DixieDestroyer
Hall of Famer
Here's Sherdog's latest MMA rankings...
Heavyweight
1. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC)
Unfortunately for Emelianenko, his scheduled Aug. 1 bout with Josh Barnett and Affliction's third show were scrapped after Barnett tested positive for steroids in a pre-fight licensing test. Fortunately for Emelianenko, his brand new deal with Strikeforce will allow him to get back in the ring this fall.
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
In just five fights, Lesnar now owns the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown and sports stoppages over the likes of Frank Mir and Randy Couture. However, despite his overwhelming performance against Mir at UFC 100, Lesnar's post-fight professional wrestling theatrics seem to have overshadowed his victory.
3. Josh Barnett (24-5)
Barnett had the chance to vie for the sport's heavyweight mantle in his slated Aug. 1 bout with Emelianenko. Instead, another positive steroids test for Barnett destroyed the matchup, put the final nail in the coffin of Affliction's promotional wing and marred the former UFC champion's career.
4. Frank Mir (12-4)
Mir was in his best shape in years for his rematch with Lesnar at UFC 100. However, it was not enough for him to duplicate his first-round submission win from February 2008, as Lesnar brutally pounded him out in the second stanza.
5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 NC)
Whether it will wind up being the fight for which fans had long hoped remains to be seen, but two of the sport's most enduring icons will square off at UFC 102 on Aug. 29 when Nogueira finally meets up with Randy Couture.
6. Randy Couture (16-9)
His bout with Nogueira is long overdue. Hopefully, when "The Natural"Â and "Minotauro"Â square off at UFC 102 on Aug. 29, the clash of heavyweight legends will not prove past its expiration date.
7. Brett Rogers (10-0)
After his blistering 22-second knockout of Andrei Arlovski, Rogers was expected to be fast-tracked to a Strikeforce title shot against champion Alistair Overeem. Instead, the unbeaten prospect will continue honing his craft on Strikeforce's October offering against a yet-to-be-named opponent.
8. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)
Despite having knocked off the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson in the recent past, those accomplishments now seem like distant memories for Arlovski. "The Pitbull"Â has been brutally smashed in his last two outings against Emelianenko and Rogers, and conversation now centers on the fragile chin that has betrayed him again.
9. Shane Carwin (11-0)
Carwin will be back in action at UFC 104 on Oct. 24, when he will find opposition in fellow unbeaten heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez in a bout rich with risk and reward for both up-and-coming fighters.
10. Alistair Overeem (29-11, 1 NC)
The wait for Overeem's first Strikeforce heavyweight title defense continues. The hand injury the Dutchman sustained in a nightclub dustup in Holland earlier this year has continued to plague him, postponing his return to Strikeforce yet again.
Other contenders: Junior dos Santos, Aleksander Emelianenko, Jeff Monson, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum.
Light Heavyweight
1. Lyoto Machida (15-0)
Fresh off his May 23 blowout of Rashad Evans, it appeared as though Machida would soon start preparing for a challenge from former light heavyweight ruler Quinton "Rampage"Â Jackson. However, with Jackson opting for a second coaching stint on "The Ultimate Fighter,"Â Machida's first title defense will come in October against Mauricio "Shogun"Â Rua at UFC 104.
2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
Jackson was handed a title shot against Machida, but he opted to settle his beef with Evans instead. The pair will coach opposite each other on the 10th season of "The Ultimate Fighter."Â
3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
After his first career loss -- and a brutal loss no less -- Evans is not taking it easy. "The Ultimate Fighter 2"Â winner will return to the show on which he first made his name, coaching against rival Jackson on Season 10. The two light heavyweights will meet later this year.
4. Mauricio Rua (18-3)
Fortune has smiled upon Rua. After UFC 98, it looked as if "Shogun"Â was a fight or more away from challenging for the UFC title. Now, however, the consensus 2005 "Fighter of the Year"Â will have a chance to regain light heavyweight supremacy against divisional champion Machida at UFC 104 in October.
5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Not long ago, Griffin was UFC light heavyweight champion and had picked up pound-for-pound quality wins over Rua and Jackson. However, after his destruction at the hands of middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 101, those wins seem like a distant memory for the original "Ultimate Fighter."Â
6. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1)
It was his toughest test to date, but "Banha"Â showed poise in toughing out an entertaining decision in his April 18 bout with former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Steve Cantwell. It should be onward and upward for the hot prospect in the 205-pound division.
7. Rich Franklin (25-4, 1 NC)
Franklin was tabbed for a rematch with Dan Henderson at UFC 103 in September. However, when the MMA media and fans decided they were not keen on the matchup, Zuffa gave the people what they wanted. Franklin will now meet Vitor Belfort at a 195-pound catchweight come Sept. 19.
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
Though an appearance at Affliction "Trilogy"Â did not materialize for Nogueira, "Minotoro"Â will not settle for inactivity. Having made his homeland MMA debut in his native Brazil in May, Nogueira will go back for seconds when he takes on "The Brazilian Killa"Â Alex Stiebling under the Bitetti Combat banner on Sept. 12.
9. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
With his up-and-down performances, Jardine's place in the light heavyweight division has been hard to peg. However, "The Dean of Mean"Â will get the chance to show where he stacks up when he takes on Brazilian brawler Thiago Silva at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
10. Wanderlei Silva (32-10-1, 1 NC)
Though Silva dropped a unanimous verdict to Franklin at UFC 99, "The Axe Murderer"Â fought gamely throughout, and many thought he deserved the decision. His days at 205 pounds seem numbered, but his performance against Franklin has at least kept him relevant for a middleweight run.
Other contenders: Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Thiago Silva, Renato Sobral
Middleweight
1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
In one of the most impressive performances of his career, MMA's middleweight king moved up to 205 pounds and blew away former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin in a horrifically lopsided affair. The brilliant performance has already sparked talk of "The Spider"Â vacating his middleweight mantle and moving up to 205 pounds permanently.
