I’ve seen a lot of MMA World Rankings lately and I haven’t found one I 100% agree with.  Therefore I’m launching the first ever 3rd String Safety Official MMA World Rankings.  Please, hold your applause.  These rankings will be fluid and updated after every major MMA card.

Updated 2/21/10

Heavyweight

1. Fedor Emelianeko (31-1 [1 NC])

He’s nicknamed “The Last Emperor” for a reason.  Fedor has been dominant his entire career.  He holds two wins over ‘Nog and a win over Cro-Cop when he was in his prime.  Fedor came to America and unlike many other foreign fighters he dominated.  He KO’d former UFC Champion Andrei Arlovski and choked out Tim Sylvia, in under four minutes…combined.

Fedor made short work of Brett Rogers in a dominant performance on network television.  However as the MMA heavyweight evolves into a 300 pound monster it remains to be seen if the smaller Emelianeko can continue his dominant run.

Next up: Fabricio Werdum, Strikeforce April on CBS

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

Lesnars game is raw and evolving but unfortunately for everyone else in the Heavyweight division he basically fights in his own weight class.  Lesnar walks around at roughly 300 pounds and often cuts on fight day from 285.  It just simply isn’t fair, the mans a freak of nature.

It will be interesting to see how Lesnar recovers from his bout with diverticulitis and deals with such ring rust early in his MMA career.

Next up: Shane Carwin/Frank Mir Winner (TBA)

3. Frank Mir (13-4)

The rebirth of Frank Mir is complete.  It was only three years ago that Mir destroyed his knee in a terrible motorcycle accident and many thought he would never fight again.  Mir has looked better every fight and against Kongo the transformation was complete.  Mir was huge, 265, and had put on a ton of muscle.  His strikes were sharp and his ju-jitsu was top notch.  Mir said his goal is to ultimately weight about 280 and cut to 265.  If he can get that big and retain his speed and cardio he’ll be a very dangerous fighter, and a serious challenger to Lesnar.

Next up: Shane Carwin, UFC 111

4. Cain Velasquez (7-0)

An impressive fighter and a decorated NCAA Division I wrestler Velasquez has exploded onto the MMA scene. Velasquez looked amazing against both Ben Rothwell and ‘Nog.  His cardio is off the charts and the way he pushes the pace is unprecedented as a heavyweight.  In the ‘Nog fight he finally showed he can knock people out on the feet and out boxed ‘Nog.  Between his boxing, wrestling, and ground and pound Velasquez has all the tools to be a champion.

Next fight: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, UFC 110

5. Shane Carwin (11-0)

This is probably higher than you’ll see Carwin ranked most places but here’s the logic.  1) He’s a huge heavyweight and possibly the biggest fighter in the division not named Brock Lesnar. 2) Carwin is a decorated NCAA wrestler.  3) The man has bricks for hands and quick KO victories in his first 3 UFC fights prove it.  Watching his fights again I was pleasantly surprised with his stand up technique.  His striking is incredibly crisp.

Next up: Frank Mir, UFC 111

6. Junior Dos Santos (9-1)

Very few 25 year olds have the type of credentials that Dos Santos does. With a record of 9-1 Dos Santos holds wins over two of the sports elite fighters in Mirko Cro Cop and Fabricio Werdum. Dos Santos has electric striking, great athleticism and holds a purple belt in BJJ under Big ‘Nog.  Santos is a quick riser up the heavyweight ranks, in order to evaluate him further I’d like to see what happens when Santos has to fight on the ground.  He’s yet to be tested against a great wrestler.

Next fight: Gabriel Gonzaga, UFC On Versus

7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

Oh how the mighty have fallen.  PRIDE fighters tend to age in dog years and the former champion hasn’t aged well.  At 33 and a veteran nearly 40 fights ‘Nog seems to have finally slowed down.  But even with all that being said I still have ‘Nog ranked as the 7th best heavyweight.

Maybe ‘Nog falls into the Couture realm where he just takes interesting fights that could still co-headline a PPV.  His days as a title contender certainly seem to be over

Next up: Nothing Scheduled.

8. Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1)

There’s a lot of guys that could fit the profile of the 8th, 9th and 10th guy on this list and to be fair I’m not sure much separates them.  Werdum a Pride veteran holds wins over Gonzaga, Brandon Vera, Overeem and Alexander Emilenakeo among others.  His boxing looked crisp and vastly improved in his last fight against Mike Pyle and his performance against the much bigger Antonio Silva was very impressive.

Next up: Fedor Emilenakeo, Strikefroce April on CBS

9. Brett Rogers (10-1)

Rogers put his name on the map with a 22 second win over Arlovski. Rogers have the size and the striking ability to be a top heavyweight. For someone so raw I was incredibly impressed with Rogers performance against Fedor. He was able to scramble and had Fedor in trouble before he was swept by an Arm-Bar. Even in defeat Rogers proved he deserves to be in the Top 10.

Next up: Nothing scheduled. Strikeforce has a very thin heavyweight division. A match-up against Mike Pyle or Antonio Silva is likely.

10. Andrei Arlovski (15-7)

Now 15-7 it’s easy to forget that the man with the glass jaw was once number two on this list.  Yes, he’s been KO’d in his last two fights but again he’s big, has lighting quick hands and a strong sambo background.  He has a weakness but he’s still has more pure talent than a lot of fighters on this list. Now training with Greg Jackson he can definitely turn his career around.

Next fight: Nothing scheduled. I think it’s time Strikeforce feeds AA a can to get his career back on track.

Honorable Mention: Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, Alister Overeem

Prospect Watch: Todd Duffee, Stefan Struve

Not Ranked: Randy Couture; His days at heavyweight seem to be numbered. Josh Barnett; Until he fights a legit opponent he is off the rankings.  He seems doomed to wander Japan fighting cans for the rest of his life. Mirko Cro-Cop; Beat Anthony Perosh but what does that really even prove?  Up next seems to be Ben Rothwell who he was originally suppose to fight at 111.