MMA Rankings > MMA Heavyweight Rankings
MMA Heavyweight Rankings
A review and ranking of MMA Heavyweights - January 2010 Update
When UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar avenged his only career loss at UFC 100 in July over Frank Mir, the debate renewed as to who was the best heavyweight fighter in Mixed Martial Arts. With Fedor Emelianenko not having fought since January, "The Last Emperor" was looking to take on another Top 10 heavyweight in Josh Barnett at Affliction: Trilogy. However that event never took place which led to the Fedor to the UFC deal falling through and Strikeforce's landmark deal with the man who many claim is the best pound for pound fighter in MMA. Fedor was quickly matched up with then undefeated Brett Rogers which took place in early November as Emelianenko overcame a broken nose to KO Rogers in the 2nd Round. While much of the debate remains with Fedor and Lesnar atop the MMA heavyweight rankings, we have seen a lot of movement in the middle of these rankings with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin all gaining big wins to vault them into contention for the top spots in the heavyweight rankings and for Lesnar's UFC Heaveyweight Championship belt.
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Cain Velasquez (right) continues to climb the MMA heavyweight rankings as he recently defeated Ben Rothwell at UFC 104 to run his perfect MMA record to 7-0 (5-0 UFC). |
1. Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) – “The Last Emperor” maintains his position as the number one heavyweight in the world with his 2nd round TKO victory over Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers early in November. The WAMMA and Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion is rumored to get ground specialist Fabricio Werdum in Strikeforce's next CBS-televised “Saturday Night Fights” in April.
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1) – The current UFC Heavyweight Champion is busy recovering from serious health issues and will probably do so for the immediate future. It looks as if the organization will generate an interim title until his health situation is sorted out. Don’t look for Lesnar to return, if at all, until summer or fall of 2010.
3. Frank Mir (13-4) – The former UFC Heavyweight Champion rebounded from a loss to Brock Lesnar by defeating Cheick Kongo at UFC 107 via 1st round submission. Although Mir is focused on a third bout with Lesnar, he will first fight Shane Carwin at the New Jersey based UFC 111 for the UFC's Interim Heavyweight Title.
4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) – Originally expected to fight dangerous prospect Cain Velasquez at UFC 108 in January, another serious staph infection will delay that meeting until at least February’s UFC 110 in Australia. “Big Nog” is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Randy Couture at UFC 102 this summer.
5. Cain Velasquez (7-0) – His perfect 5-0 record inside of the octagon is highlighted by his decision victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 and a UFC 104 TKO of IFL-er “Big” Ben Rothwell. He was supposed to challenge Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 108 in January in a number one contender’s bout, but due to a Nogueira injury, will now fight atop the UFC 110 fight card in February.
6. Shane Carwin (11-0) – After his title fight with Brock Lesnar was postponed, the Colorado-native will turn his attention to fighting Frank Mir at UFC 111 for the company’s Interim Title. Carwin is a perfect 3-0 inside the octagon with impressive stoppage victories over Christian Wellisch, Neil Wain, and Gabriel Gonzaga since joining the UFC in May of 2008. 7. Junior dos Santos (9-1) – “Cigano” was one of the few main card fighters at UFC 108 not to get injured, however his opponent Gabriel Gonzaga was. Now, Dos Santos will go head-to-head with UFC newcomer Gilbert Yvel on January 2nd. Dos Santos last fought in September at UFC 103 and defeated Mirko Filipovic, using his solid striking skills to wear down the MMA legend on his way to a 3rd round stoppage. 8. Alistair Overeem (31-11) – His return to America and Strikeforce is highly anticipated, but “The Demolition Man” has business to take care of in Japan first. While he was originally rumored to fight Andrei Arlovski at the FEG year-end event, officials chose to pit him against Japanese legend Kazuyuki Fujita instead. He last fought in late October at DREAM 12 choking out James Thompson in 33 seconds. |
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9. Randy Couture (17-10) – Couture recorded a much-needed victory in mid-November by earning a unanimous decision at UFC 105 in England against Brandon Vera fighting as a Light Heavyweight. The 46-year old UFC Hall-of-Famer will next fight another HOF fighter in Mark Coleman atop the UFC 109 fight card in February. It will be the third fight on a new six-fight deal for Couture.
10. Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1) – “Vai Cavalo” called out Fedor after his November unanimous decision victory over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and in April at the next CBS-televised “Saturday Night Fights” event, just may get his wish. Werdum has won both of his Strikeforce bouts since his surprising release from the UFC.
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Published December 2009
Photo used with permission from the UFC