2. Yushin Okami (23-4)
Inopportune injuries have slowed Okami's bid to earn a rematch with middleweight king Silva. A healthy Okami will have the chance to solidify himself as a top contender on Oct. 24 when he takes on Chael Sonnen at UFC 104.
3. Nate Marquardt (28-8-2)
Marquardt wants another crack at the UFC middleweight title. However, in order to get another chance at 185-pound glory, he will need to take out his biggest challenge since his bout with Silva two years ago -- undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu king Demian Maia at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
4. Dan Henderson (25-7)
Henderson put an exclamation point on the end of "The Ultimate Fighter 9"Â at UFC 100 by brutally starching rival coach Michael Bisping in the second frame. For the former two-division champion of Pride, getting another crack at the UFC middleweight championship could depend on the Aug. 29 bout between fellow top contenders Marquardt and Maia.
5. Demian Maia (10-0)
Few fighters, if any, have been as impressive as Maia over the last 14 months. His road to a shot at the UFC middleweight title now runs through Marquardt at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
6. Jorge Santiago (21-7)
Perhaps the most unfortunate victim of Affliciton's demise, Santiago was left without a clear direction after the cancellation of his match with Vitor Belfort. While he expects to defend his Sengoku middleweight title sometime in the near future, the surging Brazilian now looks at a clean calendar with no fights.
7. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 NC)
Lawler appeared to be in control on the feet in his June 6 bout with Jake Shields. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was tapping out to a Shields guillotine choke, leaving his next move in Strikeforce's middleweight division uncertain.
8. Vitor Belfort (18-8)
The fall of Affliction killed Belfort's anticipated bout with fellow Brazilian Santiago, but "The Phenom"Â will not be on the sidelines for long. The former UFC light heavyweight champion will return to the Octagon at UFC 103 on Sept. 19 to meet Rich Franklin at a 195-pound catchweight.
9. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
After grinding out a nice win over former International Fight League middleweight champion Dan Miller in May, Sonnen's climb up the 185-pound ladder will only get more difficult. The Team Quest product will take on Okami at UFC 104 on Oct. 24.
10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC)
It was not his best performance, but Akiyama gritted through a split decision verdict over a game Alan Belcher at UFC 100 in July and has thrown himself into the UFC's deepening middleweight mix.
Other contenders: Michael Bisping, Patrick Cote, Paulo Filho, Dan Miller, Frank Trigg.
Welterweight
1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
Another title defense, another elite contender, another dominant victory for St. Pierre. GSP's lopsided decision over an elite challenger in Thiago Alves at UFC 100 showed why he remains one of the sport's pound-for-pound kings and caused many fans and pundits to begin demanding a move to middleweight. However, St. Pierre's next challenge will come from the winner of the September bout between Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann.
2. Jon Fitch (19-3, 1 NC)
Hardly flashy, but Fitch racked up yet another solid victory at UFC 100, taking a hard-fought unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Paulo Thiago. The victory moved Fitch's mark in the Octagon to an impressive 10-1.
3. Thiago Alves (16-4)
Though Alves struggled to muster much offense in his 25-minute decision loss to St. Pierre at UFC 100, the Brazilian stalwart showed considerable grit by making it to the final bell against the vastly superior French Canadian. The other silver lining for the "Pitbull"Â? He's only 25 years old.
4. Jake Shields (23-4-1)
He has established himself as one of the best welterweights in the world, but Shields is set to start campaigning as a middleweight. With Cung Le's acting schedule holding up Strikeforce's middleweight division, Shields is set to square off with a yet-to-be-determined foe for a 185-pound interim title in October.
5. Martin Kampmann (15-2)
Kampmann said he's only interested in big fights at 170. Fortunately for Denmark's top MMA export, he has one: Kampmann will take on Swick at UFC 103 on Sept. 19. The winner will be next in line for a crack at St. Pierre's welterweight throne.
6. Paulo Thiago (11-1)
Thiago finally got one put in the loss column at UFC 100. However, the still relatively unknown Brazilian did prove that he was tougher than previously thought following his upset over Josh Koscheck in February, as he dragged Fitch through three competitive rounds.
7. Josh Koscheck (12-4)
A foot injury deprived Koscheck of a chance to get back into action against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 in May. Koscheck's next bout will be even sterner now. His opponent for UFC 103 on Sept. 19 will be former UFC welterweight title challenger Frank Trigg, who returns to the promotion and the division after a run at middleweight.
8. Carlos Condit (22-5)
Condit was unsuccessful in his UFC debut in April, losing a hotly contested split decision to Kampmann. However, the former World Extreme Cagefighting champion may get a crack at some extra money in his second Octagon appearance, as he will take on regular "Fight of the Night"Â bonus recipient Chris Lytle at UFC Fight Night 19 on Sept. 16.
9. Mike Swick (14-2)
Having put together a 4-0 mark as a welterweight, Swick's big moment at 170 has arrived. The fleet-handed American Kickboxing Academy product will take on Kampmann on Sept. 19 at UFC 103, with the winner gaining the right to challenge St. Pierre.
10. Dan Hardy (22-6, 1 NC)
With his split decision over Marcus Davis at UFC 99 in June, Hardy has emerged as yet another contender in the UFC's startlingly deep welterweight division. The victory was his 11th in his last 12 fights, his lone loss in that span coming via contested disqualification against Yoshiyuki Yoshida in December 2007.
Other contenders: Marcus Davis, Jay Hieron, Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Nick Thompson.
Lightweight
1. B.J. Penn (14-5-1)
The world has always wanted B.J. Penn to reign as a lightweight, and reign he did at UFC 101. After nullifying top contender Kenny Florian for 15 minutes, Penn turned on the heat in the fourth round and notched a beautiful rear-naked choke. Up next, "The Prodigy" figures to tame Diego Sanchez in the coming months.
