Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Bantamweight
Jul 23, 2008
Bantamweight
1. Miguel Torres (Pictures) (33-1-0)
In the first defense of his WEC bantamweight crown, Torres showed why he's putting the 135-pound division on the map. Torres featured all facets of his game in a potential fight of the year match with Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), as he stopped the accomplished Japanese featherweight by grotesquely swelling his eye shut and affirmed his status as the top 135-pounder in the world. The 27-year-old Torres has won 15 fights in a row.
2. Masakatsu
Ueda (Pictures) (8-0-1)
Likely one of the best fighters you've never heard about, the Shooto 132-pound world champ put himself on the map with victories over Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures). Now, Ueda will have to keep pace with his American counterparts. He needs to impress in his Sept. 28 title defense against Marcos "Louro" Galvao, who was destroyed by the WEC’s Brian Bowles (Pictures) in his stateside debut in December.
3. Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures) (5-1-1)
Okazaki was quite simply outclassed by the stronger, more technical Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) in their March 28 title showdown. What's next for the Osaka native remains uncertain, as he has never been much of a workhorse and may not get back into the ring until the latter part of the year.
The Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto pupil had the biggest opportunity of his career in his bout with Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures), a bout that offered the winner a chance to fight for the vacant 132-pound Shooto world title. In a hard-fought match, Ueda came out the victor and sent Yamamoto back to the drawing board.
5. Brian Bowles (Pictures) (4-0-0)
With a breakout year in 2007 that featured one-sided victories over the respected Charlie Valencia (Pictures) and Marcos "Louro" Galvao, Bowles will have to prove his mettle come Aug. 3, when he takes on the rugged and raw Damacio Page (Pictures) in what should prove to be a highly exciting bantamweight scrap at WEC 35.
6. Marcos Galvao (Pictures) (6-2-0)
It has been a long seven months for "Louro," as the touted Brazilian was embarrassed in a TKO loss to upstart Brian Bowles (Pictures) in December. "Louro" will not be taking a tune-up in his next match, as the Nova Uniao product will meet Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) for the Shooto 132-pound world championship on Sept. 28 in Tokyo.
7. Takeya Mizugaki (Pictures) (9-2-2)
The frontrunner in GCM's 135-pound Cage Force tournament showed why he's the lead dog in the bracket on June 22. He throttled Daichi Fujiwara (Pictures) so hard that Fujiwara did not even know he was knocked out, prompting him to rise and try to attack a victorious Mizugaki while he posed for photographers. Mizugaki will meet Taiyo Nakahara (Pictures) in the Cage Force tourney semi-finals on Sept. 27.
8. Manny Tapia (Pictures) (10-0-1)
Tapia's next battle will be rehabbing from surgery in wake of the knee injury that scuttled his June 1 fight against WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (Pictures). However, upon his return, Tapia will likely be the man to challenge for the WEC crown.
9. Will Ribeiro (Pictures) (9-1-0)
Although he came in with a bit of buzz, few expected the former Brazilian boxing champion to best former WEC champion Chase Beebe (Pictures) in their June 1 bout. However, Ribeiro showed off his hands, as well as the latest developments in his all-around MMA game, and take a split decision.
10. Chase Beebe (Pictures) (11-3-0)
The former WEC titleholder was surprised by hot Brazilian up-and-comer Will Ribeiro (Pictures) in their June 1 showdown and dropped a split decision. However, the future is undoubtedly bright for Beebe, who, at 23 years old, still has considerable upside.
1. Miguel Torres (Pictures) (33-1-0)
In the first defense of his WEC bantamweight crown, Torres showed why he's putting the 135-pound division on the map. Torres featured all facets of his game in a potential fight of the year match with Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), as he stopped the accomplished Japanese featherweight by grotesquely swelling his eye shut and affirmed his status as the top 135-pounder in the world. The 27-year-old Torres has won 15 fights in a row.
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Likely one of the best fighters you've never heard about, the Shooto 132-pound world champ put himself on the map with victories over Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures). Now, Ueda will have to keep pace with his American counterparts. He needs to impress in his Sept. 28 title defense against Marcos "Louro" Galvao, who was destroyed by the WEC’s Brian Bowles (Pictures) in his stateside debut in December.
3. Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures) (5-1-1)
Okazaki was quite simply outclassed by the stronger, more technical Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) in their March 28 title showdown. What's next for the Osaka native remains uncertain, as he has never been much of a workhorse and may not get back into the ring until the latter part of the year.
4. Atsushi
Yamamoto (Pictures) (11-5-1)
The Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto pupil had the biggest opportunity of his career in his bout with Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures), a bout that offered the winner a chance to fight for the vacant 132-pound Shooto world title. In a hard-fought match, Ueda came out the victor and sent Yamamoto back to the drawing board.
5. Brian Bowles (Pictures) (4-0-0)
With a breakout year in 2007 that featured one-sided victories over the respected Charlie Valencia (Pictures) and Marcos "Louro" Galvao, Bowles will have to prove his mettle come Aug. 3, when he takes on the rugged and raw Damacio Page (Pictures) in what should prove to be a highly exciting bantamweight scrap at WEC 35.
6. Marcos Galvao (Pictures) (6-2-0)
It has been a long seven months for "Louro," as the touted Brazilian was embarrassed in a TKO loss to upstart Brian Bowles (Pictures) in December. "Louro" will not be taking a tune-up in his next match, as the Nova Uniao product will meet Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) for the Shooto 132-pound world championship on Sept. 28 in Tokyo.
7. Takeya Mizugaki (Pictures) (9-2-2)
The frontrunner in GCM's 135-pound Cage Force tournament showed why he's the lead dog in the bracket on June 22. He throttled Daichi Fujiwara (Pictures) so hard that Fujiwara did not even know he was knocked out, prompting him to rise and try to attack a victorious Mizugaki while he posed for photographers. Mizugaki will meet Taiyo Nakahara (Pictures) in the Cage Force tourney semi-finals on Sept. 27.
8. Manny Tapia (Pictures) (10-0-1)
Tapia's next battle will be rehabbing from surgery in wake of the knee injury that scuttled his June 1 fight against WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (Pictures). However, upon his return, Tapia will likely be the man to challenge for the WEC crown.
9. Will Ribeiro (Pictures) (9-1-0)
Although he came in with a bit of buzz, few expected the former Brazilian boxing champion to best former WEC champion Chase Beebe (Pictures) in their June 1 bout. However, Ribeiro showed off his hands, as well as the latest developments in his all-around MMA game, and take a split decision.
10. Chase Beebe (Pictures) (11-3-0)
The former WEC titleholder was surprised by hot Brazilian up-and-comer Will Ribeiro (Pictures) in their June 1 showdown and dropped a split decision. However, the future is undoubtedly bright for Beebe, who, at 23 years old, still has considerable upside.
