411's MMA Rankings 6.19.08: Pound For Pound Rankings
Posted by Dustin James on 06.19.2008
It's time again for 411's Dustin James to let you know who the best pound for pound fighters in MMA are! Is it possible GSP has taken Anderson Silva's top spot? Where do Fedor, Rampage, and BJ Penn land? All that and more in the latest edition of 411's MMA rankings........
Yes, it's that time again. Time for 411's most vicious AND delicious (lookin at you ladies) personality, Dustin James to help guide you along as we bring you the staff of 411's TOP POUND FOR POUND BEST FIGHTERS IN MMA! How's that for some enthusiasm? Is there any possible way that GSP has taken the top spot from Anderson Silva? Where does Fedor land in the rankings? What about BJ Penn? So many questions.......let's get to the good stuff!
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. The rule also applies to specific divisions. If a fighter hasn't fought in a weight division in a year he is no longer eligible to be ranked. 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 remember "if u rite lik thiss" then your opinion doesn't matter.
- 411's MMA Rankings are voted on by the MMA staff of 411mania. So if you are an MMA fighter and hate where you are ranked, beating just me up would be unnecessary. You would have to beat us all up, and when we are all together.....we could probably take a mentally retarded 6 year old girl.
411's MMA Rankings
Pound For Pound
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:
- vs. James Irvin - UFC Fight Night 14 - July 19, 2008
Comments: Breaking news into the Mania's control center. Apparently Anderson Silva is going to be making his light heavyweight debut at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19th. That's right UFC. Just bury that middleweight division even more. I understand Silva wanting to fight at light heavyweight since he has dominated the UFC's middleweight division, but seeing as "most" big-time UFC fighters fight 2-3 times a year, the title will be defended on a less regular basis. We may only see one UFC middleweight title defense per year. Are you happy with that? Oh, and James Irvin? Sorry, dude. Bad draw.
2) Georges St. Pierre (16-2)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: May 19, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Matt Serra - Win via TKO (knees to body) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II - April 19, 2008
- vs. Matt Hughes - Win via verbal submission (arm bar) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- vs. Josh Koscheck - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Matt Serra - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Matt Hughes - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Jon Fitch - UFC 87 - August 9, 2008
Comments: There are rumors going around that BJ Penn may want a rematch with GSP. I could see that fight happening again, but GSP has some title shots he needs to hand out first. Thiago Alves deserves a title shot, but that's only if he can make weight of course.
3) Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)
Height: 6'0
Weight: 233
Currently fighting with: Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Hong Man Choi - Win via submission (arm bar) - Yarennoka - New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Matt Lindland - Win via submission (arm bar) - BodogFight: Clash of the Nations - April 14, 2007
- vs. Mark Hunt - Win via submission (kimura) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Mark Coleman - Win via submission (arm bar) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006
- vs. Wagner da Conceicao Martins - Win via submission (punches) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2005 -
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Affliction Debut Show - July 19, 2008
Comments: It looks like Fedor is not only going to get a shot at Tim Sylvia in July, but a shot at the brand new WAMMA world heavyweight championship belt. Can Fedor add another title to his building legacy?
4) Quinton Jackson (29-6)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: June 20, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 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
- vs. Matt Lindland - Win via decision (split) - WFA - King of the Streets - July 22, 2006
- vs. Dong Sik Yoon - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE 31: Dreamers - February 26, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Forrest Griffin - UFC 86: "Jackson vs. Griffin" - July 5, 2008
Comments: I can't really say anything about Rampage right now, but by the time you read this you will have found out who has been kicked off of the Ultimate Fighter. What I can tell you is this.......it's NOT Rampage.
5) B.J. Penn (13-4-1)
Height: 5'9
Birthday: December 13, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Sean Sherk - Win via TKO (knees and punches) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Joe Stevenson - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 80: Rapid Fire - January 19, 2008
- vs. Jens Pulver - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale - June 6, 2007
- vs. Matt Hughes - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn - September 23, 2006
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 58: USA vs. Canada - March 4, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Nothing new to say on BJ that I didn't cover last week.....
