USAT/SBN April MMA Consensus Rankings: Middleweight
by Kid Nate on Apr 30, 2009 4:07 PM EDT
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| Rank | Fighter | % | Promotion | Last Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anderson Silva | 100 | UFC | 1 |
| 2 | Yushin Okami | 87 | UFC | 2 |
| 3 | Nate Marquardt | 85 | UFC | 3 |
| 4 | Gegard Mousasi | 81 | DREAM | 5 |
| 5 | Dan Henderson | 80 | UFC | 4 |
| 6 | Robbie Lawler | 78 | Strikeforce | 6 |
| 7 | Jorge Santiago | 72 | WVR | 8 |
| 8 | Demian Maia | 71 | UFC | 7 |
| 9 | Thales Leites | 45 | UFC | 9 |
| 10 | Vitor Belfort | 45 | Affliction | 11 |
| 11 | Rich Franklin | 43 | UFC | 10 |
| 12 | Yoshihiro Akiyama | 37 | UFC | 12 |
| 13 | Michael Bisping | 32 | UFC | 14 |
| 14 | Kazuo Misaki | 29 | WVR | 16 |
| 15 | Paulo Filho | 29 | DREAM | 13 |
| 16 | Frank Trigg | 28 | Strikeforce | 17 |
| 17 | Chael Sonnen | 26 | UFC | 15 |
| 18 | Ronaldo Souza | 20 | DREAM | 18 |
| 19 | Patrick Cote | 18 | UFC | 19 |
| 20 | Cung Le | 17 | Strikeforce | 20 |
| 21 | Wilson Gouveia | 16 | UFC | 24 |
| 22 | Dan Miller | 16 | UFC | 21 |
| 23 | Melvin Manhoef | 14 | DREAM | 22 |
| 23 | Matt Lindland | 14 | Affliction | 23 |
| 25 | Scott Smith | 14 | Strikeforce | 42 |
Rankings compiled by Richard.
The middleweight title fight at UFC 97 between #1 Anderson Silva and #9 Thales Leites didn't do anyone any favors -- well maybe it turned out alright for Silva since he'll get a nice payday against #4 Light Heavyweight Forrest Griffin at UFC 102.
Meanwhile #2 Yushin Okami has to fight a very dangerous but virtually unknown opponent -- #22 Dan Miller -- at UFC 98 in May and there's no reason to believe a win will get him any closer to the title.
Rumors have swirled that #3 Nate Marquardt and #8 Demian Maia may face off at some point, possibly at UFC 103, but those are very unconfirmed at this point. Maia is being written off for a title shot in the aftermath of Thales Leites' underwhelming performance, but that strikes me as being really unfair. Leites backed into his title shot with a less than impressive string of wins -- notably a win over Marquardt due to penalty points. Maia on the other hand has been very impressive, demolishing #17 Chael Sonnen most recently. UPDATE: Marquardt vs Maia has been signed for UFC 102.
The current season of TUF is building heat for the UFC 100 showdown between #5 Dan Henderson and #13 Michael Bisping. The winner of that bout is virtually assured an immediate title shot. That event will also see the UFC debut of Japanese/Korean superstar #12 Yoshihiro Akiyama against #29 Alan Belcher. We'll see if Belcher can spoil Akiyama's Octagon debut like he did Denis Kang's.
The highest ranked non-UFC middleweight -- #4 Gegard Mousasi -- is abandoning his DREAM title to move up to 205lbs. #18 Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza will face #39 Jason "Mayhem" Miller for the title at DREAM.9 on May 26th.
#6 Robbie Lawler will fight for the Strikeforce belt at a catchweight of 183lbs against #4 welterweight Jake Shields at Strikeforce's June 6 show. If Strikeforce can bring back Sengoku champ #7 Jorge Santiagoback to their organization (he won their 2008 middleweight tournament) along with #14 Kazuo Misaki they'd really have something. I'm not holding my breath for that or for #20 Cung Le's return to MMA action.
Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites 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.
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It’s a real shame that Gegard Mousasi’s name will be removed from most Top 10 lists once he moves away from Middleweight.
