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Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:15 am EST

Which fighters hit the big-time in 2009?

By Steve Cofield

The world of MMA has been turned on its head the last four years. Former pound-for-pound listers  Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin, Wanderlei Silva and Matt Hughes are all on the verge of being non-factors.

It's simply evolution. As more athletes have been exposed to the sport, the depth and competition has become that much tougher. Well-rounded was a term reserved for a few, now you've got dozens of fighters around the world who can legitimately carry that label. Look no further than 2008 for breakout stars and you can see how good some of these guys can be.

Cage Writer sat down with Larry Pepe of ProMMARadio and came up with a solid list of the guys who could move closer to stardom in 2009. Listen to Cofield with Pepe, the breakout fighters discussion starts around 43:00:

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS IN 2009 - These are established fighters who could become household names with casual sports fans:

1. Brock Lesnar

2. B.J. Penn

3. Gina Carano 

GETTING MORE LOVE FROM MMA FANS - Fighters who could advance in the mind of the average American MMA fan:

1. Shane Carwin

2. Eddie Alvarez

3. Ben Saunders

DEEP SLEEPERS - MMA fans will clamor for bigger fights for these guys in 2010:

1. Bobby Lashley

2. Mark Munoz

3. Jim Miller

Former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren (pictured) is a very deep sleeper. Maggie Hendricks tossed out the name of flyweight Henry Cejudo. Who are the fighters you think will take a big step forward this year?

Check out the entire conversation with Pepe, we also covered some of the best of 2008 topics: KO of the Year, Fight of the Year, Fighter of the Year and Story of the Year. For the opposite approach there are some great lists over at Fightlinker.com. Our favorite glass half-full site is voting right now on Worst Fight of 2008.

