Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Heavyweight
Aug 13, 2008
Heavyweight
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (28-1-0, 1 NC)
With three years of inferior opposition, the status of the sport's finest heavyweight had started to drop and many questioned whether "The Last Emperor" still had it. Although he seemed as unaffected as ever, Emelianenko brought the MMA world to a hush July 19 with the most impressive performance of his career, destroying two-time UFC champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures) in 36 brutal seconds. What's more, Emelianenko's management claims that the heavyweight ruler will see action twice more in 2008. Welcome back, Mr. Emelianenko.
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
Some have questioned whether any UFC heavyweight, especially the battle-tested Brazilian, can cross over into stardom. We’ll see: Nogueira will get the TUF treatment in the coming months. He’ll go head to head with Frank Mir (Pictures) as a coach on the eighth season of the UFC's reality series, which will build toward Nogueira’s first title defense against the former champ.
3. Randy
Couture (Pictures) (16-8-0)
Couture's legal battle continues to roll on, and it seems hard to imagine "The Natural" getting back into action anytime soon. That proposition is made all the more unfortunate following Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures)'s destruction of Tim Sylvia (Pictures), especially considering that the draw of a Couture-Emelianenko fight would usurp the Russian's meeting with Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) in August 2005 as the sport's biggest heavyweight fight ever.
4. Tim Sylvia (Pictures) (24-5-0)
In the biggest fight of his career, Tim Sylvia (Pictures) was summarily smashed by Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) in a humbling 36 seconds. Although his missteps have come against the three top heavyweights in the world, Sylvia has lost three of his last four. That’s a difficult stat for the "Maine-iac," particularly given how sensational some of his heavyweight contemporaries have looked lately.
After being penciled in to face Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) on Oct. 11, Emelianenko's ever-iffy hand was damaged again and nixed him from the bout. Thankfully, fans will still be treated to an elite heavyweight scrap: Arlovski will take on fellow top heavy Josh Barnett (Pictures) to determine the next major challenge for Emelianenko.
6. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (23-5-0)
Finally back in a major promotion with top-notch heavyweights, Barnett will look to follow his July 19 waxing of Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) when he meets Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) on Oct. 11. A win for Barnett would all but crystallize a much-awaited confrontation with Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) -- one of the best heavyweight bouts that could be assembled.
7. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (11-3-1)
Although Werdum may be Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures)'s most worthy challenger for the UFC throne, he will sit on the sideline and wait for the winner of the forthcoming Nogueira-Frank Mir (Pictures) bout. In the meantime, though, Werdum will also meet fellow Brazilian Junior "Cigano" dos Santos on Oct. 25 in Chicago at UFC 90.
8. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (9-3-0)
Gonzaga polished off Justin McCully (Pictures) in less than two minutes on July 5, easily snatching the submission victory. To regain his hype and stature in the division, however, more will be required of the talented Brazilian in the future.
9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (23-6-2)
Slated to meet Jerome LeBanner (Pictures) on July 21, "Cro Cop" opted to recover from lingering elbow and knee injuries. The Croatian KO artist may be back for September's Dream card, however.
10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-6-0)
By withstanding some serious artillery from Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) and getting in some licks of his own even in defeat, Rothwell earned the respect of many critics who had questioned whether he belonged in the ring with elite-level heavies. The Miletich product will likely look to right his ship on Affliction's Oct. 11 card, possibly against Pedro Rizzo (Pictures).
1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (28-1-0, 1 NC)
With three years of inferior opposition, the status of the sport's finest heavyweight had started to drop and many questioned whether "The Last Emperor" still had it. Although he seemed as unaffected as ever, Emelianenko brought the MMA world to a hush July 19 with the most impressive performance of his career, destroying two-time UFC champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures) in 36 brutal seconds. What's more, Emelianenko's management claims that the heavyweight ruler will see action twice more in 2008. Welcome back, Mr. Emelianenko.
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
Some have questioned whether any UFC heavyweight, especially the battle-tested Brazilian, can cross over into stardom. We’ll see: Nogueira will get the TUF treatment in the coming months. He’ll go head to head with Frank Mir (Pictures) as a coach on the eighth season of the UFC's reality series, which will build toward Nogueira’s first title defense against the former champ.
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Couture's legal battle continues to roll on, and it seems hard to imagine "The Natural" getting back into action anytime soon. That proposition is made all the more unfortunate following Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures)'s destruction of Tim Sylvia (Pictures), especially considering that the draw of a Couture-Emelianenko fight would usurp the Russian's meeting with Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) in August 2005 as the sport's biggest heavyweight fight ever.
4. Tim Sylvia (Pictures) (24-5-0)
In the biggest fight of his career, Tim Sylvia (Pictures) was summarily smashed by Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) in a humbling 36 seconds. Although his missteps have come against the three top heavyweights in the world, Sylvia has lost three of his last four. That’s a difficult stat for the "Maine-iac," particularly given how sensational some of his heavyweight contemporaries have looked lately.
5. Andrei
Arlovski (Pictures) (13-5-0)
After being penciled in to face Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) on Oct. 11, Emelianenko's ever-iffy hand was damaged again and nixed him from the bout. Thankfully, fans will still be treated to an elite heavyweight scrap: Arlovski will take on fellow top heavy Josh Barnett (Pictures) to determine the next major challenge for Emelianenko.
6. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (23-5-0)
Finally back in a major promotion with top-notch heavyweights, Barnett will look to follow his July 19 waxing of Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) when he meets Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) on Oct. 11. A win for Barnett would all but crystallize a much-awaited confrontation with Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) -- one of the best heavyweight bouts that could be assembled.
7. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (11-3-1)
Although Werdum may be Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures)'s most worthy challenger for the UFC throne, he will sit on the sideline and wait for the winner of the forthcoming Nogueira-Frank Mir (Pictures) bout. In the meantime, though, Werdum will also meet fellow Brazilian Junior "Cigano" dos Santos on Oct. 25 in Chicago at UFC 90.
8. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (9-3-0)
Gonzaga polished off Justin McCully (Pictures) in less than two minutes on July 5, easily snatching the submission victory. To regain his hype and stature in the division, however, more will be required of the talented Brazilian in the future.
9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (23-6-2)
Slated to meet Jerome LeBanner (Pictures) on July 21, "Cro Cop" opted to recover from lingering elbow and knee injuries. The Croatian KO artist may be back for September's Dream card, however.
10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-6-0)
By withstanding some serious artillery from Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) and getting in some licks of his own even in defeat, Rothwell earned the respect of many critics who had questioned whether he belonged in the ring with elite-level heavies. The Miletich product will likely look to right his ship on Affliction's Oct. 11 card, possibly against Pedro Rizzo (Pictures).
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