This list, which includes WEC Featherweight Champion Ur-eeh-jah Faybear, is taken from Sherdog.com — so it’s not unique to ESPN. Regardless, it’s discussion worthy:
May 8th, 2008
137 Comments »
This list, which includes WEC Featherweight Champion Ur-eeh-jah Faybear, is taken from Sherdog.com — so it’s not unique to ESPN. Regardless, it’s discussion worthy:
BJ is nine out of ten? That list is officially bogus.
Agreed….BJ is top 3 at a minimum….arguably #1.
Arguably no 1? now aren’t we being generous. He can’t beat GSP before, and more than ever he can’t beat the GSP that dismantled Serra and Hughes. At best no. 5 or 6 behind Big Nog.
Lets not consider his last 2 wins were against an over the hill Jens Pulver and a shoe in Joe Stevenson. Even if he beats Sean Sherk in convincing fashion, it’ll be hard for him to be considered top 5. He’ll need a win against todays GSP to ever even be considered top 3.
word!
maybe he should avenge his losses to gsp and hughes before you start licking his sack.
Hardcase,
Thats jacked up. LMAO.
I hate all of your top ten P4P lists. I hate mine too… there are just so many arguements for different fighters to be ranked higher.
No one’s lickin’ anyone’s sack douchebag. Name another fighter that has moved up and down between 155 & 205 with the kind of success he’s had.
i would have him at #3 behind silva and gsp, but ahead of rampage and fedor.
bj is so overrated, it isn’t even funny. i totally agree with the idea of avenging a loss to hughes and/or pierre. when’s the last time bj beat an elite fighter??? matt hughes back in ‘04??? let’s just say that i don’t think bj would be jumping around into different weight classes if he could’ve dominated one of them. i think he’s finally found the weakest division ever, and his overrated-ass will take full advantage of it. as for the list, i told myself the list wouldn’t be legit w/o silva and pierre at 1 & 2, but i can live with 1 & 3, only because of the hiccup serra caused to pierre.
I dont see how Gomi is in the list. He has had 2 fights in the last 2 years, one of which he lost. And Duane Ludwig is good but not one of the best in the world. And BJ is 9th? Sherdog sucks anyway. The only reason I go there is to check records. This is just ESPN trying to kiss MMA’s ass because its (MMA) time has come and ESPN wants to jump on board. I kind of wish ESPN wouldnt cover MMA so that way it doesnt become too commercialized and everyone and their mom becomes an alleged “MMA fan”.
here’s my list:
1.Bj Penn
2.George St Pierre
3.Anderson Silva
4.Who the hell is Rampage?!
Yea Penn over GSP who has a win over him, you seem bright ….
I am not saying that BJ belongs higher on the list than GSP, but it was an extremely close decision (a lot of people thought BJ won).
Also BJ is a natural LW, while GSP is a very big WW… This is a P4P list afterall.
I wonder when they will put MMA on the sports ticker?
gsp is pound for pound the best looking fighter on the planet.
OH and he didn’t even mentioned quinton,suprising.
mmamania Urijah Faber is spelled that way not:Ur-eeh-jah Faybear…what’s up with that?
Phonetic spelling. Humor. Look them up.
Yes, it was a joke. Amazing how literal people get on the Interwebs. And there’s no need for name calling, brian.
riiight, i get it now, i didn’t pay attention, pretty funny actualy.
If you watched the video then you’d know that Mania was spelling it the way the dumb ass commentator said it.
kazai your an idiot thats how the espn broadcaster pronounced his name, everyone knows thats not how you spell his name
It’s still awesome to see MMA on ESPN. I wish they would extend their coverage more, but any coverage is still good for MMA.
BJ #9 on p4p??? thats how much ESPN knows about MMA.
BJ should be in the top 4 easily, along with GSP, Silva, and Fedor. Rampage shouldn’t be #2.
These were taken from Sherdog, smart guy. And while I agree Penn is one of the best in the world, it is unfair to put him at the top being 2-2 in his last 4 fights. I’m sure he’ll go up after he beats Sherk, though
I agree on paper, bj between 5-10 is fair, but fans and fighters know bj was beating Hughes then cracked his ribs and got beat. He was beating GSP, then GSP went to lay n’ pray tactics. NOW, BJ trains harder and cardio is no longer an issue.. if u looked at the circumstances, he’s a top 5 fighter. If he beats Sherk, it’s fair that he moves into the top 5.
I like that Faber is recognized, for so long he’s been left off of many ranking lists, that’s just ignorance. He’s getting a lot more publicity within the last couple of years and the WEC is getting recognition… good for faber and WEC.
