Bloody Elbow January MMA Meta-Rankings: Heavyweight

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 11:27 AM EST in Rankings Comment 95 comments

Fighter	Points	Promotion	Last Rank
1. Fedor Emelianenko	573	Affliction/M-1	1
2. Andrei Arlovski	531	Affliction	3
3. Josh Barnett	509	Affliction/WVR	4
4. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera	489	UFC	2
5. Frank Mir	473	UFC	10
6. Brock Lesnar	447	UFC	7
7. Randy Couture	435	UFC	5
8. Tim Sylvia	390	Affliction/Adrenaline	6
9. Gabriel Gonzaga	310	UFC	8
10. Alistair Overeem	272	DREAM	11
11. Fabricio Werdum	247	Unsigned	9
12. Ben Rothwell	193	Affliction/Adrenaline	13
13. Cheick Kongo	164	UFC	16
14. Mirko Filipovic	163	DREAM	12
15. Aleksander Emelianenko	160	M-1	14
16. Sergei Kharitonov	158	DREAM	15
17. Junior dos Santos	146	UFC	17
18. Antonio Silva	121	WVR	20
19. Cain Velasquez	119	UFC	21
20. Roy Nelson	118	Affliction	18
21. Heath Herring	112	UFC	19
22. Jeff Monson	102	Freelance	22
23. Marcio Cruz	96	WVR	23
24. Joaquim Ferreira	90	???	34
25. Pedro Rizzo	87	Affliction	23

Commentary by Kid Nate: You might think that the buzz would be huge heading into Affliction's January 24th show since the headlining fight is matching up #1 Fedor Emelianenko with #2 Andrei Arlovski. But no, people can't even be bothered to care it seems. Honestly I'm feeling more suspense about whether the fight will happen at all than about who will win.

On the same card #3 Josh Barnett is scheduled to fight the entirely unranked Gilbert Yvel -- provided Yvel can get a license to fight in California. I'll be glad to see Barnett in the ring, but honestly Sengoku could've gotten him a better opponent -- like #18 Antonio Silva.

Part of Affliction's problem is that the UFC has done a great job of creating a sense of legitimacy around their two heavyweight belt-holders #5 Frank Mir and #6 Brock Lesnar. Their wins over #4 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and #7 Randy Couture shocked a lot of people and honestly I think many people consider Lesnar the most dangerous heavyweight around right now, even if people are reluctant to rank a 3-1 fighter at the top.

#10 Alistair Overeem continues to build buzz, even his K-1 rules fight on NYE seems to have juiced his standing in the MMA world. KTFO'ing the world's best kick boxer will do that for a fighter. Rumors about Overeem talking to the UFC have been swirling.

NOTE: The Meta-Rankings are not the subjective opinion of the BloodyElbow team, but rather a compilation of the rankings of over twenty leading MMA web sites. It is our opinion that these are the most informative MMA rankings anywhere.

Based on the premise that opinions are like assholes, everybody has one and they all stink. instead of putting up our own subjective fighter rankings, we compile and average the rankings of every source we could find online.

The goal is to show how the MMA community rates the fighters, not to bore you with our opinions.

Be sure and look at the points, they're a much more telling number than the ranking.

A total of 39 fighters were ranked in the top 25 by one source or another, for reasons of sanity I only track the top 25 most highly rated fighters.

25 points are awarded for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. Fuller explanation below.

Rankings were compiled from 23 following sites: 411 Mania (1/6), Brawl Sports (1/6), Cage Potato (1/1), Fight Matrix (1/4), Fight! Magazine, Five Ounces of Pain (1/4), Full Contact Fighter, Inside Fighting, Inside MMA, MMA 4 Real (1/7), MMA Blog, MMA ELO (1/5), MMA Fighting (1/4), MMA Playground (1/10), MMA Rocks (1/4), MMA Torch (11/17), MMA Weekly (1/7), MMA/VT, Sherdog (1/7), Sports Illustrated (1/6), TAGG Radio, Total MMA (1/4), WAMMA (12/17).

