Welcome to the A.F.P. Top Ten fighter rankings
sponsored by fightsport.com.
The panel consists of a combined 65 voters from
the Associated Fight Press(AFP) and
various coaches/trainers to form the media/coaches poll.
 
Top 10 for June, 2003
 


Fedor Emelianenko  Russia (648)
Just beat Kazuyuki Fujita by rear naked choke in PRIDE 26. There is talk of a matchup against Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic in the near future.

Previous ranking: 1     Next: TBA


Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira  Brazil (584)
May be fighting Hidehiko Yoshida as a super fight matchup in PRIDE's GP event in August.

Previous ranking: 2    Next: TBA


Josh Barnett USA (510)
Recently beat Jimmy Ambriz in a Japanese event called Ultimate Crush. Is currently concentrating mainly on his pro-wrestling career in Japan, but may make a return to MMA later in the year.

Previous ranking: 3    Next: TBA


Tim Sylvia  USA (474)
Has been inactive since winning the UFC heavyweight belt against Ricco Rodriguez in February. Should be defending his belt at UFC 44 this coming September, possibly against Gan McGee or Frank Mir.

Previous ranking: 4    Next: TBA


Ricco Rodriguez USA (367)
Has been inactive since losing his UFC heavyweight belt to Tim Sylvia back in UFC 41. Took some time off to recover from a knee injury and should be fighting towards the end of the year.

Previous ranking: 5    Next: TBA


Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic Croatia (334)
Just scored a very imoressive KO victory over Heath Herring in PRIDE 26. May be fighting Fedor Emelianenko in the near future.

Previous ranking: 9     Next: TBA


Heath Herring USA (238)
Just lost to Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic in PRIDE 26.

Previous ranking: 6    Next: TBA
 

Gan McGee USA (231)
Scored a TKO victory over Alexandre Dantas back in UFC 41. May be fighting TIm Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight belt if he can come to terms on a contract.

Previous ranking: 8     Next: TBA


Pedro Rizzo Brazil (105)
Just beat Tra Telligman by TKO in UFC 43.

Previous ranking: Not ranked    Next: TBA

Bob Sapp USA (94)

Has been inactive since breaking his eye socket in K-1. Should be fighting again towards the end of the year.

Previous ranking: 10    Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: Randy Couture (moved down to light heavyweight division)
OTHER CONTENDERS: Frank Mir, Igor Vovchanchyn, Assuerio Silva, Vladimir Matyushenko
 


Randy Couture USA (621)
Just beat Chuck Liddell to win the interim UFC light heavyweight belt.

Previous ranking: Not ranked    Next: TBA


Vanderlei Silva Brazil (615)
Is recovered from his knee surgey and will be fighting in the PRIDE middleweight GP in August. His opponent will most likely be Quinton Jackson.

Previous ranking: 1    Next: PRIDE middleweight GP


Quinton "Rampage" Jackson USA (534)
Just beat Mikhail Illoukhine by TKO in PRIDE 26. Will compete in the PRIDE middleweight GP in August. His opponent will most likely be Vanderlei Silva.

Previous ranking:5    Next: PRIDE middleweight GP


Chunk Liddell USA (402)
Just lost to Randy Couture by TKO in UFC 43.

Previous ranking:2    Next: TBA


Vitor Belfort Brazil (395)
Just beat Marvin Eastman by KO in UFC 43.

Previous ranking:9    Next: TBA


Tito Ortiz USA (391)
Did not want to fight mandatory number one contender Chuck Liddell. Now that Liddell has lost to Randy Couture, it will remain to be seen if Ortiz ducks Couture as well. The UFC has still not reached an agreement with Ortiz since he broke his contract with them.

Previous ranking:3     Next: TBA


Ricardo AronaUBrazil (265)
Has been inactive since beating Murilo "Ninja" Rua back in PRIDE 23.

Previous ranking:4    Next: TBA
 

Kevin Randleman USA (168)
Lost to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson by TKO back in PRIDE 25.

Previous ranking:6     Next: TBA


Dan Henderson USA (161)
Beat Shungo Qyama by TKO back in PRIDE 25. Will be out a few months with a torn ACL that needs surgical repair.

