July Archive Published
Fightmatrix.com Mixed Martial Arts Rankings Archive has been updated with the rankings as of July 6, 2009.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Friday, April 4th 2025: Invicta FC 61: Ferreira vs. Palacios | |||
 [#2 W105] Elisandra Ferreira de Oliveira |  [#7 W105] Ana Palacios | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/20/2024 [Invicta FC] Last Opponent: [#5 W105] Andressa Romero Last 5: L W W W W | Last Fight Date: 12/13/2024 [Invicta FC] Last Opponent: [NR] Monique Adriane Last 5: L L W W W | ||
| Saturday, March 29th 2025: RIZIN 50 | |||
 [#3 SW] Haruo Ochi | [#12 SW] Nobuyoshi Nakatsukasa | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/08/2024 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Rikito Tago Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 9/16/2024 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Rikito Tago Last 5: W W W L W | ||
| Sunday, March 23rd 2025: Deep - Jewels 48 | |||
| [#3 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki | [#12 W105] Moeri Suda | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 11/17/2024 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [NR] Yu Ri Shim Last 5: L L W L W | Last Fight Date: 12/22/2024 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Akari Kamise Last 5: W W L W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#1 LHW] |  Magomed Ankalaev | [#5 LW] |  Justin Gaethje | |
| [#4 MW] |  Khamzat Chimaev | [#13 W135] |  Nora Cornolle | |
| [#2 LHW] | Alex Pereira | [NR] |  Conor McGregor | |
| [#1 LW] | Islam Makhachev | [#18 LW] | Ignacio Bahamondes | |
| [#1 HW] | Jon Jones | [#6 LW] | Dustin Poirier |
MMA Rankings Updated: 8/17/07
Notable Info
- Fabricio Werdum returns to the win column with a victory over Mike Kyle, but remains outside the Top 10 at Heavyweight.
- Gegard Mousasi moved to the Light Heavyweight division and obliterated Renato Sobral. He debuts at #4, ahead of Forrest Griffin, who slips to #5.
- The little known Brazilian, Renan Barao, is starting to make a name for himself on the world circuit, moving to 15-1 and into the Top 30 at Featherweight. His only loss came in his debut.
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos ends Gina Carano’s undefeated streak and moves to #2 in the Womens’ division. Carano slips outside the Top 10.
All-Time Divisional Rankings: Bantamweight
We posted the Flyweight Top 5 last week, and here’s Bantamweight. These are still in the alpha stages, and there are some important things to mention as there are some major differences between these rankings and the FightMatrix ratings.
- Rankings ARE division specific, however some fighters will experience run-over into divisions they jumped in and out of. Fighters CAN appear in more than one list. Due to this, divisional info is seriously depended upon. This is a large reason why I think this is still in the alpha stage.
- Years of 1990 and later are considered.
- Monthly ranking snapshots are taken. Fighters are given points based on their standing in the Top 15, with the most points going toward a #1 spot, a little less to #2, right on down the line. Having longevity at the top of the division is key and those who only spend a limited time in a division will suffer. Divisional depth at the time is also given consideration.
- Heavyweight will look a bit odd, as it will include those who excelled at open-weight back in the 1990s.
| Rank | Fighter | Total Record | All-Time Division Points | |
| 1 | Miguel Torres Last Fight: 8/9/2009 |
37-2-0 |
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| 2 | Ryota Matsune Last Fight: 10/14/2006 |
15-1-1 |
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| 3 | Masahiro Oishi Last Fight: 12/6/2008 |
19-11-7 |
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| 4 | Kentaro Imaizumi Last Fight: 8/27/2008 |
9-7-5 |
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| 5 | Akitoshi Hokazono Last Fight: 7/21/2006 |
6-0-2 |
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| 6 | Chase Beebe Last Fight: 3/8/2009 |
12-4-0 |
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| 7 | Eddie Wineland Last Fight: 4/5/2009 |
14-6-1 |
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| 8 | Antonio Banuelos Last Fight: 6/7/2009 |
16-5-0 |
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| 9 |  Paul McVeighLast Fight: 5/23/2009 |
15-5-0 |
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| 10 | Marcos Galvao Last Fight: 3/1/2009 |
6-3-1 |
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1. Miguel Torres (336 All-Time Bantamweight Points)
Without question, the greatest Bantamweight in history. Defeated all of the opponents he’s faced, with the exception of Brian Bowles, whom he he has not yet had a chance to rematch. A 37-2 record, with all bouts (that we have divisional info for) taking place in the Bantamweight division.