The normalization scheme as explained by JCS of FightMatrix is here:

The "normalization number" (new name) would be:

120
divided by
(Total Fighters Found in Any List minus 10)

Every fighter found somewhere else, but on a Top 10 list would be assigned this number.

The "normalization" number would not apply to a fighter not found on a Top 25 list. They would simply get 0.

So the process would be:

Do all of the Top 25 lists first, #1 = 25, #2 = 24…. #24 = 2, #25 = 1
Do all of the Top 10 lists, same scoring structure.. stops at #10 = 16

Figure out that normalization variable.

Fill in the normalization variable to all fighters not found in the Top 10 lists, but found elsewhere.

Do your totals and rank.

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Comments

The Ferriera thing is interesting..

When I played around with “blocking” and carrying past victors over rising opponents.. Ferreira did jump into the Top 50 or so. Having him at #3 on a list seems a tad ridiculous though. MMA/VT must be computerized

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 11:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We’re pretty sure it’s computerized.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

These rankings lend credence to the argument that top ranked fighters don’t equal success. But although most probably pencil in Fedor as the top heavyweight, a case can be made that Lesnar, and even Mir could be higher than those above them. Of course, the meta rankings only reflect the way others are ranking the fighters.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 11, 2009 12:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Arlovski and Barnett moved up primarily on the strength of their inactivity.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When Mir loses his next 2 fights

does he fall out the bottom of this thing as fast he climbed to 5? I mean beating a guy in his 2nd MMA fight and beating an absolute shell of Nog is REAL impressive. Puke

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey...

Vera beat him – he should be in the top 5 too. Or maybe thats a poor reflection on Mir more than a positive reflection on Vera

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What’s your point? Is it that you don’t like Mir? First, Brock Lesnar is the UFC champion and Nog is still ranked highly. Saying that Nog is past his prime may prove to be true, but it’s a totally subjective assumption that many would disagree with. I don’t know where Mir deserves to be. However, I do believe you have to give him his due. Lesnar and Nog are still ranked in the top 10. Period.

by Cannon Jacques on Jan 11, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

#10 Alistair Overeem continues... juiced his standing in the MMA world.

interesting choice of words

by fly1180 on Jan 11, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I laughed when I read that. We’ll have to ask Nate if that was intentional.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As if there is any question, considering how many different pieces on this blog made insinuations about it.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nate likes to use the phrase “juiced,” though. It may have been unintentional.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ha, yeah that was a freudian slip. lol.

by Kid Nate on Jan 11, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Josh Barnett

Let me keep beating this horse.

Josh Barnett’s competition since his three losses against Mirko Filipovic:
Nastula (unranked, no longer in MMA) W
Nogueira (ranked #4) L
Yoshida (unranked light heavyweight) W
Jeff Monson (#22 ranked) W
Pedro Rizzo (#25 ranked) W

Compare that to Mirko CroCop who beat him THREE friggin’ times:
Eddie Sanchez (unranked) W
Gonzaga (ranked #9) L
Cheick Kongo (ranked #13) L
Mizuno (unranked) W
Alistair Overeem (ranked #10) NC
HMC (unranked but is a super heavyweight) W (K-1)

Now, why is Barnett ranked that high having fought virtually NOBODY in the top ten except for that loss to Nogueira. He’s ranked higher than the last guy who beat him. He’s ranked higher than the guy he lost to three times. He couldn’t beat CroCop, a guy who’s as one dimensional as a fighter can get, a fighter who should be a perfect mismatch for his wrestling style. Why is Barnett held up to such lofty standards? He’s a guy who could never beat top competition when he fought them, hasn’t fought top competition recently, but is ranked higher than the top competition who beat him. Yes, people, the majority of the MMA media still have an anti-UFC/pro Pride bias (MMAWeekly, natch).

Let’s not forget that Barnet came into the UFC as Tim Sylvia flabby, winning some, losing some, and miraculously beat Randy Couture. Of coure he was quickly stripped of the belt for using steroids thereafter. The Barnett in Pride looked chiseled and very cut. The Barnett in Affliction looks like he’s getting some of the love handles back again. Food for your thoughts.