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93 Comments

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  1. Farthammer
    1. Posted by Farthammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Like it or not, the fighters who take a step forward in 2009 are the ones Dana White tells you to love.
  2. athsquare
    2. Posted by athsquare Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    Henry Cejudo is a BEAST!!! Yea now that he is in MMA flyweight fighters need to look out cause dude is the TRUTH!!! He won the jr. worlds at 16 beating a NCAA champ in the finals 2 times. He won the olympics at 20, and thats only becaus it took so long to happen he had already won the worlds at 18 AND 19
  3. MMA GURU
    3. Posted by MMA GURU Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Rashad Evans the break out fighter of 08. Forrest is next 2 Rampage. I hope they rematch.Anthony Rumble Johnson will beat GSP watch my word. 6;2 170lbs wrestler with hands & feet, this is the guy 2 keep an eye on in 09.
  4. Karl A
    4. Posted by Karl A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    I don't think Rich Franklin belongs on that list. He has lost to the Spider twice. Tell me who hasn't that's faced him twice. Liddell, Hughes...pretty much done. W Silva, to early to tell. I'll give him another fight or two. I'm a big fan of Anthony Johnson but I'm not sure he's ready for GSP just yet. Let's slow down a little now. GSP is in the top 5 P4P fighters in the world. Let's not put Rumble in the Gon with him just yet.
  5. Chocolat
    5. Posted by Chocolat Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Even though people don't like his recent comments, I'm keeping an eye on Steve Cantwell, he put on a very skillful performance. I'm not going to let the age pass as an excuse, as I'm barely a few months older than him and I didn't like the way he acted either, but with a little maturity he can be a serious, and respectable fighter. I've got my eye on Johnson too, but I don't think he's got a shot at the title this year unless it's at the butt end of the year, GSP is likely booked given he wins all his fights (look out for him and Silva at UFC 102-105)
  6. Ron M
    6. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Johnson still needs another year or two to develop. He's got a lot of holes in his game. Carwin is definitely a beast but he needs a big win soon. He's not exactly a youngster. I like Tyson Griffin. He's only 24-25 years. He looked impressive losing a razor thin decision to Sherk.
    Hazlett is another young fighter who's Jujitsu is extremely good. If he can improve his striking he will be a force at 170.
  7. sellit71
    7. Posted by sellit71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    I think Dana is missing the boat on starting up a womens division in UFC, I was extremely entertained by the fights I saw of Gina Carano on CBS and wish he'd sign her up! So a big breakthrough for 2009 would be a womens division in the UFC!!!
  8. Hutch M
    8. Posted by Hutch M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    I think BJ will make history this month. Then there is Alves waiting. Johnson needs to destroy one or two more nobodies or solid wins over quality 170 lbs.ers. 2009 looks great for the lower weight classes.
  9. AdamG
    9. Posted by AdamG Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    I agree with Ron M. If Tyson Griffin finishes a few fights, he'll be right at the top. Hazelett also has a ton of potential - he'll be excellent if he can set up his take downs with strikes. I'd also like to see Carlos Condit try his hand in the UFC, he's a lot of fun to watch.
  10. Jason A
    10. Posted by Jason A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Bobby Lashley baby!!! When he gets to the UFC, he is going to dominate. It will be obvious that if he stays at heavyweight, they will push the Lashley/Lesnar match, but Bobby was saying in an interview that he could possibly make 205. If he dropped, he will kill anyone there. I am waiting!
  11. Ron M
    11. Posted by Ron M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Lashley definitely has potential but he's still 3 or 4 fights away from being anywhere near ready for the UFC. Unfortunately he's what 32 so he doesn't have the biggest window of opportunity. C'mon let's not get carried away. The guy had one MMA fight. That's a really huge stretch saying he could kill any UFC LHW. Let's see if he can even make it to the show first.
  12. mathiasmorciglio
    12. Posted by mathiasmorciglio Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    I don't think Franklin belongs on that list with the others, while he's been defeated twice (brutally) by A. Silva he's shown that he can still take out pretty much anyone at 185, and I think he can hang with most of the top guys at 205 (there's just so many good guys at that weight class though). Anthony Johnson is definately an up-and-comer to watch, can he beat GSP? Possibly. What about top Welterweight contender Thiago Alves? That I think is a much more interesting matchup, Alves poses much more serious problems for Johnson than does GSP, and GSP is still very likely to take out a newcomer like Johnson. Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez, serious threats at Heavyweight, and Thiago Silva, if he can get past Lyoto Machida, a serious threat LHW. And in the LW and LHW divisions there are each about six guys who on any given night could become champion. But who can challenge Penn at the weight, and Rashad, when he's on his game is anyone in LHW able to contend?
  13. chicoffeeguy
    13. Posted by chicoffeeguy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    But where will Gina fight? I think Cyborg would destroy her- she's good but not great. Way to much emphasis placed on her hotiness... is she a fighter or a model???
  14. Tom
    14. Posted by Tom Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    i see Damien Maia doing very big things in 2009. he has some of the best jiu jitsu i have ever seen. i am definitely looking forward to seeing a lot more of him
  15. Guy who cant get enough boobs
    15. Posted by Guy who cant get enough boobs Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    Maybe they're not that new, But I'm looking for Valasquez, Machida, and Damien Meia, to have big years.
  16. los dog
    16. Posted by los dog Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Florian anyone........?
  17. E = MC Hammer
    17. Posted by E = MC Hammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    Hey "Expert", Anthony Johnson is an awesome fighter but I don't think he can match up with GSP. Before he gets to him he will probably have to face Ben Saunders or Diego Sanchez or Thiago Alves.... or all three.
  18. E = MC Hammer
    18. Posted by E = MC Hammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    Oh and what's the deal with Liddell vs Anderson Silva? Give Demian Maia a shot, he might actually stand a chance. Chuck Liddell is basically Patrick Cote with even less ground game.
  19. LB #31
    19. Posted by LB #31 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    If we're talking about only the UFC then I gotta agree with Farthammer. Cain or Carwin or both could have a huge year if they get enough fights and the right fights. They both have the talent to possibly become UFC HW champs, but Dana White will ultimately will decide their fate in 2009.
    The same can be said of A. Sliva. Sure, he's already the UFC MW champ, but notice that he's not even mentioned as someone who had a great 2008. He bet Hendo in 2008, but who else that is noteworthy? If Dana was willing to let some of his top LHWs lose some of their mystique by getting KTFO by a MW, A. Silva could have a huge 2009. In my opinion he'd probably handedly put down Chuck, Wandy, and Jardine, and Thiago Silva and Machida would give HIM a challenge, not the other way around. A. Silva against Rampage or Rashad would be a toss-up. Imagine if A. Silva won just 2 of those possible 7 fights I mentioned! That'd be a huge 2009!
  20. smokeydaredeye
    20. Posted by smokeydaredeye Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    Man what no Kimbo!?!? he could qualify to be number one under all those categories, Kimbo undefeated in 2009! WAMMA CHAMP in 2010!
  21. E = MC Hammer
    21. Posted by E = MC Hammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    Speaking of WAMMA, I wonder if Dana will shut up about them once they crown a UFC fighter as a champ. IF they do. I think the whole reason for WAMMA's existence is to take some of the shine away from the tile of UFC champ.
  22. mathiasmorciglio
    22. Posted by mathiasmorciglio Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Hey I'm no big fan of Lesnar, but the fact is, he did BEAT the champ. I mean what else is there to say? I'd still take Gonzaga and Tim Sylvia over most guys in the HW division, and Randy took them both out, Lesnar beat Randy. So even if he didn't truly deserve a shot at the title, he still got it, and he still won. The question is how will he stand up to Shane Carwin's 5X fists, or Frank Mir's improved stand up and crazy Jui-Jitsu?
  23. ZACK R
    23. Posted by ZACK R Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:02 pm EDT

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    Thiago Alves will be a 185 pound fighter in 2010, if not sooner. The guy is thick as hell for 170 and the articles say he cuts like mad to make it now. Question is, will Silva be at 185 in 2010? Maybe, maybe not. I think he beats 95% of all 205 pounders in the UFC when he if focused. And under the "getting more love" category - you have to put Miguel Torres in there for sure. If more people start watching WEC on Versus channel, you will see why. The guy probably has one of the most complete skill sets I have ever seen. Not going to get as many views at 135 in the WEC, but those that have seen him know what I am talking about.
  24. Needles Caine
    24. Posted by Needles Caine Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    Lesnar is still a baby in this sport, but he did beat the man. Give him time, he'll only get better. I hear he's taken on a hell of a JJ coach. Which means we might see some ground work out of Vanilla Gorilla. Thiago Alves will become a household name in 09, bet that. Damien Maia, Anthony Johnson, Dustin Hazelett, Ben Saunders, Lyoto Machida, Jon Jones, Shane Carwin, Steve Cantwell, Junior Dos Santos and Chieck Kongo will all have a big year. Kongo is my pick to take the HW belt by the end of the year. Rich Franklin will have his hands full in the LHW division, but he's been here before. His destruction of Shamrock, Dewees and Hammill should stick in your minds. He'll have a test with Hendo, but I think he'll be fine. I'm interested to see Diego Sanchez at LW. He could be up for a stand out year as well.
  25. chriskingofnewyork
    25. Posted by chriskingofnewyork Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    kimbo is not going to lose a fight in 2009

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