For the first time since his loss to Forrest Griffin more than two years ago, Shogun Rua can legitimately be called one of the top 10 fighters in MMA -- and it took a loss to get him there.Rua's unanimous decision loss to Lyoto Machida in the main event at UFC 104 was a fight that most people thought he deserved to win, and a fight that makes one thing very clear: Shogun is back.
But where does Shogun fit in our list of the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in MMA? Find out below.
1. Fedor Emelianenko: The best fighter in the sport's history will reach his largest American audience yet when he fights Brett Rogers on CBS on Nov. 7.
2. Anderson Silva: The UFC middleweight champion is expected to defend his title against Vitor Belfort in early 2010.
3. Georges St. Pierre: The UFC welterweight champion will be back in early-to-mid 2010, likely against the winner of the UFC 105 fight between Mike Swick and Dan Hardy.
4. B.J. Penn: The UFC lightweight champion will defend his title against Diego Sanchez at UFC 107.
5. Lyoto Machida: He'll give Shogun an immediate rematch in early 2010.
6. Mike Brown: The WEC featherweight champion will face Jose Aldo at WEC 44 on November 18.
7. Brian Bowles: The WEC bantamweight champion is expected to take on Dominick Cruz some time in early 2010.
8. Shogun Rua: People forget how young Shogun is: When he won the Pride Middleweight Grand Prix in 2005 -- an accomplishment that made him, in the eyes of some MMA observers, the best fighter in the world -- he was just 23 years old. When he lost to Griffin in 2007 and sat out all of 2008, he wasn't past his prime, he was just injured. Now that he's healthy, Shogun has shown by knocking out Chuck Liddell and by going toe-to-toe for 25 minutes with Machida that he's one of the sport's elite fighters.
9. Rashad Evans: After Rampage Jackson pulled out of what would have been a big-money fight at UFC 107, Evans will have to satisfy himself with facing Thiago Silva at UFC 108.
10. Miguel Torres: For Torres, 2010 will be all about earning a rematch with Bowles.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The best fighter in the world's history. Who at AOL should we contact to remove this biased "journalist" What a joke. Ariel and Ray are so awesome. Mike C is cool too. But this is more than I can take. I'll refuse to read another one of this guy's post. It's so biased and BS.
Dude in case you didn't know this a blog isn't journalism it's punditry. The entire purpose is commentary. If you don't like his opinion don't read it.
I just have no respect for Michael David. I dare him to come and face me in a cage so we can settle this Fedor BS. On a serious note, MDS used to be cool but then he started going Fedor fan boy on us. Every single piece he writes is about how would Fedor do this or what Fedor has done or how Fedor is the greatest. It's just too much even though he is just a "blogger." Heck. Rush Limbaugh is not this biased. Fedor is a myth. An overrated fat guy who can't fight.
I shouldn't even justify this stupidity with a response but here goes nothing:
1. These are HIS opinions and aren't meant to be taken personally. You are making this personal because MDS has an opinion that doesn't conform to your own, so he must be TEH bias.
2. You are very biased and fueled by hate and angst for Fedor.
3. Fedor has beaten 5 former UFC champions and has never had a legitimate loss in the ring/cage.
4. Everyone has a bias built into them one way or another. Your bias is pro Machida & Silva and anti Fedor. So, using your own logic it would seem your opinion isn't valid.
5. Keyboard tough guy says he wants to get in the cage and fight a blogger. Pathetic.
Here's a tip: Instead of being a boo hoo butt hurt baby just accept that people have different opinions. It doesn't make it any less or right because it's completely subjective. However, you marginalize the list because your favorite fighter isn't #1 and isn't considered the best fighter in MMA.
Fedor is an extremely undersized heavyweight where as Silva is really a big LHW who cuts down. Fedor also has a resume that boast some of the best fighters in the sport while they were in their primes.