Previous ranking:8    Next: TBA

Murilo "Ninja" Rua Brazil(73)

Has been inactive since losing to Kevin Randleman by TKO back in PRIDE 24.

Previous ranking:7    Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira
OTHER CONTENDERS:Allistair Overeem, Rich Franklin, Jeremy Horn, Vernon "Tiger" White, Sanae Kikuta
 


Murilo Bustamante Brazil (639)
Will not return ti the UFC for the time being. Will most likely be competing in PRIDE.

Previous ranking: 1     Next: TBA
 

Frank Juarez Shamrock USA (597)
Made a successful return to MMA by beating Brian Pardoe back in March.

Previous ranking: 3    Next: TBA


Anderson Silva Brazil (510)
Just lost to Daiju Takase by submission in PRIDE 26.

Previous ranking: 2    Next: TBA


Paulo Filho Brazil (465)
Has been inactive since beating Akira Shoji by armbar back in PRIDE 22.

Previous ranking: 5    Next: TBA


Matt Lindland USA (391)
Just lost to Falaniko Vitale by KO in UFC 43.

Previous ranking: 4     Next: TBA


Kazushi Sakuraba Japan (296)
Has been inactive since losing to Nino Schembri by KO in PRIDE 25. Is scheduled to compete in the PRIDE middleweight GP in August.

Previous ranking: 6     Next: PRIDE middleweight GP


Phil Baroni USA (294)
Recently lost a unanimous decision to Matt Lindland in UFC 41.

Previous ranking: 7     Next: TBA

Ivan Salaverry USA (171)
Has been inactive since losing to Matt Lindland back in UFC 39.

Previous ranking: 8     Next: TBA
 


David Loiseau Canada (162)
Recently beat Mark Weir by KO in UFC 41. Will probably be fighting in UFC 44.

Previous ranking: 9     Next: TBA

Amar Suloev  Armenia (61)
Has been inactive since beating Julian Gonzalez in Russia last November.

Previous ranking: 10     Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: NONE
OTHER CONTENDERS: Falaniko Vitale, Rodrigo Gracie, Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons, Murad Chunkaiev, Andrei Semenov, Ricardo Almeida, Daiju Takase
 


Matt Hughes USA (650)
Successfully defended his belt in UFC 42 with a unanimous decision over Sean Sherk. May be defending his belt again in UFC 44.

Previous ranking: 1     Next: TBA


Carlos Newton Canada (581)
Has been inactive since losing to Anderson Silva by KO in PRIDE 25.

Previous ranking: 2     Next: TBA

Sean Sherk USA (322)
Recently lost his welterweight title fight against Matt Hughes by unanimous decision in UFC 42.

Previous ranking: 3     Next: TBA

Hayato Sakurai Japan (424)
Recovered from his loss to Jake Shields by beating Ryuki Ueyama in the DEEP event in March. Will be taking on Dave Menne next month.

Previous ranking: 4     Next: TBA


Frank Trigg USA (409)
Has been inactive since his controversial win over Dennis Hallman back in WFA 3. May be fighting Gil Castillo in an upcoming IFC event.

Previous ranking: 5     Next: TBA


Gil Castillo USA (294)
Beat Chris Willimas back in March. May be fighting Frank Trigg in an upcoming IFC event.

Previous ranking: 6     Next: TBA


Nathan Marquardt USA (291)
Current middleweight KOP just beat Izuru Takeuchi in the March edition of Pancrase.

Previous ranking: 7     Next: TBA


Matt Hume USA (197)
Returned to MMA at the end of last year in the AFC 1 event, scoring a victory over Shawn "Pain" Peters by armbar. Hume's MMA career includes victories over Pat Miletich and Erik paulson.

Previous ranking: 8     Next: TBA


Kiuma Kunioku Japan (125)
Just beat Hidetaka Monma in the April edition of Pancrase.
 
Previous ranking: 9     Next: TBA


Pete Spratt USA (67)
Recently beat Robbie Lawler by TKO in UFC 42.

Previous ranking: 10    Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: NONE
OTHER CONTENDERS: Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, Tetsuji Kato, Dennis Hallman, Ronald Jhun, Shonie Carter, Amaury Bitetti
 


Takanori Gomi Japan (649)
Beat Nick Ertyl by armbar back in February. Will take on Joachim Hansen in a non-title fight in the August edition of SHOOTO.

