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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (205-185)

1. Quinton Jackson (Pictures) (28-6-0)
"Rampage" has worked past the troubles that haunted him after a tough series of fights in PRIDE, the last of which saw him go down in defeat to "Shogun" Rua. The exciting and flamboyant UFC light heavyweight put himself on the map by blasting out Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in less than two minutes. He followed that with a hard-fought victory over Dan Henderson (Pictures) on Sept. 8. Next up, Rampage looks to become a crossover star as he'll coach alongside Forrest Griffin (Pictures) as part of the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

2. Dan Henderson (Pictures) (22-6-0)
Undersized for the division, Dan Henderson (Pictures) is not a known name amongst many casual MMA fans. A scrappy former Olympic wrestler who has worked hard to integrate a dangerous striking game punctuated by one of the best right hands in the sport, Henderson has continually defied the odds against heavier opposition. His 25-minute war against Jackson is indicative of how tough the 37-year-old Henderson can be. Henderson slides up two spots. News of a fight with Anderson Silva at 185 pounds would suggest that Henderson will focus on the middleweight division, where he was previously ranked and subsequently dropped because of inactivity.

3. Keith Jardine (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Proof that a good game plan and a quality fight camp can get you far in MMA, Keith Jardine (Pictures) enjoyed the benefits of both on Sept. 22 in out-pointing former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures). Like Liddell, "The Dean of Mean" was returning to the ring for the first time since suffering a brutal knockout loss, but Jardine showed no ill effects in winning. Wanderlei Silva (Pictures)'s loss to Chuck Liddell (Pictures) allows Jardine to climb one spot, from fourth to third.

4. Forrest Griffin (Pictures) (15-4-0)
An enormous win over "Shogun" validated Griffin in September, and now Griffin will have the enormous chance to add to both his celebrity and résumé as he takes on a coaching role on the seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will culminate in a title clash against Quinton Jackson (Pictures). Silva's loss to Liddell allows Griffin to rise one slot, from fifth to fourth.

5. Chuck Liddell (Pictures) (21-5)
After back-to-back disappointing losses to Quinton Jackson (Pictures) and Keith Jardine (Pictures), Liddell was in a must-win situation in his long-awaited showdown with Wanderlei Silva. In the high stakes scenario, Liddell turned in one of the best performances of his career, as he potently punched his way to a dominant decision against "The Axe Murderer" to put himself back into the UFC title picture. The win vaults Liddell from seventh to fifth in the rankings.

6. Mauricio Rua (Pictures) (16-3-0)
Rua had nothing for the previously unranked Griffin in their Sept. 22 UFC fight. The Brazilian earned his reputation by winning in Japan, where he demolished current UFC champion Quinton Jackson (Pictures) and captured the prestigious PRIDE 205-pound Grand Prix. With his exciting fighting style and world-class skill, Shogun was poised to become a star in the United States. At just 25 years of age, he can rebound from the Griffin defeat, but it will take excellent performances for him to find the top spot anytime soon.

7. Lyoto Machida (Pictures) (12-0-0)
With years of hype, and a string of dominant wins, the enigmatic Brazilian was still in desperate need of a great performance. The proud karateka was able to actualize it, as he absolutely destroyed the streaking Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. The sensational win sees Machida rise from tenth to seventh in the rankings. At this juncture, it'd be hard to imagine Machida not fighting for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2008.

8. Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) (31-8-1, 1 NC)
Silva fought gamely, but lost a decisive points victory to longtime rival Chuck Liddell on Dec. 29. The 31-year-old has lost three in a row, and as a result, falls from third to eighth on the Sherdog.com rankings. However, there is still a wealth of talent that pose interesting match-ups for "The Axe Murderer" heading into 2008.

9. Rashad Evans (Pictures) (11-0-1)
"Sugar" Rashad maintains his spot following his tight decision win over Michael Bisping at UFC 78. On the heels of a draw versus Tito Ortiz (Pictures), which Evans would have lost had Ortiz not grabbed the cage fencing and suffered a point deduction, a destructive KO over Sean Salmon (Pictures) and, most impressively, a dominating stoppage of Jason Lambert (Pictures), "The Ultimate Fighter 2" heavyweight winner holds onto the ninth spot.

10. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) (4-2-0)
Africa's top mixed martial artist exploded upon the world stage in 2007 with early knockouts of then top-10 light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and Ricardo Arona (Pictures). However, whether it was a case of too much too soon, or just being against a special kind of opponent, Sokoudjou was crushed by Lyoto Machida in his UFC debut on Dec. 29. At 23 years old, Sokoudjou has all the time in the world to evolve into an elite fighter, but for now, his loss drops him from eighth to tenth.

WELTERWEIGHT (170-155)

1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
While the spectre of his shocking loss to Matt Serra (Pictures) looms, the French-Canadian regains the top spot in the Sherdog.com rankings. In the wake of his loss to Serra, GSP has gone out and showed why he was touted as the next P4P king of the sport in running roughshod over top-10 opponents in Josh Koscheck (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures). Beating top-flight competition is the backbone of this sport, and St. Pierre has compiled more top-10 wins than maybe any fighter in the past three years. However, all his demons won't be fully exorcised until he defeats Serra to regain the rightful UFC welterweight title.

2. Matt Serra (Pictures) (9-4-0)
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) stepped in, destroyed Hughes, and on the strength of his last two bouts, regained the top spot in these rankings. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.

3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end, and was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple fights maximum left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.

4. Jon Fitch (Pictures) (15-2-0, 1 NC)
With his impressive decision victory over Diego Sanchez (Pictures) on Sept. 22, Fitch moved to 7-0 in the UFC. The impressive wrestler turned mixed martial artist showed an array of skills, including an amazing ability to avoid submissions. Fitch has come out of the shadows the right way, winning tough fights that helped him grow as a fighter -- and as a known commodity among MMA fans.

5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
A last-second loss to Drew Fickett (Pictures) is no longer the only blemish on the powerful wrestler's ledger. Koscheck was dominated during his 15-minute clash with former UFC champion Georges St. Pierre (Pictures). Perhaps most surprising: He was outwrestled and forced to fight from the bottom for most of the fight. Training with Jon Fitch (Pictures) at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., should only help Koscheck's progression.

6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Undefeated before losing by decision to Koscheck in one of his worst efforts as a pro, Sanchez redeemed himself even in losing to Jon Fitch (Pictures) on Sept. 22. "The Ultimate Fighter 1" star aggressively attacked Fitch with submissions, but he failed to find one due to his foe's incredible defense. Sanchez recently left his childhood home of Albuquerque, N.M., and longtime trainer Greg Jackson to be with his child in San Diego, Calif. The move to work with Rob Garcia regularly didn't appear to hurt Sanchez, who might consider a move down to lightweight following his second loss in a row.

7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
Parisyan was once promised a title shot before the UFC's 170-pound title picture went haywire. However, he has done his job as a prizefighter, continuously facing quality opposition and, apart from his classic with Diego Sanchez (Pictures), winning. The high amplitude-minded Armenian continued his march towards a title shot by outlasting former DEEP champion and PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonan (Pictures) at UFC 78.

8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then went out and quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields would seemingly be an EliteXC title match. The real question, however, is whom Gary Shaw and company can find to face Shields that will offer him any sort of challenge.

9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
His tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where Aoki figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's resume as a welterweight is still sterling, and he figures to return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds early in 2008.

10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line on Feb. 13. Condit gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures), in front of a partisan crowd in his native New Mexico where their first bout took place in Sept. 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.

FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)

1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Urijah Faber (Pictures) was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors as he choked out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earns the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.

2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
Enjoying a tremendous breakout year, the Shooto world champion falls from first to second with the ascension of Faber to the top of the list. However, if Tamura is no flash in the pan and his 2007 success is an indication of true improvement, he may not be quite done with knocking off top-10 opponents in 2008. His next fight will likely be a rubber match with Lion Takeshi.

3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair earlier last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion in dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. In the current climate of pro Shooto, the potent-punching Yokohama native seems bound for a world title rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) in '08.

4. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (28-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.

5. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-4-1)
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). What's more is that Takaya recently signed a deal with Zuffa to compete in the WEC, which will make for some exciting, high-stakes matchups in the cage.

