MMA’s Top 25 Unknown and Up & Coming Heavyweights

By KTW
– Senior Editor

Upcoming Fights and Videos Below!

Within the past two or three years, the heavyweight division in mixed martial arts (mma) has had a rebirth of a sort. During the quiet years of mixed martial arts, it appeared that it wasn't as many talented fighters in comparison to today's numbers.  And with that, the talent pool was hit and miss, especially in the big boy division. There simply wasn't any true heavyweight that was able to garner the attention of the casual fan, which is the fanbase that has recently fueled the rebirth of mma. And as we've seen with boxing, if there's not one or two dominating and well-known heavyweights, the entire sport seems to border on the realm of obscurity to the general masses.

This is a comprehensive list of up and coming heavyweights from around the world. Also within this list are those heavyweight mixed martial arts fighters who may not be well known to the casual mma fan. So, fighters that have fight experience as well as being relatively known amongst the American fanbase such as a Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson, & Ben Rothwell….to name a few, aren't included in this list.

~MMA's Top 25~
~Unknown and Up & Coming~
Heavyweights

pr	cr	Fighter	Record	1st Rd Stops	Ht	Wt	Age	Discipline	Origins
2	1	Sergei Kharitonov (Strikeforce)	(16-4) 7 KOs 8 subs	15	6’4"	242	29	Sambo, Boxing, Muay Thai	Russia
3	2	Shane Del Rosario (Strikeforce)	10-0 8 KOs	8	6'4"	240	25	Muay Thai	California
4	3	Antonio Silva (Strikeforce)	14-2 9 KOs	11	6’4"	265	29	Muay Thai, Karate, BJJ	Brazilian
5	4	Mike Russow (UFC)	12-1 8 subs	9	6’2"	265	32	Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing	Chicago
6	5	Damian Grabowski (Bellator)	12-0 5 KOs 7 subs	10	6’1"	230	30	BJJ, Submission Wrestling	Poland
-	6	Brett Rogers (Strikeforce)	10-2 9 KOs 1 sub		6’4"	265	29	Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling	Chicago
7	7	Aleksander Emelianenko	17-3 11 KOs 4 subs	14	6’3"	255	29	Boxing, Sambo, Judo	Russia
14	8	Brendan Schaub (UFC)	6-1 6 KOs	6	6’5"	240	27	Boxing, BJJ	Colorado
15	9	Daniel Cormier (Strikeforce)	4-0 3 KOs	3	5’11"	248	31	Freestyle/ Collegiate Wrestling	Louisiana
10	10	Stefan Struve (UFC)	20-4 14 subs	13	6’11"	245	22	Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu	Netherlands
11	11	Dave Herman	16-2 13 KOs	15	6’5"	240	25	Boxing, Wrestling	Indiana
13	12	Lavar Johnson (Strikeforce)	14-3 12 KOs	12	6’3"	242	32	Boxing	California
12	13	Todd Duffee	6-1 6 KOs	5	6’3"	260	24	Freestyle	Indiana
9	14	Bobby Lashley (Strikeforce)	5-0	4	6’3"	252	33	Collegiate Wrestling	Kansas
3	15	Muhammed Lawal (Strikeforce)	(7-0) 5 KOs	4	5’11"	218	27	Wrestling	Tennessee
16	16	Patrick Barry (UFC)	5-1 5 KOs	4	5’11"	248	31	Sanshou, Muay Thai	Louisiana
18	17	Hae Joon Yang (Bellator)	5-0 5 KOs	5	5’11"	230	22	Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai	South Korea
19	18	Travis Browne (UFC)	10-0 8 KOs	7	6'7"	251		Boxing	California
22	19	Cole Konrad (Bellator)	4-0	2	6'5"	266	26	Wrestling	Minnesota
20	20	Chad Corvin (UFC)	6-0 4 KOs	6	6’5"	253	23	Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling	Kentucky
17	21	Brandon Cash (Strikeforce)	5-2 3 KOs	3	6’5"	256	29	Boxing	California
21	22	Dan Christison	18-7 5 KOs 11 subs	8	6’8"	270	38	Submission Wrestling	California
23	23	Stav Economou	10-1-1 7 KOs	8	6’1"	250	24	Vale Tudo	Cyprus
24	24	Chris Tuchscherer (UFC)	18-3 7 KOs 6 subs	14	6’1"	258	34	Boxing, Wrestling	North Dakota
H	25	Michal Kita (Bellator)	10-4	10	5'10"	240		Wrestling, Sub. Wrestling, Kickboxing	Poland