Previous ranking: 1     Next: Aug. 8 vs. Joachim Hansen


B.J. Penn USA (574)
Fought Kaoru Uno in UFC 41 to a disappointing draw for the UFC lightweight belt, in a fight that most observers felt Penn edged out Uno. The UFC lightweight belt remains vacant and a third fight between Penn and Uno is being talked about.

Previous ranking: 3     Next: TBA


Kaoru Uno Japan (526)
Fought B.J. penn to a draw in UFC 41 for the UFC lightweight belt.

Previous ranking: 4     Next: TBA


Din Thomas USA (459)
Has been inactive since beating Matt Serra in UFC 41.

Previous ranking: 5    Next: TBA


Jens Pulver USA (391)
Just lost his second fight in a row by KO, this time to Jason Maxwell in AFC 3.

Previous ranking: 2    Next: TBA


D. Mishima Japan (301)
Beat Fabio Mello by unanimous edition in the March edition of DEEP.

Previous ranking: 6     Next: TBA
 
Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro Brazil (293)
Recently beat Ryan Bow by unanimous decision in the May edition of SHOOTO.

Previous ranking: 7     Next: TBA

 
Duane "Bang" Ludwig USA (138)
Beat Genki Sudo by controversial decision in UFC 42. There is talk that he will fight in UFC 44. 

Previous ranking: 8     Next: TBA
 
Javier Vazquez USA (134)
Has been inactive since tearing his ACL and ultimately losing against Alberto Crane back in February's KOTC event.

Previous ranking: 9     Next: TBA


Genki Sudo Japan (132)
Lost to Duane "Bang" Ludwig by controversial decision in UFC 42.

Previous ranking: 10     Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: NONE
OTHER CONTENDERS: Yves Edwards, Jason Maxwell, Matt Serra, Ryan Bow, Rumina Sato
 
 


Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira Brazil (632)
Successfully defended his SHOOTO lightweight belt by defeating Hiroyuki Abe by rear naked choke back in December. The win also avenged Nogueira's previous loss to Abe. Will take on Stephen Palling in August.

Previous ranking: 1     Next: Aug. 10 vs. Stephen Palling 

Joao Roque Brazil (610)
Beat Naoya Uematsu by unanimous decision back in the January edition of SHOOTO.

Previous ranking: 2    Next: TBA


Stephen Palling USA (534)
Beat Mark Hominick by cut stoppage TKO in Superbrawl 29 in May. Will take on Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira in August.

Previous ranking: 3     Next: Aug. 10 vs. Alexandre Noguiera


Hiroyuki Abe Japan (431)
Lost his SHOOTO title fight against Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira back in December.

Previous ranking: 4     Next: TBA


Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto Japan (421)
Beat Jeff Curran by unanimous decision in Superbrawl 29 in May. There is talk that he may go to the UFC and that his first opponent would be Hermes Franca.

Previous ranking: 5     Next: TBA


Hermes Franca Brazil (331)
Just beat Richard Crunkilton by unanimous decision in UFC 42. There is talk that his next opponent may be Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto.

Previous ranking: 6     Next: TBA


Ivan Menjivar El Salvador (259)
Just beat Brandon Shuey by kneebar in April.

Previous ranking: 7     Next: TBA


Jeff Curran  USA (191)
Just lost to Norifumi "Kid" Yayamoto by unanimous decision in Superbrawl 29 in May.

Previous ranking: 8     Next: Jan. 25 vs Paul Creighton

Naoya Uematsu Japan (116)
Lost to Joao Roque by unanimous decision back in the January edition of SHOOTO.

Previous ranking: 9     Next: TBA


Katsuya Toita  Japan (62)
Beat Rami Boukai by majority decision in the January edition of SHOOTO.

Previous ranking: 10     Next: TBA
DROPPED OUT: NONE
OTHER CONTENDERS: Tetsuo Katsuta, Kazuhiro Inoue, Bao Quach, Masahiro Oishi, Mark Hominick
 
 

Voters in this month's poll

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