Rankings: Storm before the calm
Two top-10 fighters competed this month. That might not be the case again for quite some time.
The illness and injury bug has bit mixed martial arts in a major way in the second half of 2009, wreaking havoc on the big-fight schedule in a similar manner to how boxing was hit in the first half of the year.
No. 1 Anderson Silva is out with a nagging elbow injury. No. 2 Georges St. Pierre is still few months away from his return because of a torn adductor. No. 5 Lyoto Machida will heal a broken hand before a rematch with No. 7 Mauricio Rua on May 1.
Add in the fact that WEC bantamweights Miguel Torres and Brian Bowles do not yet have their next fights lined up, Dan Henderson is sitting on the sideline, and both Fedor Emelianenko and Jose Aldo, who debuts at No. 6, fought in November, and the end result is a Top 10 that isn't likely to change much over the coming months.
But just like boxing rebounded with a strong autumn, featuring big wins for both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, MMA will do the same. It just might take longer than most would like for the arrival of the next round of blockbuster fights.
The Yahoo! Sports Top 10 poll features 17 top mixed martial arts reporters from leading sports web sites, newspapers, wire services and blogs. Fighters receive 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, etc., down to one point for a 10th-place vote. Fighters under suspension for use of illegal drugs or performance-enhancing substances are ineligible for consideration, and fighters who go 12 months without competing are ineligible for consideration until after the completion of their return fight.
For a list of this month's Y! Sports Top 10 poll panel participants, go here.
10. Dan Henderson
Points: 22
Affiliation: Free agent
Weight class: Middleweight/Light heavyweight
Hometown: Murrieta, Calif.
Record: 25-7 (won past three)
Last month's ranking: unranked
Most recent result: def. Michael Bisping, R2 KO, July 11
Analysis: Henderson, still considered Strikeforce-bound, is looking for one last big contract, and at 39 and coming off a string of high-profile wins, who can blame him?
9. Brian Bowles
Points: 26
Affiliation: WEC
Weight class: Bantamweight (WEC bantamweight champion)
Hometown: Athens, Ga.
Record: 8-0
Last month's ranking: 9
Most recent result: def. Miguel Torres, R1 TKO, Aug. 9
Analysis:Remains behind the man he beat, Torres, despite his decisive title victory.
8. Miguel Angel Torres
Points: 33
Affiliation: WEC
Weight class: Bantamweight
Hometown: East Chicago, Ind.
Record: 36-2 (lost last one)
Last month's ranking: T7
Most recent result: lost to Brian Bowles, R1 TKO, Aug. 9
Analysis: Still no date or opponent set for his next fight.
7. Mauricio Rua
Points: 42
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
Record: 18-4 (lost last one)
Last month's ranking: T7
Most recent result: lost to Lyoto Machida, unanimous decision, Oct. 24
Analysis: Has several months to fine-tune his game for his rematch with Machida.
6. Jose Aldo
Points: 61
Affiliation: WEC
Weight class: Featherweight (WEC featherweight champion)
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Record: 16-1 (won last nine)
Last month's ranking: unranked
Most recent result: def. Mike Brown, R2 TKO, Nov. 18
Analysis:The 23-year-old Aldo's striking is so flawless that it's tough not to wonder how he'll fare when he gets older and bumps up to 155.
5. Lyoto Machida
Points: 102
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Hometown: Belem, Brazil
Record: 16-0 (won last 16)
Last month's ranking: 4
Most recent result: def. Mauricio Rua, unanimous decision, Oct. 24
Analysis:Few believe he deserved the decision against "Shogun," but he'll have a chance to do it again.
4. B.J. Penn
Points: 107
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Lightweight (UFC lightweight champion)
Hometown: Hilo, Hawaii
Record: 14-5-1 (won last one)
Last month's ranking: 4
Most recent result: def. Kenny Florian, R4 submission, Aug. 8
Analysis: The only major champion with a fight on his docket, Penn will be challenged by Diego Sanchez's manic style on Dec. 12.
3. Fedor Emelianenko
Points: 146 (five first-place votes)
Affiliation: Strikeforce/M-1 (never lost PRIDE title)
Weight class: Heavyweight
Hometown: Stary Oskol, Russia
Record: 31-1, one no-contest (won last 11)
Last month's ranking: 3
Most recent result: def. Brett Rogers, R2 KO, Nov. 7
Analysis: Emelianenko had a highlight-reel knockout of Brett Rogers and closed the gap with St. Pierre from 13 points last month to six. But it's hard to picture Fedor moving up at this stage unless St. Pierre or Silva lose.
2. Georges St. Pierre
Points: 152 (five first-place votes)
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Welterweight (UFC welterweight champion)
Hometown: Saint-Isidore, Quebec
Record: 19-2 (won last six)
Last month's ranking: 2
Most recent result: def. Thiago Alves, unanimous decision, July 11
Analysis: Has an opponent lined up in Dan Hardy, who few feel poses St. Pierre a major challenge.
1. Anderson Silva
Points: 157 (seven first-place votes)
Affiliation: UFC
Weight class: Middleweight (UFC middleweight champion)
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
Record: 24-4 (won last 10)
Last month's ranking: 1
Most recent result: def. Forrest Griffin, R1 KO, Aug. 8
Analysis: Silva's elbow still hasn't quite come along, which means a planned February date for a match with Vitor Belfort is out the window.
More
• Votes for others: Brock Lesnar 19; Gegard Mousasi 11; Urijah Faber, Rashad Evans 8; Mike Brown 7; Quinton Jackson 6; Shinya Aoki 4.
• Upcoming matches for ranked fighters: No. 4 B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, Dec. 12, Memphis.