2. Ryota Matsune (122)
The “Shooto Junkie” takes the silver with a 15-1-1 record at the division. Fought, and once defended the Shooto Featherweight (132) championship. Beat All-Time top bantamweights such as Kentaro Imaizumi and Masahiro Oishi. Only lost once by decision, and drew with Takeya Mizugaki, who is currently a top ten ranked Bantamweight.
3. Masahiro Oishi (111)
His total record like many Shooto fighters’, leaves something to be desired, but this is simply because judges there like even rounds and great parity is experienced. Nevertheless, he has been a top Bantamweight for well over a decade and has also routinely competed at Featherweight.
4. Kentaro Imaizumi (94)
Like Oishi, his record appears subpar, but a closer look reveals a unanimous decision win over Ryota Matsune, and two rematches where he fought on nearly even terms with him. He also has wins over Jin Akimoto, Takeyasu Hirono, and a draw with #3 All-Time Oishi. Recently tested the waters unsuccessfully at Featherweight (Shooto Lightweight).
5. Akitoshi Hokazono (87)
Short and sweet. Although his career was limited with only 8 fights, he sports a rare, undefeated Shooto record of 6-0-2, with his final win coming over Kenji Osawa for the Shooto 132lb title. He also has a win over Marcos Galvao, who is ranked in this Top 10 list.
6. Chase Beebe (82)
Coming off three losses, with his last being at Featherweight, Beebe started his career at 11-1. A former WEC Bantamweight champion that beat the best Bantamweights that the USA had to offer not named Torres before the start of his losing streak.
7. Eddie Wineland (77)
The first WEC Bantamweight champion. Outside of this first match though, is 0-2 in the organization, although his losses are to no slouches.
8. Antonio Banuelos (76)
Rounding out the WEC portion of the list is Banuelos. Unlike Wineland and Beebe, Banuelos still holds a top ranking in the Bantamweight division, and looks to improve his position on this list.
9. Paul McVeigh (72)
A surprise entry from the United Kingdom, McVeigh is easily the all-time best Bantamweight in Europe. Let’s hope he can get some notice on the world stage as the current competition gap between the UK and the rest of the world does not allow him the opportunity to earn a lofty ranking.
10. Marcos Galvao (72)
Right out of the gate, Galvao defeated top competition in Shooto. Although crushed in his last matchup against Damacio Page, Galvao has beaten some impressive competition on the world stage in Kenji Osawa, Fredson Paixao, Jin Akimoto, and has a draw against Masakatsu Ueda.
Debuting the All-Time Divisional Rankings: Flyweight
It’s been a long time coming, but the database is finally at a point to start debuting all-time rankings. These are still in the alpha stages, and there are some important things to mention as there are some major differences between these rankings and the FightMatrix ratings.
- Rankings ARE division specific, however some fighters will experience run-over into divisions they jumped in and out of. Fighters CAN appear in more than one list. Due to this, divisional info is seriously depended upon. This is a large reason why I think this is still in the alpha stage.
- Years of 1990 and later are considered.
- Monthly ranking snapshots are taken. Fighters are given points based on their standing in the Top 15, with the most points going toward a #1 spot, a little less to #2, right on down the line. Having longevity at the top of the division is key and those who only spend a limited time in a division will suffer. Divisional depth at the time is also given consideration.
