411's MMA Rankings 7.24.08: Lightweight Rankings
Posted by Dustin James on 07.24.2008
Now that the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix is over and done with, where does everybody land in the latest edition of 411's MMA rankings? Can BJ Penn keep his top spot after publicly stating that he wants a shot at the UFC welterweight title? 411's Dustin James gives you all answers and more inside.........
Welcome to another edition of 411mania.com's MMA rankings! As always I'm your host, the one and only Dustin James, and I'm here to fill you in on who we believe are the best lightweight fighters in mixed-martial-arts. Is it possible that Joachim Hansen cracked the Top 10 after surprising everybody and winning the DREAM lightweight grand prix? Can BJ Penn keep his top spot even though he has announced his intentions of moving up a weight class? So many answers, so screw it.......let's get to the goods!
(I would have talked about the HUGE MMA weekend we just had, but my colleagues at 411mania have done an incredible job thus far. The only thing I can't understand is why so many people picked Sylvia over Fedor. Seriously, read the comments section for our round table preview for Affliction "Banned" and look at all the morons who called Sylvia via KO over Fedor. There's a reason you don't write about MMA guys.......)
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 Tim Sylvia in 35 SECONDS! Well, maybe with Fedor's help.....
411's Official MMA Rankings
Lightweight Division (155 lbs)
1) 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. Winner of Georges St. Pierre/Jon Fitch - Sometime in 2008
Comments: The UFC has pretty much made it official. BJ Penn's next fight will more than likely be at welterweight when he faces the winner of GSP/Fitch presumably in December. While this is one fight that I would love to see, I don't like the fact that Penn won't be defending his title for quite some time. There are tons of tremendous match-ups for Penn at lightweight in the UFC, especially facing the winner of Roger Huerta/Kenny Florian. Are you happy with the UFC's decision to have Penn move up instead of defending his title? Sure Anderson Silva is doing it.....but it's also looking like Silva will fight at least every 3 months. Penn won't do that. But perhaps, he should.
2) 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: The current rumor right now for Gomi is that he may face IFL standout Chris Horodecki at Sengoku 4 in August. This could be a potentially fantastic match-up. Horodecki has been tearing up the IFL for the past 2 years (minus his first pro loss to Ryan Schultz in December of 2007) and needs to face some top competition in the lightweight division so we can see if he is the real deal. Of course, that probably doesn't matter since he would be facing GOMI and nobody wants to do that......unless your name is Nick Diaz of course.
3) Shinya Aoki (17-3)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: May 9, 1983
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Joachim Hansen - Loss via TKO (punches) - DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Caol Uno - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Katsuhiko Nagata - Win via submission (gogoplata) - DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - 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
Next scheduled appearance:
-vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Wow, what a busy year it has been for Shinya Aoki. We are only halfway done with the year, and Aoki has already fought 5 times! Unfortunately for Aoki, he was defeated by Lightweight Grand Prix reserve, Joachim Hansen at DREAM 5. This should not reflect on Aoki's ranking here. We were suppose to see Eddie Alvarez vs. Aoki in the finals of the DREAM lightweight grand prix, however Alvarez had to pull out due to an injury, and all of a sudden the winner of the DREAM lightweight grand prix is......JOACHIM HANSEN. I can see DREAM scheduling a re-match between Aoki and Hansen seeing as they are now 1-1 against each other. Give Aoki a little rest, and I believe we will have one hell of a fight for later this year.
4) Gesias Cavalcante (14-2-1)
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Shinya Aoki - Loss via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round - April 29, 2008
- vs. Shinya Aoki - No Contest - DREAM: Heiwa 1 - March 15, 2008
- vs. Andre Amade - Win via submission (armbar) - K-1 HERO'S 10 - September 17, 2007
- vs. Vitor Ribeiro - Win via TKO (strikes) - K-1 HERO'S 10 - September 17, 2007
- vs. Nam Phan - Win via TKO (strikes) - K-1 HERO'S Dynamite!! USA - June 2, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently injured
Comments: Nothing new on JZ........
