MMA Rankings

Heavyweight (265 lbs.)

1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira
3. Randy Couture
4. Josh Barnett
5. Andrei Arlovski
6. Tim Sylvia
7. Fabricio Werdum
8. Frank Mir
9. Mirko Cro Cop
10. Aleksander Emelianenko


Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.)

1. Forrest Griffin
2. Quentin Jackson
3. Mauricio Rua
4. Rashad Evans
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Dan Henderson
7. Chuck Liddell
8. Wanderlei Silva
9. Ricardo Arona
10. Thiago Silva


Middleweight (185 lbs.)

1. Anderson Silva
2. Paulo Filho
3. Rich Franklin
4. Dan Henderson
5. Matt Lindland
6. Yushin Okami
7. Robbie Lawler
8. Michael Bisping
9. Nate Marquart
10. Patrick Cote


Welterweight (170 lbs.)

1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Josh Koscheck
4. Jake Shields
5. Thiago Alves
6. Matt Serra
7. Carlos Condit
8. Matt Hughes
9. Diego Sanchez
10. Karo Parisyan


Lightweight (155 lbs.)

1. BJ Penn
2. Takanori Gomi
3. Sean Sherk
4. Kenny Florian
5. JZ Calvancante
6. Roger Huerta
7. Shinya Aoki
8. Joe Stephenson
9. Eddie Alvarez
10. Josh Thomson


Featherweight (145 lbs.)

1. Urijah Faber
2. Norifumi Yamamoto
3. Jens Pulver
4. Hatsu Hioki
5. Akitoshi Tamura
6. Wagnney Fabiano
7. Mike Thomas Brown
8. Masakazu Imanari
9. Hideki Kadowaki
10. Takeshi Inoue


Pound for Pound

1. Anderson Silva
2. Fedor Emelianenko
3. Georges St. Pierre
4. BJ Penn
5. Urijah Faber
6. Miguel Torres (135 lbs.)
7. Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira
8. Forrest Griffin
9. Takanori Gomi
10. Jon Fitch

MMA Rankings

Heavyweight (265 lbs.)

1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira
3. Randy Couture
4. Josh Barnett
5. Andrei Arlovski
6. Tim Sylvia
7. Fabricio Werdum
8. Frank Mir
9. Mirko Cro Cop
10. Aleksander Emelianenko


Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.)

1. Forrest Griffin
2. Quentin Jackson
3. Mauricio Rua
4. Rashad Evans
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Dan Henderson
7. Chuck Liddell
8. Wanderlei Silva
9. Ricardo Arona
10. Thiago Silva


Middleweight (185 lbs.)

1. Anderson Silva
2. Paulo Filho
3. Rich Franklin
4. Dan Henderson
5. Matt Lindland
6. Yushin Okami
7. Robbie Lawler
8. Michael Bisping
9. Nate Marquart
10. Patrick Cote


Welterweight (170 lbs.)

1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Josh Koscheck
4. Jake Shields
5. Thiago Alves
6. Matt Serra
7. Carlos Condit
8. Matt Hughes
9. Diego Sanchez
10. Karo Parisyan


Lightweight (155 lbs.)

1. BJ Penn
2. Takanori Gomi
3. Sean Sherk
4. Kenny Florian
5. Shinya Aoki
6. JZ Calvancante
7. Roger Huerta
8. Joe Stephenson
9. Tatsuya Kawajiri
10. Josh Thomson


Featherweight (145 lbs.)

1. Urijah Faber
2. Akitoshi Tamura
3. Norifumi Yamamoto
4. Jens Pulver
5. Antonio Carvalho
6. Hatsu Hioki
7. Masakazu Imanari
8. Wagnney Fabiano
9