411's MMA Rankings 09.04.08: Lightweight Rankings
Posted by Dustin James on 09.04.2008
It's time again for the experts at 411mania to rank the best lightweight fighters in MMA. Who's #1? BJ Penn? Takanori Gomi? Kenny Florian? Plus, find out how my 2008 MMA predictions have done thus far. All that and more inside....
Welcome back to the best set of MMA rankings on the Internet. Most Internet websites give you their MMA rankings with either no detail about the ranking or perhaps just a little sentence. Not here! At 411mania we give you the most in-depth MMA rankings you can find. Which leads me to this. Next week's edition of 411's MMA rankings will be my ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY here at 411 and I'm planning something huge. So stay tuned.
But for now........
Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar At UFC 91
I could go all out and discuss this fight, but there is really nothing good I can say. While I REALLY wanted too see this fight, I also REALLY wanted too see it in Portland. So for the sake of not saying anything mean about the UFC or Dana White.....I will be quiet for now.
Flashback: My 2008 MMA predictions
These first appeared in my January 10th edition of the 411mania MMA rankings and I thought it would be fun to look back at what I have predicted correctly, and what I was WAAAAYYYY off on. We still have four months left out of the year so there is still time for me to nail a few more of these!
- Frank Mir will defeat Brock Lesnar in Brock's UFC debut. Brock will then go into very extensive training with Xtreme Couture and come out s-c-a-r-y.
Semi-correct prediction #1. I was spot on about Mir defeating Lesnar in Lesnar's UFC debut, however I was way off on Lesnar training with Xtreme Couture. Lesnar instead will now be facing off against the head of Xtreme Couture, Randy Couture in November.
- Forrest Griffin will win the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
Wow, I was SPOT on with this prediction.
- Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko will happen in late 2008.
Ehhh. The fight is looking like it may happen in early-2009 according to the latest rumors. So maybe I was just a little off. (PS: Dana White, book this god damn fight already)
- Cro Cop will bounce back with 2 straight victories and earn a UFC Heavyweight Title shot by year's end.
Well, Cro Cop is no longer with the UFC......so I was way off here.
- The UFC video game will kick ass.
It was suppose to be released this year, however it's looking like it will come out in March of 2009. But still, it looks like it will KICK AZZ!
- Takanori Gomi will sign with M-1.
WRONG! He actually ended up signing with World Victory Road.
- Georges St. Pierre will go undefeated in 2008 and win 411's 2008 Fighter of the Year.
This prediction could actually come true. GSP has gone undefeated this year, now it's just a matter of time before he wins that 2008 fighter of the year award. Or will he?
- Matt Hughes will fight Matt Serra, then retire....win or lose.
If it wasn't for a Matt Hughes knee injury, I might have been spot on with this one.
- Anderson Silva will dominate the UFC's Middleweight Division, again.
Not only is this true, but he went up a weight class and is looking to dominate that one as well. Man I love me some Anderson Silva.
- Kurt Angle will continue to say he's going to fight in an MMA fight, but continue to be full of shit.
Angle has actually been semi-quiet on the MMA front this year, minus the little tidbit we heard earlier this week about how he is still training. Give it up Kurt. You are old and broken down and basically everybody just feels sorry for you. It's true, it's true.
- Rich Franklin will decide to switch weight classes.
Spot on with this one!
- BJ Penn will dominate the UFC's Lightweight Division.
If you consider a win over Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk as "dominant", then I was spot on with this one as well.
- I will attend a live UFC event and choke out Tito Ortiz, then I will kidnap Jenna Jameson and take her back to my hotel and play Scene It! The Porn Edition.
Well, Jenna Jameson DID get pregnant.....I just hope it's not mine. *wink wink*
- 411mania's MMA coverage will continue to expand making it the best website on the Internet for MMA information!
We are growing everyday and we continue to be ranked higher than a lot of other MMA websites as far as hits go. Not bad at all!
Now, on with 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 BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF DANA WHITE FOR BEING A FAT LIAR!
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. Georges St. Pierre - Early-2009
Comments: The UFC has set it in stone. It will indeed be UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre vs. UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn during the UFC's Super Bowl weekend show in early-2009. This is a HUGE fight for MMA fans as we have wanted to see a rematch between the two since they last fought in 2006. Last time BJ Penn lost via a very close split decision mainly due to his poor cardio. However BJ's cardio has looked vastly improved and it could be his turn to take out GSP. I don't care how you feel about this fight, it's a fight that is intriguing and will make the UFC tons of $$$. You may want to bitch about Penn not defending his title, but in the end it's all about $$$ and that's what the UFC wants to make. Here's to the UFC giving us hardcore MMA fans a fight that we truly want to see. Good job Dana White.