2. Shinya Aoki (21-4, 1 NC)
Shinya Aoki drew criticism for pot-shotting his way to a unanimous decision win over Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro on July 20. However, the win set up a high-stakes rubber match for the rubbery grappler, as he's slated to meet Joachim Hansen for the Dream lightweight title on Oct. 6.
3. Eddie Alvarez (18-2)
Alvarez ended the Cinderella run of likely "Submission of the Year" winner Toby Imada on June 19, choking him out in the second round. A rumored bout against Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante didn't come to fruition, but Bellator's lightweight champion will have the luxury of courting high-quality opponents from both Bellator and Dream in the near future.
4. Kenny Florian (11-4)
Kenny Florian was game, but could mount little offense against lightweight ruler B.J. Penn in their Aug. 8 showdown. The loss was Florian's second in UFC lightweight title fights, and now he'll take his spot at the back of the line in an ultra-deep division.
5. Tatsuya Kawajiri (24-5-2)
Tatsuya Kawajiri showed the MMA world he still has a pulse when he took a unanimous verdict over Gesias Cavalcante in May. Unfortunately for the "Crusher," he was unable to make good on his promise of defeating superstar striker Masato under K-1 rules, and was knocked out in one-and-a-half lopsided rounds on July 13.
6. Gray Maynard (7-0, 1 NC)
Maynard has continued to rack up one-sided wins inside the UFC, but talk of a title shot has been elusive for the former Michigan State Spartan. Maynard's next chance at impressing fans and UFC brass alike will come Sept. 16 in Oklahoma City, when he meets returning Roger Huerta on a Spike TV telecast.
7. Frankie Edgar (10-1)
Not wanting to hear any more discussion about him cutting to 145 pounds, Edgar made a strong statement that he can hang against elite lightweights, staying a step ahead of former UFC champ Sean Sherk for the full 15 minutes of their May 23 bout.
8. Sean Sherk (33-4-1)
A deflating loss to Frank Edgar in May left Sherk with no clear place in the UFC's lightweight division. In order to stay afloat and remain relevant, the former UFC 155-pound champion will need to knock off tough Brazilian Gleison Tibau, a fighter who shares his predicament, at UFC 104 on Oct. 24.
9. Mizuto Hirota (12-3-1)
In their Aug. 2 encounter, Mizuto Hirota withstood Satoru Kitaoka's early submission storm and wore down the Sengoku champ. Hirota smashed Kitaoka with a barrage of knees in the fourth round to claim Sengoku's lightweight crown.
10. Satoru Kitaoka (25-9-9)
In the first defense of his Sengoku lightweight title, Kitaoka was outlasted by the hard-hitting Mizuto Hirota, who battered him with knees to take his title in the fourth round. The defeat was Kitaoka's first as a lightweight.
Other contenders: Gesias Cavalcante, Gilbert Melendez, Eiji Mitsuoka, Diego Sanchez, Josh Thomson.
Featherweight
1. Mike Thomas Brown (22-4)
Though it was just over two months ago that Mike Thomas Brown gritted out his second win over featherweight star Urijah Faber, the 145-pound kingpin can't necessarily rest easy. With pistol prospect Jose Aldo his next challenger, Brown may face his toughest task to date in November.
2. Urijah Faber (22-3)
Faber failed to recover the WEC title and featherweight mantle in his June 7 rematch with Mike Thomas Brown. However, Faber fought gamely for the better part of 25 minutes with a broken hand, proving he still ranks among the featherweight elite.
3. Wagnney Fabiano (12-1)
Quietly one of the world's best featherweights, Fabiano could secure a crack at the WEC's title if he beats undefeated Midwesterner Erik Koch at WEC 43 on Sept. 2.
4. Hatsu Hioki (20-3-2)
The finale of the Sengoku featherweight grand prix on Aug. 2 didn't exactly go according to plan for Hatsu Hioki. After dominating Masanori Kanehara in the semi-finals, Hioki was forced to watch the man he defeated go on to become champion while he sat on the sidelines with a concussion. Hioki will likely be first on deck to challenge Kanehara for the title later this year.
5. Leonard Garcia (13-4)
It was not especially convincing, but Leonard Garcia picked up his first win since his March blowout loss to Mike Thomas Brown, taking a contentious split decision over Jameel Massouh at WEC 42 on Aug. 9.
6. Jose Aldo (15-1)
After cutting a swath through the WEC's featherweight division, 22-year-old wunderkind Jose Aldo has been chosen as the next man to challenge divisional ruler Mike Thomas Brown. The moment of truth for the Manaus native will come at WEC 45 in November, where he figures to be Brown's most explosive challenger to date.
7. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (19-6-2)
After missing out Sengoku's featherweight tournament due to a knee injury, the 37-year-old Mishima defend his Deep featherweight title for the first time on Aug. 23. The colorful Cobra Kai leader will risk his throne against 22-year-old stud Takafumi Otsuka, who competed in Dream's featherweight grand prix earlier this year.
8. Takeshi Inoue (16-3)
In a bout that was more symbolic than relevant, professional Shooto's current poster boy defended his 143-pound world title against Shooto icon Rumina Sato. After his usual dramatic early struggle, "Lion Takeshi"Â predictably punched out Sato in the first frame.
9. Raphael Assuncao (13-1)
The second WEC outing for the highly touted Assuncao will come at WEC 43 on Sept. 2, where the once-beaten Brazilian will meet dynamic Georges St. Pierre training partner Yves Jabouin.
10. Masanori Kanehara (14-6-5)
It's was highly improbable, but despite dropping a decision loss to Hatsu Hioki in the Sengoku featherweight grand prix semi-finals on Aug. 2, Masanori Kanehara became Sengoku's first featherweight champion. After Hioki was forced out of the final due to a concussion, Kanehara stepped back in to take a well-earned decision win over Michihiro Omigawa.
