411's MMA Rankings 10.30.08: Light Heavyweight
Posted by Dustin James on 10.30.2008
It's almost Halloween, so you know what that means? That's right....it's time to rank the best light heavyweights in MMA! Can anyone take the top spot from Forrest Griffin? How about "Rampage" Jackson? Lyoto Machida? Keith Jardine? Luis Cane? All your questions will be answered here......
Welcome back to just one of the many reasons you come back to 411mania.com everyday. It's 411's MMA Rankings, and this time we are ranking those pesky light heavyweights. Who can take the top spot from Forrest Griffin? Will it be "Rampage" Jackson? "Shogun" Rua? Rashad Evans? Or perhaps.....Luis Cane? The only way you will know is to keep reading, so just do it......
Frustrated Views From a Sports Fan: Skip over this if you don't like sports......
So I'm a HUGE sports fan....I'm telling you I'm addicted to the NFL, NBA, MMA, & College sports. But throwing away MMA for a bit, I'm a totally frustrated sports fan right now. My favorite teams are the Kansas City Chiefs, Portland Trailblazers, & the Oregon Ducks. First off, don't get me started on the Chiefs. I knew this year was going to be a rebuilding year and I predicted them to get 4 wins. I thought even 4 wins was a stretch but I figured Larry Johnson would be good for a few victories. However, now all LJ wants to do is hang out at local pubs and spit in the face of women. Oh, pleasant. And don't even get me started on the QB play.....and where the hell has Glenn Dorsey been? They have one shining ray of hope, and his name is Dwayne Bowe. Get a good QB, and you have the foundation for a solid offense in a few years, especially if LJ can get his head on right.
Now, moving on to the Blazers. So I have been waiting for the debut of Greg Oden for like 18 months now. All day long on Tuesday I'm eager as a beaver wanting to see the Blazers first game of the season against the Lakers. I knew they would lose but as long as I got to see Oden....I was happy. Guess what I saw? Oden play 13 minutes and then go hobbling to the locker room with a sprained foot. Ohhhh Glory dayssss. He shouldn't be out that long (if at all), but C'MON GUY! Stay healthy~! That's all I ask.
And don't get me started on the Oregon Ducks. Good recruiting school, but that's it. Both the football and basketball program need new coaches because it's become a "thing" at U of O to get great recruits who don't really improve while playing at the school. Yes, Jonathan Stewart is pretty good......but he could have played NFL ball right out of high school. The dude is built.
See what I mean? I just want a LITTLE taste of winning at some point. Boston sports fans....consider yourself lucky.
Last year at this time: Who was on top of this division at this time last year?
1. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
2. Dan Henderson
3. Wanderlei Silva
4. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
5. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
6. Chuck Liddell
7. Forrest Griffin
8. Keith Jardine
9. Tito Ortiz
10. Rashad Evans
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 "Fabricio Werdum" fans.
411's Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Forrest Griffin (16-4)
Height: 6'3
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Quinton Jackson - Win by decision (unanimous) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008
- vs. Mauricio Rua - Win by submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Hector Ramirez - Win by decision (unanimous) - UFC 72: Victory - July 16, 2007
- vs. Keith Jardine - Loss by TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
- vs. Stephan Bonnar - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral - August 26, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Rashad Evans - UFC 92 "Nogueira vs. Mir" - December 27, 2008
Comments: It's official. Forrest (winner of TUF season 1) will face Rashad Evans (winner of TUF season 2) at UFC 92 in what should be a great fight. If Rashad Evans can knock Griffin out of the top spot then Evans will no doubt sky rocket up the rankings even more. I can not wait until UFC 92, it's a stacked card and comes just in time for the holiday season. Merry Christmas to us.
2) Quinton Jackson (28-7)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: June 20, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Forrest Griffin - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - UFC 92 "Nogueira vs. Mir" - December 27, 2008
Comments: Speaking of UFC 92, Rampage will face Wanderlei Silva for the third time in what many are calling a "#1 contender fight". Can Rampage do what he hasn't done yet and defeat Wanderlei? Or can Wandy complete the trilogy and face the winner of Griffin/Evans?