Couple of guys on the list I don’t agree with Nog and Gomi. Nog is tough and is champion, but the heavyweight division is weak, so that shouldn’t make him a lb for lb top 10. Gomi, “I’m not impressed by your performance”
Beating someone means nothing, Beaten someone means everything. Hell Tim Sylvia was beating on Nog for 2 rounds, it the end it still amounted to a loss. Stop making excuses, BJ is 2-2 in his last 4, he is underrated in the rankings at no. 9 but by no means or measure can anyone with any objective opinion can put him above top 5.
GSP should be #1, I don’t want to take anything away from Silva he is really good but GSP deserves number 1 spot. #2 Silva.
GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1 GSP#1
Why does GSP deserve the number one spot with a recent loss to Serra? And why does BJ deserve to be higher up on the chart without more recent fights? Seriously start grading these guys on their fights and abilities… not who is your favorite fighter.
Uh… recent loss to serra? dude that was last year. GSP has since beat up Kos and Hughes, then destroyed serra. i agree he should be 1, but like TKO, nothing against anderson.
how true
Why is Fedor on the list? He hasn’t fought anyone legit in a year and half.
1. Anderson Silva
2. George ST Pierre
3. BJ Penn
4. Quniton Rampage
5. Emelianko
and the rest can keep fighting for a spot…
I’ll agree with this list for the most part. I’m not sure how Gomi is above Penn, or even in the list in the first place..
After Penn embarasses Sherk - I might even argue that he’s #1 - since he actually fought in 3 different weight classes haha, now thats P4P. From Lightweight -> Welterweight -> Light Heavyweight.
Geez..he skipped middleweight
He faught Rodrigo Gracie and Renzo Gracie at Middle Weight . . . Thats 4 out of 5 weight classes
Penn never fought at LHW, he fought at HW when he fought Machida, still 4 out of the 5 UFC weight classes, but just clarifying.
Look at Machida in the UFC, and look at the one that fought Penn, dare you to tell me they weighed the same.
This man speaks the truth.
how the hell is Noguiera up there and not Couture!?
Couture hasn’t fought since August, and it doesn’t look like he’ll fight anytime soon.
Because Couture is overrated, and Big Nog is a better, and more accomplished fighter. He’s beaten a couple of the fighters that beat Couture.
Overrated, your kidding right? Coutures last two wins, he dominated his opponents. Nogs last two wins HE was getting dominated before he won. Explain that!
GSP needs to successfully defend the title at least a few times before I’m willing to rank him that high. And how the hell are Penn and Youriah Febert (Cajun spelling) that low? I’d like to see more MMA on ESPN, but only if the get some knowledgeable and credible people to discuss it. Otherwise it’s no different than me offering stock tips.
rampage 2° is a nonsense. minotauro shouldn’t be so high as well
Yeah page shouldnt even be smelling top 3.
Killing griffin won’t help his case either
WORD !
Rampage is the Champion of the deepest LHW division in the world. Why shouldn’t he be number 2. Just face it, this is not the same Rampage that was dominated by Wandy and Shogun. If Hendo couldn’t do it then who can?
Sherdog.com and MMAfigting.com always have P4P rankings…BJ Penn will move up (possibly top 5) once he beats Sherk. Fedor is lucky, he’s milked that ranking for a long time already.
i don’t think any heavyweight should ever be ranked higher than number 10 on a pound for pound list. i mean, scale big nogueria down to bj penn’s size. penn, sherk, jz, hughes, st pierre and karo (to name a few in that general area) would all beat him. some would make it look pretty easy, too. there are good talents at heavyweight- nog is easily one of the best heavies mma can offer, and easily one or two on the all time list but ONLY at heavyweight.
Exactly - BJ Penn, GSP, Silva have the skillset to dominate at any weight class if they were somehow resized and kept everything proportional.
That’s how i view the phrase “pound-for-pound”
I’m not sure about that.
I’ll give you BJ for sure, and perhaps Silva, but GSP is someone that relies greatly on his size as well. Which is not to say that he’s not a skilled fighter. I’m merely saying that his size is one of many of his advantages.
Anonymous got it exactly right
I would not take anything ESPN reports to be the final word.
ESPN stopped being a truly credible sports-only oriented source when it started shilling cellphones, producing reality shows and encouraging Stuart Scott to implement ebonics in his newscasting.
BTW (based on activity/quality wins)
1) Silva
2) BJ
3) GSP
4) Chuck
5) Fitch
your list is off too! Fitch isn’t even top 10 never mind top 5.