Other contenders: Bibiano Fernandes, Yuji Hoshino, Michihiro Omigawa, Marlon Sandro, Joe Soto.
Bantamweight
1. Brian Bowles (8-0)
Going into his WEC bantamweight title bout with Miguel Torres, Brian Bowles was thought to be a game challenger, but not a major-league threat. In the cage, Bowles was far more than that, as he smashed Torres in the first round to snatch the 135-pound mantle.
2. Miguel Torres (37-2)
Miguel Torres was heralded as one of the sport's pound-for-pound stalwarts and the man to put the 135-pound division on the map, but in his fourth defense of the WEC bantamweight title, he was flattened in the first round by impressive upstart Brian Bowles, who handed Torres his first loss in 18 fights.
3. Masakatsu Ueda (10-0-2)
He had to overcome both rope-grabbing and eye-gouging, but Masakatsu Ueda kept his unbeaten record and Shooto world title on July 19 by taking a well-appointed unanimous verdict over tough Brazilian youngster Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas.
4. Takeya Mizugaki (12-3-2)
Coming off of his wildly entertaining 25-minute brawl with Miguel Torres in April, Takeya Mizugaki was done no favors in his second bout in the promotion by facing off with veteran Jeff Curran on Aug. 9. However, the Cage Force bantamweight champ survived a last-minute submission scare from Curran to take a hard-fought split decision win.
5. Dominick Cruz (14-1)
A healthy underdog heading into his Aug. 9 bout with Urijah Faber pupil Joseph Benavidez, Dominick Cruz was one step ahead throughout the entire bout and deftly outworked Benavidez on the feet and the floor en route to a unanimous decision win. He now figures to be the first title contender for newly minted champion Brian Bowles.
6. Joseph Benavidez (10-1)
Though he came into the bout as a considerable favorite to challenge for the WEC bantamweight title, WEC 42 saw Joseph Benavidez's undefeated record come to an end, as he was outworked in all facets of the game by the much longer and rangier Dominick Cruz.
7. Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2)
The former Shooto world champion was stellar in his divisional debut against Manny Tapia in April. He will need to be even sharper on Sept. 2 at WEC 43 when he meets Greg Jackson-trained brawler Damacio Page, as contendership considerations on the line.
8. Will Ribeiro (10-2)
The Brazilian MMA community continues to rally around Ribeiro, who was given only a 50-50 chance to live after a horrific motorcycle accident last December. Here's to continued recovery and progress for the Brazilian banger.
9. Manny Tapia (10-2-1)
Undefeated over his first 11 bouts, Tapia has lost his last two in the WEC. However, snapping that losing streak won't come easy, as "The Mangler" will meet former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland at WEC 43 on Sept. 2.
10. Damacio Page (11-4)
After absolutely brutalizing Marcos Galvao in just 18 seconds in March, the Greg Jackson product will have his hands full at WEC 43 on Sept. 2 when he takes on former Shooto world champion Akitoshi Tamura.
Other contenders: Antonio Banuelos, Mike Easton, Marcos Galvao, Eddie Wineland, Rani Yahya.
Flyweight
1. Jussier da Silva (3-0)
The little-known little man out of Natal, Brazil made a big impression in his biggest fight to date, taking a well-appointed unanimous decision over Shooto world champion Shinichi "BJ" Kojima on July 19. The logical step would be for the International Shooto Commission to sanction a rematch with Kojima's title on the line for later this year.
2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)
The Shooto world champion continued his career-long streak of consistent inconsistency, dropping a unanimous verdict to Brazilian Jussier da Silva in a non-title bout on July 19. Whether Kojima will get a do-over with a title on the line remains to be seen.
3. Yuki Shojo (8-5-2)
He fought valiantly, but there was little for Shojo to do in his March 20 Shooto world title challenge against Shinichi "BJ" Kojima. The champion was in rare form, dominating Shojo before choking him out cold in the third frame.
4. Yasuhiro Urush*tani (15-4-6)
Quickly looking to atone for his shocking September loss to Shojo, Urush*tani got back into action and picked up an easy victory on Nov. 8, hacking open an overmatched Kiyotaka Shimizu for a first-round stoppage at Cage Force.
5. Ryuichi Miki (9-2-3)
The 26-year-old Miki continued his ascent in the flyweight division on April 10, as he put a 15-minute, lopsided beating on veteran Junji Ikoma. This figures to move Miki along toward a potential Shooto 123-pound title challenge.
6. Rambaa Somdet (6-2)
Shooto's "Revolutionary Exchanges 3" on Nov. 23 will mark Somdet's return to the ring after a yearlong, injury-filled absence. No opponent has been slated for Somdet, nor is it clear if the bout will be at 115 or 123 pounds, but it is nice to see the flamboyant Thai back in action.
7. Masaaki Sugawara (8-3-1)
Sugawara was in typically exciting form on July 19, when he took a first-round stoppage over tough veteran Yasuhiro Akagi. Next on the slate will be former bantamweight Hiroyuki Tanaka, who will make his flyweight debut against Sugawara on Sept. 20.
8. Alexis Vila (5-0)
Arguably the hottest prospect in the flyweight division, the 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist racked up his fifth career win in February, corking Ben Nguyen in the second round.
9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (10-5-3)
Pancrase finally put its flyweight title up for grabs on June 7, and Mitsuhise Sunabe snatched it with a single brutal punch, clobbering Takuya Eizumi in the first round. Sunabe will be back in action on Pancrase on Oct. 25 against a yet-to-be-named opponent.
10. Jesse Taitano (5-4-2)
One of Guam's finest talents, Taitano was a favorite heading into his 119-pound catch-weight bout with strawweight Noboru "Shinpei" Tahara on Aug. 9, but the much-improved Tahara took the final two rounds and a unanimous verdict over "The Spiderman."
Other contenders: John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Junji Ikoma, Pat Runez, Sam Thao.
