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- On The Spot ~ Raffaello 'Tractor' Oliveira
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- Jimi Manuwa ~ Becoming The Poster Boy
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Featherweight
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145-pound limit)
Written by Jesse Denis and The Rankings team at the Spot
1. Mike Brown: 22-4
Without a doubt, the number one featherweight in the world aright now, Mike Thomas Brown has put together an amazing run at featherweight, which includes wins over Jeff Curran, Leonard Garcia, and the most dominant featherweight of all time Urijah Faber (twice). Brown brings size and power that is not all too often seen in the 145 lb weight class, this has proven to be a problem for all his opponents hitherto. He has already stated an interest in fighting Jose Aldo in his next title defense. Although it remains to be seen whether or not the match-up will come into fruition, it is certain that Brown has earned his place atop the elite in the featherweight division, and that he is a true warrior who fears no one.
2. Jose Aldo: 15-1
The man heralded by many as the next great Featherweight (and possibly later Banthamweight) champion of the WEC, Jose ‘Junior’ Aldo has looked unstoppable in his last few outings. Junior has simply brutalized every single one of his opponents including highly touted featherweights Alexandre ‘Pequeno’ Noguiera and Cub Swanson. Swanson, a fellow top-5 WEC competitor, marked another step up in competition at WEC 41. Aldo proved that he is no flash in the pan seconds into the bout. Aldo absolutely destroyed Swanson with a double flying knee leaving him face down on the mat giving referee Steve Mazzagatti no choice but to stop the fight at the 8-second mark. As a result, Aldo now owns the fastest KO victory in WEC history. Reigning champion Mike Thomas Brown has already stated an interest in having Aldo as the next title challenger, although nothing has been made official just yet.
3. Urijah Faber: 22-3
Although coming off a second loss to Mike Brown at WEC 41, Urijah Faber proved himself to be a true champion, even in loss. In breaking his hand in the first round of the fight, continuing for another four rounds, and making those rounds an all out war, ‘The California Kid’ showed the kind of heart that very few fighters ever get a chance to display. Faber has been the most dominant and exciting featherweight in the history of the sport, he always comes to fight, and has a massive legion of loyal fans behind him at every turn. Although he his now 0-2 against Brown, who after the fight declared “…We’re the best two guys in the world at this weight class”, Faber seems to have gained more than he lost at WEC 41.
4. Wagnney Fabiano: 12-1
With the now retired IFL Featherweight championship sitting on his mantle Wagnney Fabiano has made it clear that he is looking to add the WEC’s 145 lb championship to his collection. Originally seen as the man who would beat Urijah Faber, Wagnney is now 2-0 in the WEC, winning his last 8 fights in total. He was scheduled to take on former challenger Leonard Garcia at WEC 42, but plans seem to have changed. It remains to be seen as to whom Fabiano will meet next, but he seems merely one win away from a title shot.
5. Hatsu Hioki: 19-3-2
Now advancing to the semi-finals as one of the odds on favourites to win Sengoku’s Featherweight Tournament, Hioki is set to take on Masanori Kanehara in hopes of advancing to the final round. Hioki has looked every bit as dominant as expected thus far in the tournament with submission victories over Chris Manuel and Ronnie Mann. With his recent performances, Hioki has made a nice fit for himself in the top 10 of one the most competitive weight classes in all of MMA, and he only hopes to improve his standing come Sengoku IX.
6. Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto: 17-2
Considered by all pundits to be one of the greatest pound for pound talents in the history of the sport, Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto was the odds on favourite to win the Dream Featherweight Tournament. Sadly, Joe Warren had other plans. Showing some signs of ring rust after an injury riddled 18-month lay-off, Kid battled Warren from opening to closing only to have his triumphant return spoiled by a split decision loss. Kid now sits in the seat of a man coming off of a legitimate loss for the first time in his career. He must now look to the future and climb his way up the ladder to rejoin the elite in his division. It's situations like these where a warrior's true meddle is shown, and Kid has proven time and time again that he amongst the best in the world.
7. Takeshi ‘Lion’ Inoue: 16-3
The very skilled and always tough ‘Lion’ had long been considered one of the top dogs in his weight class. After a hard fought victory over Hideki Kadowaki at Shooto’s Tradition 4 event he began his second reign as Shooto’s 143 lb champion. However, he had had yet to defend a championship in the organization. As many have said in the past “You’re not a champion until you defend your title.” Well, Lion may now be referred to as a champion after taking apart Shooto icon Rumina Sato in his first championship win.
8. Joe Warren: 2-0
Last year around this time Dream had MMA fans screaming Eddie Alvarez's name from the rooftops, it seems the heir to the throne has been found, and his name is Joe Warren. Now 2-0 in his MMA career Joe stands as the new favourite in the Dream "Featherweight Grand Prix after a big split decision win against perennial top fighter Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto, hands down the biggest upset thus far in 2009. Warren now holds a victory over a former WEC champion in Chase Beebe and former K1 Heroes champion and elite level fighter in Kid. It is safe to say that Warren has a bright future ahead of him.
9. Rafael Assuncao: 13-1
Another Brazilian prospect widely considered a force in the already stacked WEC featherweight division; Rafael Assuncao has not tasted defeat since losing a controversial Majority decision to WEC mainstay Jeff Curran in 2006. In his last bout, his WEC debut, he took on a very game Jameel Massouh and dominated him in all positions on his way to a Unanimous Decision victory. Now that he has arrived, he looks to transform his high-level prospect status into that of a truly elite mixed martial artist.
10. Marlon Sandro 14-0
The undefeated current featherweight King of Pancrase, and semi-finalist in the Sengoku Featherweight Tournament, Marlon Sandro has looked unstoppable in 14 fights thus far, simply blowing through opponents as if they didn’t belong in the same ring as him. Sandro is now matched with the impressive featherweight incarnation of Michihiro Omigawa at Sengoku IX. Sandro looks to continue his undefeated streak and advance to the finals, held that same night in hopes of becoming Sengoku’s first featherweight champion.
One 2 Watch: Michihiro Omigawa: 6-7-1
After amassing a less than stellar win/loss of 4-7-0 as a lightweight journeyman, finally swallowing his pride, and moving down to the weight class where he belongs, Omigawa has begun to carve out a niche for himself as a featherweight. Now 2-0-1 in the 143 lb weight class, he has advanced to the semi-finals of the Sengoku Featherweight Tournament with a hard fought decision victory over the always tough prospect L.C. Davis and a crushing victory over heavy favourite Nam Phan, which he stopped in 4:52 of the first round. Now matched against another strong up-and-comer in Marlon Sandro (14-0), Omigawa has already promised a knockout to any opponent standing between him and the tournament championship.
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Posted at 02-28-2009