Best "Pound for Pound" Fighter - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

DrumzCT · 09-08-2005, 07:58 PM

Written by Ken Pishna for MMA Weekly:

Quote:

Aah, the mythical MMA Pound 4 Pound title. It’s long been the topic of heated debate; especially since weight classes were added. Does the title mean anything really? No, there is no pound for pound weight class… well, expect for the one that BJ Penn seems to be attempting to forge for himself. In reality, this mythical ranking is just that, as well as a self-indulgent bit of fodder for those of us that consider ourselves the MMA hardcores.

With that said, let the indulgence begin… here are my self-important top Pound 4 Pound fighters in the world:

1) Fedor Emelianenko (22-1-0-1)
Fedor has been at the top of my Pound 4 Pound ranking for some time now and quite deservedly so. It’s difficult to argue against a 22-1-0-1 record; especially when that one loss was nearly five years ago. Pride is often accused of feeding tomato cans to build a fighter’s record, but that can’t be farther from the truth with Fedor. Amongst his victories are Ricardo Arona, Kevin Randleman, Gary Goodridge, Semmy Schilt, Heath Herring, Mark Coleman, Antonio Nogueira (twice), and most recently Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. If that isn’t a who’s who list, then there isn’t one.

It has often been said that styles make fights, but in today’s MMA, the best of the best adapt their game to counter the style of their opponent and Fedor is the master. He stymied Nogueira’s submissions with a brutal ground and pound attack in their first meeting and when Nog went to work on his striking game, Fedor outboxed him. Amazingly against Cro Cop, Fedor morphed once again. This time providing the ultimate defense against the uber-striker and then outstriking him later in the fight. The question now is: man or machine? The answer is obviously machine.

2) Matt Hughes (36-4)
With a career that has been nothing short of legendary since he entered the UFC, Matt Hughes has steadily earned his climb as one of the top Pound 4 Pound fighters in the world. In his 40 bouts, he has only lost to Dennis Hallman (twice), Jose Pele Landi-Jons, and BJ Penn. But I think what really solidifies his ranking to me is the heart that he has shown, time and again. His slam-knockout of Carlos Newton as he was being choked unconscious, his arm bar of rising star Georges St. Pierre, and most amazingly his comeback after being knocked silly in his last bout with Frank Trigg; the latter of which I rank as one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history, if not sports history.

His strengths and weaknesses as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter can be argued to world’s end for all I care, but I doubt anyone can mount much of a worthy denial of his place in the P4P rankings.

3) Chuck Liddell (17-3)
Yeah, the Iceman lost 2 out of 3 fights in 2003, but those two opponents were Randy Couture and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, arguably at their most recent peaks in performance. Consider this, in his last eight bouts - including those against Couture and Jackson - Liddell is 6-2 with all six wins by knockout. That is pretty impressive for anyone, but especially considering the opposition that he has faced. Those wins included Babalu Sobral, Alistair Overeem, Tito Ortiz, Vernon “Tiger” White, and avenging losses to both Couture and most recently, Jeremy Horn.

Liddell’s last two victories were particularly impressive. Against Couture, he showed how he could adapt his game to overcome the strengths that Couture displayed in their first fight. In his revenge on Horn, Liddell displayed a level of maturity we’ve not seen in him before as he never rushed the pace of the fight and avoided any opportunity for Horn to work his game plan.

4) Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (25-3-1)
Nogueira just can’t seem to get over the Fedor hurdle, but that is about his only stumbling block in recent years. Prior to his run-ins with the current Pride Heavyweight Champion (Nog was the first), the only blemish on Nog’s record was a split decision loss to Dan Henderson in 2000, which he avenged by submission in 2002. In fact, both of his losses to Fedor were also by decision. Nogueira has never been finished in a fight.

Outside of his troubles with Fedor, he has racked up victories over Sergei Kharitonov, Heath Herring (twice), Cro Cop, Bob Sapp, Semmy Schilt, and more. Nogueira is one of the slickest submission fighters in the heavyweight division and has honed his striking game to a fine edge as well. Outside of Fedor, it’s hard to argue that he stands at the top of the heavyweights.

5) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (9-2-1)
After his performance in this year’s Pride Grand Prix, how can Shogun not be in the top five? Since his loss to Babalu in the IFC Light Heavyweight tournament two years ago, he has rattled off eight consecutive victories with seven of them by knockout.

Prior to the Grand Prix, Shogun was maybe working in the direction of the P4P list, but knocking off Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, and Ricardo Arona inside of four months propelled him into the rankings without denial.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR:
Rich Franklin, Yves Edwards, Takanori Gomi, and Wanderlei Silva.

That info is free on thier site so it's no big deal copying it here...

Now, what do you guys think? I was very surprised to see Matt at #2 but found myself unable to argue. Maybe not #2 but I do think top 10. Fedor is where he should be as I think is Chuck and I think he describes why us Chuck fans think he's so great very well. No Wandy or Mirko to be found though...

CyrusD · 09-08-2005, 08:38 PM

Wanderlei Silva should be up there before Nogueira!

I think Matt Hughes deserves #2.... Maybe 3.....

SmashingMachine · 09-08-2005, 09:32 PM

I agree with 1 and 2. Big Nog should be 3, followed by Cro Cop and then Wanderlei. I'd have Chuck around 6 or so. Before Fedor, Nog was the man....so it stands to reason he should be close behind.

[Danny] · 09-08-2005, 11:50 PM

I think best pound for pound fighter is Gomi.

angryjonny · 09-09-2005, 12:34 AM

I would probably move Matt down to 5, Chuck to 6, and replace them with Minotauro at #2, and Mirko #3 which would move Mauricio up to # 4.

IrishLaoch · 09-09-2005, 05:33 PM

Ya i agree, Chuck is awesome no doubt but i would have to move him up a few ranks..

Brandon_Dicken · 09-09-2005, 08:24 PM

I feel that hughes shouldn't be 2 but he should be in the top 10 welterweights. One thing I noticed is that BJ Penn has beat the best of the best and last I heard he was in K-1 Heros they need to get him into Pride to really show his stuff. I can understand why he's not big in the states though same thing with hughes

angryjonny · 09-09-2005, 08:48 PM

I love BJ, but for some reason there are a lot of haters. Yeah he wasn't so impressive by going the distance with Renzo but come Renzo is a legend. He's a freaking Gracie! BJ was one of my favorites at one time. He had some of the most impressive fights I've seen. The whole contract fiasco is still confusing. I've read several articles and everyone says different stuff. I don't care what happened really, he is a great fighter no matter what.

Weasel · 09-09-2005, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

I love BJ, but for some reason there are a lot of haters. Yeah he wasn't so impressive by going the distance with Renzo but come Renzo is a legend. He's a freaking Gracie! BJ was one of my favorites at one time. He had some of the most impressive fights I've seen. The whole contract fiasco is still confusing. I've read several articles and everyone says different stuff. I don't care what happened really, he is a great fighter no matter what.

I agree totally Jonny. It's a shame that it doesn't look like we'll see him back in UFC or Pride anytime soon. I would love to see GSP fight BJ, that would be just the best ever IMO.

tskidds62 · 09-10-2005, 01:48 AM

bj vs gsp thats the stuff dreams are made of!!!

TaddT189 · 09-25-2005, 09:18 PM

For me to put Chuck up there I would have to see him against the Pride 205's, he lost to "Rampage" who lost to Wanderlei Silva. He just still has alot to prove to me........ Before I get jumped on by the Chuck fans, I know he has gotten better since that fight I would just like to see a rematch before I put him on my list.

cuzeeeboy · 09-25-2005, 11:54 PM

I think you have to go with Fedor taht guy is the real deal best fighter ever maybe so.

I think you have to put Gomi up there to hes pretty good.

PINOYPRIDE · 09-27-2005, 03:58 AM

I think BJ Penn should be one of them on the list cause I just seen a fight DVD of Gomi and Penn and Gomi got his butt kicked and choked.

angryjonny · 09-27-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINOYPRIDE

I think BJ Penn should be one of them on the list cause I just seen a fight DVD of Gomi and Penn and Gomi got his butt kicked and choked.

How do you choke someone's butt?

cuzeeeboy · 10-14-2005, 09:49 PM

The cro cop fight was a fluke.

angryjonny · 10-14-2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuzeeeboy

The cro cop fight was a fluke.

What are you talking about?

Weasel · 10-14-2005, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

What are you talking about?

I have no idea either jonny, I just don't see the relevance to this thread.

Although it did lead me to see this absolute gem of a reply post LMAO:

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

How do you choke someone's butt?

Unknown · 10-14-2005, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

How do you choke someone's butt?

I liked that one too. Good Post.

cuzeeeboy · 10-14-2005, 11:22 PM

WHat do i mean Mirko was killing him and finally nog got lucky and got him in the armbar

Brandon_Dicken · 10-15-2005, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuzeeeboy

WHat do i mean Mirko was killing him and finally nog got lucky and got him in the armbar

Thats why I love submission they can end things so quick and Nogeria does that alot though so I wouldn't cal lit a fluke he was trying to take him down the whole time and when it went to the ground he worked in a submission.