USAT/SBN December 2009 MMA Consensus Rankings

by Kid Nate on Dec 16, 2009 9:25 PM EST in MMA Rankings

The December USA TODAY/Sports Blog Nation MMA Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY tomorrow morning to see them in print.

Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points 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. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.

To commemorate the end of the year, we analyzed the movement between the rankings we published in December 2008 and the rankings this month. Check out the USA TODAY/Sports Blog Nation MMA Consensus Rankings to see which stars rose and which stars fell in 2009.

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Jon Fitch, the number 2 ranked welter weight in the world, fights on under cards and is also incredibly boring. Someone needs to knock him down a couple notches.

by goodbones on Dec 16, 2009 9:35 PM EST reply actions

He’s beat everyone not named GSP, number two makes sense.

by CSKit on Dec 16, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

He’s beat everyone not named GSP or that he practices with, number two makes sense.

by John Nash on Dec 16, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed, while I would love to see Koscheck vs. Fitch, I don’t think it will happen outside of training.

by CSKit on Dec 16, 2009 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

and Dan Hardy is ranked number 5 — so what does that tell us about the welterweight division?

by goodbones on Dec 16, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

That Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves and Josh Koscheck are all ranked above Dan Hardy?

by CSKit on Dec 16, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

I'm kidding

But these are just based on opinion, did you notice Semmy Schilt and Ray Mercer are both in the Top 25 for Heavyweights?

by CSKit on Dec 16, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Did you notice Overeem jumped to 10th for beating the mighty James Thompson while Werdum dropped to 11th for winning a squash match against Antonio Silva?

by John Nash on Dec 16, 2009 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

Mercer is ranked because of Fight Matrix.

Bolts from the Blue // "I have got to be the most boring GM in the league." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "I win again. Engrish is my bitch." - Steven Zucconi

by Richard Wade on Dec 16, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

all rankings are based on opinion

that’s the point of the consensus rankings — we’re not adding our opinion, we’re chronicling the opinions of others.

Also, the ironic part is that Mercer is only included because of FightMatrix.com, an attempt to create an objective ranking system. Part of their formula gives fighters set credits for the rankings of fighters they beat. So Tim Sylvia was fairly highly ranked when Mercer beat him, ergo, Mercer is ranked highly as well.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Dec 16, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not implying that you guys are at fault. I’m merely stating that the welterweight division is a little janky.

by goodbones on Dec 16, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, did I miss something and we decided to get rid of the MW division?

by John Nash on Dec 16, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions

Good catch.

by CSKit on Dec 16, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

yes and it’s about time!

by nastyem on Dec 16, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

Middleweight Division

Bolts from the Blue // "I have got to be the most boring GM in the league." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "I win again. Engrish is my bitch." - Steven Zucconi

by Richard Wade on Dec 16, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

And what about the 215lb division? I got Kimbo #1.

by sacterre on Dec 16, 2009 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

What comes before 1? because that’s where I placed Kimbo.

by goodbones on Dec 16, 2009 10:14 PM EST up reply actions

kimbo shrine here

wait till he can slam and choke out his opponent. since chuck does not want to fight tito maybe he should go after kimbo. he sure had alot of bad things to say about slice when he was on hdnet weekly show. i bet liddell would be scared of that fight too b/c his legacy would be in the balance and if he got slammed and gnp or for heaven’s sake choked out what a bad way to go. i just greenlighted a kimbo slice reality show and his first guests are martha stewart and rachel ray. he gives them cooking tips.

yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Dec 16, 2009 11:04 PM EST up reply actions