By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net)
We’re climbing the ladder and working our way towards to top dog in UFC history with a stop in the sixties and this time, the moniker attached to this collection of fighters has nothing to do with sitcoms or time periods people are nostalgic for.
These ten fighters, including the two pictured, have a penchant for throwing hands and waging wars, starting with the original Ultimate Fighter Bad Boy.
70. Chris Leben
UFC Record: 8-4
Victories Over: Terry Martin, Jorge Santiago, Patrick Cote
Before there was Junie Browning, there was Chris Leben, pissing on people’s pillows, drinking himself into oblivion and picking fights. The win over Santiago looks even better now, as the American Top Team member is on a prolonged winning streak since leaving the UFC, while losses to Anderson Silva and Mike Bisping aren’t anything to shake your head at.
69. Shane Carwin
UFC Record: 3-0
Victories Over: Christian Wellisch, Neil Wain, Gabriel Gonzaga
The way he’s flattening opponents, Carwin could make a monstrous climb up this list in no time flat. Most impressive was the win over Gonzaga, as not only is he considered a solid contender at heavyweight, but Carwin was also able to withstand an early attack and finish the fight himself, all inside two minutes.
68. Spencer Fisher
UFC Record: 8-3
Victories Over: Caol Uno, Dan Lauzon, Thiago Alves
“The King” is easily one of my favorite fighters and not because of the shared name. Every fight he’s in seems to turn into a war and he’s come out on the winning end more often than not. The two fights with Sam Stout were epic, as was the fight pictured above with Frankie Edgar. Despite speculative stories around the Internet earlier this week, I don’t see Spencer Fisher going anywhere any time soon.
67. David Terrell
UFC Record: 2-1
Victories Over: Scott Smith, Matt Lindland
This is a name some might not be familiar with, simply because following UFC 59, David Terrell seemingly fell off the face of the Earth. He’s been rumored to return on several occasions, but always comes down with an pre-fight injury. While the win over Lindland was outstanding, it’s his loss to Evan Tanner for the Middleweight title where people best remember Terrell.
66. Tyson Griffin
UFC Record: 6-2
Victories Over: Gleison Tibau, Thiago Tavares, Clay Guida
Outside of his win over “The Carpenter,” Tyson Griffin hasn’t beaten another member of The UFC 100. While both losses come to fighters featured higher up the charts, Griffin hasn’t beaten anyone of great stock (save for Guida) in the UFC and still earns accolades off his win over Urijah Faber from back in 2005.
65. Stephan Bonnar
UFC Record: 5-4
Victories Over: Eric Schafer, Keith Jardine, James Irvin
I get it – you and Forrest had that great slugfest to end Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter. Thanks. Now beat someone meaningful again already, and Mark Coleman doesn’t count. My gas tank lasts longer than Mark Coleman’s and I’m a smoker who nobody would characterize as athletic. And what happens if somehow Coleman wins?
64. Frankie Edgar
UFC Record: 5-1
Victories Over: Spencer Fisher, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk
The other half of the pugilistic picture introducing this piece, Edgar is one of two or three fighters with a legitimate argument for a title shot at 155. His one loss came to #75 Gray Maynard and the back-to-back wins over Hermes Franca and Sean Sherk help to erase that memory. While I think Diego Sanchez will get the winner of Penn vs. Florian, I’d love to see him step into the cage with the New Jersey native with a great last name.
63. Joe Stevenson
UFC Record: 7-4
Victories Over: Nate Diaz, Gleison Tibau, Dokonjonosuke Mishima
The verdict is still out on Stevenson, at least in my books. The win over Diaz was solid and Mishima is considered a Top 10 featherwight, and you can’t totally fault the guy for losing to three of the top lightweights the UFC has to offer in Penn, Florian and Sanchez. But every time he gets a chance to take the next step, he stumbles and that is why he is now stuck in lightweight purgatory without any clear indication of where he goes next.
62. Renato “Babalu” Sobral
UFC Record: 6-4
Victories Over: David Heath, Chael Sonnen, Travis Wiuff
You can also include former heavyweight champ Maurice Smith among Babalu’s victories, while his losses add to his ranking as well. After all, you can’t really fault a guy for twice being stopped by Chuck Liddell at the height of his success and losing to another former heavyweight champion in Kevin Randleman. The Jason Lambert loss, that one you can fault him for.
61. Caol Uno
UFC Record: 3-4-1
Victories Over: Fabiano Iha, Din Thomas, Yves Edwards
The prime example of wins not necessarily being everything, Uno fought B.J. Penn to a draw for the Lightweight title when Jens Pulver vacated the belt, and has lost to Pulver (while champion), Penn, Hermes Franca and Spencer Fisher. Uno is a warrior who helped pioneer what is now the UFC Lightweight division.
This time tomorrow, we’ll be at the midway point. In case you’re joining us late, find out what you missed in The UFC 100 Archives.
Originally posted at Keyboard Kimura.
