411's MMA Rankings 01.06.09: Heavyweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 01.06.2009
UFC 92 has come and gone and we all saw Frank Mir defeat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Title. Has Nogueira been knocked off his #2 spot in the rankings that he has held for well over a year now? What about Mir? Is he a top 5 heavyweight now? If Nogueira isn't #2 anymore, who is? Is it Andrei Arlovski? Josh Barnett? What about Brock Lesnar? It's all here in the first 2009 edition of 411's MMA Rankings.....
Welcome back to the first edition of 411's MMA Rankings of 2009 and as luck would have it, we are ranking the heavyweights. I say luck because UFC 91 & 92 are now officially in the books and they are a pair of cards that RATTLED the UFC's heavyweight division. Not only was Brock Lesnar able to defeat Randy Couture for UFC Heavyweight Title, but a month later Frank Mir defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Title and now Mir and Lesnar will face off in a rematch that could set UFC PPV records. BUT, that's not the big question right now. The big question is....where does everybody land in the heavyweight rankings? You are lucky the staff here at 411mania.com is able to help you out with that very question......
PS: Make you check out this week's edition of "The Ultimate Writer". It's a year-end extravaganza that is extremely well written and the author comes across as a very good looking and intelligent man.
NOW, back with the rankings......
Last Year At This Time
1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria
3. Gabriel Gonzaga
4. Tim Sylvia
5. Andrei Arlvoski
6. Mirko Cro Cop
7. Cheick Kongo
8. Ben Rothwell
9. Fabricio Werdum
10. Sergei Kharitonov
Brandon Vera, Aleksander Emelianenko, Jeff Monson, Jake O'Brien, and Tim Hague, 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. 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 are not dangerous at all, I won't lie to you.
411's Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)
Height: 6'0
Weight: 233
Currently fighting with: Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Hong Man Choi - Win via submission (arm bar) - Yarennoka - New Year's Eve 2007 - December 31, 2007
- vs. Matt Lindland - Win via submission (arm bar) - BodogFight: Clash of the Nations - April 14, 2007
- vs. Mark Hunt - Win via submission (kimura) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Mark Coleman - Win via submission (arm bar) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Andrei Arlovski - Affliction: Day Of Reckoning - January 24, 2009
2) Andrei Arlovski (13-5)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Roy Nelson - Win via KO (punch) - EliteXC: Heat - October 4, 2008
- vs. Ben Rothwell - Win via KO (punches) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Jake O'Brien - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Fabricio Werdum - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 70: Nations Collide - April 21, 2007
- vs. Marcio Cruz - Win via KO (strikes) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz II - December 30, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Fedor Emelianenko - Affliction: Day Of Reckoning - January 24, 2009
3) Josh Barnett (26-5)
Height: 6'3
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: World Victory Road, Affliction
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Pedro Rizzo - Win via KO (punch) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Jeff Monson - Win via decision (unanimous) - World Victory Road: Sengoku 2 - May 18, 2008
- vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - Win via submission (heel hook) - World Victory Road: Sengoku - March 5, 2008
- vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Loss via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Pawel Nastula - Win via submission (toe hold) - PRIDE 32: The Real Deal - October 21, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Gilbert Yvel - Affliction: Day Of Reckoning - January 24, 2009
4) Frank Mir (12-3)
Height: 6'1
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 92: Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- vs. Brock Lesnar - Win via submission (knee bar) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Antoni Hardonk - Win via submission (kimura) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Brandon Vera - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
- vs. Dan Christison - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 61: Bitter Rivals - July 8, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
5) Brock Lesnar (3-1)
Height: 6'2
Weight: 265
Birthday: July 12, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Randy Couture - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar - November 15, 2008
- vs. Heath Herring - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008
- vs. Frank Mir - Loss via submission (kneebar) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Min Soo Kim - Win via submission (strikes) - K1 HERO's - Dynamite!! USA - June 2, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
6) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1)
Height: 6'3
Weight: 231
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Frank Mir - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 92: Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Heath Herring - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 73: Stacked - July 7th, 2007
- vs. Josh Barnett - Win via decision (unanimous) - PRIDE - Shockwave 2006 - December 31, 2006
- vs. Josh Barnett - Loss via decision (split) - PRIDE - Final Conflict Absolute - September 10, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
7) Randy Couture (16-9)
Height: 6'1
Weight: 225
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Brock Lesnar - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar - November 15, 2008
- vs. Gabriel Gonzaga - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Tim Sylvia - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
- vs. Chuck Liddell - Loss via KO (punch) - UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 - February 4, 2006
