Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Featherweight
Feb 6, 2008
FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)
1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Faber was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors by choking out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earned the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.
2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
One of the biggest surprises of 2007, March 28 will see Tamura make the first defense of his Shooto world title against Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures). The bout will also give Tamura the chance to erase another defeat from his résumé, having lost to Kadowaki in March 2005.
3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion while dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. However, a rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) will have to wait. Tamura defends his title against Kadowaki, while Lion sees undercard action on the March 28 bill.
4. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (29-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). He now has the enormous chance to flaunt his skills stateside, starting first with a guaranteed gunfight on Feb. 13 against Leonard Garcia (Pictures).
6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya in November, but now he figures to be the favorite in the 145-pound Cage Force tournament that GCM has lined up for '08. Carvalho's first action of the year comes in April, when he'll meet sturdy Japanese veteran Yuji Hoshino (Pictures).
7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
Imanari will make the first defense of his Cage Rage title March 8. He'll head back into hostile territory to face Chute Boxe product Jean Silva (Pictures) in London. MMA's leglocking authority may also have to make another title defense in the near future in Deep. Here's to solid competition.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-2)
A longtime top featherweight, Maeda is making the move stateside and will cut down to 135 pounds for his WEC debut on Feb. 13. The very skilled Maeda has failed miserably under pressure in the past, and against a very reputable foe in Charlie Valencia (Pictures), he'll more than certainly have his work cut out for him.
9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-2, 1 NC)
After a breakout year with solid results against the likes of Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) and Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), Kim will have the chance to prove he's more than a fluke in GCM's 145-pound Cage Force tournament. First up on Feb. 11, he'll meet an opponent even more tenacious than himself in wildchild "Wicky Akiyo" Akiyo Nishiura (Pictures).
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a very disappointing 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in stellar fashion, destroying eccentric veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) over two rounds on Jan. 26. However, Hioki will need to impress against more sterling competition to regain the stature he previously held in a thickening 145-pound class.
1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Faber was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors by choking out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earned the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.
2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
One of the biggest surprises of 2007, March 28 will see Tamura make the first defense of his Shooto world title against Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures). The bout will also give Tamura the chance to erase another defeat from his résumé, having lost to Kadowaki in March 2005.
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In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion while dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. However, a rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) will have to wait. Tamura defends his title against Kadowaki, while Lion sees undercard action on the March 28 bill.
4. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (29-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.
5. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-4-1)
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). He now has the enormous chance to flaunt his skills stateside, starting first with a guaranteed gunfight on Feb. 13 against Leonard Garcia (Pictures).
6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya in November, but now he figures to be the favorite in the 145-pound Cage Force tournament that GCM has lined up for '08. Carvalho's first action of the year comes in April, when he'll meet sturdy Japanese veteran Yuji Hoshino (Pictures).
7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
Imanari will make the first defense of his Cage Rage title March 8. He'll head back into hostile territory to face Chute Boxe product Jean Silva (Pictures) in London. MMA's leglocking authority may also have to make another title defense in the near future in Deep. Here's to solid competition.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-2)
A longtime top featherweight, Maeda is making the move stateside and will cut down to 135 pounds for his WEC debut on Feb. 13. The very skilled Maeda has failed miserably under pressure in the past, and against a very reputable foe in Charlie Valencia (Pictures), he'll more than certainly have his work cut out for him.
9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-2, 1 NC)
After a breakout year with solid results against the likes of Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) and Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), Kim will have the chance to prove he's more than a fluke in GCM's 145-pound Cage Force tournament. First up on Feb. 11, he'll meet an opponent even more tenacious than himself in wildchild "Wicky Akiyo" Akiyo Nishiura (Pictures).
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a very disappointing 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in stellar fashion, destroying eccentric veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) over two rounds on Jan. 26. However, Hioki will need to impress against more sterling competition to regain the stature he previously held in a thickening 145-pound class.
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