Fighters.com's September Heavyweight Rankings

Elusive Russian Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) breached Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Top Ten in September without having fought for a year.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic‘s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches.

A spot opened for Kharitonov when “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank.

Eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) and ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) each moved up a spot respectively on Herring’s loss.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) retained the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship during a slow month that saw no changes in the top seven spots.

Emelianenko pulled out of Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas 11 October in which he was matched versus fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) with a hand injury sustained in his 36-second destruction of seventh-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5).

Emelianenko was replaced by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5) in the main event.

Top contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) title challenge versus Frank Mir (11-3) got slightly more interesting when Lesnar, who got tapped by Mir in February, dominated Herring…but only slightly.

The UFC’s top heavyweight contender, fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) will probably draw either Lesnar or Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) in his next fight.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) is rumored to be considering a return to the UFC; but, Fighters.com has not confirmed that.

Sylvia (24-5) licks his wounds and awaits a match-up at Affliction’s return.

September Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski will be his toughest fight since losing a decisiong to Nog’in 2006.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has versus Barnett in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and maybe Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.  Does he have a winning strategy to return to MMA?

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Kharitonov.

10. Sergei Kharitonov (15-3)

Kharitonov followed a TKO loss to Aleksander Emelianenko with consecutive first-round stoppages of Michael Russow and Alistair Overeem; but, has been laid up in Russia for the last year. His return would give a the division a needed dose of excitement.