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Top 10 MMA Fighters March 2010

By MMAEdition on May 04, 2010 with Comments 0

HEAVYWEIGHT (limit 265 pounds)

1. Fedor Emelianenko (M-1/Strikeforce, 31-1, 225, 1)
Last fight: Nov. 7: def. Brett Rogers, TKO, second round
Next fight: tba

2. Brock Lesnar (UFC, 4-1, 216, 2)
Last fight: July 11: def. Frank Mir to unify UFC championship, TKO, second round
Next fight: July vs. Mir-Carwin winner (or Velasquez, if Mir-Carwin winner is injured)

3. Frank Mir (UFC, 13-4, 206, 3)
Last fight: Dec. 12: def. Cheick Kongo by submission (guillotine choke), first round
Next fight: March 27 vs. Carwin for interim UFC title (UFC 111)

4. Cain Velasquez (UFC, 8-0, 198, 5)
Last fight: Feb. 20: def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, TKO, first round
Next fight: Possibly vs. Lesnar in July

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC, 32-6-1, 181, 4)
Last fight: Feb. 20: lost to Cain Velasquez, TKO, first round
Next fight: tba

6. Shane Carwin (UFC, 11-0, 169, 7)
Last fight: March 7 (2009): def. Gabriel Gonzago, KO, first round
Next fight: March 27 vs. Mir for interim UFC title (UFC 111)

7. Junior dos Santos (UFC, 11-1, 168, 6)
Last fight: March 21: def. Gabriel Gonzaga, KO, first round
Next fight: tba

8. Brett Rogers (Strikeforce, 10-1, 162,
Last fight: Nov. 7: lost to Fedor Emelianenko, TKO, second round
Next fight: May 15 vs. Overeem

9. Alistair Overeem (Dream/Strikeforce, 32-11, 142, 9)
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Kazuyuki Fujita, KO, first round
Next fight: May 15 vs. Rogers

10. Andrei Arlovski (Strikeforce, 15-7, 128, 11)
Last fight: June 6: lost to Brett Rogers, KO, first round
Next fight: May 15 vs. Antonio Silva

Next: Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, Gabriel Gonzaga, Cheick Kongo, Aleksander Emelianenko, Pedro Rizzo, Antonio Silva

Analysis: Overeem is finally fighting in Strikeforce again, but not against Fedor, who’s in a strange contract limbo. With only six of the top 12, this could be considered UFC’s weak spot, but the title picture is shaping up nicely, with Velasquez and dos Santos looking more and more like viable challengers to whomever emerges from the Mir-Carwin-Lesnar bouts.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

1. Lyoto Machida (UFC, 16-0, 224, 1)
Last fight: Oct. 24: def. Mauricio Rua to retain UFC championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: May 8 vs. Rua for UFC championship (UFC 113)

2. Mauricio Rua (UFC, 18-4, 208, 2)
Last fight: Oct. 24: lost to Lyoto Machida for UFC championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: May 8 vs. Machida for UFC championship (UFC 113)

3. Rashad Evans (UFC, 14-1-1, 204, 3)
Last fight: Jan. 2: def. Thiago Silva, unanimous decision
Next fight: May 29 vs. Jackson

4. Quinton Jackson (UFC, 30-7, 196, 4)
Last fight: March 7 (2009): def. Keith Jardine, unanimous decision
Next fight: May 29 vs. Evans

5. Forrest Griffin (UFC, 17-6, 180, 6-t)
Last fight: Nov. 21: def. Tito Ortiz, unanimous decision
Next fight: unconfirmed vs. Nogueira

6. Anderson Silva (UFC, 25-4, 177, 5)
Last fight: Aug. 8: def. Forrest Griffin, KO, first round
Next fight: April 10 vs. Demian Maia for UFC middleweight championship (UFC 112)

7. Gegard Mousasi (Dream/Strikeforce, 28-2-1, 172, 6-t)
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Gary Goodridge, TKO, first round
Next fight: April 17 vs. Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal for Strikeforce championship

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC, 18-3, 159,
Last fight: Nov. 21: def. Luiz Cane, TKO, first round
Next fight: unconfirmed vs. Griffin

9. Thiago Silva (UFC, 14-2, 130, 9)
Last fight: Jan. 2: lost to Rashad Evans, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba

10. Dan Henderson (Strikeforce, 25-7, 127, 10)
Last fight: July 11 (UFC): def. Michael Bisping, TKO, second round
Next fight: April 17 vs. Jake Shields for Strikeforce middleweight championship

Next: Rich Franklin, Randy Couture, Luiz Cane, Ryan Bader, Keith Jardine

Analysis: Bader is rising after beating Jardine, and the rankings haven’t caught up to #20 Jon Jones’ demolition of #16 Brandon Vera. The rest of the division will get a good shakeup soon — if Griffin and Nogueira fight in May, that’ll be nine of the top 10 in action in a seven-week span.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

1. Anderson Silva (UFC, 25-4, 225, 1)
Last fight: Aug. 8: def. Forrest Griffin, KO, first round
Next fight: April 10 title defense vs. Demian Maia (UFC 112)

2. Dan Henderson (Strikeforce, 25-7, 208, 2)
Last fight: July 11 (UFC): def. Michael Bisping, TKO, second round
Next fight: April 17 vs. Jake Shields for Strikeforce middleweight championship

3. Chael Sonnen (UFC, 24-10-1, 207, 3)
Last fight: Feb. 6: def. Nate Marquardt, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba

4. Vitor Belfort (UFC, 19-8, 195, 4-t)
Last fight: Sept. 19: def. Rich Franklin, KO, first round (catchweight)
Next fight: tba (injured)

5. Nate Marquardt (UFC, 29-9-2, 192, 4-t)
Last fight: Feb. 6: lost to Chael Sonnen, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba

6. Demian Maia (UFC, 12-1, 179, 6)
Last fight: Feb. 6: def. Dan Miller, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 10 vs. Anderson Silva for UFC middleweight championship (UFC 112)

7. Jake Shields (Strikeforce, 24-4-1, 172, 7)
Last fight: Nov. 7: def. Jason Miller to retain Strikeforce championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 17 title defense vs. Dan Henderson

8. Yushin Okami (UFC, 24-5, 147, 9)
Last fight: Oct. 24: lost to Chael Sonnen, unanimous decision
Next fight: March 31 vs. Lucio Linhares (UFC Fight Night)

9. Robbie Lawler (Strikeforce, 17-5, 134,
Last fight: Jan. 30: def. Melvin Manhoef, TKO, first round
Next fight: tba

10. Jorge Santiago (Sengoku, 22-8, 125, 12)
Last fight: Nov. 7: lost to Mamed Khalidov, TKO, first round
Next fight: March 7 def. Santiago for Sengoku championship

Next: Yoshihiro Akiyama, Wanderlei Silva, Mamed Khalidov, Michael Bisping, Ronaldo Souza

Analysis: Santiago shook up the rankings by winning the rematch with Khalidov. Silva finally returns to the middleweight class after a light heavyweight bout with Griffin and an injury absence, but Belfort and Sonnen aren’t available. Shields, who has fought mostly at welterweight, will be at a size disadvantage against Henderson, who has spent time at light heavyweight.

WELTERWEIGHTS

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC, 19-2, 225, 1)
Last fight: July 11: def. Thiago Alves to retain UFC championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: March 27 title defense vs. Dan Hardy (UFC 111)

2. Jon Fitch (UFC, 24-3-1, 216, 2)
Last fight: Dec. 12: def. Mike Pierce, unanimous decision
Next fight: March 27 vs. Ben Saunders (UFC 111)

3. Thiago Alves (UFC, 22-5, 206, 3)
Last fight: July 11: lost to Georges St. Pierre for UFC championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba; late scratch from March 27 bout vs. Jon Fitch

4. Josh Koscheck (UFC, 16-4, 190, 4)
Last fight: Nov. 21: def. Anthony Johnson, submission (rear naked choke), second round
Next fight: May 8 vs. Paul Daley (UFC 113)

5. Paulo Thiago (UFC, 13-1, 183, 5-t)
Last fight: Feb. 6: def. Mike Swick, submission (choke), second round
Next fight: possibly vs. Kampmann, June (multiple unconfirmed reports)

6. Dan Hardy (UFC, 23-6, 175, 5-t)
Last fight: Nov. 14: def. Mike Swick, unanimous decision
Next fight: March 27 vs. Georges St. Pierre for UFC championship (UFC 111)

