Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

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April was a wild and woolly month for MMA, and WEC 48 was the perfect punctuation mark for it.

The first WEC pay-per-view offering gave us another reminder of why the featherweight class is so enjoyed, as divisional kingpin Jose Aldo was both dominant and brutal in his destruction of former champion Urijah Faber.

However, while Aldo showed the stability a great champion can offer, Manny Gamburyan illustrated the division's dynamic qualities. He polished off former champion Mike Thomas Brown in just more than two minutes to put himself at the front of the line for the next crack at Aldo.

Shockingly, it took less than two minutes for WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson to defend his title against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. The rematch of 2009's "Fight of the Year" lasted just moments before "Smooth" locked up a guillotine, earning the tap, the win and considerable credibility in the ultra-competitive 155-pound division.

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 1 NC)

It seemed fairly straightforward that Emelianenko would stake his heavyweight supremacy against Brazilian Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce’s second CBS offering on April 17. Now, a contract squabble between Strikeforce and M-1, which represents Emelianenko, means early summer is the likely time for the bout.

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

While we do not know exactly how Lesnar will look in his return to the cage after his bout with diverticulitis, we do know his foe. Come July 3, he will take on Shane Carwin to unify both halves of the UFC heavyweight mantle in what should be a blockbuster bout for the promotion.

3. Cain Velasquez (8-0)

Whether one wants to call it a passing of the torch or a coming-out party, Velasquez’s performance against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 was short and brutal. In less than half a round, Velasquez destroyed one of MMA’s most historically outstanding heavyweights in easily his most impressive performance to date.

4. Shane Carwin (12-0)

It took almost four minutes -- an eternity by his usual standards -- but at UFC 111 in Newark, N.J., Carwin blew off Frank Mir’s doors in the first round to claim the UFC interim heavyweight title. However, the real championship will be contested July 3, when Carwin meets Brock Lesnar.

5. Frank Mir (13-5)

Mir entered his March 27 bout with Shane Carwin as a slight betting favorite. However, he looked none the part in the cage, as Carwin bashed him with left hands in the clinch and decimated the former UFC champion to take the promotion’s interim title. With it, he took Mir’s chance for a rubber match with Brock Lesnar.

6. Junior dos Santos (11-1)

Dos Santos’ March 21 bout with Gabriel Gonzaga was supposed to be a sterner test for the hot Brazilian prospect. However, it was business as usual for “Cigano,” who used his boxing ability to turn out the lights on “Napao” and firmly entrench himself in the UFC heavyweight title race.

7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1, 1 NC)

“Minotauro” had an army of backers who felt the former Pride and UFC heavyweight champion would put on a vintage performance against Cain Velasquez at UFC 110. However, post-fight discussion centered on whether or not Nogueira still has the physical tools to hang with young, elite heavyweights after Velasquez polished him off in a little more than two minutes.

8. Brett Rogers (10-1)

Despite the fact that Rogers was taken out by Fedor Emelianenko in November, “The Grim” will get the chance to vie for the Strikeforce heavyweight crown on May 15 in St. Louis. Rogers will take on champion Alistair Overeem, who makes his long-awaited return to the promotion after capturing its heavyweight title in November 2007.

9. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)

The former UFC champion has not seen action since June, when he lasted just 22 seconds against Brett Rogers. However, Arlovski has inked a deal with Strikeforce that will get him back into the cage soon. “The Pitbull” will take on Antonio Silva on May 15 in St. Louis.

10. Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1)

Werdum will have to wait another couple of months to fight for MMA’s heavyweight mantle. He expected to meet heavyweight kingpin Fedor Emelianenko in April, but Emelianenko’s contract dispute with Strikeforce means that “Vai Cavalo” will have to sit pretty until the early summer.

Other contenders: Josh Barnett, Roy Nelson, Alistair Overeem, Ben Rothwell, Antonio Silva.