3) 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. Thiago Silva - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
Comments: Not much new for Lyoto.......
4) Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1-1)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: July 3, 1976
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Keith Jardine - Win via KO (punches) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- vs. Dan Henderson - Loss via KO (left hook) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Mirko Cro Cop - Loss via KO (head kick) - PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
- vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE - Critical Countdown Absolute - July 1, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Quinton Jackson - UFC 92 "Nogueira vs. Mir" - December 27, 2008
Comments: See: Jackson, Quinton
5) Rashad Evans (12-0-1)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: September 25, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Win via KO (punch) - UFC 88: Breakthrough - September 6, 2008
- vs. Michael Bisping - Win via decision (split) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Tito Ortiz - Draw - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Sean Salmon - Win via KO (high kick) - UFC Fight Night 8 - January 25, 2007
- vs. Jason Lambert - Win via KO (punches from mount) - UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn - September 23, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Forrest Griffin - UFC 92 "Nogueira vs. Mir" - December 27, 2008
Comments: See: Griffin, Forrest (See, I can do that alot when the UFC has two top ranking guys do battle. Gotta love the UFC!)
6) 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:
- vs. Mark Coleman - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
Comments: And it's on....Shogun Rua will try to come back from that loss against Forrest back at UFC 76 and plans on taking out UFC Hall-of-Famer Mark Coleman impressively. True, Coleman currently holds a victory over Rua, but can we REALLY call that a great victory? It's pay back time for Rua.....
7) Thiago Silva (13-0)
Height: 6'1
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Antonio Mendes - Win via submission (punches) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Houston Alexander - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Tomasz Drwal - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. James Irvin - Win via TKO (knee injury) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Tatsuya Mizuno - Win via KO (soccer kick) - Pancrase - Rising 2 - February 28, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Lyoto Machida - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
Comments: See: Machida, Lyoto (I now realize that out of 10 fighters on this list, 6 of them will be doing battle against other by the time UFC 93 is over. That's just fantastic.)
8) Keith Jardine (14-4-1)
Height: 6'2
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Brandon Vera - Win via decision (split) - UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben - October 18, 2008
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - Loss by KO (punches) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Win by decision (split) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Houston Alexander - Loss by KO (punches) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Forrest Griffin - Win by TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Jardine scored a "great" victory over Brandon Vera at UFC 89 a few weeks back. And by "great" victory, I mean he won a fight that keeps him in the top 10. A loss would have hurt him BAD.
9) Chuck Liddell (21-6)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: December 17, 1969
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rashad Evans - Loss via KO (punch) - UFC 88: Breakthrough - September 6, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: What's next for Liddell? Probably some acting. He's been in a few movies, TV shows (Entourage~!), and other things....so he's pretty good at that. He won't be fighting anytime soon. We probably won't see Liddell until March or later.
10) Luis Cane (9-1)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: February 4, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben - October 18, 2008
- vs. Jason Lambert - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008
- vs. James Irvin - Loss via DQ (knee to the head on the ground) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- vs. James Damien Stelly - Win via KO (knee) - Art Of War 3 - September 1, 2007
- vs. Wagner Ribeiro - Win via submission - Minotauro Fights 5 - December 9, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Speaking of guys with a GREAT victory recently, look no further than Cane. Cane had an impressive victory over (GASP, the overrated?!?!)0 Sokoudjou at UFC 89 which vaults him into the top 10 and knocks Soko off the list completely. Good news for Cane, but bad news for Soko fans....like myself. Either way, Cane looks scary good.