1. silva
2. BJ
3. Gsp
it’s p4p, so I think guys like Hendo and vandy (coming off of losses) are above fitch, as well as Fedor. Other than these 3 guys, the list can get flipped around 100 different ways, in none of those ways is Fitch near the list. nice try though
I would normally agree with you BUT my qualifiers are activity/quality wins.
Hendo, Vandy and Fedor do NOT meet my qualifiers.
How many wins in a row does Fitch have?
How often has he fought?
I bet you that its more than your terrific trio…
BTW - I don’t even like Fitch’s style ! LOL
I respect your opinion, and your right he has laid on..I mean fought lots!! I don’t like his style either, and for no activity is the reason fedor wouldn’t make my top 5 either. Put into your system quality wins and fitch is out!!
I agree with their rankings. They certainly do a performance-based ranking rather than potential. On potential BJ is anywhere between 1-3 with GSP and Anderson. But to get there on a performance ranking he needs to beat Sherk convincingly and have someone like Rampage lose. I don’t see Rampage losing so I’m sorry but the closest BJ is gonna get until he has a rematch with GSP is the 4 slot.
WTF? Rampage strings together 3 wins, the first against a nobody, and the last against a guy who he’s WAY bigger than and everyone thinks he’s a god. Rampage did not suddenly become such an amazing fighter. Wait until he gets hit again, and you’ll see him crumble away just like he did both times against Wandy and like he did against Shogun.
Hendo got some pretty good shots in on Rampage that didn’t seem to phase him and Hendo was the last person to KO Wanderlei. Wandy and Shogun didn’t just hit him they overwhelmed him so it’s gonna take more than just a hit. Rampage’s fighting style fits the cage a lot better than a ring in my opinion and that probably has a little bit to do with him getting better but I think mostly he has matured as a fighter (Not as a person, LOL) and is fighting smarter. Rampage is going to remain the champ for a long time.
That Faybear kid looks like a beast. Looks like someone I know…just can’t place the face?
I jumped over to Sherdog and confirmed that the list is their top 10 p-4-p list. Man, who the hell over at Sherdog came up with that list?
Does he remind you of Michael Douglas? That chin is what does it.
GSP is a gymnast infiltrating the fight game… yea and wut?! lol
Are you making a ” Gymkata” reference? hahaha
1) GSP
2) Silva
3) BJ
4) Faber
5) Rampage
IMO
GSP is not number 1. Anderson Silva cleared out UFC’s Middleweight division while GSP has not fought Fitch, Alves, or Sanchez yet.
or Jake Shields
Anderson only cleaned out the MW division because the UFC has about 50% of the top MWs. GSP has beaten a who’s who of WWs, because the UFC dominates the world at that weight class, the only guy they are missing is Shields.
GSP has one top contender to fight, his next fight, Fitch. After that, Alves may not even be a contender. Hughes will probably take Alves out. And Diego isn’t even a contender, losing 2 of his last 3 fights.
OJR - How could you possibly put Chuck in the top 5 instead of Rampage, who has KICKED HIS @$$ twice?
Dude,
(sigh) Re-read my qualifiers…
In Defense of Chuck : Since 02/2006
Wanderlei Silva (Win)
Keith Jardine (Loss)
Quinton Jackson (Loss)
Tito Ortiz (Win)
Renato Sobral (Win)
Randy Couture (Win)
All of them are badasses.
Losing to Jardine is not terrible.
Jardine f*cked up Griffin and Griffin is getting a title shot.
Losing to Rampage does not knock him down much because Rampage is a badass.
When Rampage puts a string of badasses like this that he has beat down THEN I will rank him above Chuck.
Like Hendo, and Chuck himself? And most likely Forrest. Then whoever else is next in line. Hopefully Wandy pulls through in his next fight, and gets to rematch Liddell. Then Rampage can smash whoever wins.
Where is your list? Easy to talk w/o putting out some stuff. Put up or shut up, dude.
Pound for pound is rankings regardless of weight. BJ is a natural LW who use to fight WW and even LHWs and did pretty well against them. Hell he sent GSP to the hospital and GSP began to lay n pray his way to victory after the first round. When BJ beats Sherk he should be ranked higher than GSP
Ur-eeh-jah Faybear, hilariously pointed out Mania
gomi and yammamoto over b.j. is inaccurate. other than that sherdog is getting a little better. i still like fops list best. MANIA. when are you guys ever going back to having monthly rankings, yours was pretty accurate, at least ufc-wise, when you were ufcmania. i would like to see an mma version from ya’ll if you have the time. i wouldn’t mind a monthly QandA also if time permitted.
What a douche bag.
How are MMA fans suppose to take this seriously at all when the guy hosting it obviously has never followed the sport. He can’t even say Urijah’s name right. Versus plays WEC re-runs enough that the largest name in that company should be said right.