6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya. What's next for the Canadian is unknown. He plans on heading home to Toronto after spending the year living and training in Tokyo, and his strained relationship with Shooto authorities has likely signaled his end there.

7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
In one of the year's most absurd bouts, Imanari aimlessly sidekicked journeyman Hiroyuki Abe for almost 14 minutes on Oct. 9 while Abe stood like a statue and employed the ancient hourglass karate stance. Thankfully the "Ashikan Judan" lived up to his moniker and finally got the bout to the mat, where he quickly ankle locked Abe. Hopefully Imanari's next outing, whether in Cage Rage or Deep, has a little more substance.

8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-2)
The Pancrase poster boy has looked solid in his 2007 campaign, running his record to 3-0 with a September stamping of Frenchman Johnny Frachey (Pictures). Now he'll head back to his hometown of Osaka for Deep's Dec. 22 card, where he'll meet suddenly relevant South Korean slugger Jong Man Kim (Pictures). Maeda's career has been characterized by his flaky failures in the ring, which should provide some extra drama in taking on the live underdog in Kim.

9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-2, 1 NC)
While he didn't come out with a win, the gritty South Korean capped an impressive 2007 campaign by fighting to a draw entertaining, tit-for-tat slugfest against Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures). Kim is still very much a work in progress, especially in a very talented weight class, but the South Korean is tough as nails and full of potential.

10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Hioki got back into the win column late last month in his native Nagoya with a blowout decision over TUF 5 alum Brian Geraghty (Pictures). He will look to put his recent woes even farther behind him as he takes on quirky vet Katsuya Toida (Pictures) as part of the Jan. 26 Shooto bill at Korakuen Hall.

FLYWEIGHT (125-115)

1. Shinichi Kojima (Pictures) (8-2-4)
A miserable year for the Shooto world champion got even worse at Shooto's super-card at Yoyogi in November. BJ said it was his dream to hold both the Shooto world 123-pound and 132-pound titles. He tried to take his first step toward that goal against 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas in his 132-pound debut. The young Andre Pederneiras pupil was a step ahead of BJ, who has looked dreadful since leaving Hiroyuki Abe's AACC and linking up with Shuichiro Katsumura (Pictures) and his Katsumura Dojo. With his next 123-pound title defense in the upcoming months, something drastic will have to happen, or BJ will likely be beltless.

2. Yasuhiro Urushitani (Pictures) (14-3-5)
A rough year got rougher for Urushitani this month, when he got a much tougher-than-expected tune-up against Guamanian import Jesse Taitano (Pictures). Though he controlled most of the bout, a knockdown seemingly swayed the judges who ruled the bout a majority draw, with only one card going to the deserving Urushitani. Thankfully, it appears Urushitani will get his opportunity to take the belt he should already own against BJ Kojima in the Shooto ring in '08.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) (18-4-3)
The longtime ruler of the 123-pounders wasn't able to repeat his December 2003 win over Urushitani. He will need to work his way back up the ladder to earn another shot at BJ or Urushitani. However, the positive for Mamoru is that while BJ and Urushitani may offer difficult tests for him, he is still head and shoulders above the rest of the weight class.

4. Yuki Shoujou (Pictures) (7-3-2)
Having one of the best 2007 campaigns of any pro Shootor, Shoujou ran his record to 3-0 this year with a commanding decision victory over ever-tough veteran Junji Ikoma (Pictures) last month. The always-exciting Shoujou is now in the thick of things in Shooto's 123-pound division and should provide fantastic scraps for years to come.

5. Rambaa Somdet (Pictures) (4-2)
Surreal to say the least, former Thai stadium standout Rambaa "M-16" Somdet, after nearly five years away from MMA, returned to the ring earlier this year. First he demolished 115-pounder Takehiro Harusaki (Pictures) effortlessly in July. Then this month he destroyed a streaking Masaaki Sugawara (Pictures), threatening with both submission attempts and vicious strikes before forcing a doctor's stoppage after the second round. While it's unclear if Somdet will continue campaigning at 115 or 123 pounds, the colorful and unorthodox fighter has commanded the attention of fans with his last two wins.

posodobitev lestvice: februar 2008


HEAVYWEIGHT (265-205)

1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
After quickly submitting Hong Man Choi (Pictures), Emelianenko may see his next competition come against another K-1 standout. M-1 Global is currently considering former Fedor foe and three-time running K-1 World Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt (Pictures) as a candidate for the Russian's next competition. More likely, however, is a showdown in May against former UFC heavyweight title challenger Jeff Monson (Pictures).

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
In a vintage performance, Nogueira took 10 minutes' worth of championship abuse from Tim Sylvia (Pictures) before submitting the two-time UFC champ in the third round. With the victory, Nogueira became the only man to wear both Pride and UFC title belts, and he regains the No. 2 spot in the rankings. If "Minotauro" can duplicate his performance against other top-10 foes, he may regain the top heavyweight status he once owned.

3. Randy Couture (Pictures) (16-8-0)
Just when it seemed Couture couldn't capture any more headlines in 2007 after his underdog demolitions of Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), "The Natural" resigned from the UFC. A fight against Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) seems impossible, and Couture's next battle will be a legal one, as he attempts to get out of his contract with Zuffa. With Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures)'s win over Tim Sylvia (Pictures), Nogueira regains his former two spot, while Couture slips to three.

4. Tim Sylvia (Pictures) (24-4-0)
Through 10 minutes, Sylvia worked a perfect game plan in battering Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures). However, Nogueira made the most of his opportunity and swept and submitted the former UFC champion. Still a top heavyweight who may have title chances to come, Sylvia's route back to a title shot is anything but certain.

5. Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (11-5-0)
After being held hostage by his promoter for most of 2007, the former UFC champ will see action in March against undefeated heavyweight prospect Jake O'Brien (Pictures). The bout will be relegated to the prelims, though, and win or lose, it could spell the end of the Belarusian in the Octagon. Nonetheless, Arlovski rises from sixth to fifth in the rankings after Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures)'s loss.

6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut in April against Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) with a well-earned stoppage over Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) in January. Now, as Dana White has suggested, Werdum could have the opportunity to avenge a loss and snag UFC gold if a title bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) is inked.

7. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (8-3-0)
After his devastating knockout of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), many thought Gonzaga was the next UFC champion. However, Randy Couture (Pictures) brought him back down into the atmosphere, and then Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) slammed him back down to earth with a second-round stoppage in January. It remains to be seen if Gonzaga will be able to replicate his win over "Cro Cop" in the near future.

8. Cheick Kongo (Pictures) (11-3-1)
While no one can take away his win over "Cro Cop," one can certainly debate how the limited Kongo will fare with experienced grapplers in the future. The best way for the Frenchman to end such discussions would be to take a win over Heath Herring (Pictures) in March.

9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (22-6-2)
"Cro Cop" is just 1-2 since joining the UFC ranks after winning the 2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix. After a considerable hiatus, especially for the active Croatian's standards, Zuffa has asked him to make an immediate decision regarding his future in the Octagon.

10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-5-0)
While Rothwell is unproven against top competition, the 26-year-old Miletich product is riding a 13-fight winning streak, including wins over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) and recently crowned IFL champion Roy Nelson (Pictures). With his relationship with the IFL looking a tad rocky, many are calling for Rothwell to take the jump in competition in 2008.


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (205-185)

1. Quinton Jackson (Pictures) (29-6-0)
"Rampage" has worked past the troubles that haunted him after a tough series of fights in Pride, the last of which saw him go down in defeat to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The exciting and flamboyant UFC light heavyweight put himself on the map by blasting out Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in less than two minutes. He followed that with a hard-fought victory over Dan Henderson (Pictures) on Sept. 8. Next up, Jackson looks to become a crossover star, as he'll coach alongside Forrest Griffin (Pictures) as part of the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

2. Dan Henderson (Pictures) (22-6-0)
Undersized for the division, Dan Henderson (Pictures) is not a known name amongst many casual MMA fans. A scrappy former Olympic wrestler who has worked hard to integrate a dangerous striking game punctuated by one of the best right hands in the sport, Henderson has continually defied the odds against heavier opposition. His 25-minute war against Jackson is indicative of how tough the 37-year-old Henderson can be. In March, Henderson will drop to middleweight for a meeting with UFC champion Anderson Silva.