6) Urijah Faber (21-1)
Height: 5'6
Birthday: May 14, 1979
Currently Fighting With: WEC
Last 5 Fights:
- vs. Jens Pulver - Win via decision (unanimous) - WEC 34: Sacramento - June 1, 2008
- vs. Jeff Curran - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - WEC 31 - Faber vs. Curran - December 12, 2007
- vs. Chance Farrar - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - WEC 28 - WrekCage - June 3, 2007
- vs. Dominic Cruz - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - WEC 26 - Las Vegas - March 24, 2007
- vs. Joe Pearson - Win via submission (strikes) - WEC 25 - Las Vegas - January 20, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Well, Faber was able to pull it off. He was able to defeat the undefeated (at featherweight level) Jens Pulver via decision at WEC 34. What's next for Faber is anyones guess, but I'm sure a rematch with Pulver will happen down the road considering Jens pulls off a few W's in the WEC.
7) Miguel Torres (34-1)
Height: 5'9
Birthday: January 18, 1981
Currently Fighting With: WEC
Last 5 Fights:
- vs. Yoshiro Maeda - Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) - WEC 34: Sacramento - June 1, 2008
- vs. Chase Beebe - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - WEC 32: Albuquerque - February 13, 2008
- vs. Jeff Bedard - Win via submission (triangle choke) - WEC 30: Las Vegas - September 5, 2007
- vs. Darius Turcinskas - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - IMMAC 2: Attack - April 21, 2007
- vs. Charles Wilson - Win via submission (triangle choke) - TFC 7 - February 10, 2007
Comments: What? You want some kind of reasoning for Miguel Torres' place here? How about the fact that he is 34-1 as a pro. Oh, and did you SEE that fight at WEC 34? No? Then what the hell am I still doing talking to you?
8) Takanori Gomi (28-3)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: September 22, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Duane Ludwig - Win via TKO (cut) - World Victory Road - Sengoku - March 5, 2008
- vs. Nick Diaz - No contest (originally lost via submission) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Marcus Aurelio - Win via decision (split) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006
- vs. David Baron - Win via decision (split) - PRIDE: Bushido 12 - August 26, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. To Be Announced - Sengoku 4 - August 24, 2008
Comments: World Victory Road recently announced that Takanori Gomi will be squaring off against the dreaded MYSTERY OPPONENT at Sengoku 4 on August 24th. There are rumors that WVR wants to introduce a lightweight title for the promotion, so perhaps this could be a title fight?
9) Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-1)
Height: 5'4
Birthday: March 15, 1977
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rani Yahya - Win via TKO (punches and soccer kicks) - K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! - December 31, 2007
- vs. Bibiano Fernandes - Win via decision (unanimous) - K-1 HERO's 11 - September 17, 2007
- vs. Istvan Majoros - Win via TKO (strikes) - K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!! - December 31, 2006
- vs. Kazuyuki Miyata - Win via KO (flying knee) - K-1 HERO's 5 - May 3, 2006
- vs. Genki Sudo - Win via TKO (punches) - K-1 Premium 2005 Dynamite!! - December 31, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Kid Yamamoto came out last weekend during DREAM 4 and announced that he will be fighting for the promotion soon. This is huge news for us Kid Yamamoto fans who have been longing for a center stage for him to showcase his skills. Hopefully one day we can still see Urijah Faber vs. Kid Yamamoto.
10) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria (31-4-1)
Height: 6'3
Weight: 231
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Heath Herring - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7th, 2007
- vs. Josh Barnett - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Josh Barnett - Loss via decision (split) - PRIDE - Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
- vs. Fabricio Werdum - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE - Critical Countdown Absolute - July 1, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: According to Tatame.com, Big Nog's assistant coaches for the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter will be Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida. That right there tells you that Big Nog means business going into the show.
