[h=1]MMA10: Top 10 underrated fighters[/h][h=3]Dan Henderson, Daniel Cormier and Erik Koch among most underrated
By Adam Hill, T.R. Foley | ESPN Insider ESPN INSIDER
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Editor's note: Insider presents MMA10, a weekly top-10 poll of MMA fighters, trainers and coaches on a variety of topics. This week: top 10 underrated fighters.
Ignored by the fans and the media, these 10 fighters have the talent and potential, but are largely overlooked and dismissed.
The career arc of a professional fighter isn't as objective as it seems. Yes, there are wins and losses, knockouts and submissions, all which can be counted and assessed, but what really separates a fighter from a title shot or national acclaim? The UFC no longer claims to be a meritocracy for talent and though Bellator's tournament format allows for straightforward advancement, it comes at a heavy cost to fighters, leaving fighters in both organizations overlooked and underappreciated.
The economy of fighting is based in metrics of attention. How many viewers can the fighter draw to PPV? How much promotion can the fighter undertake on Twitter? What gate can they draw and how much mainstream media can they do? When it comes to making a fight, the talent of a fighter can be easily usurped by his profitability. The fight game creates money by shining a spotlight on those that earn PPV dollars, sellout arenas and can make mainstream news stories. And yet among the 500 or so contracted fighters between the two organizations there are bound to be fighters that get overlooked and ignored. According to the fighters, these are the top 10.
[h=3]1. Renan Barao | interim bantamweight champion | UFC[/h]
Barao
The only UFC title-holder on the list, Renan Barao's ascendancy to the interim bantamweight belt happened without much fanfare, despite the fact that the 25-year-old Brazilian is highlight film every time he steps in the Octagon. Against Brad Pickett at UFC 138, Barao unleashed three of his favorite skills in a split second, using a flying knee to stun the Brit before uncorking 20-plus jabs and hooks from his feet, and finishing the fight with a rear-naked choke. The hard-striking Brazilian is unbeaten in his last 30 fights, and with current UFC champion Dominick Cruz out another year due to injury Barao will defend his belt against Michael MacDonald in London on Feb. 17. Maybe a win will help him earn more attention?
[h=3]2. Erik Koch | featherweight | UFC[/h]
Koch
Still a youngster at 24, the Duke Roufus-trained prodigy was scheduled to fight for the featherweight title this year against title holder Jose Aldo, but had to withdraw due to injury. Now placed on the UFC on FOX card slated for January in Chicago, Koch is looking to earn a knockout and another title shot. Though suffering a loss to Chad Mendes while still in the WEC (mostly as a result of bad defensive wrestling), Koch has earned the respect of his peers by employing his 5-foot-10 frame for devastating knockout power. His short left jab to KO Raphael Assuncao was a perfect counterpunch by the southpaw. His background in tae kwan do and work with Roufus and Anthony Pettis has made his striking some of the best in MMA.
[h=3]3. Phil Davis | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Davis
Phil Davis' decision loss to Rashad Evans at the UFC on Fox in February has cost him the momentum most fighters are careful to protect. The NCAA Division I national championship wrestler had many of his takedowns stuffed in that fight, exposing a lackluster standup game. However, before that fight Davis had submitted two of the names now being floated as possible title contenders, Alexander Gustafsson and Tim Boetsch. The sub against Boetsch was so unique and dominating it's been nicknamed the "Mr. Wonderful," an ode to Davis' quirky attitude and nickname. But despite wins over Brian Stann and Little Nog, Davis is having trouble landing competitive fights and until a recent injury was supposed to fight the aging former champion Forrest Griffin.
[h=3]4. Joe Lauzon | lightweight | UFC[/h]
Lauzon
The man with the most Submission of the Night awards in the UFC (six) and total bonuses (11) is often overlooked in the crowded lightweight division. His rear-naked choke victory over Melvin Guillard and triangle against Jamie Varner were both award-winning performances, but the Massachusetts native is dogged by a first-round knockout loss against Anthony Pettis. Lauzon's striking has been improving and he'll need to keep brushing it up to deal with fellow jiu-jitsu black belt Jim Miller, whom he's scheduled to face at UFC 155 in December.
[h=3]5. Chris Weidman | welterweight | UFC[/h]
Weidman
Until his recent shoulder surgery Weidman was the face of what it means to be a successful and modest fighter. The heavy-handed wrestler was fresh off a demolition of Mark Munoz that only a handful of commentators believed earned him a title shot against Anderson Silva, even though Munoz had seemed to be lining up for one had he won. Weidman's wrestling is among the best in the UFC, with a black belt-worthy jiu-jitsu game that includes a half-guard pass second only to Georges St-Pierre.
[h=3]6. Alexander Gustafsson | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Gustafsson
The Swede made a statement last weekend with a unanimous decision over fading MMA legend Shogun Rua. The 15-1 fighter is often dismissed both for his frumpy frame and place in the European market, but should light heavyweight champion Jon Jones make it past Chael Sonnen, Gustafsson will be on a short list of possible competitors. His ground game and shot defense match up with some of the best in the sport, and his striking, which combines looping hooks with low front, push and face kicks, is always developing. That selection makes it tough for opponents to close distance and land effective counterpunches.
