The January 2010 Independent World MMA Rankings have been released. These rankings are independent of any single MMA media outlet or sanctioning body, and are published on multiple web sites.
In addition to the numerous MMA web sites that publish the Independent World MMA Rankings, you can also access the rankings at any time by going to http://www.independentworldmmarankings.com/.
Some of the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers from across the MMA media landscape have come together to form one independent voting panel. These voting panel members are, in alphabetical order: Zach Arnold (Fight Opinion); Nicholas Bailey (MMA Ratings); Jared Barnes (Freelance); Jordan Breen (Sherdog); Jim Genia (Full Contact Fighter, MMA Memories, and MMA Journalist Blog); Jesse Holland (MMA Mania); Robert Joyner (Freelance); Todd Martin (CBS Sportsline); Jim Murphy (The Savage Science); Zac Robinson (Sports by the Numbers MMA); Leland Roling (Bloody Elbow); Michael David Smith (AOL Fanhouse); Jonathan Snowden (Heavy.com); Joshua Stein (MMA Opinion); Ivan Trembow (Freelance); and Dave Walsh (Head Kick Legend).
January 2010 Independent World MMA Rankings
Ballots collected on January 12, 2010
Heavyweight Rankings (206 to 265 lbs.)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 1 No Contest)
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
3. Frank Mir (13-4)
4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1, 1 No Contest)
5. Shane Carwin (11-0)
6. Brett Rogers (10-1)
7. Junior dos Santos (10-1)
8. Alistair Overeem (32-11, 1 No Contest)
9. Cain Velasquez (7-0)
10. Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1)
Light Heavyweight Rankings (186 to 205 lbs.)
1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (18-4)
3. Rashad Evans (14-1-1)
4. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
5. Anderson Silva (25-4)
6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
7. Forrest Griffin (17-6)
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)
9. Dan Henderson (25-7)
10. Thiago Silva (14-2)
Middleweight Rankings (171 to 185 lbs.)
1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
2. Nathan Marquardt (29-8-2)
3. Dan Henderson (25-7)
4. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
5. Demian Maia (11-1)
6. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
7. Chael Sonnen (24-10-1)
8. Yushin Okami (23-5)
9. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 No Contest)
10. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (11-2, 1 No Contest)
Welterweight Rankings (156 to 170 lbs.)
1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
2. Jon Fitch (21-3, 1 No Contest)
3. Thiago Alves (16-6)
4. Josh Koscheck (14-4)
5. Dan Hardy (23-6)
6. Matt Hughes (43-7)
7. Paulo Thiago (12-1)
8. Mike Swick (14-3)
9. Marius Zaromskis (13-3)
10. Paul Daley (23-8-2)
Lightweight Rankings (146 to 155 lbs.)
1. B.J. Penn (15-5-1)
2. Shinya Aoki (23-4, 1 No Contest)
3. Eddie Alvarez (19-2)
4. Kenny Florian (12-4)
5. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5-2)
6. Gray Maynard (9-0, 1 No Contest)
7. Frankie Edgar (11-1)
8. Diego Sanchez (21-3)
9. Joachim Hansen (19-8-1)
10. Gilbert Melendez (17-2)
Featherweight Rankings (136 to 145 lbs.)
1. Jose Aldo (16-1)
2. Mike Brown (23-5)
3. Urijah Faber (23-3)
4. Hatsu Hioki (20-4-2)
5. Bibiano Fernandes (7-2)
6. Raphael Assuncao (14-2)
7. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (17-3)
8. Manny Gamburyan (10-4)
9. Marlon Sandro (15-1)
10. Michihiro Omigawa (9-8-1)
Bantamweight Rankings (126 to 135 lbs.)
1. Brian Bowles (8-0)
2. Miguel Torres (37-2)
3. Masakatsu Ueda (10-0-2)
4. Dominick Cruz (14-1)
5. Joseph Benavidez (11-1)
6. Takeya Mizugaki (12-4-2)
7. Damacio Page (12-4)
8. Scott Jorgensen (8-3)
9. Wagnney Fabiano (13-2)
10. Akitoshi Tamura (14-8-2)
The Independent World MMA Rankings are tabulated on a monthly basis in each of the top seven weight classes of MMA, from heavyweight to bantamweight, with fighters receiving ten points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, and so on.
The rankings are based purely on the votes of the members of the voting panel, with nobody's vote counting more than anybody else's vote, and no computerized voting.
The voters are instructed to vote primarily based on fighters' actual accomplishments in the cage/ring (the quality of opposition that they've actually beaten), not based on a broad, subjective perception of which fighters would theoretically win fantasy match-ups.
Fighters who have not fought in the past 12 months are not eligible to be ranked, and will regain their eligibility the next time they fight.
Disciplinary Suspensions: Fighters who are currently serving disciplinary suspensions, or who have been denied a license for drug test or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to be ranked.
Changing Weight Classes: When a fighter announces that he is leaving one weight class in order to fight in another weight class, the fighter is not eligible to be ranked in the new weight class until he has his first fight in the new weight class.
Catch Weight Fights: When fights are contested at weights that are in between the limits of the various weight classes, they are considered to be in the higher weight class. The weight limits for each weight class are listed at the top of the rankings for each weight class.
Special thanks to Eric Kamander, Zach Arnold, and Joshua Stein for their invaluable help with this project, and special thanks to Garrett Bailey for designing our logo.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Rest in Peace Bob Shamrock
Bob Shamrock, adoptive father to Ken and Frank Shamrock, passed away today at 68 due to complications from diabetes. Early followers of the sport know his story: the patriarch of a home for wayward children, Bob took in rough kids and gave them some much-needed guidance, with future UFC stars Ken and Frank his most famous products. Though I never met him, he was by all accounts a very nice, very compassionate guy. He will be missed.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Liveblog: Strikeforce/Herschel Walker Press Luncheon Part 2
AKA trainer Javier Mendez: "When they first said Herschel Walker wanted to train for a fight, I said 'No way. He's 47! ...But he's been besting all his sparring partners with the exception of Cain Velasquez." Luke Rockholt and Bobby Southworth are also present, and they further attest that Walker is a real-deal badass. "He's going to be successful at this just like he's been successful at everything else in his life," says Southworth.
Liveblog: Strikeforce/Herschel Walker Press Luncheon
MMA Journalist is here at the Strikeforce/Herschel Walker press luncheon at Gallagher's Steak House in Midtown Manhattan, a celebration of the Heisman Trophy winner's impending MMA debut as well as the joys of finely-prepared red meat. Present are, of course, Walker himself, and journos such as Ariel Helwani (interestingly, he's not a mermaid in real life) and the esteemed Fight Nerd. I spoke briefly with Walker, who is very friendly and personable. He's excited for his fight, and is confident, and when I asked him to compare the rigors of football training and fight training, he said MMA is way tougher. "Oh, it's definitely tougher," he said, but was quick to extoll the virtues of his team, American Kickboxing Academy.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Media Luncheon with Strikeforce Fighter Herschel Walker Tomorrow
There's a media luncheon tomorrow with Strikeforce fighter Herschel Walker slated for Gallagher's Steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan, and MMA Journalist will be there with fork, er, pen and notebook in hand to bring you the facts. How does Walker feel about making his professional MMA debut at such an advanced age? Does he believe he'll be sufficiently prepared for his bout on January 30th in Miami? Which is tastier - a heavily-marbled cut of porterhouse or a lean 10oz filet mignon? All of these hard questions and more will be answered, so stay tuned.
Observations from My Couch: UFC Fight Night 20 "Gray Maynard Is So Not Ready For BJ Penn"
- There’s something strangely satisfying about seeing an Ultimate Fighter winner lose. I don’t know why that is, but it just is.
- Amir Sadollah looked good defeating Brad Blackburn. That’s it. I have nothing more to say about that.
- I barely know who Tom Lawlor is, and that’s only because he does great ring entrances. Who the hell is Aaron Simpson and why is he getting decisions he doesn’t deserve?
- Efrain Escudero lost via armbar to Evan Dunham. Phillipe Nover wouldn’t have succumbed to that armbar.
- Gray Maynard squeaked by Nate Diaz, proving once and for all that in no way, shape or form is he ready for BJ Penn. Send in Frankie Edgar!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Blind New York Governor Sees MMA as an Answer to State's Fiscal Woes
Blind New York Governor David Paterson, who is so sightless he cannot drive a car or pick out a tie to match his suit, sees MMA as a potential revenue generator for the State and will make provisions for it his 2010 budget plan, according to a report by the New York Daily News (link: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/01/11/2010-01-11_gov_wants_deficit_to_go_pow_bam_crunch.html ). This is great news for MMA fans, who last year saw the bill to legalize the sport crash and burn due to an unrelated legislative breakdown; with Governor Paterson's budgetary provision, legalization (and necessary athletic commission funding) is virtually ensured. Unfortunately, this is bad news for New York State residents sick of puns regarding Governor Paterson's handicap, because the man is blind and couldn't possibly "see" anything. Really.
Observations From My Couch: WEC 46 "Thank God, A Night of Decisive Wins"
- Deividas Taurosevicius was a rugby player in Lithuania before coming to the States and taking up mixed martial arts. Obviously, that's where those slick takedowns came from.
- Mike Brown is the second best 145-pound fighter in the world. No shame in losing to him.
- Kamal Shalorus vs. Dave Jansen was like watching a man fight a boy.
- Urijah Faber won, and with that victory comes a viable pay-per-view main event against Jose Aldo and the chance for everyone to get a pay raise. You just know every fighter on the card, Raphael Assuncao included, sent a fruit basket and a thank you note to Faber's locker room afterwards.
- Benson Henderson submitted Jamie Varner to become the new WEC lightweight champ. Meanwhile, in the UFC's lightweight division... no one cared.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Predictions for UFC Fight Night 20: "Ultimate Where Have All the Big Names Gone?"
UFC Fight Night 20 comes to us on Monday night on SpikeTV, a night usually reserved for picking up your dry cleaning and watching "Heroes" and wistfully thinking how good that show used to be but now it completely and utterly sucks. Anyway, UFC Fight Night 20 is another star-studded affair (ha!) featuring three TUF winners with practically zero standing in their respective weight classes. In other words, WHY SHOULD WE CARE? The answer: we shouldn't. Predictions!
- Amir Sadollah won TUF 7. However, TUF 7 was lame as hell, so that's like medaling in the Special Olympics. Expect Brad Blackburn to TKO him. Or not. Who cares?
- Tom Lawlor is not related to Robbie Lawler. In fact, their last names aren't even spelled the same.
- Efrain Escudero dry-humped Philippe Nover to win TUF 9. A quick show of hands, people: how many wish Nover had won it all? Boy, that dude can scrap.
- Nate Diaz won TUF 5. Unfortunately, he's what you get when you can't afford Nick Diaz.
- Gray Maynard didn't win any season of The Ultimate Fighter. He did, however, knock himself out once slamming Rob Emerson to the canvas. Hello dork!
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