(Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images).
Rampage is one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. At times, his boisterous personality and outlandish ring attire is more noticeable than his fighting. That is, until he knocks you out.
The wolf-howling Jackson has come a long way since his days in Pride. His entire skill-set has evolved and he has transitioned from a one-dimensional striker, into a lethal, well-rounded machine. With knockout power in both hands, outstanding strength for his weight class and quality takedown defense, he shows flashes of a new age Chuck Liddell.
Although he lost a close decision to Forrest Griffin, Jackson has bounced back with solid performances over Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. When Rampage is focused, he is one of the most dangerous fighters in the world.
No. 8 Rashad Evans
Despite being the world champ, Evans entered his first title defense against Machida as an underdog. And after the shellacking he took, the line proved to be an accurate one.
But don’t sleep on Evans. He is still growing as a fighter and has displayed an array of different talents. First and foremost, Evans is a quality wrestler with a good defense combined with nasty takedowns. Secondly, Evans has some of the quickest hands in the division. The explosion he exhibited against Liddell and Griffin was scary. And lastly, he has some of the best footwork in the sport.
Given all these positives, Evans should be a mainstay in the division for years to come and provide a difficult challenge for any competitor.
No. 9 Mike Brown
Soft spoken, humble and polite, you won’t find Mike Brown at the center of controversy. The American Top Team product has never sought the limelight, but after years of fighting, his performances have thrust him into the limelight.
Coming off of his 10th straight victory—two of which came at the expense of the seemingly indestructible Urijah Faber—Brown has made a career out of grinding opponents down and beating people up. It has taken a long time, but he is now getting the respect he deserves.
In spite of being only 5’6", Brown can bang with the best of them. He claims to enjoy sparring with teammate Thiago Alves and has proven he can strike and wrestle. After another dominating performance, it’s become clear that Brown has a stranglehold on the featherweight division.
No. 10 Kenny Florian
I’ll be honest, deciding on who the 10th best fighter was my hardest decision. I’ve always been a Florian skeptic and placing him amongst the world’s best was a difficult decision. I thought fighters like Thiago Alves, Urijah Faber, Shinya Aoki and even Dan Henderson deserved consideration above Florian.
But then I began re-watching his fights. I started with his destruction at the hands of Diego Sanchez and didn’t stop until I witnessed him embarrass Joe Stevenson. Fact is, this guy has improved dramatically in all facets of the fight game. His striking is lethal. He takes angles, employs precise footwork, and uses kicks, elbows, knees and punches. There's no doubt his stand-up has become the total package.
The dedication to his wrestling is also noticeable. Since his loss to Sean Sherk, he has been incredibly difficult to take down and has actually made a habit of throwing his opponents off guard by utilizing good shots. He can also fight off his back and slap on submissions.
Simply put, Kenny Florian has become one of the most well rounded fighters in his division. After six straight convincing wins, Florian has shown me he is ready to make his mark as one of the best in the world.
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