3. Keith Jardine (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Proof that a good game plan and a quality fight camp can get you far in MMA, Keith Jardine (Pictures) enjoyed the benefits of both on Sept. 22 in out-pointing former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures). Like Liddell, "The Dean of Mean" was returning to the ring for the first time since suffering a brutal knockout loss, but Jardine showed no ill effects in winning.

4. Forrest Griffin (Pictures) (15-4-0)
An enormous win over "Shogun" validated Griffin in September. Now he will have the chance to add to both his celebrity and his résumé when he takes on a coaching role on the seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will culminate in a title clash against Quinton Jackson (Pictures). Silva's loss to Liddell allows Griffin to rise one slot, from fifth to fourth.

5. Chuck Liddell (Pictures) (21-5)
After back-to-back disappointing losses to Quinton Jackson (Pictures) and Keith Jardine (Pictures), Liddell was in a must-win situation in his long-awaited showdown with Wanderlei Silva (Pictures). "The Iceman" turned in one of the best performances of his career, punching his way to a dominant decision against "The Axe Murderer." Next up the pipe may be an equally alluring bout with another top Brazilian in Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

6. Mauricio Rua (Pictures) (16-3-0)
After a dismal effort in September against Forrest Griffin (Pictures), many thought "Shogun" was in for a softball in his second UFC bout. Instead, the former Pride GP champ has signed on to face Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in another star-laden fight in arguably MMA's most illustrious division.

7. Lyoto Machida (Pictures) (12-0-0)
An undefeated record, years of hype and a riddle of a fight style have gained Machida attention, and his recent domination of a surging Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) really put him on the map. However, Machida's path to his deserved title shot now seemingly runs through former UFC poster boy and champion Tito Ortiz (Pictures).

8. Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) (31-8-1, 1 NC)
Silva fought gamely in losing a decisive decision to Chuck Liddell (Pictures) on Dec. 29. The 31-year-old Brazilian has lost three in a row, but there are still plenty of interesting matchups for "The Axe Murderer" heading into 2008.

9. Rashad Evans (Pictures) (11-0-1)
Evans' close decision win over Michael Bisping (Pictures) may not have gained him many fans or greatly increased his stature in the division. However, he has moved into position to challenge another undefeated up-and-coming light heavyweight in Thiago Silva (Pictures). If the bout materializes, it could put either fighter in the thick of things in a very deep 205-pound talent pool.

10. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) (4-2-0)
Africa's top mixed martial artist exploded upon the world stage in 2007 with early knockouts of then top-10 light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and Ricardo Arona (Pictures). Whether it was a case of too much too soon, or just being matched against a special kind of opponent, Sokoudjou was crushed by Machida in his UFC debut on Dec. 29. At 23 years old, Sokoudjou has all the time in the world to evolve into an elite fighter.


MIDDLEWEIGHT (185-170)

1. Anderson Silva (20-4)
After a string of stirring victories that earned him the title of the sport's top fighter in the eyes of many, Silva will have an opportunity to further cement his status in a March bout against Dan Henderson (Pictures). In Henderson, Silva meets another pound-for-pound stalwart who could possess the staying power to test "The Spider" in a way he hasn't been challenged in quite a while. Here's to hoping a potential classic delivers.

2. Paulo Filho (Pictures) (16-0-0)
The good: Filho knocked off a very solid and worthy opponent in his Dec. 12 WEC title defense in Chael Sonnen (Pictures). The bad: He looked positively awful doing it, and the fight's finish came amid considerable controversy. The ugly: The fight has led to many fans and pundits alike questioning whether Filho is nearly as talented as his beefy record says. It's a question that could get answered when he rematches Sonnen in March.

3. Rich Franklin (Pictures) (22-3-0, 1 NC)
Following another destruction at the hands of Anderson Silva, Franklin will attempt to get back into the saddle in March against solid but unspectacular competition in Travis Lutter (Pictures). Like Franklin, Lutter has firsthand knowledge of the division's kingpin, having been another victim of Silva last February. With Lindland out of the picture, Franklin jumps up one spot to third.

4. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-7-2)
Although Marquardt was overwhelmed in his UFC title bid in July by Anderson Silva, the multiple-time King of Pancrase looked sterling in his destruction of Jeremy Horn (Pictures). The win puts Marquardt back in the mix at 185, and with the subtraction of "The Law," Marquardt rises from five to four.

5. Robbie Lawler (Pictures) (16-4-0)
Injury again nixed a proposed Dec. 15 bout in Icon Sport with Hawaiian banger Kala Kolohe Hose (Pictures). Here's hoping that the third time is the charm for getting this fight done and that one of ProElite's top talents can stay healthy for action in the new year. Lawler also gains one spot, heading from six to five.

6. Yushin Okami (Pictures) (21-4-0)
Following his domination of Jason MacDonald (Pictures) in October, rumors immediately surfaced that Okami was done in the UFC and that Zuffa had no interest in re-signing him. Thankfully, that isn't the case, and the Japanese standout will look to ruin the Octagon return of former champ Evan Tanner (Pictures) in March. Okami also gains a spot, moving from seventh to sixth.

7. Frank Trigg (Pictures) (16-6-0)
Not the most poignant victory in the world, "Twinkle Toes" made easy work of Edwin Dewees (Pictures) on the Dec. 15 HDNet Fights card. What's more important is that Jason "Mayhem" Miller knocked off Tim Kennedy (Pictures), setting up a quality rematch between the two fighters early next year. Their first encounter was the bout that brought Trigg back to prominence, as he literally stomped out MMA's cult hero in December 2006.

8. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) (10-1-0, 2 NC)
While there is much scrutiny around potential political motivations being the impetus for overturning Akiyama's bout with Kazuo Misaki (Pictures), the fact remains that the governing powers overturned the bout. However deserved, Akiyama moves ahead of Misaki and takes the eighth spot following the invalidation of his loss. For the sake of propriety, hopefully a rematch happens down the line.

9. Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) (18-8-2, 1 NC)
Talk about a rollercoaster: after his improbable and arguably tainted PRIDE Grand Prix run in 2006, Misaki began 2007 with high hopes, and was instead destroyed by Frank Trigg (Pictures). Misaki appeared to turn in a performance that embodied the brand of gameness he's known for, getting up from a brutal knockdown to put Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) to sleep in vicious fashion. However, Akiyama protested, alleging that Misaki finished with an illegal soccer kick. The result was overturned and the win erased.

10. Jorge Santiago (Pictures) (16-7-0)
With the subtractions of Lindland and Misaki, Santiago debuts at No. 10. The Brazilian seemed relegated to gatekeeper status after being ousted from the UFC on two losses. Since then Santiago has went on a four-fight win streak, including respectable wins over Jeremy Horn (Pictures) and Andrei Semenov (Pictures) anchored by a fantastic win over the ever-tough Trevor Prangley (Pictures) to capture Strikeforce's one-night tournament in November.


WELTERWEIGHT (170-155)

1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
GSP has the top spot in these rankings but not the UFC 170-pound championship. In order to hold his place and regain the UFC championship, St. Pierre will need to defeat Matt Serra (Pictures) in their rematch April 19. If nothing else, he will have a raucous, partisan crowd behind him, as the two do battle in Montreal's Bell Centre.

2. Matt Serra (Pictures) (9-4-0)
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Then GSP stepped in and destroyed Hughes. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.

3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end. Hughes was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple of fights left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.

4. Jon Fitch (Pictures) (15-2-0, 1 NC)
Fitch, who openly states he wants to face top opposition no matter the challenge, got his wish with veteran Akihiro Gono (Pictures). However, when a broken hand forced Gono from their March 1 bout, Fitch didn't have to go slumming for an opponent. Now he will face tough Team Quest product Chris Wilson, who has recently taken wins over the likes of Derrick Noble (Pictures), Rory Markham (Pictures) and Jay Hieron (Pictures).

5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
After wanting to get back into action as soon as possible following his loss to St. Pierre in August, Koscheck will finally make his return March 1. He will find opposition in submission-savvy upstart Dustin Hazelett (Pictures), who rides a three-bout win streak into their bout.

6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Sanchez has opted to stay at 170 pounds following losses to Koscheck and Fitch. His road to recovery in the 170-pound class starts March 1, when he'll meet Swedish standout David Bielkheden (Pictures).

