USAT/SBN May MMA Consensus Rankings: Middleweight

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 4:53 PM EDT in MMA Rankings

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Anderson Silva	100	UFC	1
2	Yushin Okami	87	UFC	2
3	Nate Marquardt	87	UFC	3
4	Robbie Lawler	78	Strikeforce	6
5	Dan Henderson	77	UFC	5
6	Gegard Mousasi	72	DREAM	4
7	Demian Maia	71	UFC	8
8	Jorge Santiago	69	WVR	7
9	Thales Leites	48	UFC	9
10	Vitor Belfort	43	Affliction	10
11	Yoshihiro Akiyama	40	UFC	12
12	Michael Bisping	36	UFC	13
13	Frank Trigg	31	Strikeforce	16
14	Chael Sonnen	30	UFC	17
15	Kazuo Misaki	30	WVR	14
16	Rich Franklin	29	UFC	11
17	Paulo Filho	25	DREAM	15
18	Patrick Cote	22	UFC	19
19	Ronaldo Souza	20	DREAM	18
20	Melvin Manhoef	17	DREAM	23
21	Matt Lindland	16	Affliction	23
22	Wilson Gouveia	15	UFC	21
23	Scott Smith	15	Strikeforce	25
24	Cung Le	14	Strikeforce	20
25	Nate Quarry	14	UFC	31

Rankings compiled by Richard Wade.

Normally the emergence of a 100% dominant, no doubt about it long-term consensus #1 imposes a fair amount of order on a division. The rocky reign of #1 Anderson Silva has done anything but bring order to the 185lb division.

Back to back boofest ~~decision~~ snoozer wins against #9 Thales Leites and #18 Patrick Cote have got the UFC sending Anderson up to 205lbs to fight #4 light heavy Forrest Griffin in August. Unfortunately Silva trains with new UFC champ Lyoto Machida so a super interdivisional bout is not even a slim possibility down the road. That's too bad as Silva vs Machida is a fight any true MMA fan would want to see.

The UFC is also hoping that the meeting at UFC 100 in July of this season's TUF coaches #5 Dan Henderson and #12 Michael Bisping produces a challenger that will interest the fans, and more importantly pose enough of a threat to force the champ to actually fight rather than coasting to another one-sided decision.

That event will also see the UFC debut of #11 Yoshihiro Akiyama against #28 Alan Belcher. Belcher certainly put a hitch in the gettyup of the highly touted #33 Denis Kang by spoiling his UFC debut, we'll see if he continues to spoil Zuffa's big plans to invade the Korean peninsula.

UFC 102 in September will see #3 Nate Marquardt face #7 Demian Maia in a fight that matches up two of the hottest fighters in any division. Sadly, Marquardt has already lost to Silva and the poor performance of BJJ ace Leites has many doubting if the one-dimensional Maia has any shot against Silva.

Even though middleweight has four top 10 fighters outside the UFC, no rival promotion is building much of a head of steam at this point. Strikeforce is forced to match #4 Robbie Lawler against welterweight Jake Shields at their June Showtime event. No word on when or if Strikeforce middleweight champ #24 Cung Le will defend his belt.

#6 Gegard Mousasi, fresh off a win in DREAM's Super Hulk tournament is expected to face #10 Vitor Belfort at Affliction 3 in August but Belfort is apparently insisting the fight occur at 185 and no word on whether or not Mousasi is willing to cut back down after surrendering his DREAM belt at that weight.

Looks like Belfort was insisting on a middleweight fight and Mousasi will only go as low as light heavy. No telling who Affliction might find for Belfort to fight. Apparently he's willing to go up to heavyweight to fight Fedor but not Mousasi.

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Comments

And the slow descent of Mousasi begins.

