submissions, 1 decision) vs. Rich Franklin (22-3-0-1) (Wins: 11 KOs, 9 submissions, 2 decisions)

Fact: This will be Travis Lutter's first fight since he was unable to make weight for his shot at the UFC middleweight title against Anderson Silva.

-Matt Serra (9-4) (Wins: 1 KO, 4 submissions, 4 decisions) vs. Georges St. Pierre (15-2) (Wins: 6 KOs, 5 submissions, 4 decisions)

Fact: This will be Serra's first fight since upsetting St. Pierre over a year ago.


Separated At Birth???

All this talk now a days about Anderson Silva wanting to box Roy Jones Jr has got me to thinking. What if MMA fighters challenged other sports stars or celebrities to fights? Pro wrestling has celebrities wrestling on occasion, so couldn't MMA have celebrities fight on occasion? Well, I started to think and with that, I put together a list of the fights that I would love to see the most between MMA guys and other celebrities. Why are these the fights that I would love to see the most? Because I just want to get these two guys together to prove once and for all that they are not the same person. Yes, people. Nothing is more frustrating than a look-a-like! So let's get these twins to do battle in a ring as soon as possible!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you.........SEPARATED AT BIRTH:

First off.....

Denis Kang


vs.

Vin Diesel


I mean, c'mon! Can't anybody else see Denis Kang racing Paul Walker or is it just me? Just me? Ok then.

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Next up.....

Frank Trigg


vs.

Kurt Angle


These two look so much alike, that when I googled "Kurt Angle pictures" and the FIRST website I went to had a nice little Kurt Angle photo gallery......with a picture of Frank Trigg thrown in! Don't believe me? Click here and look at the third row down, to the right. If that's not Frank Trigg......then I will quit writing this column now.

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Next up.......

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou


vs.

Mark Henry


Of course, Henry may look like Sokoudjou.....it also doesn't help that it looks like he ate Sokoudjou. Poor fella.

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Next up, we have one that may come as a surprise to some people.......

Forrest Griffin


vs.

A chimpanzee


I mean, c'mon......didn't you people watch the first season of the Ultimate Fighter? Forrest is half chimp!

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And finally, we have one that I don't really agree with. But seeing as I get it all the time, here it is.....

Georges St. Pierre


vs.

ME!


Maybe it's the fact that we both have shaved heads, or the fact that I can do a mean GSP impression. For the record, that picture was taken years ago ladies.....I'm even better looking now!

Ok, enough playing around.......it's time to get serious:


411's MMA Ranking Rules

- If a fighter hasn't fought in a year, he can not be ranked. It's not fair to people who are fighting to not be ranked because a fighter is taking a year off. However, if a fighter schedules a fight he is still eligible for being ranked.

- If you wish to complain about a fighter's ranking in the comments section, then please include an objective reason as to why you don't like the ranking, and include your own set of rankings if you would!

- 411's MMA Rankings are voted on by the staff of 411mania. Therefore, if you don't like where a fighter is ranked you have to hate the 411 MMA staff as a whole. But we can take it, we are men. But remember that some of us are sensitive and don't like being called names like "YAMMA Pit Fighting" fans.


411's Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division

Middleweight Division (185 pounds)


1) Anderson Silva (21-4)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Dan Henderson - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion - March 1, 2008

- vs. Rich Franklin - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 77: Hostile Territory - October 20, 2007

- vs. Nathan Marquardt - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007

- vs. Travis Lutter - Win via submission (triangle choke) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007

- vs. Rich Franklin - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 64: Unstoppable - October 14, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

Comments: Dear. Mr Silva,

Why continue to obsess over a boxing match with Roy Jones Jr? Just continue to dominate your MMA career and don't worry about expanding to a different sport. Remember when Michael Jordan tried baseball? That wasn't pretty. Don't hurt your growing legacy by attempting to box. Just continue to dominate the other UFC's middleweight's until you are forced to change weight classes.

Thanks,
Dustin James

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2) Paulo Filho (16-0)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Chael Sonnen - Win via verbal submission (arm bar) - WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran - December 12, 2007

- vs. Joe Doerksen - Win via TKO (strikes) - WEC 29 - August 5, 2007

- vs. Kazuo Misaki - Win via submission (arm bar) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006

- vs. Ryo Chonan - Win via submission (arm bar) - PRIDE: Bushido 12 - August 26, 2006

- vs. Gregory Bouchelaghem - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Bushido 11 - June 4, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: Filho made some huge news recently when he was forced to pull out of his fight with Chael Sonnen due to Filho entering rehab. Why did he enter rehab? Nobody knows for sure, but one thing can be said. Hopefully Filho will get his life together and continue to improve upon his undefeated streak. Filho is still looking to change weight classes, so that could be something to keep an eye on.

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3) Rich Franklin (22-3-1)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Anderson Silva - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 77: Hostile Territory - October 20, 2007

- vs. Yushin Okami - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 72: Victory - June 16, 2007

- vs. Jason MacDonald - Win via TKO (corner stoppage) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007

-vs. Anderson Silva - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 64: Unstoppable - October 14, 2006

-vs. David Loiseau - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 58: USA vs. Canada - March 4, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Travis Lutter - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2 - April 19, 2008

Comments: Franklin will be looking to start a new winning streak this Saturday night when he faces Travis Lutter at UFC 83. It's no secret that I'm no fan of Lutter's. The Ultimate Fighter season 4 is the only season of the show I have never seen, and it's because I wasn't excited by the "comeback" aspect of the show. Lutter disrespected the UFC by not making weight for his title shot against Anderson Silva, so one hopes that Franklin makes short work of Lutter and sends him off to EliteXC or worse.

