Sunday, May 28, 2006

Power Rankings 5/28/06

Okay here are the Following the Flow Power Rankings. The fighters in each class are listed in a rough ranking with comments on the side. This isn't a pure talent level ranking system as that is not the only factor in determining who gets a title shot. Drawing ability is an important part of the decision making process on who fights who.


Heavyweight

Tim Sylvia - Tim gets another chance to take back a belt that he once had. I don't see it happening to be honest but I suppose there is a chance. What a Surprise that fight was, wow. Well we have a new champ and a 3rd match between these guys is assured. Next up for Sylvia will probably be Monson who seems like the only viable contender at this point. At least until Mir can get a little win streak under his belt and we see Sylvia/Mir 2.

Arlovski - Arlovski smelled blood and went in for the kill and Sylvia caught him. It's called killer instinct not being reckless Joe Rogan you hatorade sipping pansy. So who will Arlovski fight on his way back to Sylvia? Assuerio Silva would be my guess. Though the results of UFC 59 were a suprise things really couldn't have worked out better for the UFC. With Monson winning you get the next title contender. Andrei having to fight back to his belt will create more fights with the same pool of talent. Arlovski gets a shot at the title immediately, interesting.

Jeff Monson - Look for the Snowman to get the next title shot after Arlovski/Sylvia 2. He's rumored to be fighting at UFC 61 but who.....? Buentello? Vera?

Brandon Vera - I'm not sure what to do with Vera. It may be too soon to put him here but there just isn't anyone else to put ahead of him.

Paul Buentello - I think we'll see the Headhunter against Sylvia or Mir pretty soon. Personally I think Sylvia would be the better fight. Lots of hands but that reach would be hard to deal with. Ass. Silva would be another nice fight. Or maybe Vera.

Marcio Cruz - Cruz looked alright despite losing to Monson. Who next for Cruz? Mir?

Frank Mir - A crushing loss to an fellow grappler will knock Mir down a peg or two. Both in ego and in these rankings. He gets fed a can in Cristison next and should make quick work of the TUF guy.

Assuerio Silva - Someone give Silva a can to fight so we can see him do something. Please!

Seth Petruzzelli - Man I hope this is true that he'll be fighting in August. Seth needs a ground game but if he gets it he could be a contender in this weekest of UFC divisions.

Tom Murphy - With the dearth of contenders here Murphy might just have an opportunity at some big time names.

Brad Imes - Lost to Cristison

Dan Cristison - Beat Imes but doesn't have the name that Brad does.


Light heavyweight

Chuck Liddell - Liddell vs Sobral at UFC 62 i'm guessing. I don't see that ending much differently than the first time. I'll go out on a limb (no pun intended) and say it won't be a kick though.

Renato Sobral - Babalu deserves the next title shot and i'd like to see that rematch. Sobral isn't the same kid he was when he lost the first time. If Griffin wins it will be interesting to see who fights Liddel. I would hope Renato would get the shot. Rumor has it he's fighting Marvin Eastman next. Wha?! Shonie Carter wasn't available? Jeez. Deserves a title shot gets a can. S'okay Renato we know you're the man.

Tito Ortiz - The first round was vintage Tito. His boxing looked okay he had some nice counterpunches. Either his knee really, really went out or he threw that fight. How do you throw a fight you won? You make the UFC poster boy look really good, like he gained something in defeat. Which he did. I don't know that fight was just odd to look at, very odd. Regardless, if Tito can do what he did in the first round for whole fights........well that showdown with Chuck will be a bloodbath.

Ken Shamrock - I don't think he's going to beat Tito so look for him to face someone like Babalu or one of the TUF guys, if he doesn't retire like Randy.

Forrest Griffin - Okay so we hear that Forrest is working the standup in preparation for this fight but did anyone think it looked any better? I sure as hell didn't it. Maybe that was just a way of saying he's been working on his sprawl. Griffin, like he said, can go toe to toe with just about anyone and make it a fight. Well maybe I added the just about because lets be real Chuck would put him down in short order. I would like to see Griffin/Sobral.

