Issue 038
June 2008
Rivalling the welterweight division as one of the busiest in the sport, the 185lb weight class is absolutely stacked with talent. Featuring a number of the sport’s pound-for-pound ranked fighters, there are more top-tier middleweights that could ever be squeezed into an overview of this sort. Still, our at-a-glance guide gives you the lowdown on who’s who in the world of middleweight mixed martial arts.
Anderson Silva
21-4-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In Brief:
Possibly the greatest middleweight fighter to walk the planet. Argued by some as the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA.
The Good:
Pin point striking, slick groundwork and a ruthless finishing ability makes for a very crowd-pleasing style.
The Bad:
His legitimate losses have come via submission – one a fluke and one very real. Still, not many chinks in the armour.
Notable achievements:
Clearing out the upper echelons of the UFC’s middleweight division with frightening ease.
Must-see fight:
Most of them – his two muggings of Rich Franklin, his ruthless stoppage of Nate Marquardt, and his spectacular KO of Carlos Newton.
Yoshihiro Akiyama
10-1-0, fighting out of Osaka, Japan
In Brief:
Korean / Japanese judo Olympian who has quickly risen to prominence in Japan.
The Good:
Very athletic, intelligent and a fantastic technician, he is also highly aggressive and ruthless.
The Bad:
Other than his propensity for testing the rules, not much – he was stopped in his last fight via an illegal kick. Has a habit of greasing.
Notable achievements:
Transitioning from judo to MMA but showing real skill in every range is impressive enough. Holds wins via KO, showing versatility.
Must-see fight:
His KO of Denis Kang was particularly brutal and quite shocking – also his dramatic submission win over the ferocious Melvin Manhoef.
Frank Shamrock
23-9-2, fighting out of San Jose, California
In Brief:
Legendary middleweight Shamrock has been around for ever, starting MMA in 1994. Was the template for modern MMA fighters.
The Good:
Smart, athletic and great at self-promotion, he made the world aware of the importance of conditioning.
The Bad:
Jack of all trades, master of none. Has good ability in every range but lack elite-level skill in any one area.
Notable achievements:
Making his career last this long has been an achievement in itself. Took a sabbatical only to return with MMA at an all-time high.
Must-see fight:
His legendary besting of the then-unstoppable Tito Ortiz, which showed the importance of having a good game plan.
Yushin Okami
22-4-0, fighting out of Kanagawa, Japan
In Brief:
The solid workmanlike Okami is tipped as Silva’s next challenger, something the Brazilian is keen for (they have unfinished business).
The Good:
Huge for the weight category, solid in every area if not stunning. Very effective ground and pound.
The Bad:
Criticised as conservative and lacklustre, going for ‘safe’ wins over truly impressive performances.
Notable achievements:
Nothing to write home about. A look at his record shows an impressive winning streak cut short by his poor showing against Franklin. Hasn’t been stopped since 2003.
Must-see fight:
His recent KO of Evan Tanner hints at what a motivated Okami could do.
Matt Lindland
20-5-0, fight out of Portland, Oregon
In Brief:
Greco-Roman wrestler turned MMA fighter, Lindland is one of the world’s best middleweights, yet can’t find a fight.
The Good:
Clinch work that is out of this world, heavy hands and a fiery streak that sees him take it to his opponents.
The Bad:
His weakness is his willingness to fight anyone regardless of weight. Fought Rampage at 205lbs and Fedor at heavyweight.
Notable achievements:
Bizarrely, no one wants to fight him – he’s a difficult opponent who makes people look bad. A champ without a crowd.
Must-see fight:
His two fights with Phil Baroni were real bad blood barnburners. His tussle with Rampage is definitely worth a watch.
Paulo Filho
16-0-0, fight out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In Brief:
Stocky jiu-jitsu specialist with a perfect record but troubling personal issues.
The Good:
World-class jiu-jitsu, awesome training partners and an unflappable attitude in the ring.
The Bad:
The aforementioned personal issues: pulled out of his last fight after checking into rehab for an undisclosed addiction.
Notable achievements:
Holds the WEC title, and blasted through the 2006 Pride tournament before withdrawing with an injury.
Must-see fight:
He put Amar Suloev through a grappling clinic in 2005, one of the best displays of jiu-jitsu in MMA.
Denis Kang
29-9-1, fighting out of Vancouver, Canada
In Brief:
Korean-Canadian all-rounder who trains with GSP and more. A perennial dark horse.
The Good:
Heavy hands, excellent groundwork and great fighting spirit (he fought 15 minutes with a torn bicep in 2006).
The Bad:
Undefeated for 23-fights from 2003-2006, he looked unstoppable – but Akiyama took him out with a ruthless uppercut last year. Hasn’t fought since.
Notable achievements:
His three year run of no losses is impressive enough, but he looked dead cert to win the 2006 Pride tourney before getting injured.
Must-see fight:
His wins over Ninja Rua and Amar Suloev in Pride showed what he can do when fired up – Ninja lasted 15 seconds, while Suloev submitted in under 5 minutes.
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