411's MMA Rankings 01.13.09: Lightweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 01.13.2009
It's the first 411 MMA Lightweight Rankings of 2009 and they couldn't have come at a better time. We are fresh off Sengoku 7 where former #1 Takanori Gomi dropped his second consecutive fight. Is Gomi still considered a top 15 lightweight? What about Eddie Alvarez? Has he dropped in the rankings after a loss to Shinya Aoki on New Year's Eve? Is Aoki the new #1 lightweight in the world after that victory? 411's Dustin James gives you all the answers inside.....
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back. It's time for the first lightweight rankings of 2009, done 411 style baby. Like I mentioned in the above teaser, we are fresh off World Victory Road's Sengoku 7 where former #1 lightweight Takanori Gomi lost to Satoru Kitaoka, meaning that Gomi is now on a two-fight losing streak! GASP! Say it ain't so! The big argument now is....is Gomi still considered a top 15 lightweight? After his loss to Kitaoka, Gomi said he was going to take some time off and change up his training. I would love to see Gomi rebound from this loss, but he is one loss from becoming completely off the radar as far as being a top lightweight in MMA is concerned.
The other big news in the lightweight division since the last time we ranked these was the big New Year's Eve bout between Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez at the FEG FieLDS Dynamite!! card. Aoki shocked a lot of people when he defeated Alvarez in such quick fashion. Was that win enough to move Aoki over BJ Penn to claim the top spot in the lightweight rankings?
Let's not keep you waiting any longer.......
Last Year At This Time:
1. Takanori Gomi
2. Hayato Sakurai
3. Gilbert Melendez
4. Tatsuya Kawajiri
5. BJ Penn
6. Vitor Ribeiro
7. Sean Sherk
8. Mitsuhiro Ishida
9. Joe Stevenson
10. Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante
Tyson Griffin and Frankie Edgar 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'm not going to lie to you.
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 - UFC 94: St Pierre vs. Penn - January 31, 2009
2) Shinya Aoki (19-3)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: May 9, 1983
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Eddie Alvarez - Win via submission (heel hook) - FEG FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008 - December 31, 2008
- vs. Todd Moore - Win via submission (neck crank) - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final - September 23, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
-vs. Currently unknown
3) Gesias "JZ" 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 unknown
4) Kenny Florian (11-3)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: May 26, 1976
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Joe Stevenson - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar - November 15, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
5) Sean Sherk (33-3-1)
Height: 5'6
Birthday: August 5, 1973
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tyson Griffin - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
6) Eddie Alvarez (15-2)
Birthday: November 11, 1984
Currently Fighting With: DREAM, Bellator Fighting Championship, Extreme Challenge
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Shinya Aoki - Loss via submission (heel hook) - FEG FieLDS Dynamite!! 2008 - December 31, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
7) Josh Thomson (16-2)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: September 21, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Ashe Bowman - Win via TKO - Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion II - September 20, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
8) 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
9) 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:
- vs. Currently unknown
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
11) Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1)
Height: 5'6
Birthday: December 29, 1978
Currently Fighting With: DREAM
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Justin Wilcox - Win via submission (arm bar) - Strikeforce - Playboy Mansion II - September 20, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
-Currently unknown
12) Nate Diaz (10-2)
Height: 6'0
Birthday: April 16, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Josh Neer - Win via decision (split) - UFC Fight Night 15 - September 17, 2008
- vs. Kurt Pellegrino - Win via submission (triangle choke) - UFC Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008
- vs. Alvin Robinson - Win via submission (triangle choke) - UFC Fight Night 12 - January 23, 2008
- vs. Junior Assuncao - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC Fight Night 11 - September 19, 2007
- vs. Manvel Gamburyan - Win via submission (shoulder injury) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale - June 23, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Clay Guida - UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn - January 31, 2009
13) Takanori Gomi (29-5)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: September 22, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Sengoku
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Satoru Kitaoka - Loss via submission (achilles lock) - World Victory Road - Sengoku: no Ran 2009 - January 4, 2009
- vs. Sergey Golyaev - Loss via decision (split) - World Victory Road - Sengoku 6 - November 1, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
14) Gray Maynard (6-0)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: September 5, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rich Clementi - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- vs. Frankie Edgar - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008
- vs. Dennis Siver - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 12 - January 23, 2008
- vs. Joe Veres - Win via KO (punch) - UFC Fight Night 11 - September 19, 2007
- vs. Rob Emerson - No Contest - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale - June 23, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Jim Miller - UFC 96 - March 2009
15) Tyson Griffin (12-2)
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Sean Sherk - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
