After a weekend in which the two best athletes in mixed martial arts both had impressive wins, there's a fierce debate going on about which of them is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Below, I provide my answer to that question -- as well as rankings of 23 other fighters, for my inaugural FanHouse Top 25.
1. Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight/light heavyweight
What makes Silva better than Fedor? From my perspective, it's the way he has cleared out the field in the middleweight class. Silva's dominance in the UFC has exceeded even Fedor's dominance in Pride.
2. Fedor Emelianenko, Affliction heavyweightThe Fedor-Silva question is close -- and if Fedor were to fight and beat Randy Couture, he'd have a very good case for moving up to No. 1. Picking the order of the top two is hard, but picking the top two is easy.
3. Georges St. Pierre, UFC welterweight
His title defense against Jon Fitch at UFC 87 will be the best welterweight fight of the year.
4. B.J. Penn, UFC lightweight
Penn showed against Sean Sherk that he's the world's best lightweight; now the question is whether he'll stay at lightweight or take on a bigger challenge by moving up to welterweight for a rematch with St. Pierre.
5. Urijah Faber, WEC featherweight
Faber is the biggest star and best fighter in the WEC, and his dominant unanimous decision victory against Jens Pulver was one of the best performances any MMA fighter has had this year.
6. Miguel Torres, WEC bantamweight
If Zuffa ever decides to put WEC on pay-per-view, having Torres gain 10 pounds to fight Faber would be the way to do it.
7. Randy Couture, unaffiliated heavyweightIt's absolutely amazing that Couture is still able to be a great fighter into his mid-40s, and it would be a real shame if contractual issues robbed him of the chance to end his career on his own terms. Everyone wants to see Couture fight Fedor, but I worry that it won't happen.
8. Eddie Alvarez, Dream lightweight
I believe Alvarez would have won the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix if his eye injury hadn't forced him out of the finale. He's likely to get back into the ring with Joachim Hansen, who replaced him in the finale, this year. If Penn moves up to welterweight, the Alvarez-Hansen winner will deserve to be called the best lightweight in the world.
9. Lyoto Machida, UFC light heavyweight
With all due respect to champion Forrest Griffin, I believe Machida is the best fighter in the UFC's light heavyweight division. The problem for Machida is that a lot of fans don't like his cautious, defense-oriented style, so UFC is hesitant to give him a title shot. He'll fight his fellow undefeated Brazilian Thiago Silva at UFC 89.
10. Forrest Griffin, UFC light heavyweight
Beating Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson in back to back fights is awfully impressive, but I still sense that as popular as Griffin is, UFC fans have some lingering doubts about whether Griffin is one of the sport's elite fighters. Those doubts should disappear if he successfully defends his title.
11. Rampage Jackson, UFC light heavyweightAfter losing his title belt to Griffin, he now needs to get his personal life straightened out.
12. Joachim Hansen, Dream lightweight
Hansen, who needed less than seven minutes, total, to defeat both Kultar Gill and Shinya Aoki on Monday, has promised that he'll give Eddie Alvarez his first title defense. I think he'll lose to Alvarez again.
13. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, UFC heavyweight
Nogueira is a bit overlooked because heavyweight is UFC's weakest division, but he'll get a lot of attention this fall as one of the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, and he defends his title against Frank Mir in November or December.
14. Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight
The UFC's most popular fighter faces Rashad Evans in September, and if he wins he's likely to get a title shot against Griffin in late 2008 or early 2009.
15. Shinya Aoki, Dream lightweight
Aoki is the most creative submission artist in the world, but his striking leaves a lot to be desired. If he had won the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix I would have been set to put him in the top 10, but I can't say that after his loss to Hansen.
16. Kid Yamamoto, Dream featherweight
Yamamoto is a great talent, but a torn ACL kept him out of Dream.5 and will keep him out for at least six months. That means the entire year of 2008 will go by without Yamamoto ever setting foot in the ring.