Light Heavyweight

1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)

The rematch will happen a few months later than expected, but when Machida’s hand has fully healed, the UFC light heavyweight champion will take on fellow Brazilian Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on May 8 in Montreal in a rematch of their controversial October encounter.

2. Mauricio Rua (18-4)

Though Rua would undoubtedly have preferred to get his rematch with Lyoto Machida in January, “Shogun” will have his chance to right what many observers see as one of 2009’s most egregious wrongs at UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal.

3. Quinton Jackson (30-7)

As expected, Jackson’s bite from the acting bug has healed, and he’s headed back to the fight game. “Rampage” will square off with Rashad Evans at UFC 114 on May 29, finally wrapping up the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

4. Rashad Evans (14-1-1)

In the UFC 108 headliner, Evans did enough to outpoint Thiago Silva but underwhelmed onlookers. More will be expected come May 29, when he gets his date with rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114.

5. Forrest Griffin (17-6)

Griffin got back on the horse in November, earning a well-deserved decision win over Tito Ortiz in a rematch of their April 2006 bout. However, the road will get tougher for the former light heavyweight king on May 29, when he takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114 in Las Vegas.

6. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)

“Minotoro” turned in one of the most impressive Octagon debuts in recent memory in November, blowing away heavy-hitting prospect Luis Arthur Cane in less than two minutes. Now in the stream of contenders, Nogueira can creep closer to the top of the division when he takes on Forrest Griffin at UFC 114 on May 29.

7. Muhammed Lawal (7-0)

Ever confident, “King Mo” showed open contempt for those who felt he was too inexperienced to take the Strikeforce light heavyweight title from Gegard Mousasi. On April 17, he validated his pre-fight talk, as he pounded on Mousasi for 25 minutes en route to capturing the title.

8. Gegard Mousasi (28-3-1)

With a 15-fight winning streak dating back three and a half years, Mousasi was expected to use his well-rounded skills and experience to best Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal on April 17. Instead, Mousasi spent the bout on his back and had his title taken by the upstart wrestling star.

9. Thiago Silva (14-2)

Silva carried a back injury into his Jan. 2 bout with former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, and it showed in an uninspired performance. Now healed and back in the gym, Silva eyes a summer return to the Octagon.

10. Luis Arthur Cane (10-2, 1 NC)

Cane was blown out in less than two minutes in November, when he met Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. His return to the Octagon will present another major challenge on the feet. Come UFC 114 on May 29, “Banha” will meet dangerous French striker Cyrille Diabate, who makes his UFC debut.

Other contenders: Ryan Bader, Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Jon Jones, Vladimir Matyushenko.

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (26-4)

At UFC 112, Silva turned in another performance that drew the ire of the MMA public, as he danced and sporadically fought his way to a unanimous decision over Demian Maia. With the post-fight histrionics having subsided, “The Spider” figures to meet Chael Sonnen in August in his next title defense.

2. Chael Sonnen (24-10-1)

Sonnen’s combination of stirring trash talk and surprising performances has finally paid off. The Republican politician-cum-prizefighter has been tentatively slated as the next to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight crown in August.

3. Jake Shields (25-4-1)

Despite entering his April 17 meeting with Dan Henderson as a considerable underdog -- and taking a first-round beating -- Shields dominated the two-time Olympian for the last four rounds, earning a unanimous decision. The question for the Cesar Gracie product now is whether he will remain in Strikeforce or head to the UFC.

4. Nate Marquardt (29-9-2)

Marquardt’s UFC 109 bout with Chael Sonnen was supposed to serve as a perfunctory setup for another UFC middleweight title shot. Instead, Sonnen’s takedowns were far too much for Marquardt, who dropped a unanimous decision and will have to wait for a second crack at the UFC 185-pound crown.

5. Dan Henderson (25-8)

Henderson looked every bit the heavy favorite in round one of his Strikeforce title fight with Jake Shields. However, for the next four rounds, the former two-division Pride champion was dominated on the ground and lost a unanimous decision in his promotional debut.

