World MMA Rankings: November 20, 2011
Over the past couple weeks, the UFC made its debut on network TV and we've seen new champions and #1 contenders made. Here's our opinion on how the top 10 breaks down in each MMA weight class.
Heavyweight (265 pound limit)
1) Junior dos Santos
JDS is the new king of the UFC heavyweight division, dethroning Cain Velasquez during the 1st UFC event on network TV.
2) Cain Velasquez
Cain’s debut on FOX didn’t go as planned, as he was knocked out in 64 seconds by Junior dos Santos.
3) Alistair Overeem (“Demolition Man”)
Overeem will make his long awaited UFC debut at UFC 141 against Brock Lesnar.
4) Daniel Cormier
Cormier continues to recover from a hand injury he sustained in his semifinal win.
5) Antonio Silva (“Bigfoot”)
Silva was upset handily by Daniel Cormier. Will he make it into the UFC?
6) Brock Lesnar
From the videos released, Lesnar is taking his return extremely seriously.
7) Shane Carwin
Carwin now needs back surgery and will be out until mid-2012. At 36, he may be at the end of his MMA career even though he’s a relative newbie mileage wise.
8) Fabricio Werdum (“Vai Cavalo”)
Werdum will return to the UFC at the end of the year, taking on Brendan Schaub at UFC 141.
9) Frank Mir
Mir gets a chance to show his win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was not a fluke, as the 2 heavyweights will face each other this winter in a rematch.
10) Roy Nelson (“Big Country”)
Nelson sent the legend Mirko Cro Cop into retirement at UFC 137 to get back on the winning track.
Light heavyweight (205 pound limit)
1) Jon Jones (“Bones”)
If Jones beats Lyoto Machida in December, there is no way he can not be declared the fighter of the year for 2011.
2) Dan Henderson
In an epic fight, Hendo walked away with a 48-47 win over Mauricio Rua.
3) Mauricio Rua (“Shogun”)
Shogun may have lost to Dan Henderson, but made a bunch of fans in the process.
4) Rashad Evans
At the rate we are going, Evans vs Jones will take place sometime in 2020.
5) Quinton Jackson (“Rampage”)
Rampage was nullified in his match against young champion Jon Jones.
6) Lyoto Machida (“The Dragon”)
With the injury to Rashad Evans, Lyoto gets a chance to get his title back. Does he have the style to beat Jon Jones?
7) Forrest Griffin
Forrest was unable to beat Shogun in their rematch.
8) Phil Davis (“Mr. Wonderful”)
Unfortunately, Mr. Wonderful’s path to a title shot was stalled as he was forced to pull out of a fight against Rashad Evans due to injury.
9) Tito Ortiz (“The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”)
The Ortiz comeback train stalled, and now Ortiz is set to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
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