7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
If Parisyan wanted an easy bout to ensure a better chance at getting a UFC title shot, he sure didn't get it. Instead, the Armenian will meet Brazilian dynamo Thiago Alves (Pictures) in what could be an early fight of the year candidate on the televised main card of the stacked April 2 Ultimate Fight Night card.

8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields is an EliteXC title match versus battle-tested welterweight Drew Fickett (Pictures) on March 29.

9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
Aoki's tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where he figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's résumé as a welterweight is still sterling, and he should return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds in early 2008.

10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line Feb. 13. He gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures) in front of a partisan crowd in Condit's native New Mexico, where their first bout took place in September 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.


LIGHTWEIGHT (155-145)

1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (27-3-0, 1 ND)
After nearly a year of intense scrutiny over his notorious bout with Nick Diaz (Pictures) and mounting criticisms over how good Pride fighters really are, Gomi signed with upstart World Victory Road and will see action on the promotion's March 5 debut card. Gomi's ability to continue to reign as the sport's top lightweight will hinge on his ability to fight and beat top opponents in a rapidly changing division.

2. Gesias Calvancante (Pictures) (14-1-1)
After fans were robbed of a JZ-Aoki bout on New Year's Eve, the bout is scheduled to take place in March under the watch of K-1 and HERO'S backer Fight Entertainment Group. However, who puts it on and where it happens is unimportant, so long as the much-anticipated bout actually happens this time.

3. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (16-3-1)
Undersized and predictable as a fighter, many thought Ishida had peaked with a fortuitous win over a streaking Marcus Aurelio. Instead, "The Endless Fighter" marched out to the ring and outwrestled the undefeated and highly regarded Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) for a unanimous decision -- the biggest win of his career. Like many former Pride fighters, what's next for Ishida is uncertain, but hopefully 2008 can see him against some noteworthy competition.

4. B.J. Penn (Pictures) (12-4-1)
There is little left to be said about B.J. Penn (Pictures)'s UFC lightweight title capture over Joe Stevenson -- the Hawaiian's first win over a top-10 lightweight in four years. He fought in the fashion most hoped he would for the duration of his career. With the win, Penn jumps from eighth to fourth in the rankings. If the new "Hilo Rude Boy" shows up with similar motivation, his forthcoming bout with Sean Sherk (Pictures) could be an Octagon classic. A win over Sherk would almost certainly propel Penn to the top of the division.

5. Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (13-1-0)
In what looked to be a tough but winnable contest for Melendez, "El Nino" dropped a decision to Mitushiro Ishida in a back-and-forth bout of scrambles. While Melendez has already asked for a rematch, he'll first have to defend his Strikeforce crown in March. With the rise of "The Prodigy," Melendez falls from fourth to fifth.

6. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (20-4-2)
After a year away from the ring, Kawajiri looked like the "Crusher" of old as he pounded Brazilian wildman Luiz Azeredo (Pictures) to a dominant unanimous decision on the Yarennoka card. Here's to seeing more of the former Shooto world champ in 2008. With Penn's leap into the top four, Kawajiri falls from fifth to sixth.

7. Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-2)
"Shaolin" had successful eye surgery in September following his destruction at the hands of Gesias Calvancante (Pictures). For Ribeiro, recovery likely can't come fast enough to allow him to erase the memories of his dreadful performance in the HERO'S semifinal. "Shaolin" falls from sixth to seventh.

8. Sean Sherk (Pictures) (32-2-1)
With his steroid saga behind him, Sherk can now focus on his opportunity to regain the UFC lightweight title he believes should still be his. The ever-game fighter faces an enormous challenge against the ultra-talented Penn in what should be a hotly anticipated encounter. For the time being, Penn's rise in the division drops Sherk from seventh to eighth.

9. Joe Stevenson (28-8-0)
After earning a well-deserved title opportunity in January, Stevenson was dismantled. Thankfully, there are still dozens of compelling bouts for the solid Stevenson, though another title shot in the UFC's 155-pound class could be a ways away.

10. Frank Edgar (Pictures) (8-0-0)
One of the most pleasant surprises of 2007, Edgar burst onto the scene in February with an instant classic and fight-of-the-year candidate against then-undefeated Tyson Griffin. The New Jersey standout will look to push his record to 9-0 against fellow undefeated wrestler Gray Maynard (Pictures) in April.


FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)

1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while, Faber was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors by choking out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earned the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with the likes of a rejuvenated Jens Pulver (Pictures) and relocated Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the cage, Faber will have no shortage of challenges.

2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
One of the biggest surprises of 2007, March 28 will see Tamura make the first defense of his Shooto world title against Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures). The bout will also give Tamura the chance to erase another defeat from his résumé, having lost to Kadowaki in March 2005.

3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion while dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. However, a rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) will have to wait. Tamura defends his title against Kadowaki, while Lion sees undercard action on the March 28 bill.

4. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (29-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. A highly skilled vet at only 30 years old, Curran is nowhere near the end of the road as a fighter, but the miles ahead may be much harder with the influx of talent into the WEC.

5. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-4-1)
Takaya has looked sensational in his return to the featherweight division, icing Jarrod Card (Pictures) and Antonio Carvalho (Pictures). He now has the enormous chance to flaunt his skills stateside, starting first with a guaranteed gunfight on Feb. 13 against Leonard Garcia (Pictures).

6. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya in November, but now he figures to be the favorite in the 145-pound Cage Force tournament that GCM has lined up for '08. Carvalho's first action of the year comes in April, when he'll meet sturdy Japanese veteran Yuji Hoshino (Pictures).

7. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (13-5-1)
Imanari will make the first defense of his Cage Rage title March 8. He'll head back into hostile territory to face Chute Boxe product Jean Silva (Pictures) in London. MMA's leglocking authority may also have to make another title defense in the near future in Deep. Here's to solid competition.

8. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (22-4-2)
A longtime top featherweight, Maeda is making the move stateside and will cut down to 135 pounds for his WEC debut on Feb. 13. The very skilled Maeda has failed miserably under pressure in the past, and against a very reputable foe in Charlie Valencia (Pictures), he'll more than certainly have his work cut out for him.

9. Jong Man Kim (Pictures) (3-2-2, 1 NC)
After a breakout year with solid results against the likes of Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) and Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), Kim will have the chance to prove he's more than a fluke in GCM's 145-pound Cage Force tournament. First up on Feb. 11, he'll meet an opponent even more tenacious than himself in wildchild "Wicky Akiyo" Akiyo Nishiura (Pictures).

10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a very disappointing 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in stellar fashion, destroying eccentric veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) over two rounds on Jan. 26. However, Hioki will need to impress against more sterling competition to regain the stature he previously held in a thickening 145-pound class.


BANTAMWEIGHT (135-125)

1. Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures) (5-0-1)
Okazaki becomes the top dog on the list by default with the retirement of Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures). He will have the chance to actually earn the spot if he can become the fifth 132-pound world champion of pro Shooto in March, when he meets Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures).

2. Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) (7-0-1)
Ueda put on an impressive, technical display against Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) to earn a unanimous decision and burst back into these rankings at No. 2. Now 2006's most outstanding Shooto rookie champion will have the chance to become Shooto world champion when he meets Okazaki in March.

3. Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) (11-5-1)
The Norifumi Yamamoto (Pictures) pupil had the biggest opportunity of his career in his bout with Masakatsu Ueda, which offered the winner a chance to fight for the vacant 132-pound Shooto world title. In a hard-fought bout, Ueda came out the victor, which will send Yamamoto back to the drawing board.

4. Brian Bowles (4-0-0)
Bowles went from "Who is this kid?" after his June submission win over vet Charlie Valencia to "This kid is serious" after his Dec. 12 steamrolling of the well-traveled and well-accomplished Marcos "Louro" Galvao. With the win, Bowles notched the most significant victory to date for a North American bantamweight against international competition and also cemented himself as a worthy adversary to the likes of Chase Beebe (Pictures) and Miguel Torres (Pictures).

5. Marcos Galvao (Pictures) (6-2-0)
After years of competing in Shooto, "Louro" got a golden opportunity to showcase his skills in the WEC, which has quickly become the big stage for talent below 155 pounds. The result? Galvao got absolutely destroyed by upstart Brian Bowles (Pictures), who tore him apart on the feet en route to a second-round stoppage.