[h=3]7. Michael Chandler | lightweight champion | Bellator[/h]
The Bellator lightweight champion doesn't get on television as much as his UFC rivals, but the Mizzou wrestler is one of the most talented yet least respected scrappers in MMA. Chandler's fourth-round rear-naked choke of longtime Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez came after the 25-year-old won two rounds decisively and fought his way through the fog of a third-round head kick. His size and explosiveness key a striking game that dares opponents to stand and trade. When that doesn't work the All-American wrestler has a cache of leg attacks and upper-body clinches to control opponents and find opportunities for on-the-mat submissions.
[h=3]8. Dong Hyun Kim | welterweight | UFC[/h]
Kim
The "Stun Gun" is one of the hottest names in the sport, but his awkward loss to Demian Maia at UFC 148 diminished his appeal with fans. The 31-year-old Kim is famous for grinding out decisions, which has hurt his chances to make it through a very stacked welterweight division. Kim's recent destruction of Paulo Thiago at the UFC on Fuel TV was a return to form, with the Korean landing 48 strikes on the Brazilian in the third round alone, with 16 registering as significant. With his top work improving and a new Asian focus in the UFC it's likely Kim will earn marquee fights.
[h=3]9. Daniel Cormier | heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Cormier
His wrestling talent is undeniable, and his hands are heavy. Cormier can launch any opponent at almost any time, and if that isn't working he can step into an overhand right reminiscent of Dan Henderson. The two-time Olympian won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as a third-string replacement and even as he's recognized as a heavyweight talent, most fans still see him as an outlier in a four-man race to the UFC's heavyweight belt. Cormier, a naturally reticent and humble guy, is developing his striking with Javier Mendez, which should signal some more knockouts and maybe then a bit more media attention and a fight or two worthy of his skill level.
[h=3]10. Dan Henderson | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Henderson
Fighters love a fighter, and Dan Henderson has been trading hands for more than 15 years. The Greco-Roman wrestling Olympian is probably best known for his "H-Bomb" right hand and gritty toughness. Henderson's injury prior to the fight with Jon Jones cost him a title shot, and in the eyes of many fighters left the big man to play second fiddle to Chael Sonnen. Henderson's skill set and heart are among the very best, but he hasn't had a UFC title shot since his loss to Anderson Silva in March of 2008.
By Adam Hill, T.R. Foley | ESPN Insider ESPN INSIDER
Editor's note: Insider presents MMA10, a weekly top-10 poll of MMA fighters, trainers and coaches on a variety of topics. This week: top 10 underrated fighters.
Ignored by the fans and the media, these 10 fighters have the talent and potential, but are largely overlooked and dismissed.
The career arc of a professional fighter isn't as objective as it seems. Yes, there are wins and losses, knockouts and submissions, all which can be counted and assessed, but what really separates a fighter from a title shot or national acclaim? The UFC no longer claims to be a meritocracy for talent and though Bellator's tournament format allows for straightforward advancement, it comes at a heavy cost to fighters, leaving fighters in both organizations overlooked and underappreciated.
The economy of fighting is based in metrics of attention. How many viewers can the fighter draw to PPV? How much promotion can the fighter undertake on Twitter? What gate can they draw and how much mainstream media can they do? When it comes to making a fight, the talent of a fighter can be easily usurped by his profitability. The fight game creates money by shining a spotlight on those that earn PPV dollars, sellout arenas and can make mainstream news stories. And yet among the 500 or so contracted fighters between the two organizations there are bound to be fighters that get overlooked and ignored. According to the fighters, these are the top 10.
[h=3]1. Renan Barao | interim bantamweight champion | UFC[/h]
Barao
The only UFC title-holder on the list, Renan Barao's ascendancy to the interim bantamweight belt happened without much fanfare, despite the fact that the 25-year-old Brazilian is highlight film every time he steps in the Octagon. Against Brad Pickett at UFC 138, Barao unleashed three of his favorite skills in a split second, using a flying knee to stun the Brit before uncorking 20-plus jabs and hooks from his feet, and finishing the fight with a rear-naked choke. The hard-striking Brazilian is unbeaten in his last 30 fights, and with current UFC champion Dominick Cruz out another year due to injury Barao will defend his belt against Michael MacDonald in London on Feb. 17. Maybe a win will help him earn more attention?
[h=3]2. Erik Koch | featherweight | UFC[/h]
Koch
Still a youngster at 24, the Duke Roufus-trained prodigy was scheduled to fight for the featherweight title this year against title holder Jose Aldo, but had to withdraw due to injury. Now placed on the UFC on FOX card slated for January in Chicago, Koch is looking to earn a knockout and another title shot. Though suffering a loss to Chad Mendes while still in the WEC (mostly as a result of bad defensive wrestling), Koch has earned the respect of his peers by employing his 5-foot-10 frame for devastating knockout power. His short left jab to KO Raphael Assuncao was a perfect counterpunch by the southpaw. His background in tae kwan do and work with Roufus and Anthony Pettis has made his striking some of the best in MMA.