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I never thought I would hear somebody say that Barnett ever looked “chiseled” or “cut”.

by Rundownloser on Jan 11, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s no Cheick Kongo, but he’s no Tim Sylvia either.

Now pull up his early UFC fights and compare.

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Early Barnett (25 or so):

Pride Barnett (28 or so):

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He went from

Roy Nelson Jr. to a beast

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He can pull if off as..

Matt Hughes’ fat little brother

by poundnground on Jan 11, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I should also add that I don’t believe CroCop has lost his skills. His skills are still there, putting up competitive fights against Kongo, Overeem, and HMC. He destroyed Mizuno like he should. He just got beat by superior modern fighters. Every time a once great (well, with Pride, they’re superhuman) gets destroyed by UFC fighters, it’s always the excuse that they are slow and lost something. How could CroCop lose a step and yet destroy Mizuno like the good old Pride days? How did Wanderlei destroy Keith Jardine (a top fighter) if he lost a step? No one’s lost anything. Better fighters beat them, period.

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How is this hard to figure out? CroCop got beat by lower ranked fighters and fell out of the picture. Meanwhile Barnett has yet to be knocked down a peg by anyone. And of course, he beat Nogueira in their first fight, something CroCop never did, and lost a close decision in the rematch. Your insinuations about his physique really have no bearing on anything.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like how he conviently stops with the Mirko fight

Oh the fight before that one where he beat Nog? Don’t count that

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

On top of that, he is using the trick where you post their presumed rankings today, and ignore where they were ranked when the fights actually went down. When CroCop lost to Gonzaga and Kongo, they were not ranked anywhere near 9th and 13th.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course they weren’t ranked there yet because guys like ex-Pride heavyweights were controlling those spots. You’re discounting the fact that CroCop lost to superior fighters because they were not ranked high back then? Ranking doesn’t matter; the fact that he fought SUPERIOR fighters matter. The ranking is a lagging indicator; good fighters are good fighters regardless of where they rank. The problem with the guys Barnett fought is that they were never or ever will be top ranked fighters.

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Well, I guess I like how Barnett gets a shit-ton of credit for beating Nog and Mir gets none. When, exactly, did Nog go from superhuman to shell?

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Round about the time he went nearly a year without fighting

Then almost got Headkicked into obscurity by a guy he finished twice when he was younger. Though he looked decent in most of the Herring fight he looked WAYYYYYY worse by the time the Sylvia fight came around. His chin, movement and reflexes were GONE and looked like shit against Mir. Thats why Mir doesn’t get any credit. Or maybe you should credit that Vera loss to Mir also

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Typical defensive response

Nogueira and CroCop didn’t lose to better fighters!They lost because somehow between transitioning to the UFC, within a span of a very short year, they magically lost their ability to fight. How very convenient.

by cyph on Jan 11, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The minute he stepped into the Octagon.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Naw he still looked good against Herring

but he didn’t finish the same guy he finished twice when younger. The Sylvia fight it became obvious he was on a downward track. The Mir fight, even taking into account how horrible staph infections are, was just more evidence he’s about done.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zing!

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Barnett in Pride never looked chiseled

you’re thinking of when he beat Randy’s ass. He was still chiseled on the roids

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Go on Sh*tdog

Look in Barnett’s gallery and go back to page 10 or so. Then Look at the pics of him when he’s fighting Nog. He’s fatter then than he is now.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Barnett/Arlovski

Are ranked high by sites due to name recognition alone. Sites aren’t willing to stick their neck out there and put Mir/Lesnar at 2,3 where they should be. They’d rather base it on old achievements.

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Its the same reason why Sylvia is Top 10

and for what? Losing to Fedor? Beating Brandon Vera?

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You guys are the only ones to rank Roger Gracie. Why do you suppose that is?

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We don't have a negative slant toward having fewer fights.