He should probably just be put on the P4P list, because I forsee him doing real good things at Light Heavyweight.
by AnonymousA on Apr 29, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s kind of impossible to be a highly ranked LHW unless you’re fighting and winning in the UFC.
by subo on Apr 30, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
Beating Nog and Sobral would be nice, worthy of a UFC contract a la Soko – but if you can’t prove it in the mutant shark tank that is the Zuffa 205 lb division, then you’re not worthy of being higher than 8th or so.
by subo on Apr 30, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Mutant shark tank?
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 May 1, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
UPDATE: Marquardt vs Maia has been signed for UFC 102.
Just read about this. Marquardt is the only fighter at 185 who makes me worry for Maia. Then again, I have faith.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Apr 29, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That should be awesome. Nate by KO.
Keep firing Assholes!
Akiyama is the Japanese word for Sexify.
by Ubernoober on Apr 29, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt Nate KO’s Maia. Maia is tough as nails. Only way Nate wins is by decision. And that’s if he wears Maia down for three rounds by stuffing takedowns and getting out of precarious situations on the ground which leads to him jabbing his way to a win. Anything in the clinch favors Maia.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Apr 29, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In the main article, this should be bolded. And flashing. And shaking its moneymaker. Totally awesome news!
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Apr 29, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow. I really feel bad for Marquardt here. He’s looked phenomenal in his last few fights and it’s a shame to see his run back toward a title shot have to be derailed after Maia makes him tap. Real shame. But awesome for Maia.
by Kierkegaard on Apr 29, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Marquardt's BJJ and wrestling are better
than anyone Maia has faced in the UFC. I think it will be extremely difficult for Maia to get Nate to the ground, and even if he does, as slick as his BJJ is, Nate’s excellent grappling will keep him out of danger.
I’m thinking Maia will be the underdog here.
by Scott Haber on Apr 30, 2009 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m surprised that not one site has Hector Lombard in their top 25…the dude is 19-2-1 (granted his biggest win would probably be a win over a 34-15-0 Brian Ebersole?). I think he is a lock to win the Bellator MW tournament
by Fedorable on Apr 30, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The funny part is that his two losses are to Mousasi and Gono, both by decision.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Apr 30, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup, Hector definitely needs to be in the top 25.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 30, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think to get in the top 25 you should probably beat someone who is…I dunno…around the top 25 when it comes to rankings? Lombard’s biggest win is over a guy who would be lucky to be top 100. Gaining a large quantity of wins doesn’t necessarily mean all that much when you’re not beating high quality fighters.
Also, he tried to freaking smother Gono with his belly. That should be like an instant ban from the top 25 no matter what.
by ilostmydog on Apr 30, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently Okami tore a ligament and is out of 98. Sigh, I had heard he would get a shot finally if he won, now it’s another year + of this.
by Michael Rome on Apr 30, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Which belt?
Which belt are Robbie Lawler and Jake Shields fighting for?
by loboplata on Apr 30, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
middleweight i thought
but i heard today they’re fighting at a catchweight so it couldn’t be for the belt in that case.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Kid Nate on Apr 30, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah it’s non title. Cung Le is their champion.
by Michael Rome on Apr 30, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
elite xc is dead.
so none of those two are champs..
by Anton Tabuena on May 1, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very excited for Maia Marquardt
Nate’s BJJ and Pancrese background and phenomenal strength and size make this one of the toughest opponents for Maia -plus Greg Jackson strategizing (now gameplanning for probably the two matchup challenges in UFC with Machida ‘n Maia). I almost think Silva would be a better matchup for him at least physically but Maia is so sly and creative and aggressive with his BJJ, still hard to tap a blackbelt of Marquardt’s credentials and size advantage and experience.
At least Al Davis isn't running my team's drafts.
by bringbackbuddytrees on May 1, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cung Le?
Surprised that this is a prevailing opinion — I really don’t think Cung has been adequately tested aside from the Shamrock fight, in which Shamrock was rocking him badly and really gearing up to put him away striking prior to his arm getting broken blocking a kick.
I mean, credit where credit’s due to Cung for breaking his arm, but Shamrock was trying to make a point fighting him standing and he pretty much set himself up for that to happen.
I’d certainly expect to see Lindland or Manhoef (both ranked below) to beat him.
by LBo on May 1, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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