FIGHT FORUM'S Top 10 UFC Rankings - August

[Heatwaves]

FIGHT FORUM'S OFFICIAL UFC RANKINGS
AUGUST 2007

HEAVYWEIGHT ------------------------ Last month:
1. Randy Couture (217 points) --------------- (1)
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (180) .----------- (3)
3. Gabriel Gonzaga (176) -------------------- (2)
4. Mirko CroCop (154) ----------------------- (4)
5. Andre Arlovski (121) ---------------------- (5)
6. Tim Sylvia (114) -------------------------- (6)
7. Brandon Vera (107) .---------------------- (7)
8. Fabricio Werdum (59) --------------------- (8)
9. Jake O'Brien (33) --------------------------(9)
10. Cheik Kongo (27) ------------------------ (10)

Others receiving votes: Heath Herring (17), Frank Mir (4) and Antoni Hardonk (1).

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ---------------- Last month:
1. Quintin Jackson (210 points) ------------- (1)
2. Maurico Rua (176) .---------------------- (2)
3. Dan Henderson (174) -------------------- (4)
4. Chuck Liddell (165) ---------------------- (3)
5. Tito Ortiz (112) .------------------------- (6)
6. Lyoto Machida (104) --------------------- (7)
7. Rashad Evans (97) .---------------------- (5)
8. Michael Bisping (48) .--------------------- (9)
9. Jason Lambert (34) .---------------------- (8)
10. Renato Sobral (30) .-------------------- (10)

Others receiving votes: Houston Alexander (19), Forrest Griffin (18), Keith Jardine (10), Thiago Silva (9), Wilson Gouveia (3) and Matt Hamill (1).

MIDDLEWEIGHT ---------------------- Last month:
1. Anderson Silva (219 points) ------------- (1)
2. Rich Franklin (199) .--------------------- (2)
3. Nate Marquardt (159) .------------------ (3)
4. Yushin Okami (135) --------------------- (4)
5. Martin Kampmann (126) .---------------- (5)
6. Kendall Grove (107) .-------------------- (6)
7. Evan Tanner (86) .---------------------- (7)
8. Jason McDonald (55) .------------------- (8)
9. Terry Martin (54) ----------------------- (9)
10. Travis Lutter (24) .--------------------- (-)

Others receiving votes: Thales Leites (14), Dean Lister (11), Kalib Starnes (9), Ed Herman (4), Ivan Salaverry (4) and Chris Leben (1).

WELTERWEIGHT ---------------------- Last month:
1. George St. Pierre (205 points) ------------ (1)
2. Matt Serra (185) .------------------------ (3)
3. Matt Hughes (175) .---------------------- (3)
4. Josh Koscheck (143) --------------------- (4)
5. Diego Sanchez (122) --------------------- (7)
6. Karo Parysian (119) ---------------------- (5)
7. Jon Fitch (107) -------------------------- (6)
8. Mike Swick (52) -------------------------- (8)
9. Marcus Davis (30) ----------------------- (10)
10. Hayato Sakurai (28) --------------------- (-)

Others receiving votes: Josh Burkman (26), Thiago Alves (9), Chris Lytle (5), Drew Fickett (3) and Anthony Johnson (1).

LIGHTWEIGHT ----------------------- Last month:
1. B.J. Penn (214 points) ------------------ (2)
2. Joe Stevenson (165) ------------------- (4)
3. Roger Huerta (136) .-------------------- (5)
4. Kenny Florian (122) .-------------------- (7)
5. Spencer Fisher (105) ------------------- (6)
6. Din Thomas (98) .----------------------- (8)
7. Sean Sherk (82) ------------------------ (1)
8. Thiago Tavares (58) ------------------- (10)
9. Joe Lauzon (43) .----------------------- (9)
10. Hermes Franca (42) ------------------- (3)

Others receiving votes: Clay Guida (33), Marcus Aurelio (28), Tyson Griffin (27), Kurt Pellegrino (20), Melvin Guillard (13), Nate Diaz (11), Frank Edgar (8), Terry Etim (3) and Jorge Gurgel (1).

I think the huge shuffle in the LW division due to Sherk & Franca positive steroid tests is particularly interesting.

22 Fight Forum Members submitted their selections this month, so 220 points was the maximum a fighter could earn. The slight drop off in voters this month isn't too surprising since there was just one event this month, as well as a 7-week gap between events.