Sherdog MMA Rankings - August 2009
Heavyweight
1. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC)
Unfortunately for Emelianenko, his scheduled Aug. 1 bout with Josh Barnett and Affliction's third show were scrapped after Barnett tested positive for steroids in a pre-fight licensing test. Fortunately for Emelianenko, his brand new deal with Strikeforce will allow him to get back in the ring this fall.
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
In just five fights, Lesnar now owns the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown and sports stoppages over the likes of Frank Mir and Randy Couture. However, despite his overwhelming performance against Mir at UFC 100, Lesnar's post-fight professional wrestling theatrics seem to have overshadowed his victory.
3. Josh Barnett (24-5)
Barnett had the chance to vie for the sport's heavyweight mantle in his slated Aug. 1 bout with Emelianenko. Instead, another positive steroids test for Barnett destroyed the matchup, put the final nail in the coffin of Affliction's promotional wing and marred the former UFC champion's career.
4. Frank Mir (12-4)
Mir was in his best shape in years for his rematch with Lesnar at UFC 100. However, it was not enough for him to duplicate his first-round submission win from February 2008, as Lesnar brutally pounded him out in the second stanza.
5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 NC)
Whether it will wind up being the fight for which fans had long hoped remains to be seen, but two of the sport's most enduring icons will square off at UFC 102 on Aug. 29 when Nogueira finally meets up with Randy Couture.
6. Randy Couture (16-9)
His bout with Nogueira is long overdue. Hopefully, when "The Natural"Â and "Minotauro"Â square off at UFC 102 on Aug. 29, the clash of heavyweight legends will not prove past its expiration date.
7. Brett Rogers (10-0)
After his blistering 22-second knockout of Andrei Arlovski, Rogers was expected to be fast-tracked to a Strikeforce title shot against champion Alistair Overeem. Instead, the unbeaten prospect will continue honing his craft on Strikeforce's October offering against a yet-to-be-named opponent.
8. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)
Despite having knocked off the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson in the recent past, those accomplishments now seem like distant memories for Arlovski. "The Pitbull"Â has been brutally smashed in his last two outings against Emelianenko and Rogers, and conversation now centers on the fragile chin that has betrayed him again.
9. Shane Carwin (11-0)
Carwin will be back in action at UFC 104 on Oct. 24, when he will find opposition in fellow unbeaten heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez in a bout rich with risk and reward for both up-and-coming fighters.
10. Alistair Overeem (29-11, 1 NC)
The wait for Overeem's first Strikeforce heavyweight title defense continues. The hand injury the Dutchman sustained in a nightclub dustup in Holland earlier this year has continued to plague him, postponing his return to Strikeforce yet again.
Other contenders: Junior dos Santos, Aleksander Emelianenko, Jeff Monson, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum.
Light Heavyweight
1. Lyoto Machida (15-0)
Fresh off his May 23 blowout of Rashad Evans, it appeared as though Machida would soon start preparing for a challenge from former light heavyweight ruler Quinton "Rampage"Â Jackson. However, with Jackson opting for a second coaching stint on "The Ultimate Fighter,"Â Machida's first title defense will come in October against Mauricio "Shogun"Â Rua at UFC 104.
2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
Jackson was handed a title shot against Machida, but he opted to settle his beef with Evans instead. The pair will coach opposite each other on the 10th season of "The Ultimate Fighter."Â
3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
After his first career loss -- and a brutal loss no less -- Evans is not taking it easy. "The Ultimate Fighter 2"Â winner will return to the show on which he first made his name, coaching against rival Jackson on Season 10. The two light heavyweights will meet later this year.
4. Mauricio Rua (18-3)
Fortune has smiled upon Rua. After UFC 98, it looked as if "Shogun"Â was a fight or more away from challenging for the UFC title. Now, however, the consensus 2005 "Fighter of the Year"Â will have a chance to regain light heavyweight supremacy against divisional champion Machida at UFC 104 in October.
5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Not long ago, Griffin was UFC light heavyweight champion and had picked up pound-for-pound quality wins over Rua and Jackson. However, after his destruction at the hands of middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 101, those wins seem like a distant memory for the original "Ultimate Fighter."Â
6. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1)
It was his toughest test to date, but "Banha"Â showed poise in toughing out an entertaining decision in his April 18 bout with former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Steve Cantwell. It should be onward and upward for the hot prospect in the 205-pound division.
7. Rich Franklin (25-4, 1 NC)
Franklin was tabbed for a rematch with Dan Henderson at UFC 103 in September. However, when the MMA media and fans decided they were not keen on the matchup, Zuffa gave the people what they wanted. Franklin will now meet Vitor Belfort at a 195-pound catchweight come Sept. 19.
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
Though an appearance at Affliction "Trilogy"Â did not materialize for Nogueira, "Minotoro"Â will not settle for inactivity. Having made his homeland MMA debut in his native Brazil in May, Nogueira will go back for seconds when he takes on "The Brazilian Killa"Â Alex Stiebling under the Bitetti Combat banner on Sept. 12.
9. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
With his up-and-down performances, Jardine's place in the light heavyweight division has been hard to peg. However, "The Dean of Mean"Â will get the chance to show where he stacks up when he takes on Brazilian brawler Thiago Silva at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
10. Wanderlei Silva (32-10-1, 1 NC)
Though Silva dropped a unanimous verdict to Franklin at UFC 99, "The Axe Murderer"Â fought gamely throughout, and many thought he deserved the decision. His days at 205 pounds seem numbered, but his performance against Franklin has at least kept him relevant for a middleweight run.
Other contenders: Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Thiago Silva, Renato Sobral
Middleweight
1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
In one of the most impressive performances of his career, MMA's middleweight king moved up to 205 pounds and blew away former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin in a horrifically lopsided affair. The brilliant performance has already sparked talk of "The Spider"Â vacating his middleweight mantle and moving up to 205 pounds permanently.
