Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Heavyweight
May 28, 2008
HEAVYWEIGHT
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
Following the collapse of his deal with M-1 Global, Fedor Emelianenko seems to have landed in the money-laden laps of Affliction, Mark Cuban and others with a bout against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) on July 19. Hopefully this signals the beginning of a new era for MMA's "Last Emperor."
2. Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
Some have questioned whether any UFC heavyweight, especially the battle-tested Brazilian, can crossover into stardom. Nogueira will now get the TUF treatment in the coming months as he goes head to head with Frank Mir (Pictures) in coaching the eighth season of the UFC's reality series in the build-up to his first title defense against the former champ.
3. Randy Couture (Pictures) (16-8-0)
Unfortunately, no news is bad news for Randy Couture (Pictures), who continues his legal two-step with the UFC in hopes of securing a bout with Fedor Emelianenko outside the Octagon. As the drama continues to boil over, one has to wonder just how much time "The Natural" has left to make this mega-bout happen.
Suddenly free from the organization that nurtured him into a heavyweight force, two-time UFC champion Tim Sylvia has chosen Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) as his first bout outside the UFC in nearly three years. An upset win over the sport's premier heavyweight would certainly go a long way toward erasing the memory of his collapse against Nogueira.
5. Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (12-5-0)
It wasn't the vintage Arlovski performance some expected, but the former UFC champ pounded out previously undefeated Jake O'Brien (Pictures) in March. While many thought Arlovski being buried in the prelims would signal the end for the "Pitbull" in the UFC, both Arlovski, his management and even Dana White have expressed hope that the Belarusian will be back in the Octagon soon. There are also strong rumors he will fight outside the Octagon against Ben Rothwell (Pictures).
6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut against Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) with a well-earned stoppage over Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) in January. However, Werdum's road to a rematch with Nogueira will be a difficult one, as he's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) on June 7.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (22-5-0)
After drawing some criticism for inactivity in the post-PRIDE period, Barnett returned to action in Sengoku and knocked off a quality opponent in longtime training partner Jeff Monson (Pictures) on May 18. Next on tap for MMA's proudest catch wrestler figures to be a date with former foe Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) on Affliction's July 19 offering. In February 2001, Rizzo came out the victor of a fantastic clash between the two via a sizzling KO.
8. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (8-3-0)
After his devastating knockout of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), many thought Gonzaga was the next UFC champion. Randy Couture (Pictures) brought him back down into the atmosphere, though, and then Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) slammed him back down to earth with a second-round stoppage in January. It remains to be seen if Gonzaga will be able to replicate his win over "Cro Cop" in the near future.
9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (23-6-2)
After many headaches over finding an opponent for the former K-1 star, FEG finally produced a woefully overmatched Tatsuya Mizuno (Pictures), whom Filipovic destroyed in 56 seconds. Whether the state of things will improve for the Croatian remains to be seen.
10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-5-0)
On a 13-fight win streak, the Miletich product will get the chance to validate himself against better opposition in the very near future. Rothwell is scheduled for action on the main card of Affliction's debut card on July 19 against a yet-unnamed opponent.
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
Following the collapse of his deal with M-1 Global, Fedor Emelianenko seems to have landed in the money-laden laps of Affliction, Mark Cuban and others with a bout against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) on July 19. Hopefully this signals the beginning of a new era for MMA's "Last Emperor."
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Some have questioned whether any UFC heavyweight, especially the battle-tested Brazilian, can crossover into stardom. Nogueira will now get the TUF treatment in the coming months as he goes head to head with Frank Mir (Pictures) in coaching the eighth season of the UFC's reality series in the build-up to his first title defense against the former champ.
3. Randy Couture (Pictures) (16-8-0)
Unfortunately, no news is bad news for Randy Couture (Pictures), who continues his legal two-step with the UFC in hopes of securing a bout with Fedor Emelianenko outside the Octagon. As the drama continues to boil over, one has to wonder just how much time "The Natural" has left to make this mega-bout happen.
4. Tim
Sylvia (Pictures) (24-4-0)
Suddenly free from the organization that nurtured him into a heavyweight force, two-time UFC champion Tim Sylvia has chosen Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) as his first bout outside the UFC in nearly three years. An upset win over the sport's premier heavyweight would certainly go a long way toward erasing the memory of his collapse against Nogueira.
5. Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (12-5-0)
It wasn't the vintage Arlovski performance some expected, but the former UFC champ pounded out previously undefeated Jake O'Brien (Pictures) in March. While many thought Arlovski being buried in the prelims would signal the end for the "Pitbull" in the UFC, both Arlovski, his management and even Dana White have expressed hope that the Belarusian will be back in the Octagon soon. There are also strong rumors he will fight outside the Octagon against Ben Rothwell (Pictures).
6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut against Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) with a well-earned stoppage over Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) in January. However, Werdum's road to a rematch with Nogueira will be a difficult one, as he's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) on June 7.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (22-5-0)
After drawing some criticism for inactivity in the post-PRIDE period, Barnett returned to action in Sengoku and knocked off a quality opponent in longtime training partner Jeff Monson (Pictures) on May 18. Next on tap for MMA's proudest catch wrestler figures to be a date with former foe Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) on Affliction's July 19 offering. In February 2001, Rizzo came out the victor of a fantastic clash between the two via a sizzling KO.
8. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (8-3-0)
After his devastating knockout of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), many thought Gonzaga was the next UFC champion. Randy Couture (Pictures) brought him back down into the atmosphere, though, and then Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) slammed him back down to earth with a second-round stoppage in January. It remains to be seen if Gonzaga will be able to replicate his win over "Cro Cop" in the near future.
9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (23-6-2)
After many headaches over finding an opponent for the former K-1 star, FEG finally produced a woefully overmatched Tatsuya Mizuno (Pictures), whom Filipovic destroyed in 56 seconds. Whether the state of things will improve for the Croatian remains to be seen.
10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-5-0)
On a 13-fight win streak, the Miletich product will get the chance to validate himself against better opposition in the very near future. Rothwell is scheduled for action on the main card of Affliction's debut card on July 19 against a yet-unnamed opponent.
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