Fighters.com’s May Light Heavyweight Rankings
Posted by Chad Edward on May 9th, 2008The suspects are usual on Fighters.com’s May light heavyweight roster; but, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) fell three rungs to the seven spot as fourth-ranked “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine’s (13-3-1) 2006 loss to “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (11-4) and fifth-ranked Forrest Griffin’s (15-4) 2006 loss to ninth-ranked “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) passed their two-year expiration dates.
Of course, 205 king “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6) is matched versus Griffin for July; and, we all await fireworks between the two jolly light-giants on season seven of TUF.
Third-ranked “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0) and Ortiz cross paths at the end of May as their careers cross roads.
Who says UFC President Dana White doesn’t make big fights in his fighters’ last contract fights? A win for Ortiz before his promised exit to greener pastures could reignite “The Bad Boy’s” box office appeal.
A notch in Machida’s belt may mean he has to shop for a new belt, a shiny, gold one.
Jardine and tenth-ranked “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) will tell the same tale of fighters colliding as their careers move in opposite directions.
Sixth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) was yanked from his match-up versus “Suger” Rashad Evans(11-0-1) in London with a pulled hamstring, leaving on the table the originally scheduled UFC 85 main event between Liddell and eighth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3), also on the disabled list, to be fought in September.
Before being bumped down the Fighters.com rankings, Sokoudjou got bumped off the televised card at UFC 84, where he’s matched versus fellow judoka “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-7).
The next three months could turn the 205-pound division upside down with all of the top ten action.
May Light Heavyweight Rankings
1. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6)
Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice. He’s earned Fighters.com’s top rank, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past.
2. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6)
To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page. Until next time?
3. “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0)
Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to ascend.
4. “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1)
A blip on Jardine’s record to Houston Alexander belies focused performances over Liddell and Griffin; or, is it the other way around? Regardless, “The Dean of Mean’s” roller coaster will play bumper cars with “The Axe Murderer” this month.
5. Forrest Griffin (15-4)
The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson. But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night.
6. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)
Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine. He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.
7. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2)
Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”. His career has been too brief to predict whether his future is north or south of his Fighters.com #7 ranking.
8. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)
Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura. His injured knee leaves him off active duty until a probable September date with Liddell.
9. “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1)
Ortiz has served as gate keeper to the UFC gold in a win over Griffin and draw with Rashad Evans, but was unable to last three full rounds with then champ Liddell. Machida at the end of May will show whether Ortiz is ready for another run at the top.
10. “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1)
It hasn’t been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” that last two years, but he’s been the victim of two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Henderson and Liddell.
daign said:
Quinton Jackson is the man! Damn right he’s #1
krapnggt said:
I can’t wait for his fight in July
moyleg3 said:
There are a ton of fights involving these top 10 guys. Might see some crazy changes in the coming months
inglish said:
How does fighters.com determine their top 10?
regmac said:
I’m not sure, based on record maybe?
mrengles said:
yea but if you have a good record, and have only fought shitty opponents then that shouldn’t get you higher in the rankings