411's MMA Rankings 5.22.08: Middleweight Rankings
Posted by Dustin James on 05.22.2008
It's time again for 411 to rank the best middleweight fighters in MMA! We all know Anderson Silva is the king of the division, but who are his top challengers? Can anybody take him down? Join 411's Dustin James as he helps break down the possible contenders......
Hey, look it here! It's time once again for 411 to rank the best middleweight fighters in MMA. I know you are excited. Why? Because that middleweight division is just so damn exciting! The last time we were here Anderson Silva was king of the division. Oh wait, he's been the king of the division for the better part of 2 years now. But the big question remains. Is there anybody who can step up and beat him? We shall take a look, but first......
Xbox360 Update
It's back! I purchased Grand Theft Auto 4 the day I got it back and started beating some online ass. I was extremely inebriated during my first online game and I was flabbergasted when I won. Unfortunately I haven't really been able to luster up that magic too much as it seems some people on that game know where every sniper rifle is, as well as the best hiding spots. We call those people "insiders" where I'm from, as it seems they love the inside of their house. By the way, my name is "D Double Deezy" on Xbox Live. I'm only on for about an hour a night, because there are only so many racial slurs a guy can handle, but you may catch me on. I'm one of those "outsiders" who has one of those job things so my time is limited!
UFC 84 Preview!
Yes, another weekend of great UFC fights is coming up. You know what that means. Lots of people will be drunk, money will be lost, and fighters will be fired. There are a ton of UFC debuts as well as plenty of great fights on this card. It's a card that I personally love and a few of my buddies will be attending live (lucky bitches). The only thing I ask of them is that they please bring me back a piece of Sean Sherk's neck after Penn rips it off his head (one can only wish). Well, here's my preview for this weekend's huge UFC 84 card.......
Fact: This will be Shane Carwin's UFC debut. Carwin holds a TKO victory over "Justice" on American Gladiators.
-Dong Hyun Kim (9-1-1) (Wins: 5 KOs, 1 submission, 3 decisions) vs. Jason Tan (5-2) (Wins: 1 KO, 2 submissions, 2 decisions)
Fact: This will be Dong Hyun Kim's UFC debut. He hasn't lost since his debut back in 2004 which was via unanimous decision to Young Choi.
-Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2) (Wins: 6 KOs, 1 submission, 1 decision, 1 other) vs. Jon Koppenhaver (5-1) (Wins: 4 KOs, 1 submission)
Fact: Yoshiyuki Yoshida is making his UFC debut here. He is currently riding an 8 fight win streak.
-Rich Clementi (31-12-1) (Wins: 10 KOs, 14 submissions, 7 decisions) vs. Terry Etim (10-1) (Wins: 1 KO, 9 submissions)
Fact: Etim's only professional loss is against Gleison Tibau at UFC 75. Clementi is on a 5 fight win streak, but has now fought 7 times since the beginning of 2007.
Fact: Both fighters last loss comes at the hands of the undefeated Lyoto Machida, who also happens to be fighting on this card. Nakamura tested positive for marijuana after his last fight.
Fact: Both fighters last fights were against Chuck Liddell. Jardine was victorious via decision over Liddell, Silva lost via decision to Liddell. Silva is currently on a 3 fight losing streak.
-BJ Penn (12-4-1) (Wins: 4 KOs, 5 submissions, 3 decisions) vs. Sean Sherk (32-2-1) (Wins: 9 KOs, 12 submissions, 11 decisions)
Fact: BJ Penn is currently on a 2 fight win streak, while Sean Sherk is on a 3 fight win streak. Both fighters fought Georges St. Pierre back in 2006 and lost. Penn lost via split decision, while Sherk lost via TKO.
OK, on with business........
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 "NHL fans".
411's Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Anderson Silva (21-4)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: April 14, 1975
Currently Fighting With: UFC
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: The big rumor going around is that an Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami fight is all but set in stone, it's just a matter of when the UFC is going to announce it. As most of you know, Okami is the last guy to defeat Anderson Silva and he did so back in 2006. Silva was hit with a DQ after hitting Okami with a vicious illegal kick. This is a rematch that I personally want to see because when it comes to the UFC's middleweight division.....there isn't a whole lot of options for Silva at this point.
2) Paulo Filho (16-0)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: May 24, 1978
Currently Fighting With: WEC
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: Not much new on Filho.......
3) Rich Franklin (23-3)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: October 5, 1974
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Travis Lutter - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2 - April 19, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson. Will it happen? Will the UFC book this "dream fight" and cause an explosion of MMA fanatics heads to burst nationwide? I don't have to go into significant detail as to why Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin could be considered a "dream fight". The only question becomes, what happens if Franklin is victorious over Hendo? Does he still consider moving up to light heavyweight? Or will Franklin try and see if somebody like Okami can beat Silva so Franklin has a shot at the UFC middleweight title again? Interesting times for Ace......
