By JAMES BRYDON
sportsnet.ca
After releasing the first ever Sportsnet.ca MMA rankings one week ago, listing the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, this week we look at a specific division for the first time. And why not start with the biggest?
Unfortunately, nothing was really learned from the big showdown between heavyweight stars Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic and Alistair Overeem at last Tuesday’s Dream 6 event since it ended in a no contest after numerous knees to the groin by Overeem left Cro Cop unable to continue. So it looks like it will be a month-and-a-half before we see a truly significant heavyweight bout (unless Andrei Arlovski is upset by Roy Nelson on Saturday).
Thus, until then, here is Sportsnet’s first heavyweight ranking snapshot:
Top 10 Heavyweights
1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
3. Randy Couture
4. Andrei Arlovski
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Mirko Filipovic
7. Josh Barnett
8. Frank Mir
9. Cheick Kongo
10. Alistair Overeem
Who’s left out?
Brock Lesnar. He may have earned a shot at Couture’s UFC heavyweight title, but that doesn’t make him the second best heavyweight in the UFC. Far from it (at least not now). He benefited from his opponent’s overconfidence and poor game plan in his last win. However, Lesnar could definitely move himself into the rankings as he gains more experience — and by adding more big wins.
Other notables: Ben Rothwell (needs a big win), Heath Herring (needs to win two in a row some time), Aleksander Emelianenko (needs to settle issues that denied his license to fight in California), Gabriel Gonzaga (win over Cro Cop was lucky) and Tim Sylvia (could very well be fading away).
Why isn’t Josh Barnett ranked higher?
Simple. He can’t be put above Cro Cop, since he lost to him three times. He also lost to Nogueira the last time they fought (though he beat him the time before that).
Is Cro Cop ranked too high?
Cro Cop is still one of the most talented heavyweights in the world, even though he kind of lost it mentally, it seemed, in his last two fights in the UFC. Kongo did beat him by decision, but one bad performance isn’t enough to rank Kongo ahead of him.
Fedor has the highest rating in Fight Magazine’s “computerized” rankings. Cro Cop’s best rating ranks second all-time.
Next week: Top 10 welterweights
