411's MMA Rankings 08.14.08: Middleweight Rankings

Posted by Dustin James on 08.14.2008

It's time again for the experts at 411mania to rank the best middleweight fighters in MMA! Everybody knows that Anderson Silva is the king of the division but the big question is, can anybody on this list stop him? Come inside as 411's Dustin James helps break down the possible contenders to Silva's throne.....

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back! How are you doing? Me, I could be better. I just got back from vacation where I was seemingly drunk for a good 72 hours. But I'm here just for you......the good readers of 411mania.com! It's time again for us MMA experts at 411mania to rank the best middleweight fighters in...well, MMA! You all know who is taking home the top spot, but the big question remains, who can knock off Anderson Silva? Is there anybody on this list that you think is the man to do it? You won't know until you read it. But first!

VEGAS BABY!

As I mentioned before, this past weekend I was in the wonderful town of LAS VEGAS, NEVADA! I have been there before, yet this time was 100x better. I missed UFC 87, but from the sounds of it...I didn't miss much outside of Demian Maia vs. Jason MacDonald. You know what the best part about Vegas is? I mean, besides the hookers, porn, casinos, gambling, weather, and beautiful women?



THE $1.00 HOT N' SPICY MCCHICKEN SANDWICH!

That's right, I said it. This little sandwich is money. We don't have these up in Portland, we just have the normal McChicken's, but I seriously ate about 15 of these during my 4 day stay in Vegas. If you have ever been to Vegas you know how ridiculous the prices are ($7 for a 6 inch sub at Subway~!). So this little sandwich is a slice of heaven.

If you would like to see my Vegas pics, then check out my myspace by clicking here.

The highlight of the trip was me asking this one hot chick from Romania (who was working one of the carnival stands at Circus Circus) how many quarters I could get for a dollar. GOD I LOVE JAEGER BOMBS!

Now, on with the 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, we can be tough. When combined we could probably beat up one of The Jonas Brothers.



411's Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division

Middleweight Division (185 pounds)


1) Anderson Silva (22-4)

Height: 6'2

Birthday: April 14, 1975

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. James Irvin - Win via KO (punches) - UFC: Fight Night 14 - July 19, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Patrick Cote - UFC 90 - October 25, 2008

Comments: Another middleweight rankings list, another Anderson Silva DOMINATION. Seriously, look at this list and tell me who you honestly think can beat this man. Nobody? Didn't think so. MOVING ON.......

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2) 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:

- vs. Rousimar Palhares - UFC 88 - September 6, 2008

Comments: Hendo will finally be returning to the Octagon at UFC 88 next month, and everybody is excited. It's time for Hendo to finally put to rest all the talk about how he doesn't have what it takes to be one of the UFC's elite. Are you kidding me? Have you ever seen Hendo fight? Do you NOT know that he was the final PRIDE light heavyweight and middleweight champion? Cut the guy some slack. He deserves to be here and he will prove it at UFC 88 against Palhares.

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3) 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. Chael Sonnen - WEC 36 - September 10, 2008

Comments: Filho falls in the rankings due to the fact that he's been so inactive. I know he has spent some time in rehab and was dealing with some personal demons, but you get no sympathy from the voters! Rumor has it that after his WEC 36 fight with Chael Sonnen that Filho (and possibly Sonnen) could be headed to the UFC. It's my belief that due to his friendship with Anderson Silva, Filho would move up to light heavyweight and give it a go in that division. He could become some what lost in the shuffle if he decided to do that. Perhaps it's best for Filho if he stayed in the middleweight division and just waited for Anderson Silva to lose.....ya, like THAT will happen.

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4) 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. Matt Hamill - UFC 88 - September 6, 2008

Comments: Rich Franklin will be making his long awaited return to the UFC's light heavyweight division when he faces former Ultimate Fighter contestant Matt Hamill at UFC 88 next month. This is a fight that I'm REALLY looking forward too. If Franklin can pull off a convincing win over Hamill then he should really consider fighting in the light heavyweight division full-time. Especially since Anderson Silva has already dominated him twice in the middleweight division.

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5) Robbie Lawler (16-4)

Height: 5'11

Currently Fighting With: EliteXC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Scott Smith - Win via TKO (kicks and punches) - EliteXC: Unfinished Business - July 26, 2008

- vs. Scott Smith - No contest (thumb in the eye) - EliteXC: Primetime - May 31, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: With his win over Scott Smith at EliteXC's CBS show last month, Robbie Lawler continues to be one of the hottest names in the middleweight division in MMA. He is currently on a 5 fight win streak (all by KO's) with his last loss coming to Jason Miller back in September of 2006. It'll be interesting to see where Lawler goes from here, but Joey Villasenor has already come out and said he would like a re-match with Lawler at some point. Perhaps he forgets that Lawler knocked him out in 22 seconds back in 2006. What's next for Lawler? Good question......

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6) Matt Lindland (21-5)

Height: 6'0

Birthday: May 17, 1970

Currently Fighting With: Affliction

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Fabio Negao - Win via decision (unanimous) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Vitor Belfort - Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" - October 11, 2008

Comments: It was GREAT to see Matt Lindland return to action at Affliction "Banned" last July. While he looked a little out of shape, that was bound to happen seeing as he took over a year off. Lindland won't be doing that again. He is currently scheduled to face Vitor Belfort at Affliction's next PPV entitled "Day Of Reckoning" in October. This a fantastic fight. If Lindland can get by Belfort then I personally believe the UFC should do everything in their power to sign Lindland for a possible fight with Anderson Silva. If you look at this list Lindland is easily the top guy I would want to see face Silva (minus Filho, but that fights not happening). Perhaps it's my Oregon-bias coming out towards Lindland, but I'm a huge fan of the guy and really hope he dominates Belfort in October.