On the bubble:
(On the bubble includes fighters who almost cracked the Top 10. These fighters remain serious threats in their current division)
Tito Ortiz (15-6-1)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: January 23, 1975
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Lyoto Machida - Loss via Decision (unanimous) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008
- vs. Rashad Evans - Draw - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7, 2007
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 - December 30, 2006
- vs. Ken Shamrock - Win via TKO (punches) - Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3: The Final Chapter - October 10, 2006
- vs. Ken Shamrock - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 61: Bitter Rivals - July 8, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: January 4, 1971
Currently Fighting With: IFL
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Jamal Patterson - Win via TKO (strikes) - IFL: New Jersey - April 4, 2008
- vs. Alex Schoenauer - Win via decision (unanimous) - IFL - World Grand Prix Semifinals - November 3, 2007
- vs. Tim Boetsch - Win via decision (unanimous) - IFL - 2007 Semifinals - August 2, 2007
- vs. Aaron Stark - Win via TKO (punches) - IFL - Everett - June 1, 2007
- vs. Justin Levens - Win via TKO (strikes) - IFL - Los Angeles - March 17, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: June 2, 1976
Currently Fighting With: Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Edwin Dewees - Win via TKO (punches) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Todd Gouwenberg - Win via TKO - HCF - Destiny - February 1, 2008
- vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Loss via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE 33: The Second Coming - February 24, 2007
- vs. Alistair Overeem - Win via TKO (strikes) - PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute - July 7, 2006
- vs. Mauricio Rua - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 - June 6, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Moise Rimbon - Sengoku 6 - November 1, 2008
Rich Franklin (24-3)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: October 5, 1974
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Matt Hamill - Win via TKO (kick to the body) - UFC 88: Breakthrough - September 6, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Dan Henderson - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
Great list, but i'd move silva down to 7 and everybody else up, than replace cane with anderson silva, but thats just me
Posted By: Blarg (Guest) on October 29, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I dont think that Anderson Silva should be there because with this ranking system only LHW fights count. With only a win over someone who is not even in the top ten, how could you move into the top ten. Irvin is a good fighter no doubt, I would throw him in the top 20 but with Silva defeating him and isnt proof that he can stand with the rest of the top ten LHW division. You must beat a ranked to be a ranked.
Posted By: RenEDarE (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 12:24 AM
I think you should put that white looking powder away for awhile
Posted By: Guest#9252 (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 12:30 AM
no, but Silva could at least be on the bubble, he won a fight at LHW, and has beaten Franklin twice, so the argument could be made for Silva replacing Franklin.
Posted By: Duncan (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 01:20 AM
i don't think it's fair that wandi is ranked over evans. i think #1 contenders should be established by wins not reputation. the biggest victim of the current system is machida, whose only crime is being boring as hell.
Posted By: the dude (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 01:28 AM
Anyone else notice the odd trend that only two people on this list (Cane and Jardine) have fought more than once in 2008. These rankings will never go anywhere if no one fights anyone else.
Posted By: Sasukespecialman (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 02:08 AM
its nice to see Lyoto get some love somewhere. Dana & Co is starting to piss me off. They fucking refuse to promote Lyoto. Case in point the most recent episode of TUF. I was watching the scene of Big Nog's Bday and I noticed some one familiar sitting on one end of the table. It was fucking Lyoto Machida and the show made no mention of him at all!! I went back and started watching this new episode (I DVR'd it) and some of the older ones. Lyoto has been helping out as a coach for a couple of weeks (of tv time) now and the UFC has made absolutely no mention of it! Anderson Silva practically got an episode dedicated to him. Now I am fully aware of the differences betweem the two and am not suggesting that Lyoto deserved the same attention as Anderson fucking Silva but come on he should at least be mentioned. Fuck you Dana and fuck you to everyone that is trying to pretend like Lyoto doesn't exist cause he does exist and would and hopefully soon will beat the piss out of Forrest Griffin or Rashad Evans.
Posted By: stronelis (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 11:54 AM
how can you state in the rules that a fighter cannot be ranked in they haven't fought in a year and then put Shogun Rua in your rankings? way to pay attention to your own rules.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Guest:
"However, if a fighter schedules a fight he is still eligible for being ranked."
Posted By: Henly (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 03:46 PM
HORRIBLE rankings. Wanderlei has lost 3 of his last 4, his only win coming against someone who is insanely inconsistent. Tito should not be on the bubble. It's been ages since he beat someone not named Shamrock.
Posted By: William (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Shogun and his crappy brother need to pack up their things and go back to Brazil after this next loss.
Posted By: Guest#9495 (Guest) on October 30, 2008 at 08:48 PM