6. Daniel Lima (Pictures) (8-2-2)
The Australia-based Brazilian has enjoyed a solid 2007 campaign. He moved his mark to 3-0 on the year with an exciting split decision over Kenji Osawa (Pictures) in September. The next action for "Little Devil" will likely come in his adopted homeland.

7. Kenji Osawa (Pictures) (13-7-1)
The charismatic Wajyutsu product came out on the wrong end of a split decision in his rematch with Daniel Lima (Pictures). Thankfully Osawa's self-professed desire to face the best fighters in the world should see him remain in relevant competition.

8. Takeya Mizugaki (Pictures) (8-2-2)
The 2005 Shooto rookie MVP has a golden opportunity in front of him. With GCM promoting a 135-pound tournament this year for its Cage Force series, Mizugaki has the chance to not only grab the attention of fans in the cage but also earn a ticket stateside, where the talent pool is rapidly improving, and there is more money to be made.

9. Miguel Torres (Pictures) (20-1-0)
Long considered the top North American in the division, Torres has always been deprived of the chance to fight other top fighters at his weight. With the WEC emerging as the home for lighter fighters, Torres now has the chance to have his ranking reflect his talent, and that starts with his Feb. 13 title challenge against Chase Beebe (Pictures).

10. Chase Beebe (Pictures) (11-1-0)
Beebe, like Torres, has an immense amount of talent and simply hasn't had the chance to face top competition yet. In each other, they find exactly what they've been looking for, and the winner figures to take an enormous leap up in the 135-pound rankings.


FLYWEIGHT (125-115)

1. Shinichi Kojima (Pictures) (8-3-4)
After an absolutely humiliating 2007, the Shooto 123-pound world champion showed he had learned nothing in his bout with Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas by taking another fight at 132 pounds against So Tazawa (Pictures). He was thoroughly outworked in the match and saved by the referee in a locked armbar in the third round. Hopefully it signals the end of Kojima's dream to be a two-division champion.

2. Yasuhiro Urushitani (Pictures) (14-3-5)
A rough year got rougher for Urushitani in December. He got a much tougher-than-expected tune-up against Guamanian import Jesse Taitano (Pictures). Though he controlled most of the bout, a knockdown seemingly swayed the judges, who ruled the bout a majority draw, with only one card going to the deserving Urushitani. Thankfully, it appears Urushitani will get his opportunity to take the belt he should already own against BJ Kojima in the Shooto ring in '08.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) (18-4-3)
With recent losses to Kojima and Urushitani, the road back to the title Yamaguchi owned for three years is uncertain. However, in order for Mamoru to make any progress, he'll have to beat a streaking up-and-comer on Feb. 23 in Yuki Shoujou (Pictures).

4. Yuki Shoujou (Pictures) (7-3-2)
With a perfect record on the year, including wins over Masatoshi Abe (Pictures) and Junji Ikoma (Pictures), Shoujou caught fire in 2007. He'll have the chance to prove himself to be among the upper echelon of Shooto's 123-pounders this month when he meets former champion Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) in what should be an all-action bout.

5. Rambaa Somdet (Pictures) (4-2)
Surreal to say the least, former Thai stadium standout Rambaa "M-16" Somdet, after nearly five years away from MMA, returned to the ring last year. First he demolished 115-pounder Takehiro Harusaki (Pictures) effortlessly in July. Then in November he destroyed a streaking Masaaki Sugawara (Pictures), threatening with both submission attempts and vicious strikes before forcing a doctor's stoppage after the second round. While it's unclear if Somdet will continue campaigning at 115 or 123 pounds, the colorful and unorthodox fighter has commanded the attention of fans with his last two wins.

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HEAVYWEIGHT (265-205)

1. Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) (27-1-0, 1 NC)
For the second time in less than a year, Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) is the hottest free agent in MMA now that he has seemingly parted ways with the M-1 Global organization that was ostensibly based around him. Wherever the situation ends up, let's hope it is with a quality heavyweight across the ring from "The Last Emperor."

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) (31-4-1, 1 NC)
In a vintage performance, Nogueira took 10 minutes' worth of championship abuse from Tim Sylvia (Pictures) before submitting the two-time UFC champ in the third round. With the victory, Nogueira became the only man to wear both Pride and UFC heavyweight title belts. If "Minotauro" can duplicate his performance against other top-10 foes, he may regain the top heavyweight status he once owned.

3. Randy Couture (Pictures) (16-8-0)
Just when it seemed Couture couldn't capture any more headlines in 2007 after his underdog demolitions of Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), "The Natural" resigned from the UFC. Couture's battles these days are legal ones, as he tries to get out of his contract with Zuffa and land a fight versus Emelianenko.

4. Tim Sylvia (Pictures) (24-4-0)
Through 10 minutes, Sylvia worked a perfect game plan in battering "Minotauro." However, Nogueira made the most of his opportunity and swept and submitted the former UFC champion. Still a top heavyweight who may have title chances to come, Sylvia's route back to a title shot is anything but certain.

5. Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (12-5-0)
It wasn't the vintage Arlovski performance some expected, but the former UFC champ pounded out previously undefeated Jake O'Brien (Pictures) earlier this month. While many thought Arlovski being buried in the prelims would signal the end for the "Pitbull" in the UFC, both Arlovski, his management and even Dana White have expressed hope that the Belarusian will be back in the Octagon soon.

6. Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) (10-3-1)
Werdum successfully rebounded from a woeful Octagon debut in April against Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) with a well-earned stoppage over Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) in January. However, Werdum's road to a rematch with UFC champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) will be a difficult one. He's slated for duty against Brandon Vera (Pictures) in June.

7. Josh Barnett (Pictures) (21-5-0)
He sure wasn't in peak form, but Barnett returned to action in the first Sengoku headliner earlier this month against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) in a bout that was more entertaining than expected. Following Barnett's submission victory over the judo gold medalist, the more pertinent question is whether he will remain a big fish in a very, very small pond. Previously dropped for a year of inactivity, Barnett reemerges in the ranking at No. 7.

8. Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) (8-3-0)
After his devastating knockout of Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), many thought Gonzaga was the next UFC champion. Randy Couture (Pictures) brought him back down into the atmosphere, though, and then Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) slammed him back down to earth with a second-round stoppage in January. It remains to be seen if Gonzaga will be able to replicate his win over "Cro Cop" in the near future. With the reentry of Josh Barnett (Pictures), Gonzaga falls from seven to eight.

9. Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) (23-6-2)
After many headaches over finding an opponent for the former K-1 star, FEG finally produced a woefully overmatched Tatsuya Mizuno (Pictures), whom Filipovic destroyed in 56 seconds. Whether the state of things will improve for the Croatian remains to be seen.

10. Ben Rothwell (Pictures) (29-5-0)
While Rothwell is unproven against top competition, the 26-year-old Miletich product is riding a 13-fight winning streak, including wins over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) and recently crowned IFL champion Roy Nelson (Pictures). Considering that his relationship with the IFL looks a tad rocky, many are calling for Rothwell to take the jump in competition in 2008.


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (205-185)

1. Quinton Jackson (Pictures) (29-6-0)
"Rampage" has worked past the troubles that haunted him after a tough series of fights in Pride, the last of which saw him go down in defeat to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The exciting and flamboyant UFC light heavyweight put himself on the map by blasting out Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in less than two minutes. He followed that with a hard-fought victory over Dan Henderson (Pictures) on Sept. 8. Next up, Jackson looks to become a crossover star, as he'll coach alongside Forrest Griffin (Pictures) on the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter."

2. Dan Henderson (Pictures) (22-6-0)
He was torn up in his 185-pound title challenge against Anderson Silva, and his next move is uncertain. However, if Dan Henderson (Pictures) returns to the 205-pound division, there will be no shortage of interesting matchups -- although there may be a shortage of easy ones.

3. Keith Jardine (Pictures) (13-3-1)
Was Keith Jardine (Pictures) an opportunist capitalizing on a savvy game plan and an unmotivated opponent in September when he upset Chuck Liddell (Pictures)? "The Dean of Mean" will have a chance to prove he's no one-hit wonder in May, when he takes on Wanderlei Silva (Pictures).