6. Demian Maia (12-2)

Maia was embarrassed and badly beaten by Anderson Silva in his April 10 title bout. However, with Silva’s in-cage antics and Maia’s throwing caution to the wind late in the fight in an attempt to win, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu star emerged as the bigger fan favorite after UFC 112.

7. Vitor Belfort (19-8)

Belfort was scheduled to get the next crack at pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva’s middleweight throne. However, a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery has bumped “The Phenom” out of a title shot in an intensifying 185-pound division, with no guarantees he will get another chance to face Silva.

8. Yushin Okami (24-5)

Okami was expected to beat Lucio Linhares in their March 31 affair. However, he took the extra step normally absent in his bouts and really put on a show, as he bashed Linhares’ face, forced a second-round stoppage and offered a more enjoyable fight to the lay fan.

9. Jorge Santiago (22-8)

Santiago was one of MMA’s hottest fighters heading into November, when he was embarrassed in his non-title bout with Mamed Khalidov. However, Santiago put on a champion’s performance in the rematch, winning a well-appointed unanimous decision over five rounds to avenge his humbling defeat to the Chechen.

10. Mamed Khalidov (20-4-1)

After whacking Jorge Santiago in their non-title affair in November, many expected the native Chechen to walk away with Sengoku’s middleweight crown on March 7. Instead, Santiago used his grappling ability to ground and outlast Khalidov, as he retained his title.

Other contenders: Yoshihiro Akiyama, Michael Bisping, Paulo Filho, Robbie Lawler, Wanderlei Silva.

Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (20-2)

For five rounds, St. Pierre beat on Dan Hardy and cranked on his arms. However, the welterweight king was unable to get “The Outlaw” out of the Octagon. With his third five-round decision win in his last four bouts, St. Pierre has become a target of criticism from many for his inability to polish off his challengers, however dubious those critiques may be.

2. Jon Fitch (22-3, 1 NC)

The much-anticipated rematch between Fitch and fellow former title challenger Thiago Alves has now been targeted for June 12, when UFC 115 heads to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Now, fans can only hope the bout does not fall apart for a third time.

3. Thiago Alves (16-6)

With a successful angiogram completed and a clean MRI pending, Alves should get a chance to erase his June 2006 loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 115 in June. The “Pitbull” now has to stay healthy, as last-minute medical issues have cancelled the meeting the last two times it was scheduled.

4. Dan Hardy (23-7, 1 NC)

Hardy lost all five rounds of his March 27 title matchup against Georges St. Pierre. Despite a nasty armbar and kimura from “Rush,” Hardy was bloody-but-unbowed in defeat and perhaps extracted a measure of respect from a previously skeptical public regarding his status in the welterweight division.

5. Paulo Thiago (13-1)

Thiago entered his UFC 109 bout with Mike Swick, once again, as an underdog. Once again, he blew away an American Kickboxing Academy product, choking Swick out cold in the second round to prove definitively that his victory over Josh Koscheck was no fluke. Next comes a UFC 115 matchup with Martin Kampmann.

6. Josh Koscheck (14-4)

Despite his evolution since appearing on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Koscheck has yet to challenge for the UFC welterweight crown. In order to earn that right, he will need to take out fast-rising British star Paul Daley at UFC 113 on May 8.

7. Paul Daley (23-8-2)

In his first two UFC appearances, Daley blew the doors off of quality fighters in Martin Kampmann and Dustin Hazelett. Now, a UFC welterweight title shot may hang in the balance when he takes on Josh Koscheck at UFC 113 on May 8 in what amounts to a de facto title eliminator.

8. Mike Swick (14-4)

Coming off a disappointing decision loss to Dan Hardy in November, Swick’s bout with Paulo Thiago at UFC 109 left him in even worse shape. He was choked unconscious in the second round and pushed further back in the UFC welterweight title picture.

