Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Featherweight
Mar 19, 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 a potential bout against Jens Pulver (Pictures) looming, Faber could be in for the stiffest test of his career.
2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
One of the biggest surprises of 2007, Tamura makes the first defense of his Shooto world title March 28 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 will see action on the May 3 Shooto bill at JCB Hall.
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. Curran is slated to fight next in June, when he'll likely take on ATT product Mike Thomas Brown in a well-matched bout.
5. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (14-5-1)
Imanari made the first defense of his Cage Rage title on March 8 with a first-round submission over tough Brazilian Jean Silva (Pictures) via another leglock. The owner of the Cage Rage and Deep featherweight crowns, Imanari has solidified himself as a must-watch fighter for hardcore fans.
6. Leonard Garcia (Pictures) (11-3-0)
After mixed results in his UFC tenure, Garcia parlayed his drop to 145 pounds into results with his 91-second knockout over well-regarded Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures). Yet another former lightweight joining the WEC 145-pound mix, the free-swinging and always-game Garcia should continue to provide fireworks if nothing else in the exciting division.
7. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-5-1)
There was much excitement over Takaya's Feb. 13 WEC debut. Many thought he could be a quality competitor and offer a challenge to divisional kingpin Urijah Faber (Pictures). The hype was quickly nixed, though, by Leonard Garcia (Pictures), who knocked Takaya down and out early in the first round.
8. 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).
9. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (23-4-2)
Maeda, long known for choking in big fights, came through in the clutch in his stateside and 135-pound debut, starching a tough Charlie Valencia (Pictures) with a body kick in the first round. While his WEC competition will see him look to make waves as a bantamweight, his next featherweight action will come later this year when he'll defend his King of Pancrase title against the winner of the March 26 title eliminator between Miki Shida (Pictures) and Marlon Sandro (Pictures).
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a miserable 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in fashion, destroying Katsuya Toida (Pictures) en route to a second-round submission. Hioki will again be a considerable favorite for his next in-ring action on March 28. He'll meet grappling star Baret Yoshida, who makes his return to MMA after four years away from the sport.
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 a potential bout against Jens Pulver (Pictures) looming, Faber could be in for the stiffest test of his career.
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One of the biggest surprises of 2007, Tamura makes the first defense of his Shooto world title March 28 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 will see action on the May 3 Shooto bill at JCB Hall.
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. Curran is slated to fight next in June, when he'll likely take on ATT product Mike Thomas Brown in a well-matched bout.
5. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (14-5-1)
Imanari made the first defense of his Cage Rage title on March 8 with a first-round submission over tough Brazilian Jean Silva (Pictures) via another leglock. The owner of the Cage Rage and Deep featherweight crowns, Imanari has solidified himself as a must-watch fighter for hardcore fans.
6. Leonard Garcia (Pictures) (11-3-0)
After mixed results in his UFC tenure, Garcia parlayed his drop to 145 pounds into results with his 91-second knockout over well-regarded Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures). Yet another former lightweight joining the WEC 145-pound mix, the free-swinging and always-game Garcia should continue to provide fireworks if nothing else in the exciting division.
7. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-5-1)
There was much excitement over Takaya's Feb. 13 WEC debut. Many thought he could be a quality competitor and offer a challenge to divisional kingpin Urijah Faber (Pictures). The hype was quickly nixed, though, by Leonard Garcia (Pictures), who knocked Takaya down and out early in the first round.
8. 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).
9. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (23-4-2)
Maeda, long known for choking in big fights, came through in the clutch in his stateside and 135-pound debut, starching a tough Charlie Valencia (Pictures) with a body kick in the first round. While his WEC competition will see him look to make waves as a bantamweight, his next featherweight action will come later this year when he'll defend his King of Pancrase title against the winner of the March 26 title eliminator between Miki Shida (Pictures) and Marlon Sandro (Pictures).
10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a miserable 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in fashion, destroying Katsuya Toida (Pictures) en route to a second-round submission. Hioki will again be a considerable favorite for his next in-ring action on March 28. He'll meet grappling star Baret Yoshida, who makes his return to MMA after four years away from the sport.
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