4. Forrest Griffin (Pictures) (15-4-0)
An enormous win over "Shogun" validated Griffin in September. Now he will have the chance to add to both his celebrity and his résumé when he takes on a coaching role on the seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will culminate in a title clash against Quinton Jackson (Pictures).

5. Chuck Liddell (Pictures) (21-5)
After a fantastic performance against Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) answered some questions that emerged after his losses to Quinton Jackson (Pictures) and Keith Jardine (Pictures), anticipation was high for his slated June bout with Mauricio Rua (Pictures). Although Rua's injury has nixed that bout, Liddell will still face a worthy adversary in undefeated TUF 2 winner Rashad Evans (Pictures). The former UFC champ will be a prohibitive favorite.

6. Mauricio Rua (Pictures) (16-3-0)
After injuring his knee and stumbling in his UFC debut, it seemed "Shogun" had hit rock bottom. However, with a big fight against Chuck Liddell (Pictures) looming, disaster struck when Rua tore up the same knee that had been surgically repaired just months before.

7. Lyoto Machida (Pictures) (12-0-0)
An undefeated record, years of hype and a riddle of a fight style have gained Machida attention, and his recent domination of a surging Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) really put him on the map. Machida's path to his deserved title shot now seemingly runs through former UFC poster boy and champion Tito Ortiz (Pictures).

8. Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) (31-8-1, 1 NC)
The 31-year-old Brazilian has lost three in a row. Given the progression of his career, few would fault him for taking a tune-up bout. Instead, the longtime Pride king will return in May to take on Keith Jardine (Pictures), who outpointed Chuck Liddell (Pictures) last September.

9. Rashad Evans (Pictures) (11-0-1)
Although Evans' last win, a razor-thin decision over Michael Bisping (Pictures) in October, came on a card titled "Validation," the real validation for the TUF 2 champ will come in June. That's when he takes a big step up in competition against Chuck Liddell (Pictures).

10. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) (4-2-0)
Africa's top mixed martial artist exploded upon the world stage in 2007 with early knockouts of then top-10 light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and Ricardo Arona (Pictures), but he was brought back down to earth in a blowout against Lyoto Machida (Pictures) in December. The young Cameroonian will have the chance to get back on track in May, taking on Kazuhiro Nakamura (Pictures) in an important bout for both of the former judo standouts.


MIDDLEWEIGHT (185-170)

1. Anderson Silva (21-4)
Another one up, another one down. MMA's middleweight king solidified his top pound-for-pound status with his destructive second-round submission over Dan Henderson (Pictures). While the present talk of a boxing match with Roy Jones Jr. may not be realistic, Silva's reign has been spectacular thus far. And like Jones' reign as king of the ring, many fans are left wondering who can beat "The Spider."

2. Paulo Filho (Pictures) (16-0-0)
His on-again, off-again rematch with Chael Sonnen (Pictures) was officially moved to June, following Filho's admission into rehab for substance abuse. Here's to a speedy recovery for the potent Brazilian, who reportedly suffered from depression as well.

3. Rich Franklin (Pictures) (22-3-0, 1 NC)
Following another destruction at the hands of Anderson Silva, Franklin will attempt to get back into the saddle in March against solid but unspectacular competition in Travis Lutter (Pictures). Like Franklin, Lutter has firsthand knowledge of the division's kingpin, having been another victim of Silva last February.

4. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-7-2)
With a dominant drubbing of Jeremy Horn (Pictures) now behind him, Marquardt will set his sights on once-beaten Brazilian Thales Leites (Pictures) in a June bout that has twice been postponed. If Marquardt wants to prove he deserves another crack at the UFC title after getting blown out by Anderson Silva in July, he'll need an impressive victory.

5. Robbie Lawler (Pictures) (16-4-0)
Injury nixed a proposed Dec. 15 bout in Icon Sport with Hawaiian banger "Kala Kolohe" Hose for the second time. However, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for Lawler. With Hose having just run roughshod over Phil Baroni (Pictures), more fans have taken notice, which bodes well for the interest in a Lawler-Hose clash in the near future.

6. Yushin Okami (Pictures) (22-4-0)
If Okami needed a dominant and decisive victory to really cement his place in the middleweight division, he's got it. Japan's best plus-155 product crashed former UFC champ Evan Tanner (Pictures)'s homecoming party with a nasty second-round knockout earlier this month. Given the controversial history between the two, a rematch with Anderson Silva would seem to be the most sensible fight, though Okami will be hard-pressed to score a second win over Silva.

7. Frank Trigg (Pictures) (16-6-0)
Not the most poignant victory in the world, "Twinkle Toes" made easy work of Edwin Dewees (Pictures) on the Dec. 15 HDNet Fights card. What's more important is that Jason "Mayhem" Miller knocked off Tim Kennedy (Pictures), setting up a quality rematch between the two fighters early next year. Their first encounter was the bout that brought Trigg back to prominence, as he literally stomped out MMA's cult hero in December 2006.

8. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) (10-1-0, 2 NC)
While there is much scrutiny around potential political motivations being the impetus for overturning Akiyama's bout with Kazuo Misaki (Pictures), the fact remains that the governing powers overturned the bout. However deserved, Akiyama moves ahead of Misaki and takes the eighth spot following the invalidation of his loss. For the sake of propriety, hopefully a rematch happens down the line.

9. Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) (18-8-2, 1 NC)
Talk about a rollercoaster: After his improbable and arguably tainted Pride Grand Prix run in 2006, Misaki began 2007 with high hopes and was instead destroyed by Frank Trigg (Pictures). Misaki then appeared to turn in a performance that embodied the brand of gameness he's known for, getting up from a brutal knockdown to put Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) to sleep in vicious fashion. Akiyama protested, though, alleging that Misaki finished with an illegal soccer kick. The result was overturned and the win erased.

10. Jorge Santiago (Pictures) (16-7-0)
The Brazilian seemed relegated to gatekeeper status after being ousted from the UFC on two losses. Since then Santiago has went on a four-fight win streak, including respectable wins over Jeremy Horn (Pictures) and Andrei Semenov (Pictures) anchored by a fantastic win over the ever-tough Trevor Prangley (Pictures) to capture Strikeforce's one-night tournament in November.


WELTERWEIGHT (170-155)

1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
GSP has the top spot in these rankings but not the UFC 170-pound championship. In order to hold his place and regain the UFC championship, St. Pierre will need to defeat Matt Serra (Pictures) in their rematch April 19. If nothing else, he will have a raucous, partisan crowd behind him, as the two do battle in Montreal's Bell Centre.

2. Matt Serra (Pictures) (9-4-0)
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Then GSP stepped in and destroyed Hughes. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and on April 19 he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.

3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end. Hughes was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple of fights left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.

4. Jon Fitch (Pictures) (16-2-0, 1 NC)
Fitch picked up a high-quality win earlier this month, taking out an underrated and largely unknown Chris Wilson. The problem was that he looked less than stellar in doing so, which has quieted much of the hype he brought into the bout. While he seems the most likely challenger to the winner of the St. Pierre-Serra rematch, time will tell whether Fitch will be the next to fight for the title.

5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (10-2-0)
Koscheck defeated quality opponent Dustin Hazelett (Pictures) in fantastic fashion, knocking him out in the second round of their bout earlier this month. One of MMA's most polarizing fighters, "Kos" is confident that his management and Zuffa will work out a deal that will keep the former collegiate national wrestling champion in the UFC.

6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (18-2-0)
After opting to stay at 170 pounds following losses to Josh Koscheck (Pictures) and Jon Fitch (Pictures), Sanchez signed a new long-term deal with Zuffa. He then absolutely destroyed Sweden's David Bielkheden (Pictures), serving notice to the division that "The Nightmare" is back.

7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
If Parisyan wanted an easy bout to ensure a better chance at getting a UFC title shot, he sure didn't get it. Instead, the Armenian will meet Brazilian dynamo Thiago Alves (Pictures) April 2 in what could be an early candidate for fight of the year.

8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields is an EliteXC title match versus battle-tested welterweight Drew Fickett (Pictures) on March 29.

9. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (22-4-0)
Condit was the marquee man for the WEC's recent foray into New Mexico, and the 170-pound champ didn't disappoint. He avenged his September 2004 loss to Carlo Prater (Pictures) with a first-round guillotine in front of his raucous home crowd. That win sees Condit climb from 10th to ninth in the rankings. While WEC's 170-pound division doesn't have a deep contingent of contenders ready to face Condit, "The Natural Born Killer" has emerged as a must-see fighter for hardcore fans and continues to improve as he reigns.