[h=3]3. Phil Davis | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Davis
Phil Davis' decision loss to Rashad Evans at the UFC on Fox in February has cost him the momentum most fighters are careful to protect. The NCAA Division I national championship wrestler had many of his takedowns stuffed in that fight, exposing a lackluster standup game. However, before that fight Davis had submitted two of the names now being floated as possible title contenders, Alexander Gustafsson and Tim Boetsch. The sub against Boetsch was so unique and dominating it's been nicknamed the "Mr. Wonderful," an ode to Davis' quirky attitude and nickname. But despite wins over Brian Stann and Little Nog, Davis is having trouble landing competitive fights and until a recent injury was supposed to fight the aging former champion Forrest Griffin.
[h=3]4. Joe Lauzon | lightweight | UFC[/h]
Lauzon
The man with the most Submission of the Night awards in the UFC (six) and total bonuses (11) is often overlooked in the crowded lightweight division. His rear-naked choke victory over Melvin Guillard and triangle against Jamie Varner were both award-winning performances, but the Massachusetts native is dogged by a first-round knockout loss against Anthony Pettis. Lauzon's striking has been improving and he'll need to keep brushing it up to deal with fellow jiu-jitsu black belt Jim Miller, whom he's scheduled to face at UFC 155 in December.
[h=3]5. Chris Weidman | welterweight | UFC[/h]
Weidman
Until his recent shoulder surgery Weidman was the face of what it means to be a successful and modest fighter. The heavy-handed wrestler was fresh off a demolition of Mark Munoz that only a handful of commentators believed earned him a title shot against Anderson Silva, even though Munoz had seemed to be lining up for one had he won. Weidman's wrestling is among the best in the UFC, with a black belt-worthy jiu-jitsu game that includes a half-guard pass second only to Georges St-Pierre.
[h=3]6. Alexander Gustafsson | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Gustafsson
The Swede made a statement last weekend with a unanimous decision over fading MMA legend Shogun Rua. The 15-1 fighter is often dismissed both for his frumpy frame and place in the European market, but should light heavyweight champion Jon Jones make it past Chael Sonnen, Gustafsson will be on a short list of possible competitors. His ground game and shot defense match up with some of the best in the sport, and his striking, which combines looping hooks with low front, push and face kicks, is always developing. That selection makes it tough for opponents to close distance and land effective counterpunches.
[h=3]7. Michael Chandler | lightweight champion | Bellator[/h]
The Bellator lightweight champion doesn't get on television as much as his UFC rivals, but the Mizzou wrestler is one of the most talented yet least respected scrappers in MMA. Chandler's fourth-round rear-naked choke of longtime Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez came after the 25-year-old won two rounds decisively and fought his way through the fog of a third-round head kick. His size and explosiveness key a striking game that dares opponents to stand and trade. When that doesn't work the All-American wrestler has a cache of leg attacks and upper-body clinches to control opponents and find opportunities for on-the-mat submissions.
[h=3]8. Dong Hyun Kim | welterweight | UFC[/h]
Kim
The "Stun Gun" is one of the hottest names in the sport, but his awkward loss to Demian Maia at UFC 148 diminished his appeal with fans. The 31-year-old Kim is famous for grinding out decisions, which has hurt his chances to make it through a very stacked welterweight division. Kim's recent destruction of Paulo Thiago at the UFC on Fuel TV was a return to form, with the Korean landing 48 strikes on the Brazilian in the third round alone, with 16 registering as significant. With his top work improving and a new Asian focus in the UFC it's likely Kim will earn marquee fights.
[h=3]9. Daniel Cormier | heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Cormier
His wrestling talent is undeniable, and his hands are heavy. Cormier can launch any opponent at almost any time, and if that isn't working he can step into an overhand right reminiscent of Dan Henderson. The two-time Olympian won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as a third-string replacement and even as he's recognized as a heavyweight talent, most fans still see him as an outlier in a four-man race to the UFC's heavyweight belt. Cormier, a naturally reticent and humble guy, is developing his striking with Javier Mendez, which should signal some more knockouts and maybe then a bit more media attention and a fight or two worthy of his skill level.
[h=3]10. Dan Henderson | light heavyweight | UFC[/h]
Henderson
Fighters love a fighter, and Dan Henderson has been trading hands for more than 15 years. The Greco-Roman wrestling Olympian is probably best known for his "H-Bomb" right hand and gritty toughness. Henderson's injury prior to the fight with Jon Jones cost him a title shot, and in the eyes of many fighters left the big man to play second fiddle to Chael Sonnen. Henderson's skill set and heart are among the very best, but he hasn't had a UFC title shot since his loss to Anderson Silva in March of 2008.