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7) 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: Okami was rumored to be face Anderson Silva next, however he suffered a hand injury and was forced to take some time off. All I can say is, if Anderson Silva dominates Patrick Cote (like he should) then the UFC should hurry and schedule a re-match between Silva and the man who beat him last......Yushin Okami.

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8) Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (9-1)

Height: 6'0

Currently Fighting With: DREAM

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jason Miller - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - June 15, 2008

- vs. Ian Murphy - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - DREAM 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - April 29, 2008

- vs. Wendell Santos - Win via submission - HTJ: Hero's the Jungle - October 13, 2007

- vs. Jose Ribamar - Win via submission (arm bar) - AC: Amazon Challenge - September 29, 2007

- vs. Bill Vucick - Win via submission (strikes) - GFC: Evolution - May 19, 2007

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Zelg Galesic - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix Finals - September 23, 2008

Comments: "Jacare" will be facing Zelg Galesic in the semi-finals of DREAM's middleweight grand prix tournament next month. For those of you who are STILL in the clouds about how good Jacare is, the guy is an animal. The biggest knock on him was the lack of competition he has faced in MMA, however that was silenced when he defeated Jason "Mayhem" Miller via decision back in June. Now, all we need is for Jacare to get past Galesic and then to defeat the winner of Melvin Manhoef vs. Gegard Mousasi and we will have our first DREAM middleweight champion!

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9) Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1)

Height: 6'0

Currently Fighting With: DREAM

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Dong Sik Yoon - Win via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - June 15, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Melvin Manhoef - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix Finals - September 23, 2008

Comments: Is it just me or does DREAM kick ass? I really was hoping that Mousasi would face Manhoef and POOF, it happens. This will be a stand-up war with the winner taking on either Jacare or Zelg later on. Mousasi needs to be careful because Manhoef packs one hell of a punch. This bout could be scary......

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10) Nathan Marquardt (26-8-2)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: April 20, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Thales Leites - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Martin Kampmann - UFC 88 "Liddell vs. Evans" - September 6, 2008

Comments: Marquardt will be making his return to the Octagon when he faces Martin Kampmann at UFC 88 next month. This is a fight that could determine who faces Anderson Silva next. The UFC officials are still high on Marquardt despite his controversial loss to Thales Leites back at UFC 85. Kampmann is also no slouch. I will be watching this fight very closely, as will the higher-ups in the UFC.

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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)






Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1)

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Katsuyori Shibata - Win via submission (GI choke) - DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 - July 21, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown

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Jason Miller (21-6)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: December 24, 1980

Currently Fighting With: DREAM

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Ronaldo Souza - Loss via decision (unanimous) - DREAM 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - June 15, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

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Frank Trigg (16-6)

Height: 5'8

Birthday: May 7, 1972

Currently Fighting With: Sengoku

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:

- vs. Makoto Takimoto - Sengoku 4 - August 24, 2008

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Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2)

Height: 5'10

Birthday: April 25, 1976

Currently Fighting With: Sengoku, Strikeforce

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Logan Clark - Win via decision (unanimous) - World Victory Road: Sengoku 3 - June 8, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Joe Riggs - Strikeforce's 2nd Playboy Mansion Show - September 19, 2008

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Denis Kang (29-10-1)

Last 5 fights:

Currently Fighting With: DREAM

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

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Thales Leites (13-1)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: September 6, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Nathan Marquardt - Win via decision (split) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- vs. Ryan Jensen - Win via submission (arm bar) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007

- vs. Floyd Sword - Win via submission (arm triangle choke) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 5 finale - June 23, 2007

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

- vs. Martin Kampmann - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 4 finale - November 11, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Goran Reljic - UFC 90 - October 25, 2008

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Martin Kampmann (16-2)

Birthday: April 17, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jorge Rivera - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- vs. Drew McFedries - Win via submission (arm triangle choke) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007

- vs. Thales Leites - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 4 finale - November 11, 2006

- vs. Crafton Wallace - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC: Fight Night 6 - August 17, 2006

- vs. Edwin Aguilar - Win via TKO (strikes) - WFA: King of the Streets - July 22, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Nate Marquardt - UFC 88 "Liddell vs. Evans" - September 6, 2008

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Patrick Cote (13-4)

Height: 5'11

Birthday: February 29, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Ricardo Almeida - Win via decision (split) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008

- vs. Drew McFedries - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC: Fight Night 12 - January 23, 2008

- vs. Kendall Grove - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007

- vs. Jason Day - Win via TKO - TKO 29: Repercussion - June 1, 2007

- vs. Scott Smith - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Anderson Silva - UFC 90 - October 25, 2008

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Vitor Belfort (17-8)

Height: 6'0

Birthday: January 4, 1977

Currently Fighting With: Affliction

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Terry Martin - Win via KO (punches) - Affliction "Banned" - July 19, 2008

- vs. James Zikic - Win via decision - CR 23: Unbelievable - September 22, 2007

- vs. Ivan Serati - Win via TKO (punches) - CR 21: Judgement Day - April 21, 2007

- vs. Dan Henderson - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006

- vs. Yoshiki Takahashi - Win via KO (punch) - PRIDE: Critical Countdown Absolute - July 1, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Matt Lindland - Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" - October 11, 2008