- vs. Mike Van Arsdale - Win via submission (anaconda choke) - UFC 54: Boiling Point - August 20, 2005
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
8) Gabriel Gonzaga (10-3)
Height: 6'2
Weight: 252
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Josh Hendricks - Win via KO (punches) - UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar - November 15, 2008
- vs. Justin McCully - Win via submission (kimura) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008
- vs. Fabricio Werdum - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 80: Rapid Fire - January 19, 2008
- vs. Randy Couture - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Mirko Cro Cop - Win via KO (head kick) - UFC 70: Nations Collide - April 21, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Shane Carwin - UFC 96 - March 2009 (Currently rumored)
9) Alistair Overeem (29-11)
Height: 6'5
Weight: 205
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: DREAM, Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
vs. Gary Goodridge - Win via submission (kimura) - Glory 10: Battle of Arnhem - November 9, 2008
- vs. Mirko Cro Cop - No Contest (knee to the groin) - DREAM 6 - September 23, 2008
- vs. Mark Hunt - Win via submission (keylock) - DREAM 5 - July 21, 2008
- vs. Tae Hyun Lee - Win via KO (punches) - DREAM 4 - June 15, 2008
- vs. Paul Buentello - Win via submission (knees to the body) - Strikeforce: 4 Men Enter, 1 Man Survives - November 16, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
10) Cheick Kongo (13-4-1)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 230
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Mustapha al Turk - Win via TKO (elbows and punches) - UFC 92: Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- vs. Dan Evensen - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008
- vs. Heath Herring - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Mirko Cro Cop - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. Assuerio Silva - Win via decision (majority) - UFC 70: Nations Collide - April 21, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
11) Cain Velasquez (4-0)
Height: 6'2
Weight: 242
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Jake O'Brien - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC: Silva vs. Irvin - July 19, 2008
- vs. Brad Morris - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II - April 19, 2008
- vs. Jeremiah Constant - Win via TKO - BodogFIGHT: St Petersburg - December 16, 2006
- vs. Jesse Fujarczyk - Win via TKO (strikes) - Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello - October 7, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Denis Stojnic - UFC Fight Night 17 - February 7, 2009
12) Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: Free Agent
Last 5 wins:
- vs. Junior dos Santos - Loss via TKO (punches) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- vs. Brandon Vera - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008
- vs. Gabriel Gonzaga - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 80: Rapid Fire - January 19, 2008
- vs. Andrei Arlovski - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 70: Nations Collide - April 21, 2007
- vs. Aleksander Emelianenko - Win via submission (choke) - 2H2H - Pride & Honor - November 12, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
13) Tim Sylvia (26-6)
Height: 6'8
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: Adrenaline MMA, Affliction
Last 5 wins:
- vs. Fedor Emelianenko - Loss via submission (rear naked choke) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Loss via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 81: Breaking Point - February 2, 2008
- vs. Brandon Vera - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 77: Hostile Territory - October 20, 2007
- vs. Randy Couture - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
- vs. Jeff Monson - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
14) Aleksander Emelianenko (14-3)
Height: 6'6
Weight: 253
Currently Fighting With: M-1
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Sang Soo Lee - Win via TKO (punches) - M-1 Challenge 9 - November 21, 2008
- vs. Silvao Santos - Win via TKO (punches) - M-1 Challenge - April 3, 2008
- vs. Dan Bobish - Win via submission (guillotine) - HCF: Title Wave - October 19, 2007
- vs. Jessie Gibbs - Win via submission (kimura) - M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva - July 21, 2007
- vs. Eric Pele - Win via KO (punch) - Bodog Fight: Clash of the Nations - April 14, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
15) Ben Rothwell (30-6)
Height: 6'5
Weight: 265
Currently Fighting With: Affliction, Adrenaline MMA
Last 5 fights:
-vs. Chris Guillen - Win via submission (elbows) - AMMA 2: Adrenaline MMA 2 - December 11, 2008
- vs. Andrei Arlovski - Loss via KO (punches) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Ricco Rodriguez - Win via decision (unanimous) - IFL: 2007 Championship Final - September 20, 2007
- vs. Krzysztof Soszynski - Win via TKO (punches) - IFL: 2007 Semifinals - August 2, 2007
- vs. Travis Fulton - Win via submission (kimura) - IFL: Chicago - May 19, 2007
Posted By: S Dot (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Where the fuck is Shane Carwin at?
Posted By: Saint (Guest) on January 05, 2009 at 11:32 PM
where is antonio silva? otherwise a fine list
Posted By: cbizzle (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I agree with Saint... Shane Carwin should be on the list- he's at least equal to Cain.
Posted By: cyks (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 01:09 AM
um i dot understand why Cain Velasquez is even on the list i agree he is going to be a top10 Heavyweight in the future but isnt this list current top 10?
He is 4-0 and really has faced no names.
Junior dos Santos should at least be in there.
Posted By: johny111 (Registered) on January 06, 2009 at 01:22 AM
Very, VERY reasonable list. I'm sure idiots are gonna complain, but you guys did a great job.
Posted By: Samer (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 03:02 AM
Why is Arlovski AHEAD of THE UFC CHAMP AND THE UFC INTERIM ONE ?
