If someone ran a Top 5 MMA P4P rankings like I used to, I think it's fair to say just about everyone in the world would rank 1-2-3 as Fedor\Silva\GSP in one order or another. It's clear right now that they are the top 3 fighters in MMA. But who are 4 and 5? A lot of the fighters that were on the P4P list have been beaten in the past few months. BJ Penn was brutalized by GSP. Nog was beaten badly by Mir. Alvarez was submitted by Aoki, and then Aoki was KO'd by Sakurai. Rampage was beaten by Griffin. Griffin was beaten by Rashad. If I had to pick, I would put Evans 4 and Machida 5. Torres just misses the cut at 6. What do you guys think? TFK
Torres proved in his last fight he hasn't much more right to be in a top 5 p4p than Uriah Faber ever had - but then people have ranked in much crazier ways... I'd put Machida in 4 - not sure about Evans but i think his accomplishments and undefeated record could warrant a top 5 ranking before Rampage maybe. But then again there's really not much else there...
Aoki and BJ both lost moving up in weight. I don't think it should effect their ranking too much. I'd still have BJ in the top 5, and if you had Aoki in your top 5 he shouldn't fall far. BJ is still IMO the best LW on the planet.
great thread, love the topic. The first three is a moot point. We all think they are in the top three regardless of the order. But 4 and 5 is a great debate. I think you have to start thinking of Mike Brown. Especially the way he has brutalized 145 in Faber and Garcia. I wouldn't put him at 4 and 5 just yet, but he makes a strong arguement for himself with a second victory over Faber and a win over Aldo. Mousasi is quietly climbing the ladder as well. I am curious to see who he gets to fight next in Dream and if there are any possibilities of a Dream/Strikeforce tourney/co-promotion. I agree with you on Rashad and Machida. The problem is have they beat anyone to deserve such credit? Both have good/great wins, but are wins over Liddell, Griffin, Thiago Silva, and Ortiz good enough to propel you into #4 and #5 stature?:dunno: I have to give the number 4 spot to Penn. Yes he got brutalized by GSP, but Penn just doesn't have the size to be at 170. At 155 he is just as dominant as GSP, Fedor, and Silva. 5 has to go to Torres right now IMO. He has dominated the division and is showing the skills of a true champion at 135.
agREED... Losing to a FELLOW Lb for Lb'der SHOULDN'T Count as Much...Especially when U're the SMALLER Guy...BJ's a CLEAR # 4 on REED's List...If GSP Ends Up LOSING to Anderson Silva, his Ranking WOULDN'T Change a Bit N REED's Opinion.... REED:kidcool:
Who has Machida beaten? He's got a lot of familiar names on his resume... Tito Ortiz Rich Franklin BJ Penn Thiago Silva Stephan Bonnar Vernon White Soak-a-Jew Sam Hoger If he beats Evans, there's no doubt he's at least #4. TFK
Its a good list, and I said they have good/great wins each, but I am not sure if a 205 pounder beating up BJ Penn deserves that much credit. The other wins are solid, no doubt but I am not sure if any of them are world class top 10 LtHW's. Silva might be but its debatable. Ortiz wasn't when they fought and Franklin definitely wasn't. But with all that said..... IMHO, I think Machida is one of the best fighters on the planet and in three years from now, we will be debating if he is the p4p king #1.:hammert: Machida's skills are head and shoulders above anyone at 205 right now.
None of those guys are at or near the top of the division though. Especially when you take into account when some of those took place and for the Penn fight which weight. 185 is no place for BJ. IMO, Machida is the goods, but he needs to beat a couple guys who are at or near the top of the 205ers. If he beats Evans and then defends against Rampage? Then he is deserving.
He clearly won rounds 1,3 and 5. That fight is so easy to score. Rampage was robbed blind in that fight. Terrible decision.
Machida will be number 1 sooner or later and i agree if he beats Evans clearly he will be number 4 at least.
I know he didn't dispute the decision but he should have. Forrest didn't dispute his loss over Ortiz even though he was robbed of at least a draw in that fight IMO.
Why Don't U Ask the JUDGES???...U Know, the Guys that Actually SCORED the Fight for Forrest???...Or Better Yet, Ask Rampage which Rounds He Thinks he Won & See if that Adds Up to Enough to Win the Fight...Even he WOULDN'T Agree that he was "Robbed Blind" & NOT 1nce has he Said Anything CLOSE to That, when Discussing the Fight... REED:hammert:
You said Forrest outworked him yet you can't even come up with a scorecard. If you think he won no need to type all that bs just say what rounds you think Forrest won.
REED Thinks Forrest Won, Rampage Thinks Forrest Won (To this Day, he's NEVER DISPUTED it, Has he???), the JUDGES Thought Forrest Won & Forrest DID INDEED End Up WINNING...& Until TODAY, REED had NEVER Heard ANYBODY Dispute that Verdict.... So if Anything, YOU'RE the 1 Talking OUT of your Ass Here... REED:boohoo:
A lot of people disputed that verdict. Personnaly, I also think Rampage won quite clearly thought I wouldnt call it a robbery ( maybe a minor one ) as the round were close enough to give them to Forrest if you wanted it enough.
Torres is another hype job as of now, sure he got skills but he beat no one of note to be ranked in a p4p list. He got to prove himself against an higher caliber of opponents thought I will admit I dont know alot about the bantamweight division, even thought I know it's a garbage division. WEC fighters are way overrated imo since it was bought by Zuffa, I remember people having Faber in the top 5 wich was ridiculous imo as he was in the lower 20. I'd rank guy's like Thiago Alves or Moussassi overTorres, sure they lost but they beat some name, proven guy, not just a bunch of nobodies. Now, in the top 5 I would probably have BJ Penn at 5 and Machida at 4. Rampage, while I thing he won the Forrest fight, didn't look to hot vs Jardine so he's probably number 6
Machida is number 4 IMO and when he whoops Evans he will break into that top 3:hammert: I would still have penn in the top 5 with Torres coming close. I didn't see his last fight what happened?