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4) Dan Henderson (22-7)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Anderson Silva - Loss via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion - March 1, 2008

- 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

- vs. Kazuo Misaki - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Bushido 12 - August 26, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

Comments: Hendo has still yet to make an announcement regarding his future in the UFC. Will he stay in the middleweight division, or move back up to the light heavyweight division? The ball is in Hendo's court. We are all just waiting for him to schedule a fight now.

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5) Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jeremy Horn - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008

- vs. Anderson Silva - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007

- vs. Dean Lister - Win via decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night 8 - January 25, 2007

- vs. Crafton Wallace - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC: Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 - October 10, 2006

- vs. Joe Doerksen - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 58: USA vs. Canada - March 4, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

Comments: What's next for Nate Marquardt? Will he receive another shot against Anderson Silva or will the UFC make Marquardt get a few more victories before he's considered for another title shot? The UFC's middleweight division is extremely weak, so we may be seeing Marquardt vs. Silva II by year's end.

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6) Yushin Okami (21-4)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Evan Tanner - Win via KO (knee) - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion - March 1, 2008

- vs. Jason MacDonald - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 77: Hostile Territory - October 20, 2007

- vs. Rich Franklin - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 72: Victory - June 16, 2007

- vs. Mike Swick - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007

- vs. Rory Singer - Win via submission (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz II - December 30, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

Comments: Okami right now seems like the most logical challenger to Anderson Silva. It seems like he is the next opponent in line for a shot at Silva, and I'm betting the UFC makes a Silva/Okami fight for sometime in August.

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7) Denis Kang (29-9-1)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama - Loss via KO (punch) - K1 Olympia HERO's 2007 in Korea - October 28, 2007

- vs. Junggyu Choi - Win via decision (unanimous) - Spirit: Martial Challenge - March 11, 2007

- vs. Kazuo Misaki - Loss via decision (split) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006

- vs. Akihiro Gono - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006

- vs. Amar Suloev - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - PRIDE: Bushido 12 - August 26, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Gegard Mousasi - DREAM 2 - April 29, 2008

Comments: Kang will be making his return to MMA after suffering a devestating KO loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama back in October of last year. Kang will be facing Gegard Mousasi. Mousasi is a very underrated fighter with an impressive record of 20-2-1. He is a former PRIDE veteran who is currently riding a 7 fight win streak. He could prove to be a formidable opponent for Kang.

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8) Robbie Lawler (15-4)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Murilo Rua - Win via TKO (strikes) - EliteXC: Uprising - September 15, 2007

- vs. Frank Trigg - Win via KO (strikes) - ICON Sport: Epic - March 31, 2007

- vs. Eduardo Pamplona - Win via TKO - IFL: Atlanta - February 23, 2007

- vs. Joey Villasenor - Win via KO (flying knee) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006

- vs. Jason Miller - Loss via submission (arm triangle) - ICON Sport: Mayhem vs. Lawler - September 2, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Scott Smith - EliteXC on CBS - May 31, 2008

Comments: Robbie Lawler will be returning from injury when he defends his EliteXC middleweight championship against Scott Smith on EliteXC's debut card on CBS. Lawler will have to watch out, as Smith is a good challenger who loves to throw "punches in bunches". Either way, it'll be good to see Lawler fighting again. He's truly underrated in my opinion.

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9) Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Kazuo Misaki - No contest (Akiyama KO'd by illegal kick) - Yarennoka - New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007

- vs. Denis Kang - Win via KO (punch) - K1 Olympia HERO's 2007 in Korea - October 28, 2007

- vs. Kazushi Sakuraba - No contest - K1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!! - December 31, 2006

- vs. Melvin Manhoef - Win via submission (armbar) - K1 Hero's 7 - October 9, 2006

- vs. Kestutis Smirnovas - Win via TKO (strikes) - K1 Hero's 7 - October 9, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament - April 29, 2008

Comments: Akiyama is currently scheduled to be apart of the Middleweight Grand Prix tournament to be held at DREAM 2 on April 29th. Akiyama is easily the favorite to win right now. It should be a not so interesting tournament.

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10) Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Siyar Bahadurzada - Win via submission (guillotine) - World Victory Road: Sengoku - March 5, 2008

- vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama - No contest (Akiyama KO'd by illegal kick) - Yarennoka - New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007

- vs. Frank Trigg - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007

- vs. Denis Kang - Win via decision (split) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006

- vs. Paulo Filho - Loss via submission (arm bar) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

Comments: I have nothing........

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On The Bubble: (On the bubble includes fighters who aren't ranked but still remain a threat in their weight division)




Cung Lee (6-0)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Frank Shamrock - Win via TKO (broken arm) - Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le - March 29, 2008

- vs. Sam Morgan - Win via TKO (liver kick) - Strikeforce - 4 Men Enter, One Man Survives - November 16, 2007

- vs. Tony Fryklund - Win via TKO (strikes) - Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni - June 22, 2007

- vs. Jason Von Flue - Win via TKO (cut) - Strikeforce: Triple Threat - December 8, 2006

- vs. Brian Warren - Win via TKO (strikes) - Strikeforce: Revenge - June 9, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

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Frank Trigg (16-6)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Edwin Dewees - Win via submission (kimura) - HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon - December 15, 2007

- vs. Robbie Lawler - Loss via KO (strikes) - Icon Sport: Epic - March 31, 2007

- vs. Kazuo Misaki - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007

- vs. Jason Miller - Win via TKO (strikes and kicks) - Icon Sport - December 2, 2006

- vs. Carlos Condit - Loss via submission (triangle arm bar) - ROTR 9: Rumble on the Rock 9 - April 21, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

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