7. Nick Diaz (Strikeforce, 21-7, 171,
Last fight: Jan. 30: def. Marius Zaromskis to win vacant Strikeforce championship, TKO, first round
Next fight: tba

8. Matt Hughes (UFC, 44-7, 156, 9)
Last fight: May 23: def. Matt Serra, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 10 vs. Renzo Gracie (UFC 112)

9. Paul Daley (UFC, 23-8-2, 150, 7)
Last fight: Jan. 2: def. Dustin Hazelett, KO, first round
Next fight: May 8 vs. Josh Koscheck (UFC 113)

10. Martin Kampmann (UFC, 16-3, 100, 10)
Last fight: Jan. 2: def. Jacob Volkmann by submission (guillotine choke), first round
Next fight: possibly vs. Thiago, June (multiple unconfirmed reports)

Next: Mike Swick, Carlos Condit, Jay Hieron, Matt Serra, Marius Zaromskis, Dan Hornbuckle

Analysis: There’s a steep drop from Daley to Kampmann, who barely takes the 10th spot ahead of the slumping Swick. Alves’ pre-fight medical exam wiped out a promising matchup of top contenders against Fitch. Daley-Koscheck is the best contenders’ fight on the agenda. In Strikeforce, will #13 Hieron get a shot at Diaz?

LIGHTWEIGHTS

1. BJ Penn (UFC, 15-5-1, 225, 1)
Last fight: Dec. 12: def. Diego Sanchez to retain UFC championship, TKO, fifth round
Next fight: April 10 title defense vs. Frankie Edgar (UFC 112)

2. Shinya Aoki (Dream, 23-4, 208, 2)
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Mizuto Hirota, submission (armlock), first round
Next fight: April 17 vs. Gilbert Melendez for Strikeforce championship

3. Eddie Alvarez (Bellator, 19-2, 203, 4)
Last fight: Oct. 25 (Dream): def. Katsunori Kikuno, submission (arm-triangle choke), second round
Next fight: May vs. Josh Neer; Alvarez’s Bellator title not at stake

4. Kenny Florian (UFC, 14-4, 198, 3)
Last fight: Dec. 12: def. Clay Guida, submission (rear naked choke), second round
Next fight: March 31 vs. Takanori Gomi (UFC Fight Night)

5. Gray Maynard (UFC, 10-0, 186, 5)
Last fight: Jan. 11: def. Nate Diaz, split decision
Next fight: tba

6. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Dream, 26-5-2, 182, 7)
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Kazunori Yokota, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba

7. Frankie Edgar (UFC, 11-1, 156, 6)
Last fight: Dec. 5: def. Matt Veach, submission (rear naked choke), second round
Next fight: April 10 vs. BJ Penn for UFC championship (UFC 112)

8. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce, 17-2, 138,
Last fight: Dec. 19: def. Josh Thomson to win Strikeforce championship, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 17 title defense vs. Shinya Aoki

9. Sean Sherk (UFC, 37-4-1, 129, 10)
Last fight: May 23: lost to Frankie Edgar, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba (injured)

10. Diego Sanchez (UFC, 23-3, 126, 9)
Last fight: Dec. 12: lost to BJ Penn for UFC Championship, TKO, fifth round
Next fight: tba

Next: Tyson Griffin, Mizuto Hirota, Takanori Gomi, Jim Miller, George Sotiropoulos, Ben Henderson, Joe Stevenson, Joachim Hansen

Analysis: The Aoki-Melendez showdown demonstrates a lot of promise for the Dream-Strikeforce partnership, pitting their two champions against each other. Florian welcomes Gomi to the USA and UFC in an impressive free-TV main event. If Gomi wins, that’ll give Penn another interesting challenger in a division he has nearly cleaned out, though Maynard should be next in line. That’s assuming, and it’s not a safe assumption, that Penn gets past Edgar. Ben Henderson, the WEC champion and highest-ranked lightweight (#16) from UFC’s sibling, defends his title April 24 in a rematch with Donald Cerrone.