On The Bubble:
(On the bubble includes fighter's who may not be in the Top 10, but remain a threat in their weight division)
Randy Couture (16-8)
Height: 6'1
Weight: 225
Currently fighting with: UFC (still signed with company)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gabriel Gonzaga - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via KO (punch) - UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 - February 4, 2006
- vs. Mike Van Arsdale - Win via submission (anaconda choke) - UFC 54: Boiling Point - August 20, 2005
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via KO (punches) - UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 - April 16, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- Wouldn't we all love to know?
Lyoto Machida (13-0)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: May 3, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tito Ortiz - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Win via submission (arm triangle choke) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- 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 (unanimous) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Chuck Liddell (21-5)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: December 17, 1969
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- 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 (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz II - December 30, 2006
- vs. Renato Sobral - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral - August 26, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Rashad Evans - UFC 88 - September 2008
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-3)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 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
- vs. Kevin Randleman - Win via submission (kneebar) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006
- vs. Cyrille Diabate - Win via TKO (stomps) - PRIDE - Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently injured
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
Shinya Aoki (16-2)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: May 9, 1983
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Katsuhiko Nagata - Win via submission (aokiplata*) - DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals - June 15, 2008
- vs. Gesias Cavalcante - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round - April 29, 2008
- vs. Gesias Cavalcante - No Contest - DREAM: Heiwa 1 - March 15, 2008
- vs. Bu Kyung Jung - Win via decision (unanimous) - Yarennoka: New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Brian Lo-A-Njoe - Win via submission (armbar) - PRIDE 34: Kamikaze - April 8, 2007
I don't understand how either Fedor and Rampage moved up or BJ dropped down as the only one of those three fighters who have fought recently is BJ and he won his match.....so how do you go from being number 3 and winning another match to being passed by 2 guys who haven't fought in months? This is the link to the most recent pound for pound I could find: http://www.411mania.com/MMA/columns/74980/411%5C%5Cs-MMA-Rankings-5.08 .08:-Pound-For-Pound-Rankings.htm
Posted By: n1snowman (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 12:39 AM
I like this list. Faber is finally getting some recognition on pound for pound lists! Yes!I know he doesn't have a title, but I think Fitch should be on the bubble. And the winner of Huerta/Florian should get some On The Bubble love for the next list
Posted By: guest guest (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 01:03 AM
A lot of guys that are not fighting in the UFC this time, 3 of them from weight classes that the UFC doesn't even entertain. Hm. I'm not really sure how I feel about this.
Please just consider this the next time you do one of these: Miguel Torres may have 34 wins, but does he have the competition Rampage Jackson has? Kid Yamamoto is good, but judging from the guys he fought, how can we really know how good he is? Can we really compare Faber's opponents to GSP's?
What I'm trying to say is...how can we really rate someone who hasn't fought at least a couple of bigger names?
Posted By: Guest#6689 (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I completely agree that it's f*cking ridiculous BJ Penn is below "Rampage" and I even voted in this sucker! You disappoint me, fellow columnists!
Posted By: Bren Oliver (Registered) on June 19, 2008 at 09:27 AM
When I voted I took into consideration record, level of competition, and overall skill-set. While Rampage may have fought tougher opponents than Torres, he's nowhere near being the jiujitsu maniac Torres is and I'd also argue Jackson isn't as complete of a striker.
Posted By: Bren Oliver (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:26 AM
"3 of them
from weight classes that the UFC doesn't even entertain."
Yes, because if they aren't in the UFC they must be bums. Who cares that Shooto and other smaller orgs have had smaller weight class fights for years now, I've never heard of them.[/sarcasm]
Just because they aren't as popular as Rampage or Chuck doesn't mean that they haven't faced and beaten top competition. Why would it matter whether or not Faber vs. Pulver was in the WEC or UFC (other than popularity)? Would that take away from the fact that that was a world class featherweight fight? Same with Torres/Maeda at 135.
Posted By: Guest#3689 (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 04:36 PM
The reason for the BJ Penn slip could only be attributed to the fact that we have some new writer's at 411, thus we had more people voting.
I can tell you that Penn and Rampage were separated by only one vote.
So what does that mean in the end? BLAME IT ON THE n00bs!
Posted By: Dustin James (Registered) on June 19, 2008 at 05:01 PM
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