This month's contributors were: Heatwaves, p19101, OneTwoPunch, Finnicky7, GeorgeXVX, jm1010, FatCatMC, Dr. Chicago, Pitbull, futurecloser34, bayouboy, DJ Big M, CounterPuncher, Corey, FightingIrish17, Harms, Kurtis636, mlambo, HaVoK, Mulla, FightFan76 and asronn.

The voting/ranking thread for September will be posted on Sunday, August 26th.

[opsy]

where's jason tan? i demand a recount. teh melon kitteh tampered w/ the votes!

[The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell]

I don't understand why Sherk is 7 on the list.

[Heatwaves]

Originally Posted by The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell

I don't understand why Sherk is 7 on the list.

'Roids. For some, including myself, it taints his accomplishments.* Plus, he'll be suspended for the next year unless he wins his appeal.

* Yet I'll still be rooting for Bonds this week. I like to bathe in the warm rays of hypocracy.

[HaVoK]

I'm once again happy with the results of the rankings, it just sucks with the steriod issue with Franca and Sherk.

[Heatwaves]

No doubt. Sherk vs. Penn had "Fight O' The Year" written all over it.

[FightFan76]

Originally Posted by Heatwaves

'Roids. For some, including myself, it taints his accomplishments.* Plus, he'll be suspended for the next year unless he wins his appeal.

* Yet I'll still be rooting for Bonds this week. I like to bathe in the warm rays of hypocracy.

Yeah I didnt include either one of them b/c I feel that they cheated.....

[GeorgeXVX]

Sherk v. Penn had possible chance of nap time written all over it. i am steeling this from a flamer on sherdog but

Paint drying > sherk

when you watch paint dry you will atleast start feeling funny from the fumes

[Shoney]

Can you let me know who put Frank Mir in the top 10?

C'mon, lets be honest with ourselves people.

[bayouboy]

Originally Posted by Heatwaves

'Roids. For some, including myself, it taints his accomplishments.* Plus, he'll be suspended for the next year unless he wins his appeal.

* Yet I'll still be rooting for Bonds this week. I like to bathe in the warm rays of hypocracy.

And I'll be rooting for him to break a hip.

Thanks for the work on this Heatwaves. Much appreciated.

[champion2k7]

How is Luazon in the top ten, when Diaz who won the Ultimate Fighter not even be on the list?

[FightFan76]

Originally Posted by champion2k7

How is Luazon in the top ten, when Diaz who won the Ultimate Fighter not even be on the list?

For real; I thought Manny dominated that fight for the most part and he didnt even get 1 vote. I personally had Nate in my top 10 based on his potential and craftiness; he is a very smart fighter imo.

[jm1010]

Originally Posted by champion2k7

How is Luazon in the top ten, when Diaz who won the Ultimate Fighter not even be on the list?

Well because really Joe is still undefeated in the UFC. The loss on TUF did not count. Some people, including myself, disregard the "fights" on the show except the ones in the Finale since they are official.

Bottom line is Joe has beat Brandon Melendez and Jens Pulver in the UFC. Nate Diaz has beat Manny, and that was because of an injury.

[lambo84]

Damn, my bad I didn't get my votes in, but you're getting my opinions anyways so here we go.

HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Randy Couture
2. Mirko CroCop
3. Gabriel Gonzaga
4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
5. Andre Arlovski
6. Tim Sylvia
7. Brandon Vera
8. Fabricio Werdum
9. Jake O'Brien
10. Cheik Kongo

I didn't think Nog deserved to be in the #2 spot, his UFC debut was dissapointing espicially for fighting a chump like Herring. I believe CC is still better than GG even though he did get KOed, that's why I have him at 2.


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Maurico Rua
2. Dan Henderson
3. Quintin Jackson
4. Chuck Liddell
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Keith Jardine
8. Rashad Evans
9. Tito Ortiz
10. Michael Bisping

I made the most adjustments in this class. I dont believe Jackson can hold the belt when he fights Henderson, also I'm sure shogun would put a wuppin on him. I'm hopin the chuck will rebound nicely in the future. I also moved Tito down because I think he's a washed up chump. I put Griffin and Jardine ahead because I believe they are better fighters than people give them credit for. I dont think Sorbal will win his next fight, I think he is finished, suprised he made the top 10. Bisping still needs to face a decent fighter before I have confidence in him.

MIDDLEWEIGHT
1. Anderson Silva
2. Rich Franklin
3. Nate Marquardt
4. Yushin Okami
5. Martin Kampmann
6. Kendall Grove
7. Jason McDonald
8. Evan Tanner
9. Terry Martin
10. Travis Lutter

I pretty much agree the rankings in this weight class, I just flip flopped mcdonald and tanner.

