MMA Gloves Year End Top Ten Lists
We are going to start a tradition on this website of listing the top ten fighter for the year by several categories in the world of mixed martial arts. The first list we put together is the all important pound for pound list. The top ten MMA fighters listed below are taken from different leagues and different weight classes and are the pinnacle fighters in the sport of MMA.
2009 MMA Gloves Top Ten List
1. Lyoto Machida
Ranked on most lists in the top five best pound for pound fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts, Lyoto Machida is the current light heavyweight champ in the UFC. As of November, this Japanese-Brazilian MMA fighter is undefeated in his professional career.
Making his debut on UFC 67 against Sam Hogar, Lyoto Machida has steadily risen in the ranks of the MMA. His unique style has elements from a diverse training background and is always prepared for every situation. Described as elusive, his precision in the art of counterstrikes makes his opponents make those critical mistakes that allows this effective fighter to capitalize and win.
His record at the end of 2009 was 16-0-0.
2. Fedor Emelianenko
Considered one of the most relentless and best fighters in the MMA, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the sport’s most underrated mixed martial arts fighters. This Russian born heavyweight fighter has an impressive ruthless precision to his fights, an immense strength and dedication to MMA training.
Fedor has held five separate major championships, the “bad man” of the MMA waits for the day the UFC opens its door to him so he can prove to the world who the greatest fighter is.
His current 2009 MMA record is 31-1-0.
3. Georges St. Pierre
As the 2009 UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre is a the top of most pound-for-pound charts and is considered the best welterweight champion in the sport of mixed martial arts. This Canadian born MMA fighter earned his Brazialian Jiu-Jitsu belt from Renzo Gracie and then moved on to train with some of the top names in the MMA.
Considered by many to be the “the one to beat” in MMA, fans and interviews alike want to see how Pierre can do against champions BJ Penn and Machida to decide who is the best overall fighter in mixed martial arts.
His mixed martial arts record for 2009 was 19-2-0.
4. BJ Penn
A Hawaiian-American, BJ Penn is 209’s current light heavyweight champion in the UFC. With a background in mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Penn is considered the most talent martial artist in the sport of MMA as he was the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division at the World Jui-Jitsu Championship in Brazil with only three years training.
BJ Penn’s fighting style is like a well-precisioned machine as punches and takedowns seem to catch no hold on him. He has the distinction as one of the few fighters who have never been taken to the mat and he is currently the only the second fighter to have held championships in to separate weight classes.
His 2009 record was 15-5-1.
5. Anderson Silva
With the longest active winning streak in the UFC, Anderson Silva is the current Middleweight Champion with 10 consecutive wins. Silva has a Black Belt in BBJ, he is another Brazilian MMA Fighter to have descended from the legendary Gracie family school of Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.
Anderson Silva is currently ranked as the top middleweight fighter in the world and trains through Black House with light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. He also has had two fights as a professional boxer.
His 2009 MMA record was 25-4-0.
6. Rashad Evans
As the 2009 winner as fight manager on The Ultimate Fighter and former winning fighter of The Ultimate Fighter 2, Rashad Evans has previously held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, losing to Lyto Machida.
Having an early career as a college wrestler, the Michigan State graduate has held an amazing record of 48-34 and won the National Junior college championship in 2000.
His 2009 MMA record was 13-1-1.
7. Miguel Torres
Mexican American mixed martial artist, Miguel Torres fights in 2009 for the World Extreme Cagefighting organization and is a former WEC Bantamweight champion. Before his MMA career with the WEC, Torres held the bantamweight title for the US Shooto organization and for the Ironheart Crown.
Torres fights primarily in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a lethal Muay Thai striking arsenal. In September 2008 Torres received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Carlson Gracie, Jr.
His 2009 MMA record was 37-2-0.
8. Gegard Mousasi
Fighting for Team Jurojin from the Netherlands, Gegard Mousasi is the current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and is considered the 6th ranked light-heavyweight in the world. Gegard is from Dutch-Armenian descent with training as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist.
He began his career as a middleweight fighter but after putting on weight after winning the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix and plans to move up eventually to the heavyweight division.
His 2009 MMA record is 27-2-1.
9. Quinton Jackson
As the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has had a successful career in and out of the Octagon. His schedule fight with Rashad Evans has now been put on hold so Quinton can play B.A. Baracus in the new version of the A-Team. Jackson is supposed to return at a later date to fight against Evans who was his competition as manager on The Ultimate Fighter in 2009.
Quinton Jackson rose to success fighting in Japan’s Pride Championships where his aggressive style and powerful takedowns led him to victory against Ricardo Arona. While not currently fighting, he is still a major force in the world of mixed martial arts.
His 2009 MMA record is 30-7-0.
10. Mauricio Rua
Considered the 2nd best light heavyweight in the world, Mauricio’s recent loss to Machida came at a mixed decision among critics and fight fans and many feel the Mauricio had done more damage to Machida. Rua has had a successful career as a mixed martial artist and holds wins over some of the best in the business including Chuck Liddell, Ricardo Arona, and Quinton Jackson.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and his younger brother, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, also fights in the MMA. After his rematch with Machida in 2010, Rua could shoot to the top of this list.
His MMA record for 2009 is 18-4-0.