5) Eddie Alvarez (15-1)
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri - Win via TKO (punches) - DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Joachim Hansen - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 3: Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals - May 11, 2008
- vs. Andre Amade - Win via TKO (punches) - DREAM: Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round - March 15, 2008
- vs. Ross Ebanez - Win via TKO (punches) - ShoXC - Elite Challenger Series - January 25, 2008
- vs. Matt Lee - Win via decision (unanimous) - BodogFight: Alvarez vs. Lee - July 14, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Tough break for Eddie Alvarez at DREAM 5. After defeating Tatsuya Kawajiri, he had to pull out of the finals fight against Shinya Aoki due to an injury. It's my belief that either Alvarez or Aoki will end up facing Joachim Hansen in the next few months. Or perhaps DREAM will forget about "Hellboy" and give us the Alvarez/Aoki fight we all wanted to see. Either way, I'm a happy camper.
6) Sean Sherk (32-3-1)
Height: 5'6
Birthday: August 5, 1973
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. BJ Penn - Loss via TKO (knees and punches) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Hermes Franca - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Kenny Florian - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 64: Unstoppable - October 14, 2006
- vs. Nick Diaz - Win via decision - UFC 59: Reality Check - April 15, 2006
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 56: Full Force - November 19, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: What's next for Sean Sherk? You tell me and we both will know......
7) Gilbert Melendez (16-2)
Height: 5'9
Birthday: April 12, 1982
Currently Fighting With: Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Josh Thomson - Loss via decision (unanimous) - Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson - June 27, 2008
- vs. Gabe Lemley - Win via TKO (punches) - Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le - March 29, 2008
- vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida - Loss via decision (unanimous) - Yarennoka: New Year's Even 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Tetsuji Kato - Win via decision (unanimous) - Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion - September 29, 2007
- vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: It hasn't been a good 6 months for Melendez. After starting out his career 15-0, he has suffered 2 losses in the last 6 months. After dropping his Strikeforce lightweight title to Josh Thomson last month, I would look for Melendez to get back on the winning side of things and ask for a re-match. It's hard to fathom "El Nino" losing three times in the period of a year, but stranger things have happened.
8) Kenny Florian (9-3)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: May 26, 1976
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Joe Lauzon - Win via TKO (punches and elbows) - UFC: Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008
- vs. Din Thomas - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC: Fight Night 11 - September 19, 2007
- vs. Alvin Robinson - Win via submission (strikes) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC: Fight Night 9 - April 5, 2007
- vs. Sean Sherk - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 64: Unstoppable - October 14, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Roger Huerta - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008
Comments: Here we are just a few weeks away from the Roger Huerta/Kenny Florian #1 contender fight. I'm still torn as to who to pick here, which is why I'm grateful I still have a few weeks to decide. Perhaps I will Harvey Dent it and just flip a coin?
9) Tyson Griffin (12-1)
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Marcus Aurelio - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008
- vs. Gleison Tibau - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Thiago Tavares - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Clay Guida - Win via decision (split) - UFC 72: Victory - June 18, 2007
- vs. Frank Edgar - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Welcome to the Top 10 Tyson Griffin! The only man to have ever beat Urijah Faber has found himself in the top 10 rankings. What's next for Griffin? With the UFC lightweight title pretty much on hold for now, what else could he do with his spare time? Perhaps drop weight and cruise on over to the WEC and re-match Urijah Faber? Faber has said publicly that he would like a chance to avenge his loss to Griffin. Only time will tell if Zuffa will allow that fight to happen, or if Griffin is even interested.
10) Joachim Hansen (19-7-1)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: May 26, 1979
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Shinya Aoki - Win via TKO (punches) - DREAM 5 Lightweight Grand Prix Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Kultar Gill - Win via submission (armbar) - DREAM 5 Lightweight Grand Prix Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Eddie Alvarez - Loss via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 3 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals - May 11, 2008
- vs. Kotetsu Boku - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 1 Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round - March 15, 2008
- vs. Kazuyuki Miyata - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! - December 31, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: Ladies and gents, your NEW DREAM lightweight champion is none other than HELLBOY. And what a perfect time seeing as Hellboy 2 just hit theaters. Was this a marketing ploy by DREAM? Well, you would have to be a dumb ass as well as a conspiracy theorist to think that. It was just a matter of good luck for Hansen that Alvarez was unable to compete against Aoki, which allowed Hansen to reclaim a spot in the DREAM lightweight grand prix and win the damn thing. What's next for Hansen however? Perhaps a fight with Alvarez? A re-match with Aoki? Or perhaps a title defense against JZ? It's a good time to be Hansen.
