Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Featherweight
Dec 18, 2007
FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)
1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Urijah Faber (Pictures) was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors as he choked out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earns the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.
2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
Enjoying a tremendous breakout year, the Shooto world champion falls from first to second with the ascension of Faber to the top of the list. However, if Tamura is no flash in the pan and his 2007 success is an indication of true improvement, he may not be quite done with knocking off top-10 opponents in 2008. His next fight will likely be a rubber match with Lion Takeshi.
3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair earlier last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion in dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. In the current climate of pro Shooto, the potent-punching Yokohama native seems bound for a world title rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in '08.
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.
5. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-4-1)
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). What's more is that Takaya recently signed a deal with Zuffa to compete in the WEC, which will make for some exciting, high-stakes matchups in the cage.
6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya. What's next for the Canadian is unknown. He plans on heading home to Toronto after spending the year living and training in Tokyo, and his strained relationship with Shooto authorities has likely signaled his end there.
7. 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 and finally got the bout to the mat, where he quickly ankle locked Abe. Hopefully I, manari's next outing, whether in Cage Rage or Deep, has a little more substance.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-1)
The Pancrase poster boy has looked solid in his 2007 campaign, running his record to 3-0 with a September stamping of Frenchman Johnny Frachey (Pictures). Now he'll head back to his hometown of Osaka for Deep's Dec. 22 card, where he'll meet suddenly relevant South Korean slugger Jong Man Kim (Pictures). Maeda's career has been characterized by his flaky failures in the ring, which should provide some extra drama in taking on the live underdog in Kim.
9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-1, 1 NC)
After his shocking win over Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in October, it was unclear what Jong Man Kim (Pictures)'s future would be. Shigeru Saeki was on the ball and has lined up a great little fight for Deep's Dec. 22 card in Osaka. Taking on Pancrase featherweight king Yoshiro Maeda in his backyard, will Kim be able to spoil another top-10 featherweight's homecoming?
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Hioki got back into the win column late last month in his native Nagoya with a blowout decision over TUF 5 alum Brian Geraghty (Pictures). He will look to put his recent woes even farther behind him as he takes on quirky vet Katsuya Toida (Pictures) as part of the Jan. 26 Shooto bill at Korakuen Hall.
1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Urijah Faber (Pictures) was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors as he choked out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earns the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.
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Enjoying a tremendous breakout year, the Shooto world champion falls from first to second with the ascension of Faber to the top of the list. However, if Tamura is no flash in the pan and his 2007 success is an indication of true improvement, he may not be quite done with knocking off top-10 opponents in 2008. His next fight will likely be a rubber match with Lion Takeshi.
3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair earlier last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion in dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. In the current climate of pro Shooto, the potent-punching Yokohama native seems bound for a world title rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in '08.
4. Jeff
Curran (Pictures) (28-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.
5. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-4-1)
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). What's more is that Takaya recently signed a deal with Zuffa to compete in the WEC, which will make for some exciting, high-stakes matchups in the cage.
6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya. What's next for the Canadian is unknown. He plans on heading home to Toronto after spending the year living and training in Tokyo, and his strained relationship with Shooto authorities has likely signaled his end there.
7. 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 and finally got the bout to the mat, where he quickly ankle locked Abe. Hopefully I, manari's next outing, whether in Cage Rage or Deep, has a little more substance.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-1)
The Pancrase poster boy has looked solid in his 2007 campaign, running his record to 3-0 with a September stamping of Frenchman Johnny Frachey (Pictures). Now he'll head back to his hometown of Osaka for Deep's Dec. 22 card, where he'll meet suddenly relevant South Korean slugger Jong Man Kim (Pictures). Maeda's career has been characterized by his flaky failures in the ring, which should provide some extra drama in taking on the live underdog in Kim.
9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-1, 1 NC)
After his shocking win over Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) in October, it was unclear what Jong Man Kim (Pictures)'s future would be. Shigeru Saeki was on the ball and has lined up a great little fight for Deep's Dec. 22 card in Osaka. Taking on Pancrase featherweight king Yoshiro Maeda in his backyard, will Kim be able to spoil another top-10 featherweight's homecoming?
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Hioki got back into the win column late last month in his native Nagoya with a blowout decision over TUF 5 alum Brian Geraghty (Pictures). He will look to put his recent woes even farther behind him as he takes on quirky vet Katsuya Toida (Pictures) as part of the Jan. 26 Shooto bill at Korakuen Hall.
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