411's MMA Rankings 11.06.08: Middleweight
Posted by Dustin James on 11.06.2008
It's time for 411mania to rank the best middleweight fighters in MMA once again! Can anybody take the top spot from Anderson Silva? How about Patrick Cote? Gegard Mousasi? Or what about that guy the UFC just signed who appears on this list? All that and more inside...
Welcome to the latest edition of 411mania's MMA rankings. As always I'm Dustin James and I will be your host for these here ranking thingies. How did everybody enjoy their Halloween? Mine was pretty good, except for the fact that I just happened to pick the costume 95% of America did....and most people did it way better. What a day for me to half ass a costume. Oh well, I still got wasted and egged my neighbors house so it was a pretty good Halloween overall. What about Obama becoming President? America has definitely changed since my dad was born (I can't say me since I was born in 1981). Now hopefully Obama can get make that housing market better!
Ohhhh, you came here for MMA rankings. Sorry, I forget these things......
"C'MON! Who wouldn't pay to see [Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture] fight? I don't even have to explain why this fight would sell. The names alone could break PPV records. The WWE fans would buy it because even if they don't watch MMA, they have heard of Randy F'N Couture! And of course, they know Lesnar. So their interest would be peaked enough and they would throw down money to see these two fight. It has to happen! Randy, you need to come back and fight Lesnar. Screw the Scorpion King!"
I got my wish!
1. Anderson Silva
2. Paulo Filho
3. Dan Henderson
4. Matt Lindland
5. Rich Franklin
6. Yushin Okami
7. Robbie Lawler
8. Denis Kang
9. Nate Marquardt - TIE
9. Yoshihiro Akiyama - TIE
10. Kazuo Misaki
Cung Le & Frank Trigg were "On the bubble".
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 put together a football team that could defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.
*Please note that we ranked these BEFORE Paulo Filho's fight with Chael Sonnen at WEC 36. Just remember that the outcome of that fight had no impact on Filho's ranking here. Also note that we are not ranking Rich Franklin as a middleweight. Franklin looks to be fighting in the UFC's light heavyweight division for the time being. Meanwhile, Dan Henderson looks to be bouncing between the two so he will remain ranked.
411's Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Anderson Silva (23-4)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: April 14, 1975
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Patrick Cote - Win via TKO (injured knee) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Silva did what everybody expected him to do at UFC 90, and that was defeat Patrick Cote. OK, sure it didn't go down how we all thought it would, but in reality Silva had a good game plan. He was going to wait for Cote to make a mistake rather than be the Silva we all know and love. The main thing is, the man won. He is now tied with UFC Hall-Of-Famer Royce Gracie and Jon Fitch for the most consecutive wins in UFC history. If Silva can win his next fight he will become the first man to ever start out 9-0 with the company. Who is Silva's next opponent? If Silva is looking to fight again in the UFC light heavyweight division I must strongly suggest a potential fight with Chuck Liddell....say in March! The fight would bring in huge numbers for the UFC despite Liddell's KO loss to Rashad Evans earlier this year. Not only that, but it would be a GOOD FIGHT! There are still a lot of potential opponents for Silva in the UFC. If he is only sticking around for 5-6 more fights, we need to see some huge fights.
2) 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 "Faber vs. Brown" - November 5, 2008
Comments: Like I mentioned previously, we voted on these rankings before Filho's fight with Chael Sonnen at WEC 36.
UPDATE! - Filho lost to Sonnen at WEC 36 with a less than stellar performance. You can bet the next time we do these rankings we will have a new #2.
3) Dan Henderson (23-7)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: August 24, 1970
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rousimar Palhares - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 88: Breakthrough - September 6, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Rich Franklin - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
Comments: Speaking of UFC "super-fights". A few weeks after the ball drops in Times Square we will be rewarded with a wicked awesome Henderson vs. Franklin fight at UFC 93 in Ireland. The fight will be in the UFC's light heavyweight division, but you can bet it will have an impact on Henderson's middleweight ranking if he is loses to the former UFC middleweight champion. As I mentioned, Franklin is not being ranked anymore due to the fact that he will be fighting in the UFC's light heavyweight division for the near future. It's looking like Henderson will be bouncing back and forth.
4) 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:
- vs. Dean Lister - UFC 92 "Nogueira vs. Mir" - December 27, 2009
Comments: This fight with Dean Lister at UFC 92 is a huge fight for Okami. If he's victorious you can bet that he will be the #1 contender in the UFC's middleweight division. The UFC has been dying to put together an Okami/Silva fight due to the fact that Okami is the last man to defeat "The Spider". It's too bad this fight will be shown on the prelim card of UFC 92. CB Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio made the PPV, but this one didn't? W-H-A?!?!?!
5) Robbie Lawler (16-4)
Height: 5'11
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent (still under contract with the now-defunct 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: It was a bummer deal for the former EliteXC Middleweight Champion when EliteXC decided to close it's doors a few weeks back. What's next for Lawler? UFC President Dana White has gone public and insisted that he's interested in bringing Lawler back to the UFC. The only thing holding up Lawler's signing is his current contract with EliteXC. You can bet that when that thing gets settled, Lawler will have fists flying in the Octagon once more.
