Subscribe
Twitter - @Fight_Matrix
Posted on October 5, 2009 by jcs
These all-time calculation methods are still in the beta stages, but close to final. There are some important things to mention as there are some major differences between these rankings and the FightMatrix ratings.
- Rankings ARE division specific. Fighters CAN appear in more than one list, but will only be given credit during times in which they produced quality performances in these divisions. Due to this, divisional info is seriously depended upon.
- Years of 1990 and later are considered.
- Monthly ranking snapshots are taken, with some minor modifications that are focused on determining the truly great fighters (harsher penalties for inactivity and for lack of quality performances)
- Fighters are given points based on their standing in the Top 25, 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.
| Rank | Fighter | Total Record | All-Time Division Points | |
| 1 |  Wanderlei SilvaLast Fight: 6/13/2009 |
32-10-1 |
|
|
| 2 |  Chuck LiddellLast Fight: 4/18/2009 |
21-7-0 |
|
|
| 3 | Tito Ortiz Last Fight: 5/24/2008 |
16-6-1 |
|
|
| 4 | Quinton Jackson Last Fight: 3/7/2009 |
30-7-0 |
|
|
| 5 | Mauricio Rua Last Fight: 4/18/2009 |
18-3-0 |
|
|
| 6 | Dan Henderson Last Fight: 7/11/2009 |
25-7-0 |
|
|
| 7 | Ricardo Arona Last Fight: 9/12/2009 |
14-5-0 |
|
|
| 8 | Lyoto Machida Last Fight: 5/23/2009 |
15-0-0 |
|
|
| 9 | Randy Couture Last Fight: 8/29/2009 |
16-10-0 |
|
|
| 10 | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Last Fight: 6/6/2009 |
17-3-0 |
|
1. Wanderlei Silva (1,026 All-Time Light Heavyweight Points)
The “Axe Murderer” just eeks out the #1 position on the Light Heavyweight list. His accomplishments are many: IVC Light Heavyweight Champion, First PRIDE Middleweight (205lb) Champion, Winner of the PRIDE 2003 Middleweight GP, PRIDE 2005 Middleweight GP Semi-Finalist, and a plethora of quality wins in the division.
2. Chuck Liddell (985)
By far, the greatest UFC Light Heavyweight in history. The knockout artist holds wins over Tito Ortiz (2x), Randy Couture, Jeremy Horn, Alistair Overeem, Renato Sobral, Wanderlei Silva, and Kevin Randleman. He also defended the UFC championship multiple times. Although it looks like his best days are long gone, a late career surge coupled with Silva’s move to Middleweight leaves the door open for Chuck to challenge for the #1 position.
3. Tito Ortiz (780)
Before Chuck reigned over the UFC Light Heavyweights, Tito Ortiz was the king of the hill. Even after he lost his strap, Ortiz claimed quality victories over Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin, as well as a controversial draw when he was shorted out of a win against Rashad Evans.
4. Quinton Jackson (686)
Currently, in what appears to be his fighting prime, and with the #3 position staring him in the face, Rampage appears to have lost the will to carry on in MMA. While Wanderlei and Chuck ruled over the landscape, Rampage was usually hanging tough somewhere between #3 and #10 in the division. Upon coming to the UFC, he took his game to another level and became one of the elites.
5. Mauricio Rua (494)
Some would argue that no Light Heavyweight was more dominant than Rua in and around 2005. He had a superb run of four fights where he took dominant wins over Rampage Jackson, Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, and Ricardo Arona. Three of whom are currently on this list. After losing to Mark Coleman at Heavyweight, he has gone 5-1 in the division still racking up quality wins.
6. Dan Henderson (464)
Henderson is one of only two fighters to make the top ten on more than one all-time division ranking list. Although he’s spent some time at Middleweight, Henderson has gone 12-4 at Light Heavyweight, and very rarely did he fight someone outside of the top ten.
7. Ricardo Arona (358)
An elite fighter in the division throughout almost all of his career, Arona has had some issues with inactivity. Nevertheless, he holds divisional wins over Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Guy Mezger, and Alistair Overeem.
8. Lyoto Machida (341)
With a win over Shogun, Machida will have the UFC Light Heavyweight division on lockdown for the first time since Liddell’s reign. Undefeated for his entire career, Machida hasn’t lost a round since coming to the UFC.
9. Randy Couture (254)
With his name value being what it is, it stands to reason that he should be ranked a spot or two higher on this list. However, Randy’s stretch at Light Heavyweight only yielded him a subpar record of 4-3. With his imminent return to the division, a second spree of quality efforts would definitely assist in some of the metrics used to compile the rankings.
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (251)
He wasn’t often found in the top five of the division, but Rogerio has been a top 15 (or so) stalwart for about the last six years. His career has had quite a few quality performances, but nothing truly outstanding. If he continues to lack in that department, he is likely to drop out of the list within months.
Posted in MMA Ranks | Comments (17)
Its not really P4P.. Its division-specific. Just means Marquardt did more at Middle than those two have at Light Heavy.
Marquardt seems pretty dam high compared to everyone pound for pound. He’s got more than rampage and shogun.
Good thoughts guys… and although wins are of utmost importance, losses are factored in as well. I would’ve chimed in earlier, but I think rob and ghost are summing in my thoughts on the situation.
While its pointless for me to argue the greatness of sakuraba and his impact on the sport, i will argue this: the question posed by jcs is who deserves to be on the list above robbie lawler? i simply suggested an answer to the question with sakuraba. perhaps (though i would strongly disagree) someone other than sakuraba deserves to make it on the list even more, but regardless lawler should not be on there at all, nor bustamante, nor kazuo misaki, nor ricardo almeida.
comparably speaking you could make an argument that the 7 middleweights sakuraba defeated were more prudent than the 7 lawler defeated. if going off of only key wins you could make the argument for gegard mousasi, vitor belfort, melvin manhoef, yushin okami, akiyama, hector lombard; at least as much as you could for any of the previously mentioned busts, if not more so.
I was like you Jordan when i first saw this list. Royce Gracie or saku never fought a top middleweight. That’s their problem. Murlio Rua SDed with Arona, Rampage and Henderson and got beat down by natural 85er’s like lawler and kang. All saku did was beat the gracies with sub’s they weren’t top ranked at the time.
All saku did at 205 was beat rampage. Forrest and Rashad who aren’t on this list have accomplished more than him.
And yes, the other guy to make the top ten in both divisions is obviously Couture.
Jordan, I’ll take a guess and say that Sakuraba might actually make the heavyweight list. I know that seems crazy, but most of his fights were with no weight limit.