By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net)
What can I say? I have a penchant for Pop Culture references.
Aside from now trying to figure out who the UFC version of each of the characters from the show would be, what we’re really doing is continuing up the list of the Greatest Fighters in UFC History, starting with the man pictured to the right.
80. Joe Lauzon
UFC Record: 5-1
Victories Over: Jens Pulver, Kyle Bradley, Jeremy Stephens
When you knock Lil’ Evil out in 47 seconds, you have my attention. One half of the fighting Lauzon Brothers from Brockton, Massachusetts (who, coincidentally, should throw down with the fighting Diaz Brothers from Stockton, California just for fun), Joe’s only loss came to Kenny Florian back in April 2008. This is a guy who is on the cusp of reaching the next tier of UFC lightweights.
79. Karo Parisyan
UFC Record: 8-3, 1 NC
Victories Over: Matt Serra, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz
The fact that I have to go back to 2004 and 2005 to pick some noteworthy wins for “The Heat” should be an indication of how things have been going for the Armenian member of Jackson’s MMA. Currently serving a suspension following his fight with Dong Hyun Kim, I’m hoping Parisyan uses the time to get healthy, get fit and get back to being a solid mid-card performer in the UFC.
78. Yves Edwards
UFC Record: 6-4
Victories Over: Josh Thomson, Hermes Franca, Rich Clementi
Yves Edwards may be gone from the UFC, but he’s certainly not forgotten. Ten UFC fights, including wins over current Strikeforce Lightweight champ Josh “The Punk” Thomson and #82 Hermes Franca, along with losses to future listees Caol Uno and Matt Serra give Edwards a place at the tail end of the 70s.
77. Clay Guida
UFC Record: 5-4
Victories Over: Marcus Aurelio, Mac Danzig, Nate Diaz
Everyone loves “The Carpenter” and rightfully so. There may not be a more entertaining fighter competing in the UFC right now. But fan admiration doesn’t equate to a place higher in the pecking order of The UFC 100. Truthfully, Guida’s losses are more notable than his wins, as his fights with Diego Sanchez, Roger Huerta and Tyson Griffin were all outstanding efforts in defeat.
76. Joe Riggs
UFC Record: 4-4
Victories Over: Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, Joe Doerkson
Another guy who has just as many notable ticks in the loss column, Riggs has actually improved since leaving the UFC. The frustrating thing with “Diesel” then and now is that he rarely seems to put together back-to-back strong performances, as his win over Lytle was followed by failing to make weight and losing to Matt Hughes, before going out and beating Nick Diaz, only to lose to Mike Swick.
75. Gray Maynard
UFC Record: 5-0, 1 NC
Victories Over: Frankie Edgar, Rich Clementi, Jim Miller
I recently selected Maynard as one of the Top 10 Prospects in Mixed Martial Arts and now that he’s fighting Roger “El Matador” Huerta in September, he’ll get a further chance to show everyone why I think a Lightweight title is in his future. For those who need validation now, he beat Frankie Edgar in only his sixth professional fight, while Edgar recently went out and dismantled former UFC champ Sean Sherk. Maynard is no joke.
74. Marcus Davis
UFC Record: 8-3
Victories Over: Chris Lytle, Paul Kelly, Jess Liaudin
Introducing Chris Lytle Version 2.0! I love Davis’ heart, I love his willingness to stand and bang and anyone who earns eight wins inside the Octagon deserves some recognition. That being said, Davis is another guy who can’t seem to take that next step and makes a living earning bonus money for banging with fighters from overseas on overseas cards. For some reason, he gets mad when you say that.
73. Heath Herring
UFC Record: 2-3
Victories Over: Brad Imes, Cheick Kongo
Maybe I’m giving “The Texas Crazy Horse” too much love for only having two wins in the UFC. Or maybe he’s up here because two of those three losses came from heavyweight champions Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and all five of his fights have gone the distance. Accept it, Herring is a warrior and if he had long hair, you’d love him as much as you love Clay Guida.
72. Gabriel Gonzaga
UFC Record: 6-3
Victories Over: Justin McCully, Mirko Cro Cop, Carmelo Marrero
Everyone remembers the Cro Cop headkick that propelled “Napao” into a title fight opposite Randy Couture. You also might remember the short right hand from Shane Carwin that left him in a heap a couple months back. That loss set Gonzaga back a step and he needs a strong win over newcomer Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 102 to climb back up the ladder.
71. Martin Kampmann
UFC Record: 6-1
Victories Over: Carlos Condit, Drew McFedries, Thales Leites
Why does everyone sleep on “The Hitman” as much as they do? Before a knee injury put him on the sidelines, the Dutch fighter was set to main event UFC 72 in a middleweight title fight against Rich Franklin. Some dude named Silva replaced him. I hear he’s okay. Kampmann has looked great at 170, even in his loss to Nate Marquardt, another chronically under-appreciated fighter. His #1 Contender tilt with Mike Swick is one of the Fall fights I’m most looking forward to.
30 down, 70 to go.
Who will be #1? The only way to find out is to keep coming back.
Catch up on what you missed:
Originally posted at Keyboard Kimura