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)
Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-4-1)
Height: 5'6
Birthday: December 29, 1978
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Caol Uno - Loss via submission (rear naked choke) - DREAM 3: Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals - May 11, 2008
- vs. Bu Kyung Jung - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 1: Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round - March 15, 2008
- vs. Gilbert Melendez - Win via decision (unanimous) - Yarennoka: New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Takanori Gomi - Loss via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. David Bielkheden - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Bushido 13 - November 5, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Roger Huerta (20-1-1)
Height: 5'9
Birthday: May 20, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Clay Guida - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC: The Ultimate Fighter Finale 6 - December 8, 2007
- vs. Alberto Crane - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Doug Evans - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC: The Ultimate Fighter Finale 5 - July 23, 2007
- vs. Leonard Garcia - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. John Halverson - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Kenny Florian - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008
Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2)
Height: 5'7
Birthday: May 8, 1978
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Eddie Alvarez - Loss via TKO (punches) - DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix Final - July 21, 2008
- vs. Luiz Firmino - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 3 - Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals - May 11, 2008
- vs. Kultar Gill - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 1 - Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round - March 15, 2008
- vs. Luiz Azeredo - Win via decision (unanimous) - Yarennoka: New Year's Even 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Gilbert Melendez - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE: Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Vitor Ribeiro (19-2)
Height: 5'8
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gesias Calvancanti - Loss via TKO (strikes) - K-1 HERO'S Tournament Final - September 17, 2007
- vs. Kazuyuki Miyata - Win via submission (arm triangle choke) - K-1 HERO's Middleweight Tournament Opening Round - July 16, 2007
- vs. Ryuki Ueyama - Win via submission (triangle/arm bar) - K-1 HERO's 8 - March 12, 2007
- vs. Daisuke Nakamura - Win via technical submission - CR 19: Fearless - December 9, 2006
- vs. Abdul Mohamed - Win via submission (kimura) - CR 18: Battleground - September 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Joe Stevenson (29-8)
Height: 5'7
Birthday: June 15, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gleison Tibau - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008
- vs. BJ Penn - Loss via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 80: Rapid Fire - January 19, 2008
- vs. Kurt Pellegrino - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Melvin Guillard - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC Fight Night 9 - April 5, 2007
- vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
-Currently unknown
KJ Noons (7-2)
Currently Fighting With: EliteXC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Yves Edwards - Win via TKO (punches and elbows) - EliteXC: Return of the King - June 14, 2008
- vs. Nick Diaz - Win via TKO (cuts) - EliteXC: Renegade - November 10, 2007
- vs. James Edson Berto - Win via KO (knee) - EliteXC: ShoXC - July 27, 2007
- vs. Charles Bennett - Loss via KO (punch) - EliteXC: Destiny - February 10, 2007
- vs. Harris Sarmiento - Win via TKO - Icon Sport: Opposites Attract - October 28, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Josh Thomson (18-2)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: September 21, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gilbert Melendez - Win via decision (unanimous) - Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson - June 27, 2008
- vs. Adam Lynn - Win via TKO (strikes) - Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion - September 29, 2007
- vs. Nick Gonzalez - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni - June 22, 2007
- vs. Nam Phan - Win via decision (unanimous) - Strikeforce: Triple Threat - December 8, 2006
- vs. Duane Ludwig - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello - October 7, 2006
I am not going to comment on the rankings even though i disagree with most of them but then again i could care less for rankings.
On BJ Penn though - i agree, sure i don't mind him fighting GSP but he has also made it clear he doesn't want to defend his Lightweight belt. He is so hell bent on avenging his losses i sure hope (and believe) that GSP smashes him and sends him back to lightweight to defend his belt. The difference with Anderson moving weight is he has pretty much cleaned out the division. Penn hasn't even started to clean it out.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 12:44 AM
i guess i'll never understand the deal with jz, aoki, and melendez...their resumes(as far as the number of top ten fighters that they've beaten) aren't all that impressive and if they lose it goes practically ignored...whatever...i mean they're all talented and lots of fun to watch...truth be told, i think that they're all awesome...i just don't get the love they get in the rankings(i'm probably the only one)...it's just, eh...what's the point?