This list is bogus.
dude, Jon Anik (the announcer) also said “you’re only as good as your next fight.” i thought the saying was “you’re only as good as your LAST fight.” what kind of Bizarro World is this guy living in?
rampage shouldnt be on there he got lucky with chuck and couldnt even take out a true 185 guy that anderson did in round 2. let get some of wandei again
Rampage has Chuck’s number. He didn’t get lucky. BUT I agree that Chuck should be ranked higher than Rampage.
You guys crack me up lol.
Again, where is your list? Go troll somewhere else, buddy.
OJR I don’t think Rampage has Chucks number, I think it was more that Chuck had dominated the division for so long he got careless. I think the Wandy fight lit a fire in his ass again, and he’ll start dominating again.
Dude,
He beat up on Chuck in Pride and knocked him senseless in the UFC. Different venues but the same result. How else would you describe that?
i would say
1. silva
2. GSP
3. rampage
4. penn
5. faber
Did anyone else notice the poster on the wall in the TUF gym on the new series.
It is (Left to Right):
GSP, Rampage, Forrest, Anderson Silva.
I’m trying to find the reasoning behind GSP being in the poster.
Rampage is one coach and the Light Heavy champ, Forrest is the other coach and the challenger, Anderson is the Middleweight champ but..@ the time of taping Serra was still Welterweight champ.
Was Dana just assuming that GSP would get the belt back?
Pretty disrespectful to Serra.
Im talking about in the long run, like when its all said and done:
1) BJ Penn
3)A.Silva (Could be #1 if it wasnt for his ground Game)
3)GSP(Could be #1 if it wasnt for his overthinking and mind trips ie; “named a brick Matt Serra and through it into the ocean”
4)Hendo (The only guy left tha fights in more than one weight class)
5)Fedor (As a filler, who else could be on the list LoL But stop fight CANS you *ss!)
Lol and what is wrong with Anerson Silva’s ground game? He’s a BJJ Blak Belt for christ sake.
doesnt look like one . . . If he has a weakness, its on the ground. Why do you think everyones goal is to take him down??
1. Anderson
2. GSP
3. Penn
4. Rampage
1. Silva
2. GSP
3. Nogueira
4. Rampage
5. Fedor
…
About Silva, i believe i don’t need to say much, his fights resume everything. GSP just ran into Matt Serra, that isn’t that badass, but is very good too.
Everyone that already has the chance to meet Nogueira knows that he can get killed, but won’t be defeated easily and will submit the opponent (he was defeated by Fedor twice, but if they fight today, Nogueira would easily win)…
Nogueira above Fedor because YOU think he’d easily win today. Yeah buddy your a tool. Nogueira lost 2 and a half times to Fedor already and has looked very shaky in his last four fights. YIKES, you must be sparking thinking Frank Mir is anywhere near the top ten. He isn’t even a top ten heavy IMO.
My dream would be for GSP, BJ, Silva to fight each other in some catch weight (173lbs?). After all 3 have fought each other, base the P4P rankings based on each of the fights.
Then again, it might work out to something like this:
Silva beats GSP who beats BJ who beats Silva haha.
Dude,
That is an MMA wet dream, right there. If you throw the right amount of $$$ at them ???
why a catch weight? GSP just wont cut and can be a mw, and BJ will fight at any weight!
ya but the odds are skewed in favor of silva/gsp then since both of their natural body types lie in the mw realm, whereas penn is more of a midsize welterweight.
at least thats my logic haha. id say all at 170 but i dont think silva can cut to that weight since he’s 6′2 and already looks pretty lean
1. Anderson
2. GSP
3. Rampage
4. Penn
5. Randy
My ranking is in decending order in UFC.
1 Anderson Silva
2 Rampage
3 GSP
4 B J Penn
5 Chuck Liddell
6 Sherk
7 Big Nog
8 Hughs
9 Henderson
10 W. Silva
Knocking on the door is Fitch, Machida, Jardine and Mir.
With in 2 years I expect any of these guys could be in the top 10. Brock Lesnar, Vera, Danzig,
True P4P would be guys who could drop a division or go up a division and still do excellent.
Dan Henderson should be on that list I know I know the last two showing were a loss to LHW champ and MW champ but I think he is pound for pound up there with the best of them.
Dude got an iron chin and heavy hand. I was little disapointed with Silva fight and I thought Quinton had a major size advantage on him. I just like to give him recognition he deserves.
Go Hendo
Opinions one and all.
ESPN DOES NOT NO ANYTHING ABOUT MMA NOT EVEN CLOSE