WELTERWEIGHT
1. Matt Hughes
2. George St. Pierre
3. Matt Serra
4. Josh Koscheck
5. Karo Parysian
6. Diego Sanchez
7. Jon Fitch
8. Mike Swick
9. Marcus Davis
10. Hayato Sakurai

I predict Matt Hughes to regain the title and defend it against GSP after he defeats Koz. After all that mess is sorted out, I would like to see Karo fight another top contender and then when Karo wins, give him the next title shot.

LIGHTWEIGHT
1. B.J. Penn
2. Joe Stevenson
3. Spencer Fisher
4. Kenny Florian
5. Roger Huerta
6. Din Thomas
7. Thiago Tavares
8. Clay Guida
9. Marcus Aurelio
10. Tyson Griffin

I dont think Lazon should be ranked, he beat an over the hill out of shape Jens Pulver and an ameteur punk in Melendez, he has top 10 potential, but not until he gets another match against a bigger name under his belt. Fisher looked hot in his last fight, and huerta keeps on fighting chumps to fluff up his record. I dont believe that Sherk should be ranked because of his recent roid scandal.



I'll get mine in on time for the next month.

[subgenius]

I like 80% to 90% of the picks. As some noted, there are some anomalies that stand out. I have come to the conclusion that even a scientific statistical based system of ranking would draw many disagreements from people. So, next month I plan to toss out the stats and numbers and go with picking my own top ten based on who I like and who I think has the merits. I am not that good at setting up databases with Excell or whatever, so my system just takes too long and has too much math (I am not a math-geek).

[jm1010]

Originally Posted by subgenius

I like 80% to 90% of the picks. As some noted, there are some anomalies that stand out. I have come to the conclusion that even a scientific statistical based system of ranking would draw many disagreements from people. So, next month I plan to toss out the stats and numbers and go with picking my own top ten based on who I like and who I think has the merits. I am not that good at setting up databases with Excell or whatever, so my system just takes too long and has too much math (I am not a math-geek).

I am just curious, what is your system? If you dont care to explain.

[subgenius]

Originally Posted by jm1010

I am just curious, what is your system? If you dont care to explain.

It was a system that was getting more and more complex as I went along. I tried to match up win-losses with how the fights were won or lost assigning points for wins and subtracting them for losses. I also tried to establish some points for fighters that fight more often and take away from fighters with long lay offs from competition. I included recent win streaks and loss streaks. But, the MMA math just kept building up and getting more complicated.

And, fighters are nomadic at times. Some of the guys I was looking at had left the UFC (like with Pulver leaving for the WEC after his loss to Penn). Also, a lot of PRIDE Fighters have been making the UFC scene, but have not even fought in the UFC yet, and they get consideration by others. I did not want to consider Hedno and Rua yet, since they have not fought in the UFC.

If we had some good database people, then we might be able to set up a database for the fighters and get better results in a faster time frame. I just am discovering that I am not skilled enough with databases and the math involved.

[OneBigThrow]

Wtf

Why Is Gobblin' Gabe Not On The List

[jm1010]

Originally Posted by subgenius

It was a system that was getting more and more complex as I went along. I tried to match up win-losses with how the fights were won or lost assigning points for wins and subtracting them for losses. I also tried to establish some points for fighters that fight more often and take away from fighters with long lay offs from competition. I included recent win streaks and loss streaks. But, the MMA math just kept building up and getting more complicated.

And, fighters are nomadic at times. Some of the guys I was looking at had left the UFC (like with Pulver leaving for the WEC after his loss to Penn). Also, a lot of PRIDE Fighters have been making the UFC scene, but have not even fought in the UFC yet, and they get consideration by others. I did not want to consider Hedno and Rua yet, since they have not fought in the UFC.

If we had some good database people, then we might be able to set up a database for the fighters and get better results in a faster time frame. I just am discovering that I am not skilled enough with databases and the math involved.

Ahh, I think a system like that would be pretty cool to set up. My only worry would be that it would end up kinda like the BCS in college football. I still think it would be pretty sweet to have. We could always have to sets of rankings: one like we currently have and one like you just explained.

[Corey]

Pretty good rankings. The lw divisions are all kinda f'd up now that people are pissed about the roids so I found them to be a bit obsolete. The other divisions looked pretty accurate to me though.