Stephan Bonnar - Bonnar won a very, very close decision to Jardine but to be honest I would have called it for Keith. Bonnar did not look very impressive at all but then his ground game is probably his biggest asset right now and he didn't use it. Who next for Bonnar? According to rumor he gets Rashad Evans next and he should pull that out.

Alessio Sakara - He lost to Dean Lister but Sakara is still fighting at a higher level than the guys below him so he sits here still. I'd like to see him against Bonnar in a nice little boxing match. At least until Bonnar takes him down and submits him.

Rashad Evans - He beat Hoger but it wasn't a great win by any means so who next for Evans? Bonnar? Evans has the tools to beat him but I don't see it happening.

Keith Jardine - I kind of think Jardine got robbed in that fight with Bonnar, I think we'll see more of him.

Sam Hoger - He looked pretty good in his loss to Evans. He really hasn't lived up to the potential I saw in him when he was on TUF.


Middleweight

Rich Franklin - Marquardt will be next barring something bizarre or someone being brought it in and that should be a good fight. I wonder if it will happen this year though with all of Franklin's injuries.

Nate Marquardt - I suspect that this will be the next contender for Franklin's title. His hands might not be a quick as Loiseau's but who knows maybe a little heavier. He's got a few KOs on his record but 2 are with knees. Being a black belt in jiu-jitsu and training Muay Thai for years (according to an interview) I think Marquardt's all around game is better than the Crow so this could be a dangerous fight for Franklin.

Spider Silva - Where will Silva start? He's got a nice list of credentials so maybe he gets a title shot right off the bat? To me that says that the UFC thinks guys from the outside are better than the current contenders which seems bad for business. I'd pit Silva against Marquardt for the rank of #1 contender. Just announced today (5/30/06) that Silva fights Leben on 6/28/06

David Loiseau - Loiseau vs Spider Silva. I call it!

Evan Tanner - What next for the former champ? Horn hopefully.

Jeremy Horn - I am still bummed that Horn/Tanner didn't happen. Grrrrrr. He beat Sonnen, whoopdy doo. Hopefully Tanner/Horn will still happen.

Chris Leben - Leben didn't look all that impressive in his win over Luigi. Is it possible that Leben just wanted to prove that he can go in and dominate a fight for three rounds and win a decision? That's what it looked like to me. Going against Spider Silva will be a big test for Leben. The winner might get the next title shot though I am not sure how Marquardt fits into the picture.

Mike Swick - Yep I said it. Viva la Swickotine! I think Swick will beat Riggs.

Dean Lister - I'd love to see Lister and Horn rolling around like to tangled up pythons.

Joe Riggs - Riggs is over-rated. He didn't deserve a shot at Hughes and he lost.

Dave Terrell - Pretty much owned Scott Smith so expect to see more of him. He's be a nice matchup with Quarry.

Chael Sonnen - Lost to Jeremy Horn, yet again. I'd be surprised to see Sonnen in the Octagon anytime soon but then again I was surprised to see him get another shot this last time.

Trevor Prangley - Lost to Chael Sonnen, ouch. Too bad because I think he was on the fastrack to contendership by UFC.

Scott Smith - I wonder if he signed a three fight deal?


Welterweight

Matt Hughes - Yeah yeah yeah I called it, whoopdy doo. I think Hughes will pound out Gracie in short order but Gracie is no stranger to being the underdog. Hughes better be ready for GSP because in the first fight GSP was DOMINATING until giving up to an arm bar. Hughes has a busy next year or two ahead of him. GSP, Parisyan (i'm betteing), Penn and then Diaz after he wins TUF 4.

George St. Pierre - GSP will get his title shot soon and oh what a fight that will be. His confidence has to be soaring after beating BJ.

Carlos Newton - Rumor has it...okay I guess Newton said it...that he's coming back against a TBD opponent. Penn or Diaz maybe? I'd love to see Newton and Penn go at it. Hmm since Newton took a job as coach for the IFL I suppose this means he's not going to fight in the UFC.

Karo Parisyan - God it's me again...please tell me Karo has been working some standup... God
...um.....thank you! Karo owned the Goat and his hands looked much, much improved. He whiffed the first one but from then on they were on target and you could hear the slap. With this newfound striking that makes him somewhat dangerous standing but even more dangerous on the ground which he showed against Thompson. Karo looked really improved and would be a big threat to guys like GSP and Penn. Looks like he gets a shot at Diego in August or so. That will be a great fight. I'm taking Karo to show everyone how one dimensional Diego is. I'm sorry I am just getting sick of ground and pound specialists.

BJ Penn - What now for the former champ? A drop down to lightweight or a shot at Parisyan? Maybe a shot at Gracie if & when he loses to Hughes?

Diego Sanchez - He scraped out a win against John Alessio but it was not convincing. I think it's time for Parisyan/Sanchez.

Nick Diaz - That fight with Sherk was great, maybe a fight of the year contender. It may not have been as explosive as many but the technique in it was fabulous. Diaz always impresses me with his technique, whether boxing or grappling. The kid's game is just beautiful to watch. If only he'd keep his mouth shut and do the thing. He seemed to show class with Sherk at the end of the fight but no telling what happened after the decision was announced. Diaz has lost several tough, close decisions. Maybe you can fault him for not finishing them but that just seems picky when you see a young guy with the all around skills that Diaz has. He'll be champ one day mark my words. TUF 4?!?!

Josh Neer - Looked good beating Stevenson and his starting to make a name for himself. The kid has a lot of heart and a good all around game.

Josh Koscheck - Beat Chalangov quickly so what's next for Koscheck? Maybe Diaz or Burkman or a rematch with Sanchez? Dave Menne?? Wow, Josh is going to lose.

Josh Burkman - Tough loss to Fitch. Next fight is Neer.......ouch that could be another loss.

Drew Fickett - I flat out don't like this guy.

Thiago Alves - A good striker who got caught by Spencer Fisher but was holding his own until then. I'd like to see him against Guillard or Cummo. He's facing Jon Fitch next in what could be a war.

Kit Cope - Work on that ground game man. If he gets another shot I think Diaz (if he isn't kicked from the UFC) would be interesting. Wait wait wait....Joe Riggs in a standup war! Yeah baby!

Melvin Guillard - I hope he sticks around the UFC until he can improve, he's got amazing potential. I saw his fight against Josh Neer and he was lighting up Neer. He looked powerful and quick...which is a nice combination to have.




Lightweight

Mark Hominick - A win over one-time champ Edwards puts him right here. But will Pulver come back?

Yves Edwards - Edwards was shocked by Hominick so maybe his next fight is Stout? Take it out on another Canadian eh?

Sean Sherk - Sherk looked pretty damn good against Diaz. His handspeed was excellent on the standup and he looked pretty comfortable. At 155 he will be devastating. MMAWeekly says that Sher fights the winner of KenFlo/Stout for the title. I'm not sure how Hominick gets left out of that picture but I guess he can get the first title shot. This is a stacked division to say the least.

Sam Stout - Right about here I would think. I think he would lose to Stevenson so Edwards would be a better matchup. Rumored to be fighting Kenny Florian at the TUF finale.

Spencer Fisher - This guy has as much game as Nick Diaz, look out. I really think that Fisher is better than Stout but since the Canadian has the victory he stays on top.

Kenny Florian - I guess he kind of stays still after not fighting. MMAWeekly says he'll be fighting Stout. I'll take KenFlo.

Joe Stevenson - After that last ugly fight Stevenson needs to prove himself again. Looks like he might be fighting Yves Edwards at UFC 61. I was disappointed in Stevenson in his last fight and he's show that strikers can connect on him and if Edwards connects it'll be a short night.

Duane Ludwig - Ludwig against Edwards would be a nice fight.

Luke Cummo - I want to see Cummo fighting and soon! Him and Ludwig would be a nice fight or maybe Fisher. Rumor has Cummo fighting Jonathan Goulet which should be a good fight. I'll take Luke.

Melvin Guilliard - Not sure if this is do-able or not but it could allow him some breathing room for away from the welterweights but then again with so many people coming down here maybe he'd be better at 170.

Jorge Gurgel - Finally we see Jorge fight. It's rumored he's going to be facing Mark Hominick which would be a nice fight.