2) Takanori Gomi (29-3)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: September 22, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Seung Hwan Bang - Win via unanimous decision - World Victory Road - Sengoku 4 - August 24, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Takanori Gomi continued to expand his winning streak with a win over Seung Hwan Bang at Sengoku's 4th show a few weeks back. Now Gomi must wait on the sidelines for Sengoku's lightweight grand prix to end so he can face the winner. No matter who wins, they will definitely be in trouble when they go up against Gomi. My only complaint with Gomi is his lack of fighting in the past two years. Since the beginning of 2007 he has only competed 3 times. That's not impressive for somebody who is considered one of the top fighter's in a STACKED lightweight division.
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: Aoki has a little mini-feud going on with EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields. Shields has come out and said that he would like to face Aoki, however Aoki turned the fight down. Aoki insists that this is not true. He mentioned that he would love to face Shields, however the fight was never offered to him. Ohhh, how the world turns.
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. He is still resting up his torn ACL.
5) Kenny Florian (10-3)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: May 26, 1976
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Roger Huerta - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Joe Stevenson - UFC 91 - November 15, 2008
Comments: Poor Ken-Flo. He was told by UFC officials that the winner of the Florian/Huerta fight at UFC 87 would be the #1 contender to Penn's lightweight title, however all those plans have been put on hold due to Penn facing GSP next year. So what does Florian do? He schedules an extremely tough fight against Joe Stevenson for UFC 91. Some people need to take lessons from Florian. It doesn't pay to sit on the sidelines. The only way to get better is to fight and continue to take out the competition. Either way, look for Florian to fight for the UFC lightweight title in AT LEAST a year's time.
6) 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: Nothing really new on Alvarez other than the fact that KJ Noon's has basically declared Alvarez the #1 contender to the EliteXC lightweight title.....even though Alvarez isn't a current member of the EliteXC roster. Way to call out guys you know you can't fight Noons! In other Alvarez news, the guy just got married. So congratulations and good luck to that!
7) 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. Tyson Griffin - UFC 90: "Silva vs. Cote" - October 25, 2008
Comments: Sean Sherk will be making his first appearance back in the Octagon since losing to BJ Penn at UFC 84 in May when he faces another top UFC lightweight in Tyson Griffin. This is a fight that I'm really looking forward too. Griffin is currently 12-1 as a pro with his only loss coming at the hands of Frankie Edgar back at UFC 67. For all you people who think Sherk is going to just coast past Griffin, I have got some bad news for you. Griffin is no slouch and poses match-up problems for Sherk. Sherk consists of man handling his opponents with his strength, but Griffin is a tough bastard himself. This is a difficult fight to pick, which is why it's a good thing it's still 2 months away.
8) Josh Thomson (15-2)
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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Ashe Bowman - Strikeforce At The Mansion II - September 20, 2008
Comments: The Strikeforce lightweight champion will return to action after his upset win over Gilbert Melendez back in June when he faces Ashe Bowman in a non-title fight at the Playboy Mansion on September 20. Thomson basically took this fight just to fight which is why it's a non-title fight. Do you really think Bowman could be considered a #1 contender? Bowman is currently on a three-fight win streak and is a product of Ken Shamrock's "Lion's Den" (something that meant more back in 1996). However I don't see Thomson struggling with Bowman. He should coast to a pretty easy victory here perhaps setting up a rematch between him and Melendez.
9) 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: What's next for Melendez? I'd say there is a chance he fights at the "Strikeforce At The Mansion II" show this month, but that's just a guess.
10) 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
Comments: Tatsuya Kawajiri was on a nice little roll in DREAM until he came across Eddie Alvarez. However no new news has come about since that fight so we must all play the waiting game in regards to Kawajiri.
