Not quite ready to join the Dirty Dozen, here are 10 fighters, ranked in no particular order, that are a win or two away:
Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (9-3-0) — P-4-P skills. On-the-outside-looking-in opposition.
Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (17-4-2) — Fighting 13 times in 22 months appears to have slowed the dangerous heavyweight striker. After his August 2005 challenge against Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), “Cro Cop” split decisions with Josh Barnett (Pictures) and Mark Hunt (Pictures). As cruel as it sounds, losing to the former K-1 World Grand Prix champion drops Filipovic off the list.
Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (15-1-0) — Shaolin’s part of an incredibly solid group of lightweights. He split with Kawajiri, but lost the recent bout. The Brazilian is fighting regularly now, and could be the best lightweight in the world not tied to PRIDE. Ribeiro next fights April 22 in London against Gesias Calvancanti. If this was the "Dirty 13," he’d be on it.
Joachim Hansen (Pictures) (13-4-1) — An unfortunate loss was added to Hansen’s record when he was disqualified in February for kicking Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) in the groin. The anticipated 154-pound SHOOTO championship contest went out with a whimper. Hansen, a great fighter who appears to get lost in shuffle, fights on April 2 against Chute Boxe’s Luiz Azeredo (Pictures).
B.J. Penn (Pictures) (10-3-1) — The original Dirty Dozen saw the Hawaiian come in at No. 9. However, falling short on answers during his decision loss to Georges St. Pierre (Pictures), Penn has been relegated to a window-shopper. Don’t forget, we’re more than two years removed from wins over Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures) — and day-by-day their impact shrink in the rear-view mirror. “The Prodigy” still has the tools, but that’s clearly not enough. If Penn doesn’t change his course, he will fail to live up to the lofty expectations that surround him.
Hayato Sakurai (Pictures) (27-7-2) — He returned from a rough patch to find himself in the GP finals versus Gomi. But the young lion stopped Sakurai’s trip to the top. Wins over Pulver and Hansen surprised in 2005 and he looked great in victory.
Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (16-3-2) — Earning a win the worst possible way (DQ off a kick to his groin), the massive Kawajiri is still in a position to be Gomi’s most dangerous challenge. Kawajiri is responsible for the only loss of Shoalin’s career.
Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures) (12-3-2) — “Pequeno” was always a member of this list but the loss to Hideo Tokoro (Pictures) and inconsistent performances leave him out of the Dirty Dozen. He’s best at 145 but has been pushed into a higher weight class with entry into Hero’s. Needs to fight at bantamweight against “Kid” to answer questions.
Renato Sobral (Pictures) (27-5-0)—Perhaps the most underrated fighter in MMA. Babalu has won 10 in a row dating back to his knockout loss against Chuck Liddell (Pictures) at UFC 40. It appears as if he’s positioned himself back in line for a shot at Liddell (and UFC belt). He’d appear to be the last 205-pounder attached to the UFC with a legitimate shot at giving Liddell a bout.
Six to Watch
Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (9-0-0) — Potential bout with Pequeno should tell us a lot.
Mark Hunt (Pictures) (4-1-0) — With just five fights under his considerable belt, this is probably premature. Given time, he might have the tools to depose Fedor.
Quinton Jackson (Pictures) (24-6-0) — Once his contract situation is hashed out, it’ll be easier to get a sense for where his career will head over the next couple of years, which is effectively Jackson’s prime.
Urijah Faber (Pictures) (12-1-0) — Holds the WEC and KOTC 145-pound titles and continues to grow as a fighter. His head appears to be screwed on right.
Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) (15-2-3) — Though the Afro-haired wonder drew in his last bout, he still rules the 123-pound SHOOTO division.
Alistair Overeem (Pictures) (23-6-0)—Veteran fighter who appears to have found a home at heavyweight. He looked great in beating up Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures).
Removed:
Randy Couture (Pictures) — Liddell loss and subsequent retirement signal the start of a new chapter for “The Natural”
Yves Edwards (Pictures) — Shocking loss to Mark Hominick (Pictures) drops him from the “On The Verge” list. That’s no indictment of Hominick, who is tough. But Edwards was supposed to be better than that. He must win his bout on April 2 against Seichi Ikemoto (Pictures).