2. Yushin Okami (23-4)
Inopportune injuries have slowed Okami's bid to earn a rematch with middleweight king Silva. A healthy Okami will have the chance to solidify himself as a top contender on Oct. 24 when he takes on Chael Sonnen at UFC 104.
3. Nate Marquardt (28-8-2)
Marquardt wants another crack at the UFC middleweight title. However, in order to get another chance at 185-pound glory, he will need to take out his biggest challenge since his bout with Silva two years ago -- undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu king Demian Maia at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
4. Dan Henderson (25-7)
Henderson put an exclamation point on the end of "The Ultimate Fighter 9"Â at UFC 100 by brutally starching rival coach Michael Bisping in the second frame. For the former two-division champion of Pride, getting another crack at the UFC middleweight championship could depend on the Aug. 29 bout between fellow top contenders Marquardt and Maia.
5. Demian Maia (10-0)
Few fighters, if any, have been as impressive as Maia over the last 14 months. His road to a shot at the UFC middleweight title now runs through Marquardt at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.
6. Jorge Santiago (21-7)
Perhaps the most unfortunate victim of Affliciton's demise, Santiago was left without a clear direction after the cancellation of his match with Vitor Belfort. While he expects to defend his Sengoku middleweight title sometime in the near future, the surging Brazilian now looks at a clean calendar with no fights.
7. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 NC)
Lawler appeared to be in control on the feet in his June 6 bout with Jake Shields. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was tapping out to a Shields guillotine choke, leaving his next move in Strikeforce's middleweight division uncertain.
8. Vitor Belfort (18-8)
The fall of Affliction killed Belfort's anticipated bout with fellow Brazilian Santiago, but "The Phenom"Â will not be on the sidelines for long. The former UFC light heavyweight champion will return to the Octagon at UFC 103 on Sept. 19 to meet Rich Franklin at a 195-pound catchweight.
9. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
After grinding out a nice win over former International Fight League middleweight champion Dan Miller in May, Sonnen's climb up the 185-pound ladder will only get more difficult. The Team Quest product will take on Okami at UFC 104 on Oct. 24.
10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC)
It was not his best performance, but Akiyama gritted through a split decision verdict over a game Alan Belcher at UFC 100 in July and has thrown himself into the UFC's deepening middleweight mix.
Other contenders: Michael Bisping, Patrick Cote, Paulo Filho, Dan Miller, Frank Trigg.
Welterweight
1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
Another title defense, another elite contender, another dominant victory for St. Pierre. GSP's lopsided decision over an elite challenger in Thiago Alves at UFC 100 showed why he remains one of the sport's pound-for-pound kings and caused many fans and pundits to begin demanding a move to middleweight. However, St. Pierre's next challenge will come from the winner of the September bout between Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann.
2. Jon Fitch (19-3, 1 NC)
Hardly flashy, but Fitch racked up yet another solid victory at UFC 100, taking a hard-fought unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Paulo Thiago. The victory moved Fitch's mark in the Octagon to an impressive 10-1.
3. Thiago Alves (16-4)
Though Alves struggled to muster much offense in his 25-minute decision loss to St. Pierre at UFC 100, the Brazilian stalwart showed considerable grit by making it to the final bell against the vastly superior French Canadian. The other silver lining for the "Pitbull"Â? He's only 25 years old.
4. Jake Shields (23-4-1)
He has established himself as one of the best welterweights in the world, but Shields is set to start campaigning as a middleweight. With Cung Le's acting schedule holding up Strikeforce's middleweight division, Shields is set to square off with a yet-to-be-determined foe for a 185-pound interim title in October.
5. Martin Kampmann (15-2)
Kampmann said he's only interested in big fights at 170. Fortunately for Denmark's top MMA export, he has one: Kampmann will take on Swick at UFC 103 on Sept. 19. The winner will be next in line for a crack at St. Pierre's welterweight throne.
6. Paulo Thiago (11-1)
Thiago finally got one put in the loss column at UFC 100. However, the still relatively unknown Brazilian did prove that he was tougher than previously thought following his upset over Josh Koscheck in February, as he dragged Fitch through three competitive rounds.
7. Josh Koscheck (12-4)
A foot injury deprived Koscheck of a chance to get back into action against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 in May. Koscheck's next bout will be even sterner now. His opponent for UFC 103 on Sept. 19 will be former UFC welterweight title challenger Frank Trigg, who returns to the promotion and the division after a run at middleweight.
8. Carlos Condit (22-5)
Condit was unsuccessful in his UFC debut in April, losing a hotly contested split decision to Kampmann. However, the former World Extreme Cagefighting champion may get a crack at some extra money in his second Octagon appearance, as he will take on regular "Fight of the Night"Â bonus recipient Chris Lytle at UFC Fight Night 19 on Sept. 16.
9. Mike Swick (14-2)
Having put together a 4-0 mark as a welterweight, Swick's big moment at 170 has arrived. The fleet-handed American Kickboxing Academy product will take on Kampmann on Sept. 19 at UFC 103, with the winner gaining the right to challenge St. Pierre.
10. Dan Hardy (22-6, 1 NC)
With his split decision over Marcus Davis at UFC 99 in June, Hardy has emerged as yet another contender in the UFC's startlingly deep welterweight division. The victory was his 11th in his last 12 fights, his lone loss in that span coming via contested disqualification against Yoshiyuki Yoshida in December 2007.
Other contenders: Marcus Davis, Jay Hieron, Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Nick Thompson.
Lightweight
1. B.J. Penn (14-5-1)
The world has always wanted B.J. Penn to reign as a lightweight, and reign he did at UFC 101. After nullifying top contender Kenny Florian for 15 minutes, Penn turned on the heat in the fourth round and notched a beautiful rear-naked choke. Up next, "The Prodigy" figures to tame Diego Sanchez in the coming months.
