Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Heavyweight
Apr 23, 2008
HEAVYWEIGHT (265-205)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
Following the collapse of his deal with M-1 Global, Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) seems to have landed right in the money-laden laps of Affliction, Mark Cuban and others with a bout against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) on July 19 now ready to be delivered. Hopefully this signals the beginning of a new era for MMA's "Last Emperor."
2. Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
In a vintage performance, Nogueira took 10 minutes' worth of championship abuse from Tim Sylvia (Pictures) before submitting the two-time UFC champ in the third round. With the victory, Nogueira became the only man to wear both Pride and UFC heavyweight title belts. If "Minotauro" can duplicate his performance against other top-10 foes, he may regain the top heavyweight status he once owned.
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 (Pictures) 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 (Pictures) 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 UFC champ Nogueira will be a difficult one, as he's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) in June.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (21-5-0)
He wasn't in peak form, but Barnett returned to action successfully in March against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) in the first Sengoku headliner. Now, looking to bolster its lineup, World Victory Road has announced Barnett as a participant on the May 18 Sengoku card.
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)
While Rothwell is unproven against top competition, the 26-year-old Miletich product is riding a 13-fight winning streak, including wins over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) and recently crowned IFL champion Roy Nelson (Pictures). His recent signing with Monte Cox's Adrenaline MMA should provide an outlet to fight better competition.
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
Following the collapse of his deal with M-1 Global, Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) seems to have landed right in the money-laden laps of Affliction, Mark Cuban and others with a bout against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) on July 19 now ready to be delivered. Hopefully this signals the beginning of a new era for MMA's "Last Emperor."
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In a vintage performance, Nogueira took 10 minutes' worth of championship abuse from Tim Sylvia (Pictures) before submitting the two-time UFC champ in the third round. With the victory, Nogueira became the only man to wear both Pride and UFC heavyweight title belts. If "Minotauro" can duplicate his performance against other top-10 foes, he may regain the top heavyweight status he once owned.
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 (Pictures) 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 (Pictures) 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 UFC champ Nogueira will be a difficult one, as he's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) in June.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (21-5-0)
He wasn't in peak form, but Barnett returned to action successfully in March against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) in the first Sengoku headliner. Now, looking to bolster its lineup, World Victory Road has announced Barnett as a participant on the May 18 Sengoku card.
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)
While Rothwell is unproven against top competition, the 26-year-old Miletich product is riding a 13-fight winning streak, including wins over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) and recently crowned IFL champion Roy Nelson (Pictures). His recent signing with Monte Cox's Adrenaline MMA should provide an outlet to fight better competition.
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