No one said you had to agree with the list but calling it biased is just stupid. It's his opinion. There is no grand conspiracy against you and Machida. Stop it already ...
exp you complain like a little child
please shut the hell up, you have no idea what your talking about. Another non-fighter critiquing a real fighter. Stay in your moms basement and play Call of Duty please
im talking about exp there
I'm not sure why exp is so upset?
There might be 1 loss on his record, but no one has ever beaten Fedor. Until someone does, it's not far fetched to say he's the best ever ... is it?
If not Fedor then who, exp?
I think that Silva and Fedor are interchangable and if Anderson takes more fights at LHW and HW as rumored he will surpass Fedor as the greatest p4p fighter, regardless of the early losses on his record. I also think Rampage should be in Rashad's place IMO.
i know p4p is a crowded list but its been a while since there wasnt room for Faber
1. Fedor Emelianenko: Greatest Of All Time.
2. Anderson Silva: Can be champ at two divisions.
3. Georges St.Pierre: Dominant in his class.
4. BJ Penn: Fights anyone anytime at any weight.
5. Lyoto Machida: Still undefeated and LHW champ.
6. Gegard Mousasi: Fights & wins at MW, LHW & HW.
7. Shinya Aoki: Deserves recognition from media.
8. Rampage Jackson: 5-1 in UFC against top guys.
9. Shogun Rua: The peoples UFC LHW champion.
10. Jake Shields: 12 wins in a row @2 divisions.
I think virtually everyone should be in agreement that the top 5 fighters in the world are Emelianenko, Silva, Machida, St.Pierre & Penn. Now, I believe that Fedor & Silva are equally deserving of the top spot so you can interchange them all you want in your rankings. Also, the next three guys of Penn, Machida & GSP can pretty much be ranked in any order of 3-5 and I wouldn't complain. Picking 6-10 is harder and more subjective because there is no consensus.
I could make a case for a number of fighters like Brown, Faber, Aldo, Belfort, Minotauro, Alvarez, Overeem, Evans, Fitch, Khalidov, Torres and especially Dan Henderson. But, I went with the 10 guys I feel are the best in the world at the moment.
Take your biased birther-moonlanding like nonsense somewhere else. Fedor is not in top 5 P4p. So no. Not "Everybody" should believe it. Only sheeple who are not willing to think for themselves. here is my top pound for pound
1. Anderson Silva
2. GSP
3. Lyoto Machida
4. BJ Penn
5. Mike Thomas Brown
The other guys you mentioned like Aoki or whoever are not even serious fighters. Fighting freak shows like Fedor has doens't make you the best in history. But I have a better chance of convincing birthers and truthers than someone who just doesn't want to think. I recommend a great book by Frank Shamrock called MMA for dummies. Read it. It's good for you.
Johnny - B.J. ahead of Machida; now thats 'objectivity!" LOL... Just messing with you.
However, you have Rampage over Rua??? Rua (The Peoples Champ) LOL.. kicked his ass in Pride & will destroy Rampage if they fought tomorrow. Rampage needs to get his head back into fighting or he will be too far behind the rest of the 205Lb. pack.
Also, No M. Brown? Two victories over Faber; I think that places him in the top 10. Johnny your slipping! :)
"Exp" since I can't reply to you directly; I'll just ask you here, how can you leave Fedor who is the best, out of the top 5? Also Machida, Brown, are close but not in my top 5. And yes Machida is my Boy LOL..
@exp
Umm you've pretty much cemented yourself as the biggest idiot on this website. Anyone who doesn't think Fedor in the top P4P rankings doesn't know what they are talking about. Let me know when you can come up with something other than the samer recycled talking points over the last few days.
@Ted
Like I said in my post you could pretty much put fighters 3-5 (Penn, Machida & GSP) in any order and it'd be realistic. Same goes for Fedor and Silva. If Fedor is 1 then Silva is 1A and vice versa.
I've got Rampage ahead of Rua because of his recent performances. I feel you could also take the fighters I mentioned at 6-10 (Rua, Rampage, Shields, Aoki & Mousasi) in any order and you'd also be justified. It's so subjective when you start getting into those guys towards the end of the list.