4) Dan Henderson (22-7)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: August 24, 1970
Currently Fighting With: UFC
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: Basically what I wrote for Rich Franklin, just move down here into Hendo's name.......
5) Matt Lindland (20-5)
Height: 6'0
Birthday: May 17, 1970
Currently Fighting With: Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Fedor Emelianenko - Loss via submission (arm bar) - BodogFight: Clash of the Nations - April 14, 2007
- vs. Carlos Newton - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - IFL: Houston - February 2, 2007
- vs. Jeremy Horn - Win via TKO (strikes) - IFL: Portland - September 9, 2006
- vs. Quinton Jackson - Loss via decision (split) - WFA: King of the Streets - July 22, 2006
- vs. Mike Van Arsdale - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - Raze MMA: Fight Night - April 29, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Fabio Nascimento - Affliction Debut Show - July 19, 2008
Comments: Welcome back to the middleweight rankings, Matt "The Law" Lindland! Our rules are, if you haven't fought in over a year you are ineligible to be ranked. However, if you schedule a fight....you are eligible again. That's exactly what Lindland has done. After months of rumors about where Lindland was going to fight, he came out and announced that he will make his return to MMA when he fights Fabio Nascimento at the debut show for the new Affliction promotion. All I can say is that it will be FANTASTIC to see Lindland fighting again. It's been waaaayyyy too long.
6) Yushin Okami (21-4)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: July 21, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
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: Like I mentioned earlier when I was talking about Anderson Silva, the latest rumors are that Okami/Silva is close to being finalized. It makes sense as Okami is the last fighter with a victory over Silva, but for some reason it doesn't seem like a big marquee fight that the UFC wants to bank a PPV on. We shall see I suppose.
7) Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: April 20, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
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:
- vs. Thales Leites - UFC 85 - June 7, 2008
Comments: Nate Marquardt caught a break recently when his upcoming fight with Thales Leites was promoted to the main card of UFC 85 due to the injury of James Irvin. This fight of course is NOT final seeing as UFC 85 is cursed. Who knows what can happen by the time this show arrives?
8) Robbie Lawler (15-4)
Height: 5'11
Currently Fighting With: EliteXC
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: We are just days away from Robbie Lawler's return to the ranks of EliteXC. Lawler will be facing Scott Smith on EliteXC's debut on CBS. This should be a great slug fest and one fight that I'm dying to see. It's been awhile since we have seen Lawler and it will be nice to see if he his injury has caused him to slow down at all.
9) Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1)
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
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:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Akiyama was forced to pull out of the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix tournament due to a broken nose. That's too bad as he was clearly one of the favorites to win the tournament.
10) Jason Miller (21-5)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: December 24, 1980
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Katsuyori Shibata - Win via TKO (punches) - DREAM 3 - May 11, 2008
- vs. Tim Kennedy - Win via decision (unanimous) - HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon - December 15, 2007
- vs. Hiromitsu Miura - Win via decision (unanimous) - WEC 27: Las Vegas - May 12, 2007
- vs. Hector Urbina - Win via TKO (punches) - Icon Sport: Epic - March 31, 2007
- vs. Frank Trigg - Loss via TKO - Icon Sport: Mayhem vs. Trigg - December 1, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
-Currently unknown
Comments: Jason Miller makes his debut into the top 10 middleweight rankings here on 411mania, no doubt due to a very impressive win against Shibata at DREAM 3. Where does Miller go now? Who knows. But one thing is for sure, he will be here to entertain us.
On The Bubble: (On the bubble includes fighters who aren't ranked but still remain a threat in their weight division. They are ranked in no particular order)
Cung Lee (6-0)
Currently Fighting With: Strikeforce
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
Frank Trigg (16-6)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: May 7, 1972
Currently Fighting With: Free agent
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
Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: April 25, 1976
Currently Fighting With: World Victory Road
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
Gegard Mousasi (21-2-1)
Height: 6'0
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Denis Kang - Win via submission (triangle choke) - DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Opening Round - April 29, 2008
- vs. Steve Mensing - Win via KO - M-1: Slamm - March 2, 2008
- vs. Evangelista Santos - Win via TKO - HCF: Destiny - February 1, 2008
- vs. Damir Mirenic - Win via TKO - HCF: Title Wave - October 19, 2007
- vs. Kyacey Uscola - Win via TKO - BodogFight: Vancouver - August 25, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- 2nd Round of DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix
Denis Kang (29-10-1)
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gegard Mousasi - Loss via submission (triangle choke) - DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round - April 29, 2008
- 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