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)
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. Sean Sherk - UFC 90: "Silva vs. Cote" - October 25, 2008
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
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
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:
-vs. Kenny Florian - UFC 91 - November 15, 2008
Frank Edgar (9-1) Height: 5'6
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Hermes Franca - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC: Fight Night 14 - July 19, 2008
- vs. Gray Maynard - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC: Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008
- vs. Spencer Fisher - Win via decision (uanimous) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Mark Bocek - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Tyson Griffin - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 67: All or Nothing - February 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
-Currently unknown
Jamie Varner (15-2)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: December 10, 1984
Currently Fighting With: WEC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Marcus Hicks - Win via TKO (punches) - WEC 35 - August 3, 2008
- vs. Rob McCullough - Win via TKO (punches) - WEC 32 - February 13, 2008
- vs. Sherron Leggett - Win via TKO (strikes) - WEC 29 - August 5, 2007
- vs. Jason Gilliam - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 68: Uprising - February 3, 2007
- vs. Hermes Franca - Loss via submission (arm bar) - UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral - August 26, 2006
arguing rankings is stupid...they really don't matter...i'm going to get angrily flamed for this post...people are going to think that i'm an ass...but i really need to know how anoki and jz are above alvarez...how the homeboy that beat aoki is on the bubble and how gilber melendez is still ranked....i mean no other rankings are as far off of reality as this weightclass....aoki, jz, and milendez are all fun, exciting and talented fighters...but they're so effing overrated that they make Bob Sapp's past hype look credible. and who in the hell put kawajiri ahead of the dude that won the tournament!!!! damn I hate these fans that think they're cool because they watch japan crap...you're the same a$$holes that claimed japanese wrestling was the greatest thing ever, and then the japanese wrestlers would come to america and totally suck....i mean no hesitation, japanese wrestling snobs right over to japanese mma nerds.
Posted By: romano (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 01:19 AM
It's amazing exactly how many of this division aren't with the UFC...
Posted By: cyks (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 01:30 AM
Where the hell is Roger huerta?
Posted By: Omar (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 03:46 AM
How is it oyu saying arguing with rankings is stupid, then you go on to pretty much tear apart the whole list. What a douche bag.
Posted By: HuH? (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I have a feeling alot of them are in the top 10 because they aren't with the UFC. They can go around fight each other and get credited with a big win over a top 10 guy and not be hurt by a loss to one since they are ranked. JZ is the only legitimate contender out of that group. Gomi, Aoki, Kawajiri, Melendez, Thompson...they would all go 2-2 in the UFC and work a gate keeper role.
Posted By: Bryan (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 11:37 AM
huerta loses to a top 5 guy and gets erased off the list thats fucked up
Posted By: tony (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 04:19 PM
please say "spot on" a couple more times.
Posted By: s dot (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 05:12 PM
i hate japanese mma, its fucking fixed, and its all about freak-shows... and they love them some roids... if they want to test themselves for real, they should go to the ufc. american lightweights have already beaten japanese ones... see bj penn and nick diaz beating takanori "the best lightweight in the world" gomi... on that note bj penn can go fuck himself as well
Posted By: hendo (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Alvarez wasn't ranked at all before the GP. JZ was top 3 and Aoki was just as high. JZ lost to Aoki and Aoki didn't lose until the finals so while Alvarez shoots up the rankings, Aoki and JZ only go down a little.
Hansen wasn't ranked at all previously.
Hansen lost previously to Hansen (in addition to not being ranked at all) and had to come in as an alternate. Kawajiri was ranked and won his way to the semi-finals.
Because...well...um...good point. Out of all of the lightweights that fought mostly in Japan, Gilbert is the most overrated.
But really when it comes down to it lightweight is the hardest division to rank in MMA because you basically have two groups of fighters (UFC and DREAM/PRIDE) that only fight each other with only a few examples of someone crossing over (BJ vs. Gomi, Pulver vs. Sakurai, etc.).
I'll admit there's a fair amount fanboys who worship the ground that japanese fighters walk on but there's also a lot close minded Zuffa marks who think that just because someone fights in the UFC that they are automatically better.
No, Diaz and BJ beating Gomi does not mean that every single UFC LW is better than every single lightweight outside of it. Yes, many UFC LWs don't get enough respect from rankings.
But until they all fight each other (or one large group of fighters goes to the UFC or visa versa) 155 will be almost impossible to rank.
Posted By: Tonley (Registered) on September 05, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Damn...looks like my replies to romano got messed up. I need to get more sleep.
"but i really need to know how anoki and jz are above alvarez."
Alvarez wasn't ranked at all before the GP. JZ was top 3 and Aoki was just as high. JZ lost to Aoki and Aoki didn't lose until the finals so while Alvarez shoots up the rankings, Aoki and JZ only go down a little.
"how the homeboy that beat aoki is on the bubble"
Hansen wasn't ranked at all previously.
"and who in the hell put kawajiri ahead of the dude that won the tournament!!!!"
Hansen lost previously to Alvarez (in addition to not being ranked at all) and had to come in as an alternate. Kawajiri was ranked and won his way to the semi-finals.
"how gilber melendez is still ranked"
Because...well...um...good point. Out of all of the lightweights that fought mostly in Japan, Gilbert is the most overrated.
Posted By: Tonley (Registered) on September 05, 2008 at 12:33 AM