~Honorables~

pr	cr	Fighter	Record	1st Rd Stops	Ht	Wt	Age	Discipline	Origins
H	H	Rogent Lloret  (Bellator)	9-1-1 6 subs	10	6'3"	235		BJJ	Spain
H	H	Jon Madsen (UFC)	6-0	2	6'0"	252	30	Wrestling	South Dakota
H	H	Kimbo Slice	4-1	2	6’1"	225	36	Boxing, Streetfighting	Bahamas, Miami
H	H	Blagoi Ivanov	2-0	1	5'11"	240	23	Sambo, Judo	Bulgaria
25	H	Mariusz Pudzianowski	2-1 2 KOs	2	6’1"	315	33	Kyokushin Karate, Boxing	Poland
H	H	Daniel Puder	8-0 2 KOs 3 subs		6'3"	255	28	Amateur wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Muay Thai	California
H	H	Tony Johnson Jr (KOTC)	4-1 2 KOs	1	6'1"	265		Freestyle Wrestling	Ohio
8	H	Karlos Vemola (UFC)	7-1 3 KOs 4 subs	7	6’0"	243	25	Submission Wrestling	Czech Republic

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Video Links

Shane Del Rosario vs.  Brandon Cash
Dave "PeeWee" Herman vs.  Jim York
World's Strongest Man–Mariusz Pudzianowski in his mma debut
Hae Joon Yang vs.  Joaquim Ferreira
Tim Sylvia  vs.  Mariusz Pudzianowski….Article & Video
Damian Grabowski vs.  Michal Kita

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~Upcoming Fights~

Fighter		Fighter	Event	Date
Damian Grabowski	vs	Cole Konrad	Bellator 29	9/16/10
Mariusz  Pudzianowski [#19]	vs	"Butterbean" Eric Esch	KSW XIV(Poland)	9/18/10
Travis Browne [H]	vs	Cheik Kongo	UFC 120	10/16/10
Lavar Johnson	vs	TBD	ShoMMA 12	10/22/10
Brandon Cash	vs	TBD	ShoMMA 12	10/22/10
Brendan Schaub [#16]	vs	Gabriel Gonzaga	UFC 121	10/23/10
Jon Madsen	vs	Gilbert Yvel	UFC 121	10/23/10
Brett Rogers	vs	Ruben Villareal	W1: New Ground	10/23/10
Daniel Cormier	vs	Soa Palelei	Xreme MMA	11/6/10

~Recent Results~

 

Fighter		Fighter	Method	Event	Date
Daniel Cormier	defeated	Jason Riley	Submission (Strikes)	Strikeforce: Houston	8/21/10
Chad Griggs	defeated	Bobby Lashley	TKO (Strikes)	Strikefore: Houston	8/21/10
Cole Konrad	defeated	Rogent Lloret	Unanimous Decision	Bellator 25	8/19/10
Damian Grabowski	defeated	Scott Barrett	Unanimous Decision	Bellator 25	8/19/10
Daniel Cormier [#22]	defeated	Tony Johnson, Jr [H]	Submission(Rear Naked Choke	KOTC	8/13/10
Stefan Struve [#10]	defeated	Christian Morecraft	TKO (Punches)	UFC 117	8/7/10
Daniel Cormier [#22]	defeated	Lucus Browne	TKO (Punches)	Xtreme MMA	7/31/10
Shane Del Rosario [#3]	defeated	Lolohea Mahe	TKO (Knees and Punches)	Strikeforce Challengers 9	7/23/10
Jon Madsen [H]	defeated	Karlos Vemola [#1]	Unanimous Decision	UFC 116	7/3/10
Brendan Schaub [#18]	defeated	Chris Tuchscherer [#16]	TKO (Punches)	UFC 116	7/3/10
Travis Browne [H]	defeated	James McSweeney	TKO (Punches)	(UFC) TUF 11 Finale	6/19/10
Cole Konrad [#25]	defeated	John Orr	Unanimous Decision	Bellator 22	6/17/10
Damian Grabowski [#6]	defeated	Michal Kita	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	'Battle for #1 Polish heavyweight'	6/12/10
Mirko Cro Cop	defeated	Pat Barry [#17]	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	UFC 115	6/12/10
Mike Russow [#5]	defeated	Todd Duffee [#12]	KO (Punches)	UFC 114	5/27/10
Aleksander Emelianenko [#8]	defeated	Miodrag Petkovic	TKO (Punches)	APF – Azerbaijan vs. Europe	5/22/10
Tim Sylvia	defeated	Mariusz Pudzianowski [#19]	Submission (Punches)	Moosin	5/21/10
Sokoudjou	defeated	Dave Herman [#11]	DQ (Knees)	Abu Dhabi FC	5/14/10
Stav Economou [#24]	draw	Neil Grove	DRAW	Ultimate Challenge MMA	5/8/10
Jim York	defeated	Brandon Cash [#14]	Submission (Punches)	CFC 14	5/5/10
Antonio Silva [#4]	defeated	Andrei Arlovski	Unanimous Decision	Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery	4/15/10
Roger Gracie [#15]	defeated	Kevin Randleman	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery	4/15/10
Matt Mitrione	defeated	Kimbo Slice [H]	TKO (Punches)	UFC 113	4/8/10
Cole Konrad [#25]	defeated	Pat Bennett	Unanimous Decision	Bellator 17	4/6/10

