You know people who actually watch MMA read Sherdog.com, right? [Expletive] idiots!
-- John B.
Probst: Pound-for-pound rankings are always tough, and nobody's ever fully happy. It's like deciding on the best Molly Hatchet album cover... you can stay up all night and never really know.
That said; more activity would definitely help Fedor. Given his showings of late, a win or two like the ones he's been racking up would give him a serious case for the #1 spot. Especially if Anderson looks remotely human in his next couple of fights. We'll have to wait and see. Thanks for writing in!
Can anyone at Sherdog tell me why the UFC has not signed Sergei Kharitonov? A few years ago, he was arguably a top five heavyweight. What gives?
-- Justin
Brian Knapp, associate editor: Kharitonov remains a bit of a mystery man. Having fought only five times in the last three years, he has not taken part in a meaningful bout since he knocked out Alistair Overeem in 2007. That’s hardly a workload one would expect from a top-tier professional fighter. Getting down to the bare truth, few fans outside those who follow the sport closely even know he exists, which damages his value tremendously, especially in the United States.
The UFC has become as much about marketing larger-than-life characters as it has about landing and matching the best fighters in the world. Yes, it has strengthened its hold as the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, but that does not mean it has the market cornered on premier talent. In fact, the UFC has grown remarkably thin in terms of luring the most accomplished heavyweights in the sport. Only four of the world’s top 10 big men, as ranked by Sherdog.com, are currently under contract with the UFC.
To answer your question, the UFC may not have any interest in Kharitonov, and he, in turn, may not have any interest in the UFC. More big fight opportunities are available to him if he stays outside the Octagon -- Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia, Ben Rothwell, Fabricio Werdum, Mirko Filipovic, Antonio Silva and Overeem all ply their trade elsewhere. For now, it makes more sense for him to compete away from the UFC.