Posted By: Guest#7489 (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 07:47 AM
The top 3 is bull. Before the rebuilding of the UFC heavyweight division, Fedor at number one was UNQUESTIONABLE. However, since Randy returned, Big Nog, Frank Mir, and Brock Lesnar have put together some serious tests and have redefined the heavyweight scene. Brock's 4 fight record is more impressive than Fedor's last 5 by miles. Mir's last 2 fights put him right where you have him, in my mind and I'll even agree that until Fedor loses again or Brock beats Frank Mir, Fedor is an arguable number 1 in the world. (I think he'd beat Brock, don't give me shit for that... It's just based on their records)
BUT on the other hand Josh Barnett should not be in the top 5. Nog, even after his loss to Mir should be number 2. Brock 3. Mir 4. Arlovski 5. At 6 things get a lot more hazy and maybe Barnett goes there, but I'd put Randy there. Possibly a sentimental placement. I don't see him staying there very long in any case.
Arlovski's win over Nelson was suspect, sad to say. Josh Barnett has a couple wins over underwhelming competition and a loss to the "Number 6" guy on your list. WTF is he doing at number 3? Nog has wins over... Barnett, a UFC Heavyweight champion (ugh, yes Timmah sucks but he knew how to win) and a guy about equal with Monson in my mind. Which speaks a lot higher of Nog than Barnett. Barnett's best competition... is Nog and he lost their most recent fight, after beating him by split decision. Not exactly awe-inspiring.
I'd flip Cheick and Alistair, but otherwise the bottom half isn't too bad. I'd change it, but I don't think it's bad. Not like the top half.
Posted By: RanmaSolo (Registered) on January 06, 2009 at 08:05 AM
I don't get why Brock Lesnar isn't ranked higher I mean he went into a fight where people believed he would buckle under the pressure that he wasn't capable of finishing a fight, that Coutore's experience would win out. and Brock Lesnar not only beat he finished Coutore by getting a TKO win over Captain America.
Posted By: John from NC (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Meh. I think the rankings are fine.
Nog loses so he moves down which moves up Arlovski and Barnett. Mir's win launches him in the top 5 and it's rounded out by Lesnar.
Lesnar wasn't ranked highly when Mir beat him and Mir finished a higher ranked HW in Big Nog so he's ahead of Lesnar.
Makes sense to me.
Posted By: Tonley (Registered) on January 06, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Arlovski at #2? You're joking, right? Mir easily deserves the #2 spot after punking out Big Nog. And Barnett? C'mon guys...I know it's cool and edgy to not like the major, mainstream fighters, but these two in no way deserve to be above the two UFC Heavyweight champs.
And yes, we all love Fedor. He's without a doubt one of the best heavyweights in the world. But c'mon, he hasn't fought since July...maintaining a rank is also dependent on staying relevant and fighting. I'm gonna die laughing when the bigger Arlovski kills him at the end of the month. Just sick and tired of hearing about this overrated assclown. Other than Big Nog four years ago (by decision), this guy hasn't fought anyone worth a damn (no, Tim Sylvia in 2008 doesn't count cause Sylvia in 2008 sucks balls and Mark Coleman is a piece of shit). I'm sorry, but to be #1, you have to be in the #1, and until Fedor is in the UFC, he should never be #1. It would be like having some college running back ranked #1 amoungst NFL players.
And the dream is over, take Captain America out of this list...he's gone 50/50 in his last 4 fights and he's not planning on fighting for at least a year. Keep the nostalgia to your columns and not to the rankings.
Posted By: Ramsey (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 10:00 AM
A minor complaint, but d'ya think you could use a better picture of Lesnar? i.e. One where he isn't wearing a suit.
Posted By: Simpleton (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Its a joke to even have Couture on this list right now he is WASHED UP.
Posted By: Matt (Guest) on January 06, 2009 at 02:33 PM
just because couture gets caught with a punch he's washed up? sorry but i still consider him in the top five. the only real issue i have with this list is that tim sylvia shouldn't even be on it. his last win was against brandon vera in a fight that involved sylvia leaning against vera for five long rounds.
Posted By: gerad (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 01:19 AM
RanmaSolo is retarted. If you get beat you get put out of your spot. If my first fight was with fedor i would be put as number 1. and if i get beat ill be takin out of number 1. youa re dumb. you need to eat shit and die
Posted By: Guest#3126 (Guest) on January 12, 2009 at 06:45 PM
Lesnar.. He hasnt been tested enough to crack the top 5. Come on, the top 5??? in the world?? are you serious?? Lesnar fought an over the hill Heath Herring, and out weighed Couture by about 60 to 65 pounds at the time of the fight. If Couture was under the age of 30, and just getting into MMA, he'd without a doubt be a light-heavy weight strictly. Lesnar got heel hooked in the only other decent fight he's had. He's untested, and mainly should NEVER be above Big Nog. A man thats only been finished once, and even in that fight, took punishment in bunches long before the ref stepped in. To the ppl at 411 Mania...
Do you really think Lesnar beats a true heavyweight like Nog?...
Posted By: phough23 (Guest) on January 21, 2009 at 08:07 PM