17. Matt Lindland, Affliction middleweight
I have mixed feelings about Lindland. I wasn't all that impressed with his unanimous decision victory against Fabio Negao Saturday night, and that was his first fight in more than a year. But his only losses in his last dozen fights are against Fedor and Rampage, and when he's at his best he's outstanding.
18. Dan Henderson, UFC middleweight/light heavyweight
Henderson has been somewhat forgotten recently, having fought only twice in the last 16 months, losing to Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva. But when he takes on Rousimar Palhares at UFC 88, I think he'll show that he is still the same guy who was a Pride champion in two weight classes, and the same guy who beat Wanderlei Silva a year and a half ago.
19. Paulo Filho, WEC middleweight
The undefeated Filho is a great talent, but he has had drug problems that threaten to derail his career. He'll fight for the first time in 2008 at WEC 36 on September 10.
20. Robbie Lawler, EliteXC middleweight
I've seen some deride Lawler as a UFC washout, but he's a much better fighter now than he was in 2004, when he fought twice for UFC and lost both times. His rematch against Scott Smith is the main event in this weekend's CBS show.
21. Jon Fitch, UFC welterweight
Fitch is on an eight-fight winning streak, which is tied with Royce Gracie for the longest in UFC history. If he makes it nine in a row against Georges St. Pierre next month, he'll move into the Top 10.
22. Thiago Alves, UFC welterweight
The one issue with Alves is whether he's really a welterweight -- he couldn't make weight for his most recent fight, against Matt Hughes. But if he can actually weigh in at 170 and win a fight, he deserves a title shot against the Fitch/St. Pierre winner.
23. Mike Brown, WEC featherweight
Not many people know Brown right now, but if he can beat Faber at WEC 36, he'll move into the Top 10 of a lot of pound-for-pound rankings.
24. Takanori Gomi, World Victory Road lightweight
Most people would have Gomi higher than this, but I like to see activity, and Gomi fought only once in 2007 (a loss to Nick Diaz that was later changed to a no contest when Diaz failed a drug test) and once so far in 2008 (a TKO win over Duane Ludwig). He's slated to fight again at Sengoku 4. He needs to start putting together more impressive victories against more talented opponents.
25. Jake Shields, EliteXC welterweight
His current nine-fight winning streak includes decisions over Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami, and in 2007 he went 4-0, winning all four fights in the first round. On Saturday he takes on Nick Thompson in his first fight of 2008.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-22-2008 @ 4:54PM
cripplr233 said...
Dig the list, man! How often are you going to update it? Once a month?
Anyway, I can't argue with any of your picks, really, but I wonder if Josh Barnett doesn't deserve to be on there somewhere.
Curious what your thoughts are.
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7-22-2008 @ 5:07PM
Michael David Smith said...
I did consider Barnett, and if this list had gone to 30 I would have included him. I also considered Andrei Arlovski. It's possible that either Barnett or Arlovski will fight Fedor later this year, and obviously, if they were to win, they'd move way, way up the list.
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7-22-2008 @ 5:24PM
joe said...
Where is Roger Huerta?
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7-22-2008 @ 5:53PM
Robert Greene said...
I don't understand how Randy can be ranked higher than Big Nog. Randy's all time record is 16-8, Nog's is 34-4. All 8 of Randy's losses were by TKO or submission, Nog has never been finished. Nog has avenged two his four losses, and the other two were to Fedor (your number 2 P4P). As far as I'm aware, the only loss Randy has avenged was to Vitor.
Both of them have fought a who's who of MMA, and cannot be knocked for dodging opponents. That said, however, I think Nog's list of wins is more impressive, highlighted by
Tim Sylvia
Heath Herring (over and over, hehe)
Josh B.
Werdum
Sergei
Nastula
Mirko Cro Cop
Ricco R.
Henderson
Shilt
Coleman
Gary G
Valentijn Overeem
Bob Sapp
Randy's list is highlighted by
Gabrial Gonzaga
Tim Sylvia
Rizzo x2
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
Chuck Liddel
Vitor
Randlemen
Jeremy Horn
If you look at their common opponents, Randy was submitted by Overeem while Nog submitted him, Randy was finished by Barnett where as Nog lost a controversial split decision to him, and then beat him. Randy was finished by Ricco and Nog beat him (although not without controversy). Even their shared win, Tim Sylvia, Randy won a decision, Nog submitted him.
