Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Featherweight
Aug 10, 2007
FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)
1. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
In a world without Sokoudjou, Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) would be a lock for 2007's most improved fighter. Tamura has knocked off three top-notch opponents in a row, avenging two career losses and picking up a Shooto world title along the way. The real task for Tamura, who daylights as a physical therapist, is to prove his recent windfall of success is no fluke.
2. Urijah Faber
(Pictures) (19-1-0)
The face of the featherweights in North America, Faber's crackling bout with Chance Farrar (Pictures) in June served as an exemplar of what 145'ers bring to the table. The only thing stopping "The California Kid" from topping this list is his glossy record which features mostly tough, but not outstanding opponents. However, this may change very quickly with the additions of fighters like Pulver, Curran and Yahya to the WEC, where Faber stands as featherweight champ, and the fact many top Japanese fighters have begun to recognize Faber as an elite fighter.
3. Takeshi Inoue (13-2-0)
A quick win last month over Marc Duncan (Pictures) does little to salve the sting of his Shooto world title loss to Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in May. Lion likely will see his next duty on Nov. 8.
Moving to Tokyo and training with Hiroyuki Abe has paid off handsomely for the Canadian BJJ black belt, who defeated Hioki in May before showing his stand-up skills and winning a bout in Shootboxing late last month. "Pato" isn't looking to slow down, and has already informed Shooto promoters of his desire to compete at Sept. 22's BACK TO OUR ROOTS 05 card.
5. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (12-2-1)
The vertically-inclined TKO champion dropped a hotly competitive split decision loss to Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) this past May, and was looking to get back into action against unknown Brazilian "Coelho" Gustavo Franca on Aug. 11 in his native Nagoya. However, injury has forced Hioki from the HEAT 4 card, and Katsuya Toida (Pictures) will be taking his place. An Oct. 8 homecoming at SHOOTO GIG CENTRAL or a TKO date later in the year are the most likely next stops for Hioki.
6. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (28-8-1)
"The Big Frog" had a much tougher go of things in his Aug. 5 bout with unknown Stephen Ledbetter, but was able to take a unanimous decision, keeping the potential for a future fight with Urijah Faber (Pictures) intact.
7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (12-5-1)
MMA's crown prince of leg-locks overcame some early offense from imported Korean Jong Man Kim (Pictures) on Aug. 5 to notch a first-round armbar victory. The current DEEP and Cage Rage champion figures to defend either one or both of his trinkets later this year.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (21-4-1)
Pancrase's champion poster-boy whacked Danny Batten (Pictures) in April and will be summoned back to action in Tokyo on Sept. 5 against a yet-to-be-named opponent. The biggest hurdle for the 25-year-old Maeda, who has all the tools to be an elite fighter, is overcoming his reputation as a flake and a choke artist.
9. Tenkei Fujimiya (Pictures) (7-1-2)
2005's Shooto rookie champ at 143 pounds has had a rough go of things in recent months, first drawing the always tricky Katsuya Toida (Pictures) last Nov. and then losing in a rematch to now-world champ Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in Feb. -- two bouts he was favored to win. Fujimiya will have a chance to get back on track when he makes his stateside debut in California Aug. 18 against the well-traveled Bao Quach (Pictures).
10. Danny Batten (Pictures) (11-5-3)
Batten is coming off of a spanking at the hands of Pancrase king Maeda in April. But Batten still has decent wins over the likes of Emmanuel Fernandez (Pictures), Damacio Page (Pictures) and Kyotaro Nakao (Pictures), and is the best the weight has to offer in the United Kingdom.
1. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
In a world without Sokoudjou, Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) would be a lock for 2007's most improved fighter. Tamura has knocked off three top-notch opponents in a row, avenging two career losses and picking up a Shooto world title along the way. The real task for Tamura, who daylights as a physical therapist, is to prove his recent windfall of success is no fluke.
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The face of the featherweights in North America, Faber's crackling bout with Chance Farrar (Pictures) in June served as an exemplar of what 145'ers bring to the table. The only thing stopping "The California Kid" from topping this list is his glossy record which features mostly tough, but not outstanding opponents. However, this may change very quickly with the additions of fighters like Pulver, Curran and Yahya to the WEC, where Faber stands as featherweight champ, and the fact many top Japanese fighters have begun to recognize Faber as an elite fighter.
3. Takeshi Inoue (13-2-0)
A quick win last month over Marc Duncan (Pictures) does little to salve the sting of his Shooto world title loss to Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in May. Lion likely will see his next duty on Nov. 8.
4. Antonio Carvalho
(Pictures) (10-2-0)
Moving to Tokyo and training with Hiroyuki Abe has paid off handsomely for the Canadian BJJ black belt, who defeated Hioki in May before showing his stand-up skills and winning a bout in Shootboxing late last month. "Pato" isn't looking to slow down, and has already informed Shooto promoters of his desire to compete at Sept. 22's BACK TO OUR ROOTS 05 card.
5. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (12-2-1)
The vertically-inclined TKO champion dropped a hotly competitive split decision loss to Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) this past May, and was looking to get back into action against unknown Brazilian "Coelho" Gustavo Franca on Aug. 11 in his native Nagoya. However, injury has forced Hioki from the HEAT 4 card, and Katsuya Toida (Pictures) will be taking his place. An Oct. 8 homecoming at SHOOTO GIG CENTRAL or a TKO date later in the year are the most likely next stops for Hioki.
6. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (28-8-1)
"The Big Frog" had a much tougher go of things in his Aug. 5 bout with unknown Stephen Ledbetter, but was able to take a unanimous decision, keeping the potential for a future fight with Urijah Faber (Pictures) intact.
7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (12-5-1)
MMA's crown prince of leg-locks overcame some early offense from imported Korean Jong Man Kim (Pictures) on Aug. 5 to notch a first-round armbar victory. The current DEEP and Cage Rage champion figures to defend either one or both of his trinkets later this year.
8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (21-4-1)
Pancrase's champion poster-boy whacked Danny Batten (Pictures) in April and will be summoned back to action in Tokyo on Sept. 5 against a yet-to-be-named opponent. The biggest hurdle for the 25-year-old Maeda, who has all the tools to be an elite fighter, is overcoming his reputation as a flake and a choke artist.
9. Tenkei Fujimiya (Pictures) (7-1-2)
2005's Shooto rookie champ at 143 pounds has had a rough go of things in recent months, first drawing the always tricky Katsuya Toida (Pictures) last Nov. and then losing in a rematch to now-world champ Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in Feb. -- two bouts he was favored to win. Fujimiya will have a chance to get back on track when he makes his stateside debut in California Aug. 18 against the well-traveled Bao Quach (Pictures).
10. Danny Batten (Pictures) (11-5-3)
Batten is coming off of a spanking at the hands of Pancrase king Maeda in April. But Batten still has decent wins over the likes of Emmanuel Fernandez (Pictures), Damacio Page (Pictures) and Kyotaro Nakao (Pictures), and is the best the weight has to offer in the United Kingdom.
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