9. Nick Diaz (21-7, 1 ND)

Diaz might be facing punishment of some kind due to his involvement with the Strikeforce melee on April 17 in Nashville. The Strikeforce welterweight champ is nonetheless scheduled for international duty, as he's slated to meet veteran Hayato "Mach" Sakurai at Dream 14 on May 29 in Saitama, Japan.

10. Martin Kampmann (16-3)

Kampmann was scheduled to get back in the saddle against rising contender Ben Saunders at UFC 111 on March 27. However, a nasty gash on his forehead nixed the Dane from the bout. Kampmann will instead meet Paulo Thiago at UFC 115.

Other contenders: Carlos Condit, Jay Hieron, Dan Hornbuckle, Matt Hughes, Marius Zaromskis.

Lightweight

1. Frankie Edgar (12-1)

It was the most controversial MMA moment of 2010 so far, but “The Answer” walked out with a unanimous decision victory and the lightweight title in his fight with B.J. Penn at UFC 112. However, the Toms River, N.J., native may have to replicate his feat this summer, as the wheels are in motion for a rematch with Penn.

2. B.J. Penn (15-6-1)

Screw job? Sinus infection? Whatever case Penn backers and “The Prodigy” himself make for his April 10 defeat to Frankie Edgar, it does appear the Hawaiian will get a chance to regain the lightweight mantle in a summer rematch, which might set the record straight.

3. Gilbert Melendez (18-2)

The Strikeforce lightweight champion notched the biggest win of his career in Nashville, Tenn., as he dominated Dream titleholder Shinya Aoki for all 25 minutes of their bout on network television and entrenched himself as one of the sport’s elite at 155 pounds.

4. Shinya Aoki (23-5, 1 NC)

Dream’s lightweight king said that if he failed to defeat Gilbert Melendez in the Strikeforce cage on April 17, Japanese MMA would become “a colony of the USA.” In that case, consider it annexed. Aoki had no answer for “El Nino” and was dominated from bell-to-bell in their 25-minute affair.

5. Eddie Alvarez (19-2)

Bellator has kicked off its second lightweight tournament to find a challenger for Alvarez, its 155-pound champion. However, in the meantime, the Philadelphian will meet UFC veteran Josh Neer in a 160-pound catchweight affair in May.

6. Kenny Florian (13-4)

Florian has fallen short in two previous cracks at the UFC lightweight title. In order to have a third opportunity to take divisional gold, "Ken Flo" will have to take out unbeaten Gray Maynard when the pair meet up in August in Florian's Boston backyard at UFC 118.

7. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5-2)

It was not a barnburner, but Kawajiri’s New Year’s Eve performance against a tough and underrated Kazunori Yokota was thorough and dominant. However, the real fight for the “Crusher” continues to be a potential showdown with Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki.

8. Gray Maynard (9-0, 1 NC)

After calling out "Ken Flo" following his victory over Takanori Gomi, Maynard vs. Florian became an obvious must-have match in the UFC lightweight division. With an Edgar-Penn rematch now looking more likely for UFC 118 in August, Maynard-Florian looks to be a perfect co-feature complement when Zuffa rolls into Beantown this summer.

9. Sean Sherk (33-4-1)

Sherk’s injury woes persist. After pulling out of multiple fights in the last few months, another undisclosed injury forced him to withdraw from a bout with Clay Guida at UFC on Versus 1 on March 21.

10. Benson Henderson (12-1)

An 11-fight winning streak with nine finishes has seen Henderson pick up the WEC lightweight crown, which he defended with shocking ease against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at WEC 48, tapping the Greg Jackson product with his patented guillotine in under two minutes. Now the issue for "Smooth" will be fighting the perception that he's a big fish in a small pond.

Other contenders: Gesias Cavalcante, Tyson Griffin, Mizuto Hirota, Jim Miller, Diego Sanchez.

*With the entry of Benson Henderson, formerly 10th-ranked Mizuto Hirota falls to the contenders list.