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. Trevor Prangley - Affliction 2: Fedor vs. Arlovski - January 24, 2009
Comments: Lindland lost his chance at a possible political career on Tuesday when he was defeated by some old broad for a seat on the Oregon State House of Representatives. Poor Lindland. This is his first loss since Fedor destroyed him last year. However, it will have no impact on his ranking here.
7) Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1)
Height: 6'0
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza - Win via KO (upkick) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - September 23, 2008
- vs. Melvin Manhoef - Win via submission (triangle choke) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - September 23, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Vitor Belfort - Affliction 2 "Fedor vs. Arlovski" - January 24, 2009 *Currently rumored*
Comments: Gegard Mousasi did it! He became the very first DREAM Middleweight Champion by defeating Melvin Manhoef and "Jacare" Souza in the same night! His victory over "Jacare" was incredible. Souza was striking Mousasi while Mousasi was on the ground and once Jacare came in for a huge blow, Mousasi up kicked Jacare right in the sweet spot, and he was out like a light at bedtime. Mousasi is indeed one of the middleweights you need to look out for. It won't be long before people are clamoring for him to be in the UFC. He has my vote already.
8) Nathan Marquardt (27-8-2)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: April 20, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Martin Kampmann - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 88: Breakthrough - September 6, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Nothing new on Marquardt.....
9) Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: July 29, 1975
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Masanori Tonooka - Win via submission (arm bar) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - September 23, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Comments: The big rumor going around is that Akiyama is on the outs with the DREAM organization and may be interested in signing with the UFC. If this is indeed true, Akiyama would be a HUGE pick up for the UFC. Give him one or two fights in the UFC and if he wins, he becomes an instant contender to Silva. It would be a brilliant move by Zuffa.
10) Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (10-2)
Height: 6'0
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Gegard Mousasi - Loss via KO (upkick) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - September 23, 2008
- vs. Zelg Galesic - Win via submission (arm bar) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 - September 23, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Jacare (who was my favorite to win the tournament) lost to Gegard Mousasi in the finals of the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix via a VICIOUS upkick from Mousasi. I can't wait to see Jacare fight again, so here's to a quick recovery......
On The Bubble: (On the bubble includes fighters who aren't ranked but still remain a threat in their weight division)
Frank Trigg (18-6)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: May 7, 1972
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku, Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Falaniko Vitale - Win via decision (unanimous) - Strikeforce "Payback" - October 3, 2008
- vs. Makoto Takimoto - Win via decision (unanimous) - Sengoku 4 - August 24, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Kazuo Misaki (21-8-2)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: April 25, 1976
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku, Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Joe Riggs - Win via TKO (punches) - Strikeforce "Playboy Mansion II" - September 20, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Denis Kang (31-10-1)
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Marvin Eastman - Win via TKO (punches) - Raw Combat "Redemption" - October 25, 2008
- vs. Jae Young Kim - Win via KO - Spirit MC 18: The Champion - August 31, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Thales Leites (14-1)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: September 6, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Drew McFedries - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Michael Bisping (17-1)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: February 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Chris Leben - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben - October 18, 2008
- vs. Jason Day - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008
- vs. Charles McCarthy - Win via TKO (arm injury) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II - April 19, 2008
- vs. Rashad Evans - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Matt Hamill - Win via decision (split) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Coach on "The Ultimate Fighter" Season Nine in 2009
Jorge Santiago (20-7)
Height: 6'1
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - Win via TKO (punches) - Sengoku 6 - November 1, 2008
- vs. Siyar Bahadurzada - Win via submission (heel hook) - Sengoku 6 - November 1, 2008
- vs. Logan Clark - Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Sengoku 5 - September 28, 2008
- vs. Yuki Sasaki - Win via submission (arm bar) - Sengoku 2 - May 18, 2008
- vs. Trevor Prangley - Win via KO (knee to the body) - Strikeforce: 4 Men Enter, 1 Man Survives - November 16, 2007
Posted By: allan (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Better get Paulo Filho off of this list. His last two fights were pathetic. I don't seem him as even top 10.
Posted By: Brian (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 07:34 AM
I guess I should read before I write... but I think he should be outright removed from the top 10 until you guys make a new list.
Posted By: Brian (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 07:35 AM
At least he's finally put Bisping on the list.
Nate Marquardt can sit at number 8, doing nothing of note, but Bisping on a 3 fight win streak can barely bubble under.
Posted By: Luke S (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Yeah, these rankings were done before Filho fought on Wednesday. I think he'll definitely be lucky to crack the "Top 5", if not "Top 10", come the next go round.
Posted By: punchdrunk (Registered) on November 06, 2008 at 09:20 AM
BISPING!!!
:rock:
Posted By: Guest#6652 (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 11:13 AM
*enter slanderous comment about Filho and praise for Marquardt*
Posted By: guest guest (Guest) on November 06, 2008 at 01:53 PM
"Dude, Bisping lost to Evans in UFC 78."
What the hell does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on November 07, 2008 at 12:05 PM