10. Nick Thompson (Pictures) (35-9-1)
In a highly questionable decision, "The Goat" took a unanimous nod earlier this month over Brazilian Fabricio Monteiro (Pictures), whose look of genuine distress and shock spoke volumes. Although in the midst of a massive winning streak, Thompson will need a far better outing to show he is one of the top competitors in arguably MMA's best weight class.


LIGHTWEIGHT (155-145)

1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (28-3-0, 1 NC)
Gomi did what was expected in stopping Duane Ludwig (Pictures) in his return to action March 5. However, with Dream's star-studded tournament underway and the upcoming Sherk-Penn bout looming, whether Gomi can find any worthwhile opponents and maintain his stature as the sport's top lightweight is the real question.

2. Gesias Calvancante (Pictures) (14-1-1, 1 NC)
His bout with Shinya Aoki (Pictures) went from headache to horror story when the much-delayed match ended in a controversial no-contest. With a rigid tournament schedule, Calvancante's immediate future is in the hands of Dream parent company Fight Entertainment Group.

3. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (16-3-1)
After a rather exciting ebb-and-flow match with Gilbert Melendez (Pictures), Ishida was inert in taking a tedious decision over South Korean upstart Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures). More will be expected and required in the next round of the Dream GP, where Ishida will likely face stiffer opposition.

4. B.J. Penn (Pictures) (12-4-1)
There is little left to be said about B.J. Penn (Pictures)'s UFC lightweight title victory over Joe Stevenson -- the Hawaiian's first win over a top-10 lightweight in four years. He fought in the fashion most hoped he would for the duration of his career. If the new Penn shows up with similar motivation, his forthcoming bout with Sean Sherk (Pictures) could be an Octagon classic. A win over Sherk would almost certainly propel Penn to the top of the division.

5. Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (13-1-0)
While initially scheduled for the Dream Grand Prix, Melendez has opted to fulfill his contractual duties with Strikeforce, fighting March 29 in a co-promotion with EliteXC on Showtime. That prospect wasn't so bad when he was slated to face hot up-and-comer Jorge Masvidal (Pictures), but he's now set to face Gabe Lemley (Pictures) in what should be a landslide victory for the Cesar Gracie (Pictures) product.

6. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (21-4-2)
While he deserved the victory, Kawajiri's win over Kultar Gill (Pictures) was less than inspiring. Hopefully a bout better befitting a perennial top lightweight will be coaxed out of the "Crusher" in the next round of the Dream Grand Prix.

7. Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-2)
"Shaolin" had successful eye surgery in September following his destruction at the hands of Gesias Calvancante (Pictures). For Ribeiro, recovery likely can't come fast enough to allow him to erase the memories of his dreadful performance in the Hero's semifinal.

8. Sean Sherk (Pictures) (32-2-1)
With his steroid saga behind him, Sherk can now focus on his opportunity to regain the UFC lightweight title he believes should still be his. The ever-game fighter faces an enormous challenge against the ultra-talented B.J. Penn (Pictures) in what should be a hotly anticipated encounter.

9. Joe Stevenson (28-8-0)
After earning a well-deserved title opportunity in January, Stevenson was dismantled by B.J. Penn (Pictures). Thankfully, there are still dozens of compelling bouts for the solid Stevenson, though another title shot in the UFC's 155-pound class could be a ways away.

10. Frank Edgar (Pictures) (8-0-0)
One of the most pleasant surprises of 2007, Edgar burst onto the scene in February with an instant classic and fight-of-the-year candidate against then-undefeated Tyson Griffin. The New Jersey standout will look to push his record to 9-0 against fellow undefeated wrestler Gray Maynard (Pictures) on April 2.


FEATHERWEIGHT (145-135)

1. Urijah Faber (Pictures) (20-1-0)
For a while Faber was seen as the world's top featherweight based on talent and visibility rather than knocking off top competitors. "The California Kid" finally got the chance to validate his hype, and he passed the test with flying colors by choking out Jeff Curran (Pictures) in the second round of his Dec. 12 WEC title defense. With the victory, Faber finally earned the top spot in the rankings. However, heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with a potential bout against Jens Pulver (Pictures) looming, Faber could be in for the stiffest test of his career.

2. Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) (11-5-2)
One of the biggest surprises of 2007, Tamura makes the first defense of his Shooto world title March 28 against Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures). The bout will also give Tamura the chance to erase another defeat from his résumé, having lost to Kadowaki in March 2005.

3. Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) (14-2-0)
In a thoroughly entertaining but ultimately one-sided affair last month, Lion Takeshi showed the form that made him Shooto world champion while dominating tricky veteran Katsuya Toida (Pictures) for the meaningless Shooto 143-pound Pacific Rim title. However, a rubber match with Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) will have to wait. Tamura defends his title against Kadowaki, while Lion will see action on the May 3 Shooto bill at JCB Hall.

4. Jeff Curran (Pictures) (29-9-1)
"The Big Frog" had a great first round but ultimately fell prey to Urijah Faber (Pictures) in their Dec. 12 WEC title bout. Curran is slated to fight next in June, when he'll likely take on ATT product Mike Thomas Brown in a well-matched bout.

5. Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) (14-5-1)
Imanari made the first defense of his Cage Rage title on March 8 with a first-round submission over tough Brazilian Jean Silva (Pictures) via another leglock. The owner of the Cage Rage and Deep featherweight crowns, Imanari has solidified himself as a must-watch fighter for hardcore fans.

6. Leonard Garcia (Pictures) (11-3-0)
After mixed results in his UFC tenure, Garcia parlayed his drop to 145 pounds into results with his 91-second knockout over well-regarded Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures). Yet another former lightweight joining the WEC 145-pound mix, the free-swinging and always-game Garcia should continue to provide fireworks if nothing else in the exciting division.

7. Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) (9-5-1)
There was much excitement over Takaya's Feb. 13 WEC debut. Many thought he could be a quality competitor and offer a challenge to divisional kingpin Urijah Faber (Pictures). The hype was quickly nixed, though, by Leonard Garcia (Pictures), who knocked Takaya down and out early in the first round.

8. Antonio Carvalho (Pictures) (10-3-0)
Carvalho came out the loser in his toe-to-toe war with Takaya in November, but now he figures to be the favorite in the 145-pound Cage Force tournament that GCM has lined up for '08. Carvalho's first action of the year comes in April, when he'll meet sturdy Japanese veteran Yuji Hoshino (Pictures).

9. Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (23-4-2)
Maeda, long known for choking in big fights, came through in the clutch in his stateside and 135-pound debut, starching a tough Charlie Valencia (Pictures) with a body kick in the first round. While his WEC competition will see him look to make waves as a bantamweight, his next featherweight action will come later this year when he'll defend his King of Pancrase title against the winner of the March 26 title eliminator between Miki Shida (Pictures) and Marlon Sandro (Pictures).

10. Hatsu Hioki (Pictures) (14-3-1)
After a miserable 2007, Hioki opened 2008 in fashion, destroying Katsuya Toida (Pictures) en route to a second-round submission. Hioki will again be a considerable favorite for his next in-ring action on March 28. He'll meet grappling star Baret Yoshida, who makes his return to MMA after four years away from the sport.


BANTAMWEIGHT (135-125)

1. Miguel Torres (Pictures) (21-1-0)
With a low profile, low activity and few matchups between top fighters in the division, the 135-pound class was hurting for a while. However, with the WEC's goal to develop a potent bantamweight division, Miguel Torres (Pictures) finally got the chance to put his outstanding talent on display. With his title capture against Chase Beebe (Pictures) on Feb. 13, Torres jumps from ninth to first in the Sherdog.com rankings. More importantly, however, the mulleted Mexicano has excited and ignited the bantamweight division, setting the table for what should be a fantastic 2008.

2. Koetsu Okazaki (Pictures) (5-0-1)
Okazaki's stock very much rests on whether he can become the fifth 132-pound world champion of pro Shooto on March 28, when he meets Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) in a rare clash of top-ranked bantamweights.

3. Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures) (7-0-1)
Ueda put on an impressive, technical display against Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) to earn a unanimous decision and burst back into these rankings. Now 2006's most outstanding Shooto rookie champion will have the chance to become Shooto world champion when he meets Okazaki on March 28.

4. Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) (11-5-1)
The Norifumi Yamamoto (Pictures) pupil had the biggest opportunity of his career in his bout with Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures), which offered the winner a chance to fight for the vacant 132-pound Shooto world title. In a hard-fought bout, Ueda came out the victor, sending Yamamoto back to the drawing board.

5. Brian Bowles (Pictures) (4-0-0)
Bowles went from "Who is this kid?" after his June submission over vet Charlie Valencia (Pictures) to "This kid is serious" after his Dec. 12 steamrolling of the well-traveled and well-accomplished Marcos Galvao (Pictures). With the win, Bowles notched the most significant victory to date for a North American bantamweight against international competition and also cemented himself as a worthy adversary to the likes of Chase Beebe (Pictures) and Miguel Torres (Pictures).

6. Marcos Galvao (Pictures) (6-2-0)
After years of competing in Shooto, "Louro" got a golden opportunity to showcase his skills in the WEC. The result? Galvao got absolutely destroyed by upstart Brian Bowles (Pictures), who tore him apart on the feet en route to a second-round stoppage.

7. Daniel Lima (Pictures) (8-2-2)
After pulling out of a scheduled bout with Tetsu Suzuki (Pictures) earlier this month, the next move for the Australia-based Brazilian is uncertain.

8. Takeya Mizugaki (Pictures) (8-2-2)
The 2005 Shooto rookie MVP has a golden opportunity in front of him. With GCM promoting a 135-pound tournament this year for its Cage Force series, Mizugaki has the chance to not only grab the attention of fans in the cage but also earn a ticket stateside, where the talent pool is rapidly improving and there is more money to be made.

9. Chase Beebe (Pictures) (11-2-0)
Yes, Beebe lost his WEC title. Yet there is little that can be said to disparage the former champ, who simply was outgunned by a far more seasoned and savvy opponent in Miguel Torres (Pictures). At only 22 years old, the ultra-talented Beebe is still improving largely from fight to fight and figures to play a pivotal role in the WEC's intensifying 135-pound picture.

10. Manny Tapia (Pictures) (10-0-1)
Although it seemed for a moment that Tapia had been robbed of his victory over Antonio Banuelos (Pictures), it turned out that the scorecard was misread and Tapia got his well-deserved "W." King of the Cage's longtime kingpin at 135 pounds, Tapia may now be the next in line to challenge newly minted champ Miguel Torres (Pictures) later this year in what would be a highly compelling affair.


FLYWEIGHT (125-115)

1. Shinichi Kojima (Pictures) (8-3-4)
After an absolutely humiliating 2007, the Shooto 123-pound world champion showed he had learned nothing in his bout with Eduardo Dantas (Pictures) by taking another fight at 132 pounds against So Tazawa (Pictures). He was thoroughly outworked in the match and saved by the referee while caught in a locked armbar in the third round. Hopefully it signals the end of Kojima's dream to be a two-division champion.

2. Yasuhiro Urushitani (Pictures) (14-3-5)
After a year in which he was seemingly shortchanged at every turn, Urushitani will have the chance to solidify his status as the top contender to the Shooto 123-pound world title on May 3, when he takes on upstart rookie champ Ryuichi Miki (Pictures). A win would seemingly force a third clash between Kojima and Urushitani for the title.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) (19-4-3)
Coming off his disappointing September loss to Urushitani, Mamoru got back in the win column with an entertaining and dominant points victory over streaking Yuki Shoujou (Pictures) last month. Shooto's Afroed ace won't spend much time on the shelf. He'll be back in action March 28 against another exciting youngster in Masaaki Sugawara (Pictures).

4. Yuki Shoujou (Pictures) (7-4-2)
After a great 2007 campaign, Shoujou took the step up in competition against former champion Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) last month. Despite a spirited effort, Mamoru was dominant for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision. Although losing to Mamoru is nothing to be ashamed of, Shoujou's loss illustrates the difficulty for up-and-coming flyweights to break the compact of the "big three."

5. Rambaa Somdet (Pictures) (4-2)
Surreal to say the least, former Thai stadium standout Rambaa "M-16" Somdet, after nearly five years away from MMA, returned to the ring last year. First he demolished 115-pounder Takehiro Harusaki (Pictures) effortlessly in July. Then in November he destroyed a streaking Masaaki Sugawara (Pictures), threatening with both submission attempts and vicious strikes before forcing a doctor's stoppage after the second round. While it's unclear if Somdet will continue campaigning at 115 or 123 pounds, the colorful and unorthodox fighter has commanded the attention of fans with his last two wins.

1.11.2008

Borci koji nisu nastupali više od godinu dana te nemaju zakazan nastup u idućih 30 dana, ne mogu biti uvršteni na ljestvicu.

Nakon subotnje pobjede nad Fabriciom Werdumom Brazilac Junior dos Santos uvršten je na ljestvicu teškaša, i to na 8. mjesto. Njegovo uvrštenje ujedno je izbacilo s ljestvice našeg Mirka Filipovića.

Teška (-120 kg)

1. Fedor Emelianenko (Rusija)
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil)
3. Andrei Arlovski (Bjelorusija)
4. Josh Barnett (SAD)
5. Tim Sylvia (SAD)
6. Ben Rothwell (SAD)
7. Alistair Overeem (Nizozemska)
8. Junior dos Santos (Brazil)
9. Fabricio Werdum (Brazil)
10. Gabriel Gonzaga (Brazil)

Poluteška (-93 kg)

1. Forrest Griffin (SAD)
2. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (SAD)
3. Rashad Evans (SAD)
4. Lyoto Machida (Brazil)
5. Chuck Liddell (SAD)
6. Wanderlei Silva (Brazil)
7. Keith Jardine (SAD)
8. Thiago Silva (Brazil)
9. Luis Arthur Cane (Brazil)
10. Vladimir Matyushenko (Rusija)

Srednja (-85 kg)

1. Anderson Silva (Brazil)
2. Paulo Filho (Brazil)
3. Rich Franklin (SAD)
4. Robbie Lawler (SAD)
5. Yushin Okami (Japan)
6. Gegard Mousasi (Armenija)
7. Nathan Marquardt (SAD)
8. Dan Henderson (SAD)
9. Thales Leites (Brazil)
10. Frank Trigg (SAD)

Velter (-77 kg)

1. Georges St.Pierre (Kanada)
2. Thiago Alves (Brazil)
3. Jon Fitch (SAD)
4. Josh Koscheck (SAD)
5. Diego Sanchez (SAD)
6. Jake Shields (SAD)
7. Matt Hughes (SAD)
8. Matt Serra (SAD)
9. Karo Parisyan (SAD)
10. Carlos Condit (SAD)

Laka (-73 kg)

1. B.J. Penn (SAD)
2. Eddie Alvarez (SAD)
3. Joachim Hansen (Norveška)
4. Takanori Gomi (Japan)
5. Shinya Aoki (Japan)
6. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti (Brazil)
7. Sean Sherk (SAD)
8. Josh Thomson (SAD)
9. Gilbert Melendez (SAD)
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Japan)

Pero (-66 kg)

1. Urijah Faber (SAD)
2. Mike Thomas Brown (SAD)
3. Leonard Garcia (SAD)
4. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (Japan)
5. Jeff Curran (SAD)
6. Masakazu Imanari (Japan)
7. Hatsu Hioki (Japan)
8. Hiroyuki Takaya (Japan)
9. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Japan)
10. Wagnney Fabiano (Brazil)

Bantam (-61 kg)

1. Miguel Torres (SAD)
2. Masakatsu Ueda (Japan)
3. Brian Bowles (SAD)
4. Koetsu Okazaki (Japan)
5. Atsushi Yamamoto (Japan)
6. Marcos Galvao (Brazil)
7. Takeya Mizugaki (Japan)
8. Manny Tapia (SAD)
9. Will Ribeiro (Brazil)
10. Chase Beebe (SAD)

Muha (-57 kg)

1. Shinichi "BJ" Kojima (Japan)
2. Mamoru Yamaguchi (Japan)
3. Yuki Shoujou (Japan)
4. Yasuhiro Urishitani (Japan)
5. Ryuichi Miki (Japan)