FEATHERWEIGHTS

1. Jose Aldo (WEC, 16-1, 175, 1)
Last fight: Nov. 18: def. Mike Brown, TKO, second round
Next fight: April 24 vs. Urijah Faber for WEC featherweight championship

2. Mike Brown (WEC, 23-5, 168, 2)
Last fight: Jan. 10: def. Anthony Morrison, submission (choke), first round
Next fight: April 24 vs. Manny Gamburyan

3. Urijah Faber (WEC, 23-3, 161, 3)
Last fight: Jan. 10: def. Raphael Assuncao, submission (choke), third round
Next fight: April 24 vs. Jose Aldo for WEC featherweight championship

4. Hatsu Hioki (Sengoku/Shooto, 20-4-2, 144, 4)
Last fight: Nov. 7: lost to Michihiro Omigawa, split decision
Next fight: May 30 vs. Takeshi Inoue for Shooto 143-pound championship (Sherdog and other reports)

5. Bibiano Fernandes (Dream, 8-2, 139, 5)
Last fight: March 22 def. Joachim Hansen to defend Dream featherweight championship, split decision
Next fight: tba

6. Michihiro Omigawa (Sengoku, 9-8-1, 132,
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Hiroyuki Takaya, TKO, first round
Next fight: April 25 vs. Micah Miller on one-time “Astra” card in Japan

7. Marlon Sandro (Sengoku, 16-1, 127, 9)
Last fight: March 7: def. Tomonari Kanomata. KO, first round (9 seconds)
Next fight: June 20 vs. Masanori Kanehana

8. Manny Gamburyan (WEC, 12-5, 106, 7)
Last fight: Nov. 18: def. Leonard Garcia, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 24 vs. Mike Brown

9. Masanori Kanehana (Sengoku, 16-7-5, 105, 10)
Last fight: Dec. 31: def. Kid Yamamoto, unanimous decision
Next fight: June 20 vs. Marlon Sandro

10. Raphael Assuncao (WEC, 14-2, 98, 6)
Last fight: Jan. 10: lost to Urijah Faber, submission (choke), third round
Next fight: tba

Analysis: First WEC PPV is April 24 in Sacramento. If Faber wins with his home crowd, we have an entertaining trio of past champions atop this division who should have a few more good fights. If Aldo does to Faber what he did to Brown, Aldo might need to jump up a class to find any competition. Shooto has rescued Hioki from limbo after a controversial split decision loss in Sengoku, pitting him against #16 Inoue.

BANTAMWEIGHTS

1. Dominick Cruz (WEC, 15-1, 172, 4)
Last fight: March 6: def. Brian Bowles to win WEC bantamweight championship, TKO (Bowles unable to continue), second round
Next fight: tba

2. Brian Bowles (WEC, 8-1, 167, 1)
Last fight: March 6: lost to Dominick Cruz in title defense, TKO (unable to continue), second round
Next fight: tba

3. Joseph Benavidez (WEC, 12-1, 161, 5)
Last fight: March 6: def. Miguel Angel Torres, submission (guillotine choke), second round
Next fight: tba

4. Miguel Angel Torres (WEC, 36-3, 154, 2)
Last fight: March 6: lost to Joseph Benavidez, submission (guillotine choke), second round
Next fight: tba

5. Masakatsu Ueda (Shooto, 10-1-2, 136, 3)
Last fight: March 22: lost to Shuichiro Katsumura, submission (guillotine choke), second round
Next fight: tba

6. Scott Jorgensen (WEC, 9-3, 133, 6)
Last fight: March 6: def. Chad George, submission (guillotine choke), first round
Next fight: April 24 vs. Antonio Banuelos

7. Takeya Mizugaki (WEC, 12-4-2, 121, 7)
Last fight: Dec. 19: lost to Scott Jorgensen, unanimous decision
Next fight: April 24 vs. Rani Yahya

8. Rani Yahya (WEC, 15-5, 110, 9)
Last fight: Dec. 19: lost to Joseph Benavidez, KO, first round
Next fight: April 24 vs. Takeya Mizugaki

9. Damacio Page (WEC, 12-4, 103,
Last fight: Oct. 10: def. Will Campuzano, submission (choke), first round
Next fight: tba (injury)

10. Wagnney Fabiano (WEC, 13-2, 89, 10)
Last fight: Jan. 10: def. Clint Godfrey, unanimous decision
Next fight: tba

Analysis: The division has gone haywire. The last two WEC champions lost on the same night, and Torres has a losing streak. Cruz beat Benavidez, so should Jorgensen get the next shot if he wins his second fight in two months? The sullying of impressive records spread to Japan, where Ueda suffered his first loss.

Records from UFC, WEC and Sherdog