Anyone that wants to bet on Lawler over Maia, seek immediate medical attention.

by Derek Suboticki on May 27, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

Lawler is just not losing. Can’t drop him if he doesn’t lose. That would be like admitting they were wrong.

by szucconi on May 28, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Good to see Okami holding onto #2.

by Nick Thomas on May 27, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Why is Okami holding on to two?

by The Bronzeville Bully on May 28, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

he hasn't lost

Its funny, doing these rankings really exposes a lot of the psychology behind rankings — which I’m more convinced than ever are basically arbitrary.
It took Okami forever to climb the rankings, but once he got offered a title shot he really jumped. Now he’s becoming a sort of “people’s #1 contender” that fans and rankers trot out there as the guy deserving the shot, whether he does or not.
But I think he shouldn’t be dropped for injuries, not yet anyway.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I came into this thread to basically say this. and to call for Okami to start dropping soon. He keeps dropping out of fights and he is not staying active enough to be 2. Top ten, sure, but not 2. He is only staying there because of Silva’s dominance and having been offered a shot.

by szucconi on May 28, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that both Maia and Marquart were more impressive in their most recent fights than Okami was in his most recent fights. Plus their most recent fights were more recent.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on May 28, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

The most compelling fight in this division is Marquardt/Maia but it doesn’t really help the division. You are either left with someone who has already lost to Silva or someone with a similar style to someone who stunk up the joint in his last fight.
I think the solution would be, if Maia wins, have him do a quick turnaround and fight Leites. If he can separate himself from Leites in terms of BJJ skill then a better case can be made for a title shot.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on May 28, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Maia is not Leites

And Leites flopping like Manu Ginobili doesn’t mean that a Maia would do the same—that was more about Leites’ attitude than jiu-jitsu.

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on May 28, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

What's the scenario for Okami getting a title shot?

Does the rest of the MW have to get swine flu?

by bignerd on May 28, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

The winner of both the Bisping/henderson fight and the Marquardt/Maia fight will both have beaten tougher competition and looked more impressive doing it than Okami.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on May 28, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Begs the question

Why isn’t UFC giving Okami harder competition? It’s reasonable to assume that UFC would have to give him a title shot if he beat any of those four contenders.

by bignerd on May 28, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

They let him fight Rich Franklin. That didn’t work out so well for him.

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 28, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

he nearly won that fight!

and I think he learned a valuable lesson about not waiting so long to turn it up.
He certainly had Franklin in more trouble than Franklin had him in.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

He still lost. I’d say losing qualifies as not working out so well.

by Richard Wade on May 28, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Answer to the begged question

He can have a title shot as soon as he can stay uninjured long enough to win one non-title fight.

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on May 28, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Right...

he has to win non-title fights that make broadcasts so that casual fans care enough…and he has to do it while staying healthy. If you win a fight and then have to sit out for 8 months with an injury that win doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot.

Not to mention no one wants to deal with the ring rust argument if he lost when getting a title fight right off the injury.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 29, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

the cote win was not a decision

by yngjzy on May 28, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

It was a decision to step awkwardly.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on May 28, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

good catch!

thanks

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I want both Lawler

and Vitor back in the UFC. I know neither will be true title contenders but god I lover their fights. Vitor vs Hendo or Lawler vs Cote/Bisbing.

by Riney on May 28, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Vitor vs Hendo has already happened. It wasn’t good.

by rabrown on May 28, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

For Vitor.

by Derek Suboticki on May 29, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

You have 6 UFC guys in the top 10. Come on! There has to be more guys few have ever heard of that you could have chosen.

by ProCannonFodder on May 28, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

Same deal as the Heavyweights. Its the way she goes.

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 28, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Consider actually reading before commenting in the future. Thanks.

by Richard Wade on May 28, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Vitor vs Silva

Although Matt Lindland isn’t a top contender by any means, I can’t help but think back to Vitors early UFC days and want him and Silva to fight, I just can’t stand Anderson! I’m sick of the worship, and I’m never going to agree that he’s a p4p top guy-Only beating (As far as quality wins over top fighters) Franklin and a 38yr old Henderson does not make him the best active fighter, Yes it’s not his fault he fights in a shallow-(And I mean you couldn’t drown if you tried shallow) division, But taking on Irwin (ranked #27th at LH) doesn’t prove squat to me either. I think it’s time for that 6’2 guy to start eating and join the crowded Light heavyweight division, Hell he walks around at 210-215 anyway-(He said himself)

Doesn't anybody think before they speak/post anymore?

by Big Boob Lover on Jun 15, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions