Kimbo Slice is, of course, the biggest name on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. But every hard-core MMA fan I know is in agreement that the TUF 10 cast member who has accomplished the most in MMA is Roy Nelson, who was the last heavyweight champion of the IFL, has 13 professional victories and was competitive in all four of his losses. But after Nelson, who's the next-best contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, which begins Wednesday on Spike? One web site may have the answer.
FightMatrix.com uses a statistical rating system for MMA fighters similar to the BCS computer ratings you see in college football, and this is how that rating ranks the 16 fighters on TUF 10:
1. Roy Nelson
2. Darrill Schoonover
3. Abe Wagner
4. Justin Wren
5. Kimbo Slice
6. Mike Wessel
7. Zak Jensen
8. Scott Junk
9. Brendan Schaub
10. James McSweeney
11. Wes Sims
12. Marcus Jones
13. Jon Madsen
NR. Wes Shivers
NR. Matt Mitrione
NR. Demico Rogers
Obviously, these ratings systems aren't perfect. For instance, I think McSweeney, whose MMA record is just 3-4, is a lot better than the Fight Matrix system would have you think. I've talked to multiple UFC fighters who have sparred with McSweeney and say his background as a professional kickboxer makes him a threat to anyone in the stand-up game.
But if you want a basic idea of how good the fighters on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter are, those Fight Matrix rankings are your best bet. Nelson is clearly the favorite.
Previously seen by Kid Nate at Bloody Elbow.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-11-2009 @ 2:53PM
todsmmrs said...
All i know is that Kimbo is so slow, and not a very good fighter at all. Those backyard throw downs on utube were against just plain ol' street thuggs that quickly tanked out and quit. So how does this give any credit to Mr. Slice in even getting into the U.F.C.to me somebody thinks him being on the show will bring in the viewers.
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9-11-2009 @ 4:51PM
P- Diddy said...
Yeah...sooo?
9-11-2009 @ 5:37PM
RJ said...
I watch Kimbo Slice on MMA Live earlier and I must say he might be one of the dumbest fighters I've seen interviewed and when you couple that with the fact he's not a very good mixed martial artist it's just mind blowing that this guy is such a draw.
What does that say about people?
And the average MMA fan? I mean I just don't get it.
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9-12-2009 @ 12:56AM
richardbikle said...
i had just the other impression, somebody with his (lack of) talent making it seemed like smart marketing.
9-12-2009 @ 7:53PM
RJ said...
I don't get what you're talking about or how it is related to my post.
9-11-2009 @ 6:30PM
Earl Skakel said...
Kimbo to me will always have a punchers chance as he can pack a wallop but other than that he was fed tomato cans and got ko'd by one so that really should tell everyone even his fans what his real MMA skills are. Would I want to fight him? No way man as he's a very tough dude but in MMA he's just that, a tough dude and there are alot of tough dudes who's MMA skills are miles ahead of his.
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9-12-2009 @ 4:03AM
kepalidragon said...
Nobody is unbeatable. Seth Petrucelli (sp?) KO'd Kimbo Slice in the first round of their fight, remember? Anyone can get caught, anyone can get submitted. It comes down to who is more prepared and on any given day, who has luck on their side! You never know! All I know is that this season is going to be a barnburner because we got some BAD attitudes, and BIG EGOs in this one.
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