Independent World MMA Rankings: June, 2009
By Josh Stein on Jun 19, 2009
June 19, 2009: We are proud to announce the launch of the Independent World MMA Rankings. Some of the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers from across the MMA media landscape have come together to form one independent voting panel.
These voting panel members are, in alphabetical order: Zach Arnold (FightOpinion); Nicholas Bailey (MMA Ratings); Jared Barnes (Houston Chronicle); Jordan Breen (Sherdog); Jim Genia (Full Contact Fighter, MMA Memories, and MMA Journalist Blog); Jesse Holland (MMA Mania); Robert Joyner (MMA Payout); Todd Martin (CBS Sportsline); Zac Robinson (Sports by the Numbers MMA); Michael David Smith (AOL Fanhouse); Jonathan Snowden (Author of “Total MMA: Inside Ultimate Fighting”); Joshua Stein (MMA Opinion), Ivan Trembow (Freelance); and Dave Walsh (Total MMA).
These rankings are independent of any single MMA media outlet or sanctioning body, and are published on multiple web sites. (Rankings posted below the fold.)
The rankings are tabulated on a monthly basis in each of the top seven weight classes of MMA, from heavyweight to bantamweight, with fighters receiving ten points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, and so on.
The rankings are based purely on the votes of the members of the voting panel, with nobody’s vote counting more than anybody else’s vote, and no computerized voting.
The voters are instructed to vote primarily based on fighters’ actual accomplishments in the cage/ring (the quality of opposition that they’ve actually beaten), not based on a broad, subjective perception of which fighters would theoretically win fantasy match-ups.
Special thanks to Eric Kamander, Zach Arnold, and Joshua Stein for their invaluable help with this project, and special thanks to Garrett Bailey for designing our logo.
Inactivity: Fighters who have not fought in the past 12 months are not eligible to be ranked, and will regain their eligibility the next time they fight.
Disciplinary Suspensions: Fighters who are currently serving disciplinary suspensions are not eligible to be ranked.
Changing Weight Classes: When a fighter announces that he is leaving one weight class in order to fight in another weight class, the fighter is not eligible to be ranked in the new weight class until he has his first fight in the new weight class.
Catch Weight Fights: When fights are contested at weights that are in between the limits of the various weight classes, they are considered to be in the higher weight class. The weight limits for each weight class are listed at the top of the rankings for each weight class.
June 2009 Independent World MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Rankings (206 to 265 lbs.)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 No Contest)
2. Frank Mir (12-3)
3. Josh Barnett (24-5)
4. Brock Lesnar (3-1)
5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 No Contest)
6. Randy Couture (16-9)
7. Alistair Overeem (29-11, 1 No Contest)
8. Shane Carwin (11-0)
9. Brett Rogers (10-0)
10. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)
Light Heavyweight Rankings (186 to 205 lbs.)
1. Lyoto Machida (15-0)
2. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
3. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
4. Forrest Griffin (16-5)
5. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-3)
6. Rich Franklin (25-4, 1 No Contest)
7. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
8. Dan Henderson (24-7)
9. Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8)
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
Middleweight Rankings (171 to 185 lbs.)
1. Anderson Silva (24-4)
2. Yushin Okami 23-4)
3. Nathan Marquardt (28-8-2)
4. Demian Maia (10-0)
5. Dan Henderson (24-7)
6. Jorge Santiago (21-7)
7. Gegard Mousasi (25-2-1)
8. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 No Contest)
9. Vitor Belfort (18-8)
10. Thales Leites (14-2)
Welterweight Rankings (156 to 170 lbs.)
1. Georges St. Pierre (18-2)
2. Thiago Alves (16-3)
3. Jon Fitch (18-3, 1 No Contest)
4. Jake Shields (23-4-1)
5. Matt Hughes (43-7)
6. Josh Koscheck (12-4)
7. Martin Kampmann (15-2)
8. Mike Swick (14-2)
9. Carlos Condit (22-5)
10. Paulo Thiago (11-0)
Lightweight Rankings (146 to 155 lbs.)
1. B.J. Penn (13-5-1)
2. Kenny Florian (11-3)
3. Shinya Aoki (20-4, 1 No Contest)
4. Eddie Alvarez (17-2)
5. Joachim Hansen (19-7-1)
6. Tatsuya Kawajiri (24-5-2)
7. Frankie Edgar (10-1)
8. Josh Thomson (16-2)
9. Satoru Kitaoka (25-8-9)
10. Gray Maynard (7-0, 1 No Contest)
Featherweight Rankings (136 to 145 lbs.)
