Contributors/Columnists
SHAWN ENNIS
JASON BENT
MATT PELKEY
ALEX WILLIAMS
JED GOODMAN
FRANK HYDEN
JASON BENT
JOHN TAYLOR
MAYNARD SWEENEY
MARC PATCHING
MIKE JARSULIC
BRUCE MITCHELL APPLY TO JOIN OUR TEAM
1. Fedor Emelianenko (28-1, 1 no contest, 6(T)KOs, 15 Subs) - He destroyed Tim Sylvia at Affliction's first PPV in July. He is the pound for pound champion on many sport writer's rankings. The dream match between Randy Couture many never happen, but a new one against Brock Lesnar could.
Up next: Affliction's second PPV, January 24 against Andrei Arlovski.
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1, 2-0 UFC, 2(T)KOs, 20 Subs) - He has won seven of his last eigtht fights and is undefeated in the UFC. He became the interim heavyweight champion after Couture left the UFC due to contract problems. Why he is still the interim champion I don't know, but I wish we could skip his Frank Mir fight and let him take on Lesnar to "unify the belts".
Up Next: UFC 92: December 27 against Frank Mir.
3. Brock Lesnar (3-1, 2-1 UFC, 1(T)KO, 1 Sub) - After only four fights Lesnar is the UFC Heavyweight champion. His size and power proved too much for the very game and savy Couture. He will next either rematch Mir and try to avenge his only loss or fight the submission specialist Nogueira. Perhaps if Affliction folds within a year we can get Fedor vs. Brock.
Up Next: the winner of Mir/Nogueira.
4. Randy Couture (16-9. 13-6 UFC, 7(T)KOs, 2 Subs) - "Captain America" put up a valiant effort, but Lesnar was just too powerful. Perhaps there will be a rematch down the road, but for now Couture will regroup and decide if he wants to go back down to light heavyweight or continue to fight with the big boys.
Up Next: TBD
5. Andrei Arlovksi (14-5, 10-4 UFC, 10(T)KOs, 3 Subs) -
Since back to back losses to Tim Sylvia in 2006, Arlovski has five wins in a row, four by (T)KO. It's too bad contract negotiations fell thru with the UFC, he was a solid addition to their heavyweight division.
Up Next: Fedor on January 24th.
6. Josh Barnett (23-5, 3-1 UFC, 5(T)KOs, 14 Subs) - "The Babyface Asassin" has won three in a row, including a strong knock out performance against Pedro Rizzo at the inaugural Affliction PPV in July. He nixed a fight against Fedor, who he fights January 24th is anyone's guess.
Up Next: Fighting on the Affliction card on January 24th, Opponent TBD.
7. Frank Mir (11-3, 9-3 UFC, 1(T)KO, 7 Subs)- The former UFC champion has not been the same fighter since his motorcycle accident in 2004, coming in noticeably out of shape in many of his fights. He has promised that he will continue to work harder on his cardio conditioning and he has won two in a row, including a submission victory in his last fight against the current Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. I don't think he has a chance, but he is set to fight Nogueira next month for the "interim" Heavyweight title.
Up Next: UFC 92: December 27th vs. Nogueira.
8. Gabriel Gonzaga (10-3, 6-2 UFC, 4(T)KOs, 6 Subs) - Gonzaga came into the UFC blazing strong with four big wins in a row, including a destruction of Mirko "Cro Cop". Then he lost to Couture and Fabricio Werdum and the Brazilian was out of the title picture. The UFC must have big plans for him now considering they have given him tomato cans, Justin McCully and Josh Hendricks, in his two last fights. While Mir, Nogueira and Lesnar sort out the title picture for the next few months, I would have Gonzaga face some stiffer competition, like perhaps the up and coming Shane Carwin.
Up Next: TBD.
9. Junior Dos Santos (7-1, 1-0 UFC, 5 (T)KOs, 2 Subs) - Probably not on most people's top ten list, but he did knock out a former title contender, Werdum at UFC 90 in October. He is a protege of Nogueria and all seven of his wins have been decided by knock out or submission. A fight against Cain Velasquez would be very intriguing.
Up Next: TBD.
10. Tim Sylvia (24-5, 9-4 UFC, 16(T)KOs, 2 Subs) - Ah, good ol Tim, the Rodney Dangerfield of heavyweights. The former UFC champ was humbled by Fedor in July and has now lost three of his last four. In fairness to Sylvia though they were to three of the top four heavyweights in my top ten (Fedor, Couture, and Nogueira)and he supposedly made a million dollars in his 36 second loss to Fedor (you can knock me out for that kind of money too). I'm sure he will be on Affliction's next show (and probably for mucher cheaper).
Brock Lesnar 3rd? One career win over a ranked opponent and he jumps all
the way to 3rd?
You really put a lot of stock UFC heavyweights because Randy is still #4,
Mir #7, Gonzaga #8 and Dos Santos #9. It's your list, leans UFC more
strongly than others.