Its obvious he’s a quality fighter based on his two wins. If he was 10-0, having beat 8 nobodies, and 2 quality opponents, you can bet your bottom dollar he’d be on more lists just because of that “10”.

That’s a big knock on computerized systems like ELO as well. Notice Lesnar is nowhere to be found.

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds reasonable enough.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve noticed this too. Its an interesting double standard: many people are more than willing to judge fighters based on what they see when its a fighter who is already considered to be a top fighter (that guy would destroy X other fighter). But when its an inexperienced fighter, they don’t want to acknowledge that the fighter is actually that good even when he visibly appears extremely talented and capable.

by Michaelthebox on Jan 11, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess Mir's loss to that same Vera

isn’t very important to you LOL

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mir has since beat Lesnar and Nog

LOL

by JCS_FM on Jan 11, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO sites that do ridiculous things like ranking Ferreira at all or putting Lesner/Couture 1/2 should not even be considered. What is the criteria so a site to be included? If i start a site listing boiled carrots #1 will it they be added to the list.
boiled carrots>barnett

by MonkeyCHops on Jan 11, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For this month’s, they needed to have updated since November 15 and they need to meet minimal standards of non-crazy. If we make too many value judgments it takes away from the concept of this not being about our own personal opinions.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Shane Carwin will join soon enough – after he beats Gonzaga

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it

by MattTil on Jan 11, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hari not best kickboxer

Badr Hari isn’t the worlds best kickboxer. He came 2nd in the K-1 Grand Prix last year and even though it was on a disqualification, he’d already been dropped in that fight and was being easily outfought.

My blog- http://angryfightfan.wordpress.com

by Angry Fight Fan on Jan 11, 2009 1:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yep. But pretending like Hari was the unquestioned top dog makes it seem easier to discredit K-1, and by extension, Overeem’s victory under their rules.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hold on a second

Who’s the best K1 fighter at that weight if not Hari?

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remy Bonjasky, the guy who had knocked down Hari in the final and has won multiple K-1 titles?

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So an MMA fighter with a career .500 record in kickboxing came in and beat their #2 guy, not #1. Thanks for the clarification.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hari is considered one of the top guys. But he had fought three times in one night, only a few weeks before Dynamite. And your “MMA fighter” is part of one of the top dutch muay thai gyms in the world. But spin it however you want, obviously it changes nothing about the prestige of Overeem’s victory, or the kickboxing superiority of K-1.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All I’m saying is your ‘top dutch muay thai gym’ fighter came into a K-1 match with Badr fuckin Hari at 2-2 and left at 3-2. I understand the booking was to punish Hari for the stomp (some organizations would have, oh I don’t know, suspended the guy) and he wasn’t in top shape, but however you spin it, losing to a guy with four fights under his belt (and two losses) is pretty damn embarrassing.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I can agree Hari should be embarrassed on a personal level, I just reject the idea it says anything about the competition in K-1, based on the circumstances, and the fact that Overeem clearly has the skills to compete there.

Everyone assumes they were trying to punish Hari by booking the match, but he actually called Overeem out behind the scenes.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It also has to do with the fact that Hari

Is a pure offensive fighter with a notoriously weak chin. He got floored twice in the WGP 3 weeks prior. Hari could easily have knocked out Overeem but Overeem got to him first. Thats what happens when you have a guy that doesn’t defend and has a bad chin. He can lose fights he’s supposed to win. Hari should still be embarrassed but lets put him in K-1 vs anybody in the UFC and we’ll see. Kongo COULD KO him because Hari is chinny but Hari will KO them if they don’t get him first with something heavy. Bonjasky is unquestionably the top dog in K-1 though and the only guy on the same skill level as the little guys. But as such he’s a more boring fighter because he actually covers up and defends instead of walking in with his chin out.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember hearing that MMA guys went 3-0 in K-1 rules at that NYE show. Is that the case, and if so what does it say for the crossover dominance of MMA fighters into K-1?

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least you're actually curious and not throwing out stupid stats

The only relevant K-1 fighter was Hari. All props to Overeem for the upset.