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (17-1)

Aldo's first WEC title defense against Urijah Faber was supposed to be a test of the well-rounded skills of the young Brazilian dynamo. It wound up being a test of his humanity instead, as he brutally crushed "The California Kid" with low kicks for the duration of their 25-minute bout. After his dominant performance to cap the promotion's biggest event, the trick for WEC brass will now be making challengers seem threatening to Aldo.

2. Manny Gamburyan (11-4)

After two bouts at 145 pounds -- assumed to be his more natural weight class -- Gamburyan had not set the world on fire, despite winning both. However, in his WEC 48 bout with former divisional king Mike Thomas Brown, the native Armenian had his coming-out party as a featherweight. He clobbered Brown in the first round to emerge as the likely next challenger for Jose Aldo.

3. Mike Thomas Brown (23-6)

Brown was a healthy favorite heading into his April 24 bout with Manny Gamburyan. There's a reason that they fight 'em: Gamburyan caught Brown with a big right hand and pounced for the finish, knocking the former champ further down the pecking order at 145 pounds.

4. Urijah Faber (23-4)

In front of his hometown Sacramento faithful and in the main event of the biggest WEC card to date, "The California Kid" was dominated from bell to bell by Jose Aldo en route to losing a lopsided five-round decision. Now, the next step for the former featherweight ruler is uncertain, though he'll undoubtedly remain one of the biggest stars below the lightweight division.

5. Bibiano Fernandes (8-2)

In the first defense of the Dream featherweight title he captured last October, Fernandes did enough to earn a split decision victory over former Dream lightweight champion Joachim Hansen. He kept his title and notched easily the biggest win of his blossoming career.

6. Raphael Assuncao (14-2)

In his first elite-level test, Assuncao was game but outmatched against former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber at WEC 46, eventually succumbing to “The California Kid” late in the third frame. It was just the second loss of Assuncao’s career, following his highly controversial majority decision defeat to Jeff Curran in November 2006.

7. Michihiro Omigawa (10-8-1)

It wasn't flashy -- Omigawa seldom is -- but the gritty Hidehiko Yoshida student paid due respect to his mentor on Yoshida's April 25 retirement card by grinding out a unanimous decision over a tough Micah Miller. Now, the calls for Omigawa to come stateside to the WEC will only intensify.

8. Hatsu Hioki (20-4-2)

From his professional debut as a 19-year-old, Hioki was always tabbed as a future Shooto world champion. On May 30, the Nagoya, Japan, native will get his chance when he squares off with Shooto’s 143-pound ace “Lion Takeshi” Takeshi Inoue at “The Way of Shooto 3,” with the title on the line.

9. Masanori Kanehara (16-7-5)

On New Year’s Eve, Kanehara notched the most significant win of his professional career by upsetting Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Now, in his first Sengoku title defense on June 20, he will be in for another tough test when he takes on Nova Uniao standout Marlon Sandro.

10. Marlon Sandro (16-1)

It took Sandro just nine seconds to crush Tomonari Kanomata in March. That brutal win paved the way for his Sengoku featherweight title challenge on June 20 against Kanomata’s teammate, Masanori Kanehara. It will mark Kanehara’s first defense.

Other contenders: L.C. Davis, Josh Grispi, Takeshi Inoue, Mackens Semerzier, Deividas Taurosevicius.

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (15-1)

No one doubted that Cruz was a worthwhile challenger to Brian Bowles’ WEC title, but few saw a road to victory for the once-beaten bantamweight. On the back of his speedy jab and low kicks, Cruz battered Bowles for 10 lopsided minutes until a broken hand halted the champion and gave Cruz the WEC crown and bantamweight supremacy.

2. Brian Bowles (8-1)

In his first title defense, Bowles was a step behind Dominick Cruz throughout the WEC 47 main event. After two rounds of one-way action, Bowles bowed out when a doctor examined his broken right hand.