Most importantly, if you look at what they've done recently, Nog has been more impressive. Since 2006, Randy is 2-1, with the loss at Light Heavyweight (to Chuck). Nog is 6-1, with the loss (Barnett) avenged. Nog has done more over the course of his career, and done more in the past two years. He has earned a higher ranking.
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7-22-2008 @ 6:12PM
Michael David Smith said...
I was thinking of both Nogueira and Couture in relation to Fedor, and I thought that while Nogueira has already tried and failed to beat Fedor, Couture hasn't yet had the chance and might be able to pull the upset. But you make a very, very good case for Nogueira.
7-22-2008 @ 6:04PM
Robert Greene said...
I guess if I'm going to count Horn for Randy, I should count him for Nog as well. Also, Randy has beaten Tito. Still, if you skim their respective win lists, Nog's goes on forever, and is far more impressive than Randy's. And of course, it's coupled with far fewer losses. I just don't understand how Randy can be ranked higher. Nog has one of the most impressive records in all of MMA.
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7-22-2008 @ 7:28PM
Robert Greene said...
True, if Randy beats Fedor, I will change my tune.
However, until that day comes, I'll stick to ranking Nog higher than Randy. I think he tends to get underrated by people, because he's boring and has lost to Fedor twice. But the man is a warrior, and it's amazing that he's never been finished. I love the expression "Nog doesn't lose, he runs out of time"
(I also think Chuck should be ranked higher than Randy. I think Randy has done a great job of hyping himself and tends to get overrated in general)
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7-22-2008 @ 11:03PM
Miguel Class said...
This list is awesome, it's cool that you didn't favor any of the major organizations. The only fighter that i feel that deserves a place is Roger Huerta, who is 25-1-1 on Sherdog, and has fought at both lightweight and welterweight and who is undefeated in the UFC with 6 straight wins. However i can understand that he hasn't really fought anybody that sweet.
Some other fighters, that I'm sure you considered, are Michael Bisbing, Rashad Evans, Rich Franklin, Mauricio Rua, Mirko Cro Cop, Wanderlei Silva, and Sean Sherk. But i can understand why all of these fighters didn't make the cut.
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7-28-2008 @ 11:39PM
idiotslayer said...
Some other fighters, that I'm sure you considered, are Michael Bisping-get real, he's a star for WEC or other but NEVER UFC elite material.
Rashad Evans-maybe someday,
Rich Franklin-exposed
Mauricio Rua-never adjusted to 5 5 min rounds
Mirko Cro Cop-still one-dimensional
Wanderlei Silva-a great measuring stick, like tito, but most likely past his prime.
and Sean Sherk-to me a wrestler who's content grinding it out in people's guard praying for a stoppage due to a cut. never passes guard, submits anyone, or K.O.'s. his short arms should give him a clue to drop down to 145 and challenge Urijah in the WEC. not even top 50 material imho.
7-22-2008 @ 11:51PM
Gregg said...
I can't disagree with any of your selections, although some I have not heard of because I am more familiar with UFC, WEC, and Pride. 5 do wonder however, if you were to go to say 10-15 more fighters, where would Carlos Condit, and Thiago Silva rank?
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7-23-2008 @ 12:12AM
Ace said...
The only reason CUNG LE is not on the list is because of PROMOTIONAL issues. Dana White take a little less money and get CUNG LE to fight Fedor or Silva. CUNG LE fights between 175-180 lb. He is UNDEFEATED with 6.-0 with 6 KO's so lets get the best MMA fighters in the World and not make this POLITICAL like BOXING ! If you have not seen Cung Le fight you can check him out on YOU TUBE !
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7-28-2008 @ 11:35PM
idiotslayer said...
hey Ace, anderson silva was reported to have walked around naturally at 210-215 lbs during his entire UFC middleweight reign, cutting to 185. it was further said he was 220-225 for his jump to LHW at 205 against Irvin. Fedor walks around at 230.
you're dream fights of either against the 175-180 lb Cung Le (your stats) will never happen in this reality...sorry.
7-23-2008 @ 3:22AM
claytor said...
I wholesomely disagree with the 1-2 rankings.
Fedor has easily faced better comp than Silva ever has.
There really isnt a middleweight class. Frankling jumped to title contender after beating a washed out Ken Shamrock, and he didnt really fight anyone outside of the Crow during his reign, so im lost as to his supremity.
On the other hand, Fedor has beaten at least five men who were or are in the ufc now, and is either the champion (Minotauro), or are contenders.
Besides, the whole PRIDE was weak arguement is a joke, considering Silva himself is from PRIDE, and was a far worse fighter while in PRIDE. Getting schooled by Ryo freaking Chonan? Cmon, man.
Fedor has lost ONE fight. One.
That was to a fluke stoppage from a cut.
I say let them meet at 205, if Randy could cut, and Fedor weighs in regularly at 230, he could shed the pounds necessary to meet Spiderboy.
It would be ugly.
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7-23-2008 @ 8:07AM
evil_robots said...
So Silva fought someone his weight (he walks around at 215) and won - while Fedor fought someone who weighted 40+ pounds more than he does - and won. Is that sort of the definition of pound for pound? Silva's fight against Maynard - where Maynard came in heavy was the fight that gave him the most trouble. He may be the most exciting and the most precise - but I do not think he is better pound for pound than Fedor. He beat Franklin and Hendo - that's impressive no doubt - but the middleweight division is so thin that clearing it out isn't all that impressive. (Clear out the LHW division - he may be best of all time.) Machida is way too low on the list - he ought to be no lower than 3. (Not just because he is undefeated - but because who he has beaten as well.) Nog is too low too. He's lost to Fedor and that is pretty much it. GSP is too high. That lost to Serra should have him out of the top 10. He's a guy worth paying to see fight - but if you lose fights you ought to win - can't be on this list ahead of guys who only lose to guys "better" than they are.
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7-28-2008 @ 11:34PM
idiotslayer said...
you have your "highs" and "lows" all mixed up. low is good on his list. this muddles your post to all hell, all the time you spent typing is for naught. sorry.
7-23-2008 @ 8:15AM
evil_robots said...
I meant Travis Lutter not Gray Maynard in regards to who came in heavy. Apologies for the confusion.
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7-23-2008 @ 12:21PM
Frederick said...
good list
Maybe liddell is a bit too high I find
Keep WEC on free TV please.
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7-23-2008 @ 2:45PM
Sean said...
Where is Vlanderla Silva on this list ?? His only two losses recently were to Liddell and Henderson. He's knocked out Rampage twice. And rampage beat liddell twice. Dominated pride for years before finally lossing to Mirco Cro Cop, who is a heavyweight. He just had an impressive win in his last outting. I have to agree with the other poster about Nogeria being ranked higher.
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7-23-2008 @ 9:00PM
Zach said...
MDS comes with another great post. Hope you keep this up.
The only one I dont really think should be on this list is Robbie Lawyer. Scott Smith has a less than impressive record and he had a tough time putting him away. That is my only complaint, other than that it is a great job.
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7-28-2008 @ 11:41PM
idiotslayer said...
agreed about robbie lawler.. and i would put BJ above GSP, especially since that decision loss was super controversial--i gave BJ the "W". but my $.02 don't mean squat.
i'll also admit i'm biased and realize that he won't be ranked above him until he avenges his loss to him. one more thing is at that time BJ only trained a few months before each fight, not year round like he does now. these are his words. he claims if he had stayed in peek physical conditioning year round then the broken rib he suffered against Hughes that caused him to lose due to lack of mobility in his core would not have happened--it would have been stronger. and he was like 170 lbs to GSP's obvious 185+ lbs.
BJ should win the rematch.