All 3 MMA guys are top level MMA strikers with Kawajiri being the weakest striker of the bunch and I mean his nickname is “Crusher” for godsake. He’s not a kickboxer but he damn sure has power. All the same I figured Kawajiri would lose despite Kozo being YEARS past any sort of prime. I pegged Mousasi who came to MMA as a pretty dominant kickboxer to beat Musashi who was one time at least a mid-level K-1 WGP fighter for a couple years. Now he’s good enough to be a guy that fights as an alternate at best. Mousasi is young and full of fire Musashi got nailed with a few combos from a brilliant young fighter and folded.

It says striking in MMA is getting better in general i’m sure but it says more about fighters that are quality strikers NOW being able to beat guys that were slightly higher quality strikers years ago.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Basically this isn't Aoki being asked to fight K-1

lol All these guys (except Overeem) had a chance. Overeem was supposed to get smashed but took advantage of Hari’s poor chin. Hari’s chin makes AA look like Hunt vs Ray Sefo

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am curious

I mean, I look at boxing now and say ‘those guys do that because they’d get mauled in MMA’ and I feel compelled to say the same about other specialty sports like kickboxing. The guys that do it for a living going 0-3 against guys that don’t doesn’t help.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did it for a living, (In Musashi's case somewhat mediocre at it too)

But take the Badr loss whatever way you want. Overeem has challenged Bonjasky to a K-1 rules bout also. No matter how much bigger Overeem is than Bonjasky he will lose that fight. Maybe won’t get KO’d because Bonjasky is a more defensive fighter than Hari but he doesn’t have Hari’s complete and utter lack of defensive understanding.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“I look at boxing now and say ‘those guys do that because they’d get mauled in MMA’ and I feel compelled to say the same about other specialty sports like kickboxing.”

Come on, you can’t be serious. Most boxers don’t give a fuck about MMA.

No offense, but if you don’t follow K-1, don’t know who the good kickboxers are, and aren’t really taking into considering the skill level of the MMA fighters involved, you pretty much don’t have any point of reference from which to draw conclusions. Mousasi and Overeem are probably among the top 1% of kickboxers in MMA, they’re hardly representative of how MMA fighters would do in general. If they matched up the top 8 strikers in K-1 with the top 8 in UFC, it would be a massacre.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 6:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much

The only guys that would stand a chance are Anderson Silva who would be at a large size disadvantage against anybody except Manhoef.

Kongo who would likely get tore up against a top level guy in K-1 cause they are mostly his size, (Badr is small for a K-1 fighter), so he doesn’t have the advantage he has in most fights.

Lyoto, who could actually fair very well because his style would win him alot of decisions…

And I don’t know maybe Shogun if he regains form

That being said the only one I could see having real success would Lyoto. And if Shogun regains his dynamic style he is a very, very talented kickboxer. They would both be drastically undersized vs any top level guy.

If you went down to the lighter weights it would be an absolute slaughter if you had guys like Zambidis fighting anybody in MMA.

Gimme 1 Round!

by skwirrl on Jan 11, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

1. Alistair Overeem
2. Fedor Emelianenko
3. Gegard Mousasi
4. Anderson Silva
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Sergei Kharitonov
7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
8. Quinton Jackson

These are that I think could possibly hold their own in K-1. But if you put even a mid-level guy in with them, like Ewerton Teixiera, and he probably beats 6 out of 8.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Weren’t Kongo and Evensen both kickboxers previously? What about Alves?