3. Joseph Benavidez (12-1)

Not many gave Benavidez a serious shot at knocking off former 135-pound kingpin Miguel Torres. At WEC 47, Benavidez shamed his doubters, leaving Torres a bloody mess before guillotining him in the second stanza. Whether the win earns Benavidez his crack at the WEC title remains to be seen, but there are no challengers more deserving.

4. Miguel Torres (37-3)

A matter of months ago, Torres was seen as the king of the bantamweights and a pound-for-pound stalwart. Now, after tapping out to Joseph Benavidez in the second round of their March 6 bout, he has two consecutive humbling losses and a scar in the middle of his forehead to boot, courtesy of Benavidez.

5. Scott Jorgensen (10-3)

Last June, Jorgensen felt wronged by the judges in his first encounter with Antonio Banuelos. In their April 24 rematch? Not so much. The former Boise State wrestler dominated Banuelos over the second and third rounds to earn revenge and possibly a WEC bantamweight title shot.

6. Takeya Mizugaki (13-4-2)

It was the only bout at WEC 48 that didn't see some form of airtime, but Mizugaki took a unanimous decision over Rani Yahya on the event's undercard. Unspectacular though it may have been, the win helps Mizugaki keep pace in an intensifying 135-pound division.

7. Damacio Page (15-4)

Coming off shoulder surgery, Page was set for an April 24 return against Antonio Banuelos on the main card of the WEC 48 pay-per-view. However, further injury woes will keep the Greg Jackson pupil out of action a bit longer.

8. Rani Yahya (15-6)

Yahya's road to another shot at the WEC bantamweight title just got longer: The BJJ ace dropped his second straight bout at WEC 48, losing a unanimous verdict to Takeya Mizugaki in a ho-hum affair that will drop him behind the pack in the WEC 135-pound division.

9. Shuichiro Katsumura (11-7-3)

The most unlikely Shooto world champion to date, Katsumura pulled off perhaps 2010’s biggest upset so far when he choked out Masakatsu Ueda and took the Shooto 132-pound world title on March 22. The victory was Katsumura’s third straight since returning from a two-year layoff last year.

10. Masakatsu Ueda (10-1-2)

Perhaps seeking to quickly erase bitter memories of dropping the Shooto world title to Shuichiro Katsumura on March 22, Ueda will return to action on May 30's "The Way of Shooto 3" card. Ueda will meet WEC veteran Akitoshi Tamura in a pairing of former Shooto world champions.

Other contenders: Antonio Banuelos, Cole Escovedo, Wagnney Fabiano, Charlie Valencia, Eddie Wineland.

Flyweight

1. Jussier da Silva (3-0)

After upsetting Shooto world champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima in a non-title affair in July, it was expected “Formiga” would be brought back for a year-end title rematch. However, those prospects remain in limbo, as da Silva’s management and professional Shooto promoters haggle over purse figures for the Natalense fighter.

2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)

Kojima’s Shooto world title run had effectively been on the rocks since July, when he was dominated in a non-title affair against Jussier da Silva. “BJ” officially ended his title reign in March, as he vacated the Shooto world title due to a knee injury and freed up the Shooto 123-pound title picture.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (23-5-3)

After a decade-long career in which he had never fought outside of Shooto sanctioning, Yamaguchi headed to King of the Cage in Okinawa, Japan, and bulldozed previously unbeaten Frank Baca for a second-round submission victory. The win gave Yamaguchi the KOTC 125-pound title and a new window of opportunity later in his pioneering career.

4. Yuki Shojo (10-5-2)

In a more entertaining outing than his September majority points win over Junya Kudo, Shojo earned a lopsided unanimous decision victory over tough Guam product Jesse Taitano on March 22. With it, he kept pace in the Shooto 123-pound division.

