Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Heavyweight
Mar 19, 2008
HEAVYWEIGHT (265-205)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
For the second time in less than a year, Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) is the hottest free agent in MMA now that he has seemingly parted ways with the M-1 Global organization that was ostensibly based around him. Wherever the situation ends up, let's hope it is with a quality heavyweight across the ring from "The 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)
Just when it seemed Couture couldn't capture any more headlines in 2007 after his underdog demolitions of Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), "The Natural" resigned from the UFC. Couture's battles these days are legal ones, as he tries to get out of his contract with Zuffa and land a fight versus Emelianenko.
Through 10 minutes, Sylvia worked a perfect game plan in battering "Minotauro." However, Nogueira made the most of his opportunity and swept and submitted the former UFC champion. Still a top heavyweight who may have title chances to come, Sylvia's route back to a title shot is anything but certain.
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) earlier this month. 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.
6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut in April 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 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) will be a difficult one. He's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) in June.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (21-5-0)
He sure wasn't in peak form, but Barnett returned to action in the first Sengoku headliner earlier this month against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) in a bout that was more entertaining than expected. Following Barnett's submission victory over the judo gold medalist, the more pertinent question is whether he will remain a big fish in a very, very small pond. Previously dropped for a year of inactivity, Barnett reemerges in the ranking at No. 7.
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. With the reentry of Josh Barnett (Pictures), Gonzaga falls from seven to eight.
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). Considering that his relationship with the IFL looks a tad rocky, many are calling for Rothwell to take the jump in competition in 2008.
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
For the second time in less than a year, Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) is the hottest free agent in MMA now that he has seemingly parted ways with the M-1 Global organization that was ostensibly based around him. Wherever the situation ends up, let's hope it is with a quality heavyweight across the ring from "The 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)
Just when it seemed Couture couldn't capture any more headlines in 2007 after his underdog demolitions of Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), "The Natural" resigned from the UFC. Couture's battles these days are legal ones, as he tries to get out of his contract with Zuffa and land a fight versus Emelianenko.
4. Tim
Sylvia (Pictures) (24-4-0)
Through 10 minutes, Sylvia worked a perfect game plan in battering "Minotauro." However, Nogueira made the most of his opportunity and swept and submitted the former UFC champion. Still a top heavyweight who may have title chances to come, Sylvia's route back to a title shot is anything but certain.
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) earlier this month. 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.
6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut in April 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 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) will be a difficult one. He's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) in June.
7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (21-5-0)
He sure wasn't in peak form, but Barnett returned to action in the first Sengoku headliner earlier this month against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) in a bout that was more entertaining than expected. Following Barnett's submission victory over the judo gold medalist, the more pertinent question is whether he will remain a big fish in a very, very small pond. Previously dropped for a year of inactivity, Barnett reemerges in the ranking at No. 7.
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. With the reentry of Josh Barnett (Pictures), Gonzaga falls from seven to eight.
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). Considering that his relationship with the IFL looks a tad rocky, many are calling for Rothwell to take the jump in competition in 2008.
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