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alves can’t make 156, and he is way too small for K-1 IMO. I certainly wouldn’t put him above any of those eight. As for Kongo and Evenson… both of those guys would get melted in a hurry. Evensen fought in a regional K-1 tournament, but he doesn’t have the skills to compete at the elite level. Kongo’s best asset in MMA, his size advantage, would be taken away in K-1. I wouldn’t give him any more than a puncher’s chance.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take the word of the clear expert on K-1 in this conversation.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s a good list, but I wouldn’t put Quinton on there until he shows the ability to effectively check leg kicks. :)

by Rundownloser on Jan 11, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with that, I just put him there because he actually has a K-1 victory. Top 5 are the only ones I can actually see winning against decent competition

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What do you think about Arlovski’s chances? I haven’t watched much in the way of K-1, but he seems like a pretty big guy with above average boxing. He’s not huge on kicks either, but I wonder if he could do alright.

by Rundownloser on Jan 12, 2009 1:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I try to follow kickboxing, but I just watch sports like that and boxing and think ‘this would be way different if that dude could hug you’ and ‘you can do all of this in MMA, plus other stuff.’ It’s why I love MMA so much – everything within reason is allowed.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

These Heavyweight

Rankings look good

by poundnground on Jan 11, 2009 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

“You might think that the buzz would be huge heading into Affliction’s January 24th show since the headlining fight is matching up #1 Fedor Emelianenko with #2 Andrei Arlovski. But no, people can’t even be bothered to care it seems. Honestly I’m feeling more suspense about whether the fight will happen at all than about who will win.”

Its a shame you feel that way. From what I can tell, the core mma fans are anticipating this fight a great deal; it is the true HW World Championship after all. Despite any business concerns, you’d have to be really out of the loop not to care about this fight.

by smoogy on Jan 11, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I care who wins and will watch the fight, and we all know what a freakin’ fanboy I am. If Fedor wins, he has about two-three decent fights left in his career (Barnett, Kharitonov, Bigfoot?, Overeem) if he chooses to remain outside of the UFC, and if Arlovski wins, he can come back to the UFC (Dana has stated that AA is the only fighter he’s ever regretted losing) for a megafight with Lesnar. It should be good.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most casual MMA fans may not even know the fight is going to happen thanks to Affliction not actually telling them and that is one of the reasons that so many people are more worried about the fight not happening than who’s going to win. Of course that also could be because for most MMA fans there isn’t a lot of suspense when Fedor fights anyone because of who he is. Personally I haven’t allowed myself to get too wrapped up in it for fear of being disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

by who me on Jan 11, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not that excited about it, Arlovski is a paper #2. Fedor is gonna torch him, and that takes away any suspense.

by Michaelthebox on Jan 11, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, be excited for the Affliction-shattering upset possibility, then.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel hard getting excited about the slight possibility of an upset that would shatter a wine glass that is already surrounded by a horde of screaming opera singers.

I think if Andrei hadn’t fought Nelson I’d be a lot more excited about this fight. Nelson showed that all Fedor has to do is take Andrei down and sub him. Andrei is badly overrated, IMO.

by Michaelthebox on Jan 11, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well put. But while I knew EXC would die eventually, watching it’s head explode on live TV was quite entertaining.

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm just a TUF noob

But I was honestly way more pumped about the October 11 Affliction card and massively bummed when they cancelled it. I’m just not able to get excited about a card when I don’t know that it’ll actually happen.

by Kid Nate on Jan 11, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention: while Andrei vs. Barnett wasn’t a clash between the #1/#2 fighters as Fedor/Andrei is, it looked like a much more interesting and competitive fight.

by Michaelthebox on Jan 11, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

definitely. Plus I’m a huge Josh Barnett mark. I will be leaving this thread before the hating starts.

by Kid Nate on Jan 11, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You guess?

Some of us know :-o

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my finger's on the ban button

; )

by Kid Nate on Jan 11, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, how many times do I have to try to get banned before it finally happens? And how many people get piles of comments deleted without a warning?

by subo on Jan 11, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Personally I warn when I delete. But if one of the other mods wants to delete a bunch of monkeys flinging feces that’s cool with me.
The crap that got deleted from this thread all involved community members in good standing and wasn’t worth banning anyone over.
You’ll have to threaten someone to get banned and actually be convincing.

by Kid Nate on Jan 11, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t like warning people. It’s easier just to hide the comments when the people starting crap aren’t people I’m inclined to ban in the first place.

by Richard Wade on Jan 11, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs