411's MMA Rankings 01.20.09: Light Heavyweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 01.20.2009
It's the first light heavyweight rankings of 2009 and we have a brand new #1! At UFC 92 we saw Rashad Evans defeat former #1 Forrest Griffin in impressive fashion, as well as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's destruction of Wanderlei Silva. But which fighter is walking away with the top spot? 411's Dustin James gives you all the answers inside.....
Welcome to the first 411 Light Heavyweight Rankings of 2009. What a way to kick off the new year....with a brand new #1! Since I started these rankings I have only seen a #1 change hands on a few occasions (always in the lightweight or light heavyweight division) so whenever we get a new guy at the top spot it could be considered a "memorable moment". When I started doing these rankings almost two years ago, "Shogun" Rua was considered the #1 light heavyweight in the world. After what happened with his stint thus far in the UFC, he quickly lost the top spot to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. After "Rampage" lost to Forrest Griffin, Griffin became the new #1. Now that Griffin has been defeated by Rashad Evans at UFC 92, Griffin has lost the top spot. But who's the new #1? Last time we ranked these we had "Rampage" at #2. With his destruction of Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92......is Jackson our #1 again? Or is the undefeated UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans our new #1 guy?
Read on to find out.......
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. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
4. Chuck Liddell
5. Forrest Griffin
6. Keith Jardine
7. Rashad Evans
8. Lyoto Machida
9. Thiago Silva
10. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz, Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Jason Lambert, and Andre Gusmao 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....
Note - Dan Henderson is not ranked in our light heavyweight rankings due to the fact that he will be fighting in the UFC's middleweight division for the near future.
411's Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Rashad Evans (13-0-1)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: September 25, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Forrest Griffin - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
2) Quinton Jackson (29-7)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: June 20, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Wanderlei Silva - Win via KO (punch) - UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Keith Jardine - UFC 96 "Jackson vs. Jardine" - March 7, 2009
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 94 "St. Pierre vs. Penn" - January 31, 2009
4) Forrest Griffin (16-5)
Height: 6'3
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Rashad Evans - Loss by TKO (punches) - UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently injured
5) Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (17-3)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Mark Coleman - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson - January 17, 2009
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Chuck Liddell - UFC 97 "Liddell vs. Rua" - April 18, 2009
6) 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 94 "St. Pierre vs. Penn" - January 31, 2009
7) 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. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson - UFC 96 "Jackson vs. Jardine" - March 7, 2009
8) 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. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua - UFC 97 "Liddell vs. Rua" - April 18, 2009
9) Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1-1)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: July 3, 1976
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Quinton Jackson - Loss via KO (punch) - UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 - December 27, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
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
11) Rich Franklin (24-4)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: October 5, 1974
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Dan Henderson - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson - January 17, 2009
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
12) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3)
Height: 6'2
Birthday: June 2, 1976
Currently Fighting With: Affliction, World Victory Road
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Moise Rimbon - Win via decision (unanimous) - Sengoku 6 - November 1, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Vladimir Matyushenko - Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" - January 24, 2009
13) Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: January 4, 1971
Currently Fighting With: Affliction
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:
- vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" - January 24, 2009
14) 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
15) Renato "Babalu" Sobral (31-7)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: July 9, 1975
Currently Fighting With: Affliction, Strikeforce
Last 5 fights:
-vs. Bobby Southworth - Win via TKO (doctor stoppage due to a cut) - Strikeforce: Destruction - November 21, 2008
- vs. Mike Whitehead - Win via decision (unanimous) - Affliction: Banned - July 19, 2008
- vs. Rodney Glunder - Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) - PFP: Ring of Fire - December 9, 2007
- vs. David Heath - Win via submission (anaconda choke) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Jason Lambert - Loss via KO (punch) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
-vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Affliction "Day Of Reckoning" - January 24, 2009
Shogun is an absolute joke. For example Rich Franklin would tear him apart 3 mins into a fight once he would gas out. I would actually pick anyone on this list over him untill he does something respectful again. Pride has shown to be a failure.. Henderson and Rampage are the only respectable guys still.
Posted By: Kent Adams (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 12:46 AM
How the hell is tito above Babalu. He hasnt won a fight in two years.
Posted By: Deano (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 01:06 AM
liddell, tito, all above babalu? that is such bs.
Posted By: Cody (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 01:11 AM
Shogun is an absolute joke. For example Rich Franklin would tear him apart 3 mins into a fight once he would gas out. I would actually pick anyone on this list over him untill he does something respectful again. Pride has shown to be a failure.. Henderson and Rampage are the only respectable guys still.
---Kent Adams
yah. That Fedor was a joke. And Big Nog sucks as well.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 01:14 AM
Shogun, shouldnt be ranked so high.
I dont know if it is becouse of injuries or that he took drugs on pride, but at his last fight he didnt even looks like he deserves to fight at the UFC.
Where is Dan Henderson? I think he deserves to atleast be in this list!?
Posted By: Guy (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 04:42 AM
People are complaining about Shogun's ranking and not saying anything about Wanderlei?!?!
How the hell is that man even ranked at this point. 1-4 in his last 5? Look at his last 5 fights as they're listed. It looks silly to be ranked since he's got one win, whereas some are 4-1 in their last 5 and are wayyyy below.
Silly 411 Rankings...
Posted By: Saint (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 08:08 AM
The only ranking I really don't get is Jardine. I honestly believe that Jardine can be a threat to anyone int the LHW division. But I do not believe he is consistent enough to be ranked as high as he is. He would be perpetually on the bubble for me until he could string together more that one win at a time
Posted By: Todd Vote (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 09:44 AM
For once and I shall say that again, FOR ONCE I completely agree with the top ten placings. This is the first list of rankings from you that I liked and agree with. There are obviously a lot of opinions out there, but this one was your best. Wanderlei Silva may have been the only questionable guy based on his 1-4 record as of late. I would still keep Liddell at the bottom 10 until his next fight.
Posted By: Bustanut (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 11:09 AM
How can Tito and Franklin be on the list and not Henderson? Henderson just beat Franklin and Tito hasn't beat anyone that isn't Ken Shamrock in years.
If you think Pride is a failure you know nothing about MMA. Pride is so different from UFC in rules and ring, it's not a surprise at all that Pride fighters aren't the best in UFC. When Pride was open if you put UFC fighters in Pride they would have been destroyed.
Posted By: Shawno420 (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I agree that Shogun is ranked too high, though I did rank him in the lower top 10. I think the reason people are still ranking him that high is because they feel he has somewhat of an excuse coming off of two knee surgery's. If he performs like that again, he'll lose to Liddell and I wouldn't rank him in the top 10.
The reason myself and everyone else didn't rank Hendo is because he'll probably be fighting at middleweight for his next couple fights, so he wouldn't fight at light heavyweight again probably until 2010, but that's on;y if he loses to either Bisping or Anderson in his rematch. Middleweight seems to be a more permanent home for Hendo than light heavyweight. If he was going to alternate weight classes every time he fought I would rank him in both weight divisions.
Same thing with Penn. If he beats GSP, I would rank him in both welterweight and lightweight divisions because he would be alternating weight classes every fight. If he loses to GSP I would not rank him at welterweight, because while he certainly has the talent to be a top 5 welterweight, he wouldn't fight at that weight again for a long time.
Posted By: Dan Plunkett (Registered) on January 20, 2009 at 04:29 PM
If you hadn't skipped over the opening to this article you might have seen the note about Henderson being left off the rankings because his foreseeable future is in the Middleweight division.
Shogun is #5 because he was a consensus #2 guy in PRIDE before they went out of business, is 1-1 in the UFC, and the loss he has came to a dude who many considered the #1 LHW in the world before Rashad Evans took his title (Forrest Griffin).
Posted By: BC (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Did anyone read the blurp at the top
Note - Dan Henderson is not ranked in our light heavyweight rankings due to the fact that he will be fighting in the UFC's middleweight division for the near future.
Posted By: Ed (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 08:32 PM
I don't follow MMA as much as the rest of you. But it seems to me Silva and Ortiz are ranked purely for their impact on the sport instead of their actual standings in terms of title contention
Posted By: K. Bett (Guest) on January 20, 2009 at 08:47 PM