2. Shinya Aoki (21-4, 1 NC)
Shinya Aoki drew criticism for pot-shotting his way to a unanimous decision win over Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro on July 20. However, the win set up a high-stakes rubber match for the rubbery grappler, as he's slated to meet Joachim Hansen for the Dream lightweight title on Oct. 6.
3. Eddie Alvarez (18-2)
Alvarez ended the Cinderella run of likely "Submission of the Year" winner Toby Imada on June 19, choking him out in the second round. A rumored bout against Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante didn't come to fruition, but Bellator's lightweight champion will have the luxury of courting high-quality opponents from both Bellator and Dream in the near future.
4. Kenny Florian (11-4)
Kenny Florian was game, but could mount little offense against lightweight ruler B.J. Penn in their Aug. 8 showdown. The loss was Florian's second in UFC lightweight title fights, and now he'll take his spot at the back of the line in an ultra-deep division.
5. Tatsuya Kawajiri (24-5-2)
Tatsuya Kawajiri showed the MMA world he still has a pulse when he took a unanimous verdict over Gesias Cavalcante in May. Unfortunately for the "Crusher," he was unable to make good on his promise of defeating superstar striker Masato under K-1 rules, and was knocked out in one-and-a-half lopsided rounds on July 13.
6. Gray Maynard (7-0, 1 NC)
Maynard has continued to rack up one-sided wins inside the UFC, but talk of a title shot has been elusive for the former Michigan State Spartan. Maynard's next chance at impressing fans and UFC brass alike will come Sept. 16 in Oklahoma City, when he meets returning Roger Huerta on a Spike TV telecast.
7. Frankie Edgar (10-1)
Not wanting to hear any more discussion about him cutting to 145 pounds, Edgar made a strong statement that he can hang against elite lightweights, staying a step ahead of former UFC champ Sean Sherk for the full 15 minutes of their May 23 bout.
8. Sean Sherk (33-4-1)
A deflating loss to Frank Edgar in May left Sherk with no clear place in the UFC's lightweight division. In order to stay afloat and remain relevant, the former UFC 155-pound champion will need to knock off tough Brazilian Gleison Tibau, a fighter who shares his predicament, at UFC 104 on Oct. 24.
9. Mizuto Hirota (12-3-1)
In their Aug. 2 encounter, Mizuto Hirota withstood Satoru Kitaoka's early submission storm and wore down the Sengoku champ. Hirota smashed Kitaoka with a barrage of knees in the fourth round to claim Sengoku's lightweight crown.
10. Satoru Kitaoka (25-9-9)
In the first defense of his Sengoku lightweight title, Kitaoka was outlasted by the hard-hitting Mizuto Hirota, who battered him with knees to take his title in the fourth round. The defeat was Kitaoka's first as a lightweight.
Other contenders: Gesias Cavalcante, Gilbert Melendez, Eiji Mitsuoka, Diego Sanchez, Josh Thomson.
Featherweight
1. Mike Thomas Brown (22-4)
Though it was just over two months ago that Mike Thomas Brown gritted out his second win over featherweight star Urijah Faber, the 145-pound kingpin can't necessarily rest easy. With pistol prospect Jose Aldo his next challenger, Brown may face his toughest task to date in November.
2. Urijah Faber (22-3)
Faber failed to recover the WEC title and featherweight mantle in his June 7 rematch with Mike Thomas Brown. However, Faber fought gamely for the better part of 25 minutes with a broken hand, proving he still ranks among the featherweight elite.
3. Wagnney Fabiano (12-1)
Quietly one of the world's best featherweights, Fabiano could secure a crack at the WEC's title if he beats undefeated Midwesterner Erik Koch at WEC 43 on Sept. 2.
4. Hatsu Hioki (20-3-2)
The finale of the Sengoku featherweight grand prix on Aug. 2 didn't exactly go according to plan for Hatsu Hioki. After dominating Masanori Kanehara in the semi-finals, Hioki was forced to watch the man he defeated go on to become champion while he sat on the sidelines with a concussion. Hioki will likely be first on deck to challenge Kanehara for the title later this year.
5. Leonard Garcia (13-4)
It was not especially convincing, but Leonard Garcia picked up his first win since his March blowout loss to Mike Thomas Brown, taking a contentious split decision over Jameel Massouh at WEC 42 on Aug. 9.
6. Jose Aldo (15-1)
After cutting a swath through the WEC's featherweight division, 22-year-old wunderkind Jose Aldo has been chosen as the next man to challenge divisional ruler Mike Thomas Brown. The moment of truth for the Manaus native will come at WEC 45 in November, where he figures to be Brown's most explosive challenger to date.
7. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (19-6-2)
After missing out Sengoku's featherweight tournament due to a knee injury, the 37-year-old Mishima defend his Deep featherweight title for the first time on Aug. 23. The colorful Cobra Kai leader will risk his throne against 22-year-old stud Takafumi Otsuka, who competed in Dream's featherweight grand prix earlier this year.
8. Takeshi Inoue (16-3)
In a bout that was more symbolic than relevant, professional Shooto's current poster boy defended his 143-pound world title against Shooto icon Rumina Sato. After his usual dramatic early struggle, "Lion Takeshi"Â predictably punched out Sato in the first frame.
9. Raphael Assuncao (13-1)
The second WEC outing for the highly touted Assuncao will come at WEC 43 on Sept. 2, where the once-beaten Brazilian will meet dynamic Georges St. Pierre training partner Yves Jabouin.
10. Masanori Kanehara (14-6-5)
It's was highly improbable, but despite dropping a decision loss to Hatsu Hioki in the Sengoku featherweight grand prix semi-finals on Aug. 2, Masanori Kanehara became Sengoku's first featherweight champion. After Hioki was forced out of the final due to a concussion, Kanehara stepped back in to take a well-earned decision win over Michihiro Omigawa.