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There are a few fighters that can be held responsible for pumping life back into the heavyweight division as of recent years. Arguably one of the best heavyweights ever, Fedor Emelianenko(31-1) of Russia, has been at the top of this list for a few years now, even with the air of unfamiliarity that accompanies him. No one has been able to sufficiently beat him, minus a disqualification. His mystique comes from fighting primarily outside of the US in Japan and other international locations. Whether you like Fedor or not, you want to tune in to see what the hype is all about; or perhaps, you want to witness Fedor's first real lost in mma.  He has dominated the majority of his opponent with an elite level of submission wrestling and intelligence that's isn't always seen amongst the heavyweight fighters.

Randy Couture (46), in 2007 reinvigorated the UFC and the heavyweight division when he defeated champ Tim Sylvia to regain the title he once had 7 years prior. He was 44 years of age at the time. Couture is a 4 time UFC heavyweight champion. Couture is arguably the most revered American mma fighter amongst the loyal mma fanbase. And this is in part due to his lunch bucket mentality as well as his longevity.

No longer can the talents in the heavyweight division be overlooked. One of the most top tier grappling talents is Frank Mir, another big guy. Mir, a former UFC champion is 1-1 against Brock Lesnar, and is looking for a rubber match. Lesnar knocked out Mir in their last bout. And in Lesnar's very brief mma career, he has brought in an array of differing viewers from his days as an entertainment wrestler. There's no denying the fan appeal that Lesnar has added to the mma world!

This list entails a variant of talents and skill sets.  There's the guy who last beat Fedor, Blagoi Ivanov, which was in a Sambo fighting style event….to win Gold from the 4-time champion of this event.  Ivanov has since fallen out of the rankings due to inactivity.  And you have Marius Pudzianowski, The Polish Muscle, who's known as the Strongest Man In The World.  That alone is scary, however,  he has some mma skills; he's quick, ultra aggressive, and athletic, and is trained in Kyokushin kaikan karate and was an amateur boxer.  Lavar Johnson, a guy with pure one punch knockout power, was shot 3 times in mid 2009 at a family reunion in which one other relative was killed.  He won his return fight in knockout fashion.

Some parts of the UK faithful are already calling Karlos Vemola a legend, with just 6 fights under his belt.  This guys' stitch is to walk into the cage and walk right up to his opponent and snarl nose to nose, then turns  his back in pure disregard for his opponent…all before the fight begins.  Vemola recented signed with the UFC.

And is the Filipino-American Shane Del Rosario the best American Heavyweight prospect to date? Time will tell.  "King Mo" Lawal continues to look impressive, as has since moved ahead of Rosario with his win over then Strikeforce lhw champion Gegard Mousasi.

The quickest knockout in UFC history belongs to Todd Duffee, another young muscle bound fighter.  And then there's all the talented and elite and top tier heavyweight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu masters in Roger and Rolles Gracie, and Alexander Ribeiro.  Rolles was less than spectacular in his last fight as has sense dropped way out of the rankings.

And lastly, Kimbo Slice makes this impressive international list, simply from the standpoint of pure grit and knockout power.

(Mariusz P. photo from polonista, a poster on  the forums at mixedmartialarts.com)

 

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