USAT/SBN May MMA Consensus Rankings: Lightweight

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 9:46 AM EDT in Rankings Comment 25 comments

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	B.J. Penn	97	UFC	1
2	Kenny Florian	88	UFC	3
3	Shinya Aoki	84	DREAM	2
4	Eddie Alvarez	83	Bellator	5
5	Joachim Hansen	78	DREAM	6
6	Sean Sherk	72	UFC	4
7	Gesias Cavalcante	55	DREAM	7
8	Tatsuya Kawajiri	53	DREAM	11
9	Josh Thomson	51	Strikeforce	8
10	Satoru Kitaoka	49	WVR	9
11	Diego Sanchez	46	UFC	10
12	Gray Maynard	45	UFC	12
13	Frank Edgar	45	UFC	18
14	Takanori Gomi	28	WVR	14
15	Tyson Griffin	26	UFC	15
16	Gilbert Melendez	23	Strikeforce	17
17	Mitsuhiro Ishida	23	DREAM	13
18	Clay Guida	22	UFC	21
19	Jamie Varner	21	WEC	16
20	Vitor Ribeiro	21	DREAM	20
21	Eiji Mitsuoka	21	WVR	19
22	Caol Uno	17	UFC	22
23	Roger Huerta	16	UFC	23
24	Spencer Fisher	15	UFC	24
25	Nate Diaz	13	UFC	30
25	Joe Lauzon	13	UFC	26

Rankings compiled by Richard Wade.

The lightweight division is the most muddled division in MMA. #1 B.J. Penn has convinced many that he is a dominant champion at 155lbs but many continue to question his commitment to the weight class and question if he has done enough to earn the top spot.

At UFC 101 in September we'll get to see B.J. earn his ranking when he takes on #2 Kenny Florian in Philadelphia. Florian has build a convincing case that he deserves a title shot since his five round decision loss to #6 Sean Sherk back in 2006.

Its a good thing we've got the consensus #1 and #2 meeting soon because otherwise this division is an utter muddle. #3 Shinya Aoki will now be fighting #20 Vitor Ribeiro instead of #5 Joachim Hansen at DREAM.10. While that is an intriguing match of grappling masters, it won't do anything to bring clarity to the divisional picture.

Meanwhile #4 Eddie Alvarez soldiers on in the Bellator tournament. #29 Toby Imada's upset of #32 Jorge Masvidal in the semi-finals means that Alvarez has much to lose and very little to gain there.

Sean Sherk's loss to #13 Frankie Edgar isn't fully reflected in this month's standings. Because of the way we compile the rankings, Sherk is hanging on in the top 10 like Wile E. Coyoto after running off a cliff. Next month he'll likely have fallen several slots and Edgar will rise as the MMA community processes the impact of the fight.

The same goes for #7 Gesias "JZ" Calvacante after his loss this week to #10 Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.9. No word on when or if Kawajiri will get a title shot, I'm beginning to fear that DREAM champ Hansen won't be able to defend his title.

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Yeah, these will be a little clearer next month.

by subo on May 27, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gray Maynard is the Rodney Dangerfield of the lightweight division. In my mind, he should move up next month since he dominated Jim Miller and Edgar, a few fights ago. Who really knows if the rankings will give him that much credit?

by Cannon Jacques on May 27, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it, but you’re right. He should get the credit.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 28, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think if he starts getting buzz

as being in the title picture he’ll rise.
its kind of amazing to me how much influence the hype coming from the promotions and the fighters impacts the rankings.

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

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a big part of why they’re so useless.

by FRANKIE on May 28, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not really talking about your rankings in particular, although obviously the uselessness of other ranking affects them. I do think your method is better than most. Sorry if I came off as more of a jerk than I meant to be.

by FRANKIE on May 28, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no worries

these things are just a ton of work — mostly shouldered by Richard so forgive if I’m touchy.
to me rankings are just a convenient way to geek out, make lists of fighters and have fun arguments. no less, no more.

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

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I <3 Gray Maynard. He’s the new Lindland.

by Nick Thomas on May 28, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

where's supremacy?

doesn’t anyone want to argue about Aoki dropping to #2?

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

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

#3

…but yeah, it’s interesting just HOW big of an impact it has on voters. These are smart MMA people in these rankings, why does it have such a big impact on these people that once a guy gets a title shot he has to get moved up?

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 28, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Aoki also lost a fight. Granted, it was in a different weightclass, but a lot of people don’t seem to differentiate in their rankings. I still just don’t understand what BJ has done to hold on to the #1 spot this long, or really to get it in the first place.

by FRANKIE on May 28, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the demolitions he put on

Gomi, Sherk, Hughes (back in the day) and his first fight with GSP have given BJ and aura that he’s only recently been able to damage with his UFC 94 performance and its aftermath.
He’s got a LOT riding on his fight with Florian.
If monster BJ shows up and destroys Florian, he’ll have earned his slot.
Anything less and the chorus of haters will only grow.

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

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not hating, I actually like BJ and think he could and probably would beat any LW out there. However, he hasn’t actually beaten a highly ranked LW in forever, and that includes Sherk, who hadn’t done much himself at the weight when they fought (or since for that matter). I know my view of rankings conflicts with a lot of other people, but to me rankings should be based on accomplishments within the weightclass, not on potential.

by FRANKIE on May 28, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

holding the UFC belt

means a lot in people’s minds and accomplishments in other weight classes seem to be fairly portable to most rankers.

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

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty sure Aoki fell because he lost a fight.

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 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Different Weightclass

It shouldn’t affect his ranking at LW.

by FRANKIE on May 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And yet it does.

by Richard Wade on May 29, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What’s the point of even having rankings when you put Sherk and JZ above guys they lost to only a few days previously?

It might be time to reconsider your methodology to better reflect what’s really happening in the sport.

by George Lucas on May 28, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not all of the ranking sites have updated since those fights.

by Richard Wade on May 28, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

and there will almost always be some recent event that isn’t fully accounted for so we can’t just wait on all the sites every month…especially considering there are legitimate deadline issues when it comes to rankings

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 29, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs