FOXSports Top 10

[marnold]

Foxsports top 10 MMA fighters. What'dya think. Fedor at #2? Hmmm.

"Who is the best fighter on the planet, regardless of weight class?

That was in part the question the Ultimate Fighting Championship set out to answer in 1993. And now it is time to revisit the question.
Several factors went into determining the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters, in no particular order:


Matches over the past 12 months are weighted more heavily than years past. MMA is a fast-moving sport. A year ago, Andrei Arlovski would have been a no-brainer for this list; this year, he's nowhere to be found.

Finishing ability, whether through strikes or submissions, are valued over fighters who regularly win by decision.

That said, we have a thing for fighters who are able to work their way out of jams and rally for a win. Think Georges St. Pierre against B.J. Penn at UFC 58.

Wins and losses matter. Penn is one of the most skilled fighters on the planet, but he is 1-3 in his past four fights.

Caliber of opposition is factored. Matt Lindland has gone out and taken on all comers. Tim Sylvia is better than he gets credit for, but needs a win over one of the world's best to earn a spot. And so on.

Chuck Liddell gestures after finishing off Tito Ortiz at UFC 66. (MarleneKaras / Associated Press)


1. Chuck Liddell
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Light Heavyweight
Analysis: It isn't just The Iceman's standup game. It isn't just his invincible aura. UFC's light heavyweight champion has mastered the mental aspect of mixed martial arts like no other fighter. Look no further than his UFC 66 title defense against Tito Ortiz. Not only did Liddell hide his injured MCL to the point that no one else knew, but he was seen out at the MGM Grand's hottest nightclub the night before the weigh-in, calmly slapped hands with the fans during a slow walk to the octagon, and didn't wear a knee brace during the fight. Liddell hasn't lost a fight in three years for a reason, has never lost a rematch, and when he returns, will likely have a chance to avenge his only un-atoned loss in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

2. Fedor Emelianenko
Affiliation: PRIDE FC
Weight class: Heavyweight
Analysis: The PRIDE heavyweight champion has long been considered by many the top fighter in the world. His No. 2 ranking on this list has much more to do with a lack of top-notch competition over the past year — his last fight against a world-class opponent was nearly a year and a half ago — and Liddell's flawless performances, than any problems on Russian monster's part.


3. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Heavyweight
Analysis: American fans are about to find out what all the hype is all about. Though the 32-year old Croatian kickboxer isn't invincible, he's been on a tear, winning the PRIDE's Open Weight Grand Prix tournament in August by overpowering Wanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett. Whether he goes after Tim Sylvia's heavyweight title or goes down to 205 and takes on Chuck Liddell, UFC fans are in for a treat.


4. Georges St. Pierre
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Welterweight
Analysis: The UFC welterweight champion seems destined for the top spot eventually, and based on a pure all-around skill set, might already be there. But the one thing GSP needs to do first is shake the tag of "injury-prone." Chuck and Fedor both fought through injuries in their most recent wins. St. Pierre has pulled out of two of his past three scheduled dates. We're not questioning the validity of his injuries: St. Pierre trains like an animal. But he has to fine-tune his regimen.

5. Matt Hughes
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Welterweight
Analysis: Yes, the former UFC welterweight champ is coming off a bad loss. But one defeat is not enough to drop the greatest 170-lb. fighter of all-time too far down the food chain. Hughes has still won 19 of his past 21 fights. He had a busy 2006 in which he took on a fresh St. Pierre right after defeating B.J. Penn. And he's motivated. Don't count out the Illinois farmboy just yet.
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6. Takanori Gomi
Affiliation: PRIDE FC
Weight class: Lightweight
Analysis: There were questions about the PRIDE lightweight champion after he was submitted by Marcus Aurelio in April, then won a rematch by split decision. But a quick win over Mitsuhiro Ishida was just what fans of the Fireball Kid have come to expect from him. Is he about go on another tear like his 10-fight win streak from 2004 through last April?

7. Matt Lindland
Affiliation: IFL/independent
Weight class: Middleweight
Analysis: Several fighters have left the UFC in the past couple years convinced they'll do better, only to fall flat on their face. Lindland is the exception. The Oregon native and coach of the IFL's Portland Wolf Pack just might be the world's top 185-pound fighter. And he puts his money where his mouth is, earning pound-for-pound honors by fighting up to light heavyweight and taking on the likes of Mike Van Arsdale and Quinton Jackson.

8. Anderson Silva
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Middleweight
Analysis: The UFC middleweight champion is exactly one more devastating knockout away from becoming the man everyone in his weight class looks to avoid. The 27-year old Brazilian has four losses on his record, but he is clearly just entering his prime. No one at Mandalay Bay for UFC 64 will ever forget the way he picked apart former champ Rich Franklin in his title-winning effort.

9. Mauricio Rua
Affiliation: PRIDE FC
Weight class: Heavyweight
Analysis: The 2005 Grand Prix champion had a setback at PRIDE 31, when he suffered an elbow injury fighting Mark Coleman. But the Chute Boxe standout from Brazil known as Shogun is back in form, with three impressive wins in the past three months, including his thorough dismantling of Kevin Randleman at PRIDE's October U.S. debut, the Real Deal in Las Vegas. Tweleve of Shogun's 15 wins are by KO/TKO.

10. Wanderlei Silva
Affiliation: PRIDE FC
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Analysis: Yes, the Axe Murderer has won just four of his past seven fights. But we're giving a nod to the fighting spirit the PRIDE middleweight (roughly equivalent to U.S. light heavyweight) champ demonstrated in taking on the larger Mirko Cro Cop in defeat. Stateside fight fans will get to see the exciting star live for the first since 1999 when he defends his belt against Dan Henderson (a fighter not too far off this list) on Feb. 24 in Las Vegas."

[Nimmy]

another reason why fedor must come to the UFC

[marnold]

I like Wandy being at #10. Everyone loves him, but I don't think of him as a top 5 fighter.

[Gooner]

Originally Posted by marnold

I like Wandy being at #10. Everyone loves him, but I don't think of him as a top 5 fighter.

Not top 5 at LHW or not top 5 P4P?
I agree about P4P,even though I'm a fan.



My thoughts on the list though...no.
It's supposed to be a list of the best pound for pound fighters.
After that, they come up with these stupid rules like "finishing fights".

Chuck should be nowhere near #1. Crocop (or even Fedor) is not THAT much bigger than Chuck, yet they are out there beating the top heavyweights. They both belong above Chuck.
BJ Penn belongs above Matt Hughes, obviously. He's a lightweight, Hughes is a (huge) welterweight, and still he was schooling Hughes until the injury (and will win the rubber match). Also, same thing with GSP size-wise, and BJ took him to a close split decision.
So yeah, the biggest problems with the list are Chuck and BJ imo.


I think Fedor, Crocop and BJ are the best P4P fighters in the world.

[marnold]

[quote=Gooner;114834]Not top 5 at LHW or not top 5 P4P?
I agree about P4P,even though I'm a fan.


I'm with you. I meant P4P.