1. Mike Brown (22-4)
2. Urijah Faber (22-3)
3. Wagnney Fabiano (12-1)
4. Jose Aldo (15-1)
5. Hatsu Hioki (19-3-2)
6. Leonard Garcia (12-4)
7. “Lion” Takeshi Inoue (16-3)
8. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (17-2)
9. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (19-6-2)
10. Raphael Assuncao (13-1)
Bantamweight Rankings (126 to 135 lbs.)
1. Miguel Torres (37-1)
2. Brian Bowles (7-0)
3. Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2)
4. Masakatsu Ueda (9-0-2)
5. Joseph Benavidez (10-0)
6. Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2)
7. Will Ribeiro (10-2)
8. Rani Yahya (14-4)
9. Damacio Page (11-4)
10. Manny Tapia (10-2-1)
These rankings were taken from the committee 6/16/2009.
Filed Under: MMA
Josh,
I’m sure the creation of this list brought about a number of arguments. HEre’s my quick addition to the rankings argument.
Lesnar. Barnett. The MW 3-5 is odd. Mousasi at 7? His last fight at MW was within 12 months and he had a stellar 2008. Gegard has a better record than most guys on that list. After all, how often has Yushin Okami fought recently . . . Dean Lister in December ’08? Koscheck over Condit . . . blah, blah, blah.
Quality of opponent is subjective and I think the promotion plays a huge factor. It would really be cool to see who qualifies as a high-rated quality opponent.
Example: Nate Marquardt’s recent victories after losing to the champion.
Jeremy Horn – an MMA vet with a sporadic win-loss record.
Thales Leites – a credible MW contender
Martim Kampmann – a very light MW who now fights as a welterweight
Wilson Gouveia – a .500 with a 2-1 MW record
Now compare that list of quality opponents to Gegard Mousasi’s recent oponnents at MW.
Jacare – solid 10-2 fighter who beat Jason Miller
Melvin Manhoef – need I say more?
Dong Sik Yoon – easily forgotten
Dennis Kang – world renown (32 – 11) record
Question? Who fought a higher level of quality competition? Does Randy Couture’s adventures in the LHW division factor in his HW ranking as “actual accomplishments in the cage/ring.”
Last question, are you guys buying into the hype for Koscheck? Did you gusy compare the quality of his recent opponents versus Carlos Condit’s opponents? Condit’s recent loss was an epic split-decision. Koscheck recent record is 2-2 where he was decisively beat and stopped (controversial loss, but stopped nonetheless).
ok dude only thing i don’t understand is why Okami is so high on everyone’s list he lost to rich franklin who Dan Henderson beat he hasn’t taken on that tough of competition even thought he is 7-1 in the UFC, but im juss really perplexed by that ranking considering you guys did a waayyyy better job then Yahoo, MMAWeekly sherdog and bloody elbow its juss the middleweight division seems a lil weird
BTW glad to see Lesnar in the top 4 he deserves that much as most other ranking have him at 5 or 7 so good job guys
Compare Lesnar accomplishments to Carwin or Velasquez. Taking nothing away from Lesnar but he is 2-1 in the UFC, the aforementioned fighters are undefeated. Beating Herring is a big deal but so is Velasquez victory over Kongo who also has many fights under his belt. Love Randy and all but part of his legendary status is tied to his fights at light the heavyweight division and YET he’s ranked at 6. Do you want to discuss lack of activity – check Randy. Couture has not fought in the last 12 months* and there is a 12-month gap between his fights against Lesnar and Gonzaga.
So Lesnar beat Couture and Herring but loss via submission to Mir. Is he necessarily ranked or better than Carwin or Velasquez because of those victories? Evidence inconclusive . . . am I totally off base here?
*I’m sure there is a special Couture exception?
Vee and Alex, the rankings don’t have a single set of logical principles to them. Weird things happen when you have 14 guys with different thought process do their individual ballots, and that’s what happened here.
I’m not allowed to really go into the numbers (I’m one of the people who calculates the results, but we’re keeping them off the record), but a lot of people have stopped thinking of Mousasi as a middleweight and are looking forward to his lightheavyweight career.
Since he has yet to fight in that division, he’s not eligible to be ranked at 205, but I imagine he will be if he beats Babalu and Sokoudjou.
Vee, sorry to say this, but you’re actually wrong. Couture has fought in the last twelve months. His bout with Brock Lesnar was in November of 2008. Last I checked, that was less than twelve months ago.
I don’t think that Randy is a top ten heavyweight, and that’s how I voted, but lots of people don’t agree with me and, since he’s elible on the basis of his fight with Lesnar, they can vote for him if they want.