Inaugural independent world MMA rankings released

We are proud to announce the launch of the Independent World MMA Rankings. Some of the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers from across the MMA media landscape have come together to form one independent voting panel.

These voting panel members are, in alphabetical order:
Zach Arnold (FightOpinion);
Nicholas Bailey(MMA Ratings);
Jared Barnes(Houston Chronicle);
Jordan Breen (Sherdog);
Jim Genia (Full Contact Fighter, MMA Memories, and MMA Journalist Blog);
Jesse Holland (MMA Mania);
Robert Joyner (MMA Payout);
Todd Martin (CBS Sportsline);
Zac Robinson (Sports by the Numbers MMA;
Michael David Smith (AOL Fanhouse);
Jonathan Snowden (Author of “Total MMA: Inside Ultimate Fighting”);
Joshua Stein (MMA Opinion),
Ivan Trembow(Freelance);
and Dave Walsh (Total MMA).

STORY

unbiased aside from not having Sherk in the Top 10 LW's.

They only do a Top 10? So much for being "the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers." Lazy.

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Posted by AchillesHeel

They only do a Top 10? So much for being "the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers." Lazy.

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Agreed. But not bad rankings though, some of the better ones I have seen.

Paulo Thiago beats Kos and earns the 10th spot? Where's Hazlett?

In all honesty, I believe the playground's rankings are superior. While I have
problems with some of our rankings, as one would with any rankings, I have more problems with others.

They should have more writers included. Some big websites not represented on that list.

But overall not bad.

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Posted by roadking95th

In all honesty, I believe the playground's rankings are superior. While I have
problems with some of our rankings, as one would with any rankings, I have more problems with others.

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I agree and they have some oddballs in every weightclass, I'm too lazy right now to pick it apart but if this is the best they can do it dose a lot to explain why MMA journalism is the worst body of work in sports media.

I'm a little confused by Keith Jardine being ranked above Dan Henderson at Light Heavyweight. Of course not everything is going to be perfect, but that is one of the ones that made me do a double take

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Posted by Jackelope

I'm a little confused by Keith Jardine being ranked above Dan Henderson at Light Heavyweight. Of course not everything is going to be perfect, but that is one of the ones that made me do a double take

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that one didn't get me so much because of Dan's switching back and forth between LHW and MW. what really got me at LHW was the fact that Babalu was on it; i just strongly disagree with him being a top 10 talent in a division so stacked. for example Wandy should be ahead of him along with Cane imo.

Henderson is too low at MW imo. and Okami is not worthy of number two, i guess they decided to not rank Rich at all because he plans to only fight at LHW, which is a HUGE mistake imo.

those were my little quarrels with the rankings but like others have said youa re going ot have problems with every ranking that isn't your own, and i have to say that i rather enjoyed this one quite a bit.

The rankings are okay, but totally biased to Zuffa fighters.

For starters, they had Babulu and Rogerio as 9 and 10, and imo they've done enough to be a little higher.

The top 5 MWs are all UFC fighters-- I was shocked that they ranked Mousasi as low as 7 (although he is fighting at LHW now)

Florian is ranked as the #2 LW-- I don't even consider him the # 2 of the UFC

Hatsu Hioki is #5 in FW, which is ridiculous--he's far more talented than that.
I have the same problem with them not ranking Ueda as the # 2 or 3 BW


I like mmaweekly's rankings the most out of all the online rankings