- Heavyweight will look a bit odd, as it will include those who excelled at open-weight back in the 1990s.
After considering all of that, I present the Top 5 Flyweights of All-Time.
| Rank | Fighter | Record | All-Time Points | |
| 1 | Mamoru Yamaguchi Last Fight: 7/18/2008 |
20-5-3 |
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| 2 | Yasuhiro Urushitani Last Fight: 11/8/2008 |
15-4-6 |
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| 3 | Shinichi Kojima Last Fight: 7/19/2009 |
10-4-5 |
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| 4 | Junji Ikoma Last Fight: 4/10/2009 |
12-10-4 |
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| 5 | Masatoshi Abe Last Fight: 7/15/2007 |
8-2-1 |
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1. Mamoru Yamaguchi (99 All-Time Flyweight Points)
With nearly 10 years as a pro, Yamaguchi spent almost all of that time in the Flyweight (Shooto Bantamweight) division. Wins over Jin Akimoto, Yasuhiro Urushitani, Yuki Shoujo, Masaaki Sugawara, and others cement his place at the top of this list.
2. Yasuhiro Urushitani (78)
A stalwart at the top of the Flyweight division, yet the heralded championship has evaded him so far. Had some of his draws been wins, he could easily have the ledger to challenge Yamaguchi for the top spot. However, it wasn’t meant to be, and Urushitani appears to be fading.
3. Shinichi Kojima (56)
The most dominant Flyweight in the world from mid-2006 to mid-2009. Aside from his recent loss, Kojima does not yet have the longevity to hold one of the top two positions in this list. Rebounding from his recent loss will be key the coming up the ranks.
4. Junji Ikoma (45)
Although his total record leaves much to be desired, when you take a look at the history of the division, his longevity and control over the “best of the rest” seats him at #4. He recently had a 5-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Ryuichi Miki.
5. Masatoshi Abe (33)
Had it not been for his recent two year absence, and nearly three year absence between 2003-2006, he would surely have held a higher spot in these rankings. With only two losses, one against the #2 All-Time Urushitani, and the other Yuki Shoujo, who may one day be on this list, Abe had an outstanding record of 8-2-1. At 32 years old, it may not be too late for another comeback. Anyone know what this guy is up to?
WEC 42 Review
Following on the heels of the less-than-stellar UFC 101, MMA fans got another dose of action, with WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres defending his title against Brian Bowles in the main event of WEC 42. The fight card included several additional bantamweight bouts to help determine the next contender for the winner of the main event. The televised portion of the event began with Leonard Garcia looking to rebound from a knockout loss to the featherweight champion Mike Brown in his previous fight.
Leonard Garcia vs. Jameel Massouh (145 lbs)
Round 1: The first round is fairly even on the feet until Garcia scores a knockdown and follows Massouh to the ground trying to finish. Massouh recovers and gets back to his feet, then takes Garcia down. Massouh finishes the round with punches and elbows from half-guard as Garcia attempts submissions from the bottom. Round 10-9 Garcia
Round 2: Garcia is looking for a knockout punch, and Massouh takes it to the ground early. Garcia attempts a guillotine; Massouh escapes and passes into half guard. Massouh locks on a brabo choke. Garcia eventually frees himself from the hold, but it looks to have taken its toll as he is unsteady on the feet, and Massouh punishes Garcia with knees from clinch. Round 10-9 Massouh
Round 3: The third round takes place mostly on the feet, with Garcia swinging for the fences. Neither fighter has a significant advantage and both land a number of strikes, with Garcia edging out the round based on aggression. Round 10-9 Garcia
Leonard Garcia wins a split decision with the scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29
Fight grade: 3/5
UFC 101 Review
UFC 101 ‘Declaration’ was the first event that the promotion held in Philadelphia, and as is often the case for UFC’s debut in a new market, the fight card left a bit to be desired. The event was headlined by a lightweight title bout between the champion BJ Penn and top contender Kenny Florian, and co-headlined by the middleweight champion Anderson Silva going up to 205 lbs for the second time in his career, to take on the former lightheavyweight champ Forrest Griffin. Besides the two headlining bouts, the remainder of the fights on this card had little significance. And while sometimes events that look lackluster on paper end up very exciting, this was not the case for ‘Declaration’.
Josh Neer vs. Kurt Pellegrino (155 lbs)
Round 1: After an initial exchange, Pellegrino capitalizes on a kick attempt by Neer, and slams Josh to the canvas. Pellegrino attempts to pass guard while Neer looks for an armbar. Neer locks on an armbar but gets slammed on his head and lets go. Neer looking for a triangle, but Pellegrino maintains control and scores with short punches & elbows. Round 10-9 Pellegrino.
Round 2: Neer is landing leg kicks and blocks the initial takedown attempt from Pellegrino, but Kurt perseveres and drags Neer down. Neer looks for an armbar, then a triangle. Pellegrino escapes and passes Neer’s guard, ending up in full mount. Neer gives up his back; Pellegrino attempts to sink in a choke but Neer defends as time runs out. Round 10-9 Pellegrino.
Round 3: The fighters trade kicks; Pellegrino catches a leg and takes Neer down once again. Neer is still looking for a submission but nothing comes close. Pellegrino passes guard and mounts Josh; Neer escapes and ends up on top. They stand and Pellegrino attempts another takedown. Neer sprawls and lands a number of unanswered elbows to end the round. Round 10-9 Pellegrino.
Aftermath: Pellegrino utilized takedowns and top control to improve his UFC record to 6-3, winning his last three bouts. However the lightweight division is stacked with strong wrestlers, and I don’t see Pellegrino using this strategy with any degree of success against someone like Gray Maynard or Clay Guida. Neer once again learned the hard way that working off your back does not win you a decision unless you submit your opponent. All in all a rather boring fight between two mid-level fighters without much upside.
Fight grade: 2/5
Kurt Pellegrino wins the unanimous decision, 30-27 on all scorecards.
MMA Rankings Updated: 8/10/09
Notable Info
- The Heavyweights are eerily quiet this week, with absolutely no movement in the Top 50.
- Forrest Griffin barely holds onto his Top 4 spot at Light Heavyweight after being blitzed by Anderson Silva.
- The decision in Sakara/Leites creates a bit of a mess in the bottom of the Middleweight top 15. After proving himself as a top 15 fighter with several quality wins, Leites drops two straight and just maybe gets the short end of the stick in this decision. As a result, Sakara now finds himself in the Top 15 at Middleweight.
- BJ Penn reclaims the top spot at Lightweight with a commanding win over Kenny Florian, who fell to #8.
- Brian Bowles pulls off the upset as he stops Miguel Torres in the first round. As a result, Bowles takes the top spot at Bantam, and also rises to #2 in Division Dominance. Perhaps a bit of a stretch, but he’s an undefeated, universally recognized champion who just scored a 1st round stoppage over the best Bantamweight in history. Torres drops to #2 at Bantam, and #9 in Division Dominance.
- Jesse Taitano’s attempt to put Guam on the map has stalled, as he dropped a unanimous decision to Noboru Tahara in an 118 pound match. Taitano falls out of the Top 15 at Flyweight.
UFC 101: How they stack up
UFC Lightweight Championship
[#2] Kenny Florian vs. [#3-C] BJ Penn
First time since the site’s creation that the UFC champion faced a higher-ranked contender.
Light Heavyweight
[#1 MW] Anderson Silva vs. [#4] Forrest Griffin
Welterweight
[#54] Johny Hendricks vs. [#256 MW] Amir Sadollah
Middleweight
[#31] Ricardo Almeida vs. [#42] Kendall Grove
Lightweight
[#27] Josh Neer vs. [#47] Kurt Pellegrino
Lightweight
[#81] Shane Nelson vs. [#164] Aaron Riley
Welterweight
[#24] John Howard vs. [#55] Tamdan McCrory
Middleweight
[#14] Thales Leites vs. [#58] Alessio Sakara
Welterweight
[#96] Matt Riddle vs. [#500] Dan Cramer
Lightweight
[#425] George Roop vs. [NR] George Sotiropoulos
Welterweight
[#37] Jesse Lennox vs. [#75] Danillo Villefort
Ranking Notes: Dark green font represents an approximate ranking. An asterisk represents a fighter who is ranked, but too low for an approximation. These two scenarios will clear up slightly as we move forward. “NR” means the fighter is not ranked, due to inactivity, or due to a rating that is at or below the default starter rating.
MMA Rankings Updated: 8/3/09
Notable Info
- Abel Cullum returns to the Bantamweight division with a successful defense of his KOTC Flyweight (135lb) title. With this win, he eeked into the Top 10.
- Lightweight gets even more strange as Kitaoka was shocked by Hirota, who will hold the top spot at #1 until there is a victor in the Penn/Florian matchup. Let’s hope there’s not a draw and that the victor will stay active, and keep winning.
- Ricco Rodriguez increments his win total with a submission victory over John Brown. Although the win gained Ricco a few points, he’s still outside the Top 50 at Heavyweight.
- Blagoi Ivanov, the man who holds a recent Sambo win over Fedor, jumped into the Top 100 with a split decision victory of Kazuyuki Fujita.
2009 1st Half Award: The Deepest Shows
A deep show (in our opinion) is one that features matches between fighters that are BOTH ranked at the time of the match. These first-half shows had the most of these matches.
1st Place: UFC 97 [11]
T-2nd Place: Affliction 2, UFC 95, UFC 98, Sengoku Seventh [9]
Rounding out the Top 10
T-6th: UFC Fight Night 17, UFC 94, UFC 96 [8]
T-9th: Sengoku No Ran, UFC 99, WEC 40, Dream 8, UFC UF 9 Finale [7]
Note: The above list was calculated after the fact, using our current ranking limits (Top 150, 100, etc). Although approximate, it should be extremely accurate.
Note #2: List was updated as current ranking limits were not being used.
2009 1st Half Award: The “Most Important” Match
The most important match is calculated by added both fighters’ pre-fight ranks together, then sorting it by the lowest amount first.
1st Place: Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn II
T-2nd Place: Mike Brown vs. Urijah Faber II
T-2nd Place: Shinichi Kojima vs. Yuki Shoujo
Rounding out the Top 10
4th: Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans
T-5th: Mike Brown vs. Leonard Garcia
T-5th: Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki
7th: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski
8th: Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin
9th: Jake Shields vs. Robbie Lawler
10th: Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites
Note: The above list was calculated after the fact. Although approximate, it should be extremely accurate.
Credit to CrowCrucifix for the idea.. Blame me for the medal colors. Its ashame I couldn’t break out bronze due to the tie.
June Archive Published
Fightmatrix.com Mixed Martial Arts Rankings Archive has been updated with the rankings as of June 7, 2009.
MMA Rankings Updated: 7/20/09
Notable Info
- Ricco Rodriguez suffered a loss to unheralded Mario Rinaldi. As a result, he finds himself outside the Top 50.
- Marius Zaromskis shocks everyone by taking the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix. He moves from #67 to #6 in the division.
- Shinya Aoki returns to the Lightweight division, ranked at #6. Vitor Ribeiro loses even more relevance and falls to #40.
- The biggest upset of the week happened in the Flyweight division. Longstanding #1 Flyweight Shinichi Kojima, falls to Jucie Formiga, who was just outside of the Top 25. Due to Kojima’s dominance and the weakness of the division, Formiga moves into the top spot, while Kojima falls to #2.