Other contenders: Bibiano Fernandes, Yuji Hoshino, Michihiro Omigawa, Marlon Sandro, Joe Soto.
Bantamweight
1. Brian Bowles (8-0)
Going into his WEC bantamweight title bout with Miguel Torres, Brian Bowles was thought to be a game challenger, but not a major-league threat. In the cage, Bowles was far more than that, as he smashed Torres in the first round to snatch the 135-pound mantle.
2. Miguel Torres (37-2)
Miguel Torres was heralded as one of the sport's pound-for-pound stalwarts and the man to put the 135-pound division on the map, but in his fourth defense of the WEC bantamweight title, he was flattened in the first round by impressive upstart Brian Bowles, who handed Torres his first loss in 18 fights.
3. Masakatsu Ueda (10-0-2)
He had to overcome both rope-grabbing and eye-gouging, but Masakatsu Ueda kept his unbeaten record and Shooto world title on July 19 by taking a well-appointed unanimous verdict over tough Brazilian youngster Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas.
4. Takeya Mizugaki (12-3-2)
Coming off of his wildly entertaining 25-minute brawl with Miguel Torres in April, Takeya Mizugaki was done no favors in his second bout in the promotion by facing off with veteran Jeff Curran on Aug. 9. However, the Cage Force bantamweight champ survived a last-minute submission scare from Curran to take a hard-fought split decision win.
5. Dominick Cruz (14-1)
A healthy underdog heading into his Aug. 9 bout with Urijah Faber pupil Joseph Benavidez, Dominick Cruz was one step ahead throughout the entire bout and deftly outworked Benavidez on the feet and the floor en route to a unanimous decision win. He now figures to be the first title contender for newly minted champion Brian Bowles.
6. Joseph Benavidez (10-1)
Though he came into the bout as a considerable favorite to challenge for the WEC bantamweight title, WEC 42 saw Joseph Benavidez's undefeated record come to an end, as he was outworked in all facets of the game by the much longer and rangier Dominick Cruz.
7. Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2)
The former Shooto world champion was stellar in his divisional debut against Manny Tapia in April. He will need to be even sharper on Sept. 2 at WEC 43 when he meets Greg Jackson-trained brawler Damacio Page, as contendership considerations on the line.
8. Will Ribeiro (10-2)
The Brazilian MMA community continues to rally around Ribeiro, who was given only a 50-50 chance to live after a horrific motorcycle accident last December. Here's to continued recovery and progress for the Brazilian banger.
9. Manny Tapia (10-2-1)
Undefeated over his first 11 bouts, Tapia has lost his last two in the WEC. However, snapping that losing streak won't come easy, as "The Mangler" will meet former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland at WEC 43 on Sept. 2.
10. Damacio Page (11-4)
After absolutely brutalizing Marcos Galvao in just 18 seconds in March, the Greg Jackson product will have his hands full at WEC 43 on Sept. 2 when he takes on former Shooto world champion Akitoshi Tamura.
Other contenders: Antonio Banuelos, Mike Easton, Marcos Galvao, Eddie Wineland, Rani Yahya.
Flyweight
1. Jussier da Silva (3-0)
The little-known little man out of Natal, Brazil made a big impression in his biggest fight to date, taking a well-appointed unanimous decision over Shooto world champion Shinichi "BJ" Kojima on July 19. The logical step would be for the International Shooto Commission to sanction a rematch with Kojima's title on the line for later this year.
2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)
The Shooto world champion continued his career-long streak of consistent inconsistency, dropping a unanimous verdict to Brazilian Jussier da Silva in a non-title bout on July 19. Whether Kojima will get a do-over with a title on the line remains to be seen.
3. Yuki Shojo (8-5-2)
He fought valiantly, but there was little for Shojo to do in his March 20 Shooto world title challenge against Shinichi "BJ" Kojima. The champion was in rare form, dominating Shojo before choking him out cold in the third frame.
4. Yasuhiro Urush*tani (15-4-6)
Quickly looking to atone for his shocking September loss to Shojo, Urush*tani got back into action and picked up an easy victory on Nov. 8, hacking open an overmatched Kiyotaka Shimizu for a first-round stoppage at Cage Force.
5. Ryuichi Miki (9-2-3)
The 26-year-old Miki continued his ascent in the flyweight division on April 10, as he put a 15-minute, lopsided beating on veteran Junji Ikoma. This figures to move Miki along toward a potential Shooto 123-pound title challenge.
6. Rambaa Somdet (6-2)
Shooto's "Revolutionary Exchanges 3" on Nov. 23 will mark Somdet's return to the ring after a yearlong, injury-filled absence. No opponent has been slated for Somdet, nor is it clear if the bout will be at 115 or 123 pounds, but it is nice to see the flamboyant Thai back in action.
7. Masaaki Sugawara (8-3-1)
Sugawara was in typically exciting form on July 19, when he took a first-round stoppage over tough veteran Yasuhiro Akagi. Next on the slate will be former bantamweight Hiroyuki Tanaka, who will make his flyweight debut against Sugawara on Sept. 20.
8. Alexis Vila (5-0)
Arguably the hottest prospect in the flyweight division, the 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist racked up his fifth career win in February, corking Ben Nguyen in the second round.
9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (10-5-3)
Pancrase finally put its flyweight title up for grabs on June 7, and Mitsuhise Sunabe snatched it with a single brutal punch, clobbering Takuya Eizumi in the first round. Sunabe will be back in action on Pancrase on Oct. 25 against a yet-to-be-named opponent.
10. Jesse Taitano (5-4-2)
One of Guam's finest talents, Taitano was a favorite heading into his 119-pound catch-weight bout with strawweight Noboru "Shinpei" Tahara on Aug. 9, but the much-improved Tahara took the final two rounds and a unanimous verdict over "The Spiderman."
Other contenders: John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Junji Ikoma, Pat Runez, Sam Thao.
Sherdog MMA Rankings - August 2009