Posted By: romano (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 12:56 AM
Maybe im just a UFC mark but how the hell can a guy who has lost 2 times in 6 months still be in the top 10, and above guys like Florian, Stevenson and Huerta, not to mention the guy who actually BEAT him for the Strikeforce title.
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 01:25 AM
Hey Aoki I get watch one of his fights he is very exciting. Now I dont believe to much in rankings either considering other than Penn (who is above and beyond) anyone of them can beat each other at any time, however explain why the hell Tyson Griffin who hasnt finished a fight and his two toughest tests were Guida (which he got a lucky descion) and edgar who beat him is above Huerta who is fighting for the #1 contender spot!
Posted By: pikey (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 04:43 AM
Might be the worst rankings I've ever read. Since the writer apparently disregards recent win/loss records I assume these are based on some magic formula only he can figure. Numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 have all lost their last fight, and several have lost 2 or more of their last five. From the common fans perspective this list makes no sense.
Posted By: navyfightfan (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I'd like to see BJ fight GSP or Fitch - he does not deserve a title shot, as he has not won a welterweight fight in a long time.
Not only is not defending the LW belt unfair to the winner of Huerta/Florian; having BJ go up in a title fight totally leap frogs Kozchek and the Sanchez/Alves winner.
The Silva analogy does not work, as he did not go up and fight for the title.
Melendez at 6 makes no sense, as Thompson is unranked. Also, since when has KJ Noon's had a big win at 155, he fights at 160.
Posted By: Jamie (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 01:35 PM
only thing i can say is huerta shouldnt be any lower then 8th
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Aoki at #3? Hansen at #10? Whatever it is you're smoking, send some my way.
Posted By: konron (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Wishful thinking:
Aoki vs Hansen @ DREAM New Year's Eve show along with Fedor vs Cro Cop?
YES PLEASE!
This "List" (My initial word was abomination... but I'll be kind) is totally wrong all the way around. To go into detail would a. use all my characters and b. the comments above me have done a great job explaining it.
Posted By: Guest#6054 (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I love when douchebags don't read the rules and and see that it's a GROUP VOTE, not just my opinion. Instead they want to throw their two cents in and just come out looking like tools. Right navyfightfan?
Posted By: Dustin James (Registered) on July 24, 2008 at 06:46 PM
How do you come up with these rankings?
Roll a dice? Draw out of a hat? And just make Penn number 1 because he's the UFC champ
Posted By: Kent Baker (Guest) on July 24, 2008 at 08:55 PM
I don't see how Penn is leapfrogging Koscheck, considering Koz is on record of being uninterested in GSP. We'll see if the title makes a difference in that. Maybe.
I'm kinda pissed Penn won't be defending the title for so long though. I hate that. Starting to get the frustration with TUF, even though I think TUF has done more good for UFC than any title defense ever has.
-Mike
Posted By: RanmaSolo (Registered) on July 24, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Yeah your right it was redonkulous that anybody picked sylvia over fedor they shouldnt be writing about mma. On the other hand you (as a group) move a guy up for winning and dont move the guy he beat down check out 3 and 10. Now if this idiocy wasnt enough when a reader point out the fact that your our clearly just jerking off a bunch of names on a page, you come up with calling him a douche bag. How nice for you, it look like someone may have to come to the realization that they arent cut out for the field they are pretending to be suited for. Its alright your a tracer.
Posted By: pikey (Guest) on July 25, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Had not heard Koz did not want to fight GSP. I feel that Alves, with a win over Diego is next in line, but if Diego wins, then Koz makes the most sense as he has beaten everyone else he's faced recently, and he went the distance with GSP.
All three of them deserve a shot at the WW title more than the LW champ who has not won a WW match since 2004.
Posted By: Jamie (Guest) on July 25, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Yes,Penn hasnt beaten a welterweight since 2004, Yet he gets a title shot. The reasons are simple, Kos got dominated by GSP, Alves cant make weight and Diego is rebuilding. Of course the biggest reason is does any one truly believe that any one of those three guys could beat BJ Penn.
Posted By: PIKEY (Guest) on July 26, 2008 at 08:51 PM