I'm still not that big on Brown because I feel he has been very fortunate in his fights with Faber. The first fight was a fluke and the second fight showed as much. In the second fight Urijah had Brown in chokes but couldn't lock it up because of he broken hand. He couldn't even throw a punch after the second round because of the broken hand and Brown still couldn't finish him. I just don't see Brown as one of the 10 best fighters in the world at this point. I believe Jose Aldo is a better fighter than Brown and Faber but I've already said if Brown beats Aldo I'll consider him a top 10 fighter.
I just don'e see guys like Brown, Bowles, Evans and Torres as being the best in the world. I'll go with guys like Shields, Aoki, Mousasi and Rampage any day of the week. The guys I mentioned have the pedigree, recent wins and talent to be considered some of the best in the world. I'd put Dan Henderson in there over Mike Brown because he fights at two weight classes.
If Brown beats Aldo then I'll consider him one of the 10 best in the world. However, I still think Aldo is the better fighter and will overwhelm Brown and his slow plodding style.
I'm not sure Shogun would destroy Rampage at this point in their careers. Shogun would get into a slug fest and probably get thumped hard. They're dead even though and interchangeable. Slots 1 & 2, 3-5 & 6-10 are interchangeable respective to the fighters listed ...
You could have a list of:
1. Silva
2. Fedor
3. Machida
4. GSP
5. Penn
6. Rua
7. Rampage
8. Mousasi
9. Aoki
10. Shields ...
I'd be fine with that list as well ... But, at this point I don't feel Brown is better than the guys I listed.
Eric, are you same Eric that does the spelling & grammar check? If so get busy boy! :) :)
how're bowles, torres, evans and rua on this list? where is mousasi? where is aoki? and lesnar? did we all of a sudden forget that the ufc and wec are not the only places where mma is held? guys like these and marius zaromskis should outweigh fighters who have very recent defeats on their resumes, especially if their last fight was a loss. am i wrong?
i say :
1). fedor
2). anderson silva
3). GSP
4). BJ Penn
5). Brock Lesnar
6). Gegard Mousasi
7). Lyoto Machida
8). Shinya Aoki
9). Alistair Overeem
10). Rampage Jackson
with notables : Mike Brown, Marius Zaromskis, Eddie Alvarez, Jake Shields and King Mo
Drew:
Interesting list!
However, right now "RUA" needs to be in the top 10. He has a great resume & is coming off injuries while still in his prime. Also, I would remove Rampage for M. Brown. One reason; Rampage "seems" to be headed backwards while M. Brown is dominating his division. However, time for M. Brown to step up to UFC and see if he is as good as he appears.
Just my observation!
ted: yea i can see where the argument for that would be, i like mike brown i'm just waiting on him to fight aldo before i fully pledge my allegience. i'm not sure rampage is on his way out but we'll find out next year whenever he stops acting and starts fighting again. And i LOVE Rua but i'm not sure he's a P4P top 10 just because in most of his recent fights he gasses. i know he had the injuries but i wanna see how his next fight goes. if in his next fight he dominates...i say he's back to top 10 or even 5 status and possibly the number 1 LHW since in my opinion he won the machida fight
You know why I absolutely love your list?
It's because you watch MMA not just the UFC. It's obvious that (like myself) you watch the sport as a whole and the fighters that partake in other organizations. I damn near but Zaromskis in my top 10 P4P because of the insane run he's been on but I decided to hold off for now. Personally, I don't feel Lesnar is a top 10 P4P at this point and I don't think he should be ahead of Overeem.
All and all thats a great list thats not so different from my own. I also haven't forgotten about Kid Yamamoto ... just because the guy lost a fight after a major reconstructive surgery doesn't mean I feel he isn't a top 10 fighter. If he gets back into the swing of things on the New Years eve show then he could creep back in my list.
I'm with you on Brown & Aldo ... I think Aldo wins that fight but if Brown comes through I'll consider him the real deal. Like yourself I'm still not completely sold on him yet.