5. Yasuhiro Urushitani (16-4-6)

After two unsuccessful bids to win the Shooto 123-pound world title in 2003 and 2007, will the third time be the charm for Urushitani? On May 30, he will square off with Ryuichi Miki -- a man he defeated in September -- for the title Shinichi “BJ” Kojima vacated in March.

6. Ryuichi Miki (10-3-3)

Miki holds a 0-1-1 mark against Yasuhiro Urushitani. “The Way of Shooto 3” on May 30 will be Miki’s chance to finally put a tally in the win column. Better still, if he can do so, he will walk out of JCB Hall in Tokyo as the fourth 123-pound world champion of professional Shooto.

7. Pat Runez (4-0)

Showing savvy far beyond his actual MMA experience, Runez overcame an early shellacking from John Dodson to take a well-earned split decision win on Oct. 3, as he claimed the Ultimate Warrior Challenge flyweight title in what was the most significant 125-pound bout to date outside of Japan.

8. Kiyotaka Shimizu (5-3-1)

Shimizu has earned his stripes the hard way in the flyweight division, earning the King of Pancrase title in February, less than two years after beginning his career 0-2-1. The first defense of his throne will be another toughie, however: Shimizu will put his title on the line against once-beaten Isao Hirose on July 4.

9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (11-6-3)

In February, Sunabe lost the flyweight King of Pancrase title to Kiyotaka Shimizu in a mild upset. His road to a rubber match with Shimizu starts on April 29 when he meets Hayato "Cat" Sato in what amounts to a bounce-back bout for the Okinawan product.

10. Fumihiro Kitahara (8-1-1)

Quietly piecing together a quality resume in Shooto's 123-pound division, Fumihiro Kitahara picked up another strong victory on April 24. The 2008 Shooto rookie champion outslugged gritty veteran Masaaki Sugawara to earn a majority decision and take a leap up in contention for the Shooto 123-pound world title.

Other contenders: Masaaki Sugawara, John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Fumihiro Kitahara, Jessie Riggleman, Alexis Vila.

*With his April 24 loss to Fumihiro Kitahara, previously 10th-ranked Masaaki Sugawara falls to the contenders list.

FONTE: SHERDOG

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Como são 4h da madrugada, to sem tempo pra traduzir, mas quem se dispor a fazê-lo será bem vindo. :lol:

[lyotoforever 0]

não concordo com alguns!!

Velazques ainda n está a frente de Carwin!

Fedor so é o 1° por conta de seu passado, pq pra min ele não é mais , so pega lutadores com niveis abaixo!!

Sonnen nunca será 2°!! no max 5°

e por vai!

Editado April 28, 2010 por lyotoforever

[Andrey 0]

Algumas observações que gostaria de comentar. (MINHA OPINIÃO)

HW:

Cain 8-0 e Carwin 12-0 deveriam estar na frente do Brock 4-1.

Cigano poderia estar na frente do Mir.

MW:

Vitor poderia estar na frente de Demian, pelo fato de estar numa boa sequência de vitórias enquanto o Demian perdeu 2 das últimas 3 lutas.

Lembrando que esse ranking é do Sherdog, do MMA em geral, e não do UFC.

[boxe01 0]

Me expliquem Velasquez na frente do Carwin?

Carwin detonou Mir que detonou Minota, ainda passou o trator no Napão.

[Samir Batalha 0]

Fair.

[pipo 0]

piada esse Sonnem em..

forcaram a barra mesmo

[henriquesucuri 0]

caramba cara agente sabe da supremacia dos brasileiros no esporte mais nem tanto assim

das 8 categorias listadas 4 brasileiros lideram o ranking

e dos 4 nenhum treina em um super centro de treinamento ou tem um super preparador ou um super treinador

um treina com a familia, outro com amigos e por ai vai

4 brasucas

2 americanos

1 russo

1 canadense

o talento ta no sangue

e quanto ao ranking em geral me preocupo só com os primeiros entao não tenho oque contestar

Editado April 28, 2010 por henrique-es-jj

[rodrigoef 0]

Pô, o WEC podeira abolir os pesos-leves, já que não tem muito a ganhar com a categoria, que também está presente no UFC, e colocar o peso-mosca.

[boxe01 0]

caramba cara agente sabe da supremacia dos brasileiros no esporte mais nem tanto assim

das 8 categorias listadas 4 brasileiros lideram o ranking

e dos 4 nenhum treina em um super centro de treinamento ou tem um super preparador ou um super treinador

um treina com a familia, outro com amigos e por ai vai

4 brasucas

2 americanos

1 russo

1 canadense

o talento ta no sangue

e quanto ao ranking em geral me preocupo só com os primeiros entao não tenho oque contestar

Cara aí eu discordo, os caras tem talento mesmo, mas o treinamento dos caras é dureza. Vc pega aí o Lyoto tem um bom acompanhamento da família, fora opessoal que chega pra treinar lá. Anderson tem uma grande galera por trás dele, agora mesmo tá se mandando pra tailândia, pra afiar ainda mais seu Muay Thai, treina no brasil e depois se manda pro EUA onde os Nogueira contam com boa infraestrutura, já fizeram as amizades lá. O Aldo na Nova União, tem um grande material humano pra treino. Os treinos se equivalem aos de lá fora. Se você pegar os treinos do Fedor, muito do treino dele é quase artesanal e o cara tá aí em 1o quase a 1 decada. O Glover acabou de falar que tá se surpreendendo com os treinos aqui, o material humano, o cara treinou com o Liddell lá fora.

Editado April 28, 2010 por boxe01

[afterforever 0]

não concordo com alguns!!

Velazques ainda n está a frente de Carwin!

Fedor so é o 1° por conta de seu passado, pq pra min ele não é mais , so pega lutadores com niveis abaixo!!

Sonnen nunca será 2°!! no max 5°

e por vai!

Bom, mas o Fedor não perde a muito tempo e ele ainda assim pegou mais tops do que Brock. ou vc acha que o Brock devia estar no lugar dele? Só venceu Randy e Mir e ainda assim já foi finalizado! Brock que não merecia a cinta tão cedo, daqui pra frente ele vai precisar provar que merece manter, vencendo os tops da categoria!

[Dudu show 0]

Me expliquem Velasquez na frente do Carwin?

Carwin detonou Mir que detonou Minota, ainda passou o trator no Napão.

Concordo.

[Axe_Spartan 0]

O ranking do MMAweekly ta MUITO melhor!

Primeiro, Carwin deveria estar na frente do Cain, já que deu um KO no Napão e arrebentou o Mir (TOP), 2 nomes fortes, e ainda ta com o cinturão interino da categoria.

Cigano deveria estar na frente do Mir, ja tá vindo de 5 vitórias no UFC, contra um TOP (Werdum) e nomes fortes como CC e Napão, enquanto o Mir ta vindo de derrota.

Na LHW, o Jon Jones não está no ranking e o Luis Cane tá?! realmente, não entendi essa, era para o Jon Jones estar pelo menos nos TOP 10 com as performances que vem fazendo, e o Banha ainda ta vindo de derrota.

Na MW, já expliquei o motivo porque o Belfort não merece estar no ranking no momento no tópico sobre o ranking do MMAweekly.

Na LW, o que o Sean Sherk (quase 1 ano sem lutar) ta fazendo no ranking, e ainda mais na frente do Ben Henderson?? <_<

[Deno 0]

Ta errado o Shogun e o primeiro concerteza ele atropela o Lyoto...

[alfred 0]

Ta errado o Shogun e o primeiro concerteza ele atropela o Lyoto...

Quem é que tá com o cinturão, amigo???Já que ele "atropela" o Lyoto, por que não o fez quando teve chanve??É cada comentário que aparece aqui

[Gustavowww 0]

Sonnen na frente do Shields?

Se não fosse ranking do Sherdog, seria obvio que tem o dedo do Dana.