Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Featherweight
Sep 25, 2007
FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)
1. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
In a world without Sokoudjou, Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) would be a lock for the most improved fighter in 2007. Tamura has knocked off three top-notch opponents in a row, avenging two losses and picking up a Shooto world title along the way. The real task for Tamura, who daylights as a physical therapist, is to prove his recent windfall of success is no fluke. His first assignment as Shooto world champion will come Nov. 8 against a yet-to-be-named foe.
2. Urijah
Faber (Pictures) (19-1-0)
The face of featherweights in North America, Faber's crackling bout with Chance Farrar (Pictures) in June served as an exemplar of what 145-pounders bring to the table. The only thing stopping ", The California Kid" from topping this , list is his glossy record, which features mostly tough but not outstanding opponents. However, this will change when he fights Jeff Curran (Pictures) on Dec. 12.
3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (13-2-0)
The former Shooto world champion will be back in the ring Nov. 8 on Shooto's Back to Our Roots 6 card. He will take on veteran eccentric Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the vacant Shooto Pacific Rim title at 143 pounds.
Regrettably, Shooto promoters told Carvalho that they couldn't find him an opponent for the Sept. 22 Back to Our Roots 5. With any luck Sustain will get its act together and find the Canadian a suitable opponent for Nov. 8. Otherwise Carvalho will have to break out the long pants and head back to Shoot Boxing to get his fight fix.
5. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (28-8-1)
"The Big Frog" had a much tougher time than expected in his Aug. 5 bout with unknown Stephen Ledbetter, but he won a unanimous decision. The win secured Curran's shot at WEC champion Urijah Faber (Pictures), which is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Las Vegas.
6. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
In one of the year's most absurd bouts, Imanari aimlessly sidekicked journeyman Hiroyuki Abe for almost 14 minutes on Oct. 9 while Abe stood like a statue and employed the ancient hourglass karate stance. Thankfully the "Ashikan Judan" lived up to his moniker, as Imanari finally got the bout to the mat and quickly ankle locked Abe. Hopefully Imanari's next outing, whether in Cage Rage or DEEP, has a little more substance.
7. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-1)
Pancrase's champion poster boy whacked Danny Batten (Pictures) in April and followed that with a stoppage win against Johnny Frachey (Pictures) in Tokyo on Sept. 5. The biggest hurdle for the 25-year-old Maeda, who has all the tools to be an elite fighter, is overcoming his reputation as a less-than-consistent competitor who falters under pressure.
8. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-1, 1 NC)
It may seem inconsequential in a year of mega upsets, but gritty South Korean Jong Man Kim (Pictures), who was coming off a quick loss to Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) in August, wasn't given much of a chance against hometown favorite Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Nagoya on Oct. 8. But Kim, who upset KID Yamamoto's highly-regarded pupil Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) two years ago, used his power punching to best Hioki and take a split decision, earning him a spot in the top 10. The question now is whether the virtually unknown Korean can retain that spot by continuing to win against solid opposition.
9. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (12-3-1)
The lanky Nagoyan slides hard from a No. 5 ranking after a dismal performance against Jong Man Kim (Pictures). Hioki, an outstanding grappler, has developed a case of striker envy, which has played a role in just about all of the blemishes on his record, including the loss to Kim. To get back on track, Hioki will have to remember that his ground savvy was what got him into the spotlight in the first place.
10. Bao Quach (Pictures) (10-8-1)
Quach's spotty record doesn't illustrate the Colin Oyama-trained fighter's toughness. Since June 2006 he is 4-1-1. Drawing Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Japan, Quach lost to Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) before winning three in a row and setting up a clash with Tenkei Fujimiya (Pictures). His win over Fujimiya is what has him ranked, though many argue it was the Japanese fighter who deserved the decision.
1. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
In a world without Sokoudjou, Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) would be a lock for the most improved fighter in 2007. Tamura has knocked off three top-notch opponents in a row, avenging two losses and picking up a Shooto world title along the way. The real task for Tamura, who daylights as a physical therapist, is to prove his recent windfall of success is no fluke. His first assignment as Shooto world champion will come Nov. 8 against a yet-to-be-named foe.
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The face of featherweights in North America, Faber's crackling bout with Chance Farrar (Pictures) in June served as an exemplar of what 145-pounders bring to the table. The only thing stopping ", The California Kid" from topping this , list is his glossy record, which features mostly tough but not outstanding opponents. However, this will change when he fights Jeff Curran (Pictures) on Dec. 12.
3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (13-2-0)
The former Shooto world champion will be back in the ring Nov. 8 on Shooto's Back to Our Roots 6 card. He will take on veteran eccentric Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the vacant Shooto Pacific Rim title at 143 pounds.
4. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-2-0)
Regrettably, Shooto promoters told Carvalho that they couldn't find him an opponent for the Sept. 22 Back to Our Roots 5. With any luck Sustain will get its act together and find the Canadian a suitable opponent for Nov. 8. Otherwise Carvalho will have to break out the long pants and head back to Shoot Boxing to get his fight fix.
5. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (28-8-1)
"The Big Frog" had a much tougher time than expected in his Aug. 5 bout with unknown Stephen Ledbetter, but he won a unanimous decision. The win secured Curran's shot at WEC champion Urijah Faber (Pictures), which is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Las Vegas.
6. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
In one of the year's most absurd bouts, Imanari aimlessly sidekicked journeyman Hiroyuki Abe for almost 14 minutes on Oct. 9 while Abe stood like a statue and employed the ancient hourglass karate stance. Thankfully the "Ashikan Judan" lived up to his moniker, as Imanari finally got the bout to the mat and quickly ankle locked Abe. Hopefully Imanari's next outing, whether in Cage Rage or DEEP, has a little more substance.
7. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-1)
Pancrase's champion poster boy whacked Danny Batten (Pictures) in April and followed that with a stoppage win against Johnny Frachey (Pictures) in Tokyo on Sept. 5. The biggest hurdle for the 25-year-old Maeda, who has all the tools to be an elite fighter, is overcoming his reputation as a less-than-consistent competitor who falters under pressure.
8. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-1, 1 NC)
It may seem inconsequential in a year of mega upsets, but gritty South Korean Jong Man Kim (Pictures), who was coming off a quick loss to Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) in August, wasn't given much of a chance against hometown favorite Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Nagoya on Oct. 8. But Kim, who upset KID Yamamoto's highly-regarded pupil Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) two years ago, used his power punching to best Hioki and take a split decision, earning him a spot in the top 10. The question now is whether the virtually unknown Korean can retain that spot by continuing to win against solid opposition.
9. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (12-3-1)
The lanky Nagoyan slides hard from a No. 5 ranking after a dismal performance against Jong Man Kim (Pictures). Hioki, an outstanding grappler, has developed a case of striker envy, which has played a role in just about all of the blemishes on his record, including the loss to Kim. To get back on track, Hioki will have to remember that his ground savvy was what got him into the spotlight in the first place.
10. Bao Quach (Pictures) (10-8-1)
Quach's spotty record doesn't illustrate the Colin Oyama-trained fighter's toughness. Since June 2006 he is 4-1-1. Drawing Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in Japan, Quach lost to Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) before winning three in a row and setting up a clash with Tenkei Fujimiya (Pictures). His win over Fujimiya is what has him ranked, though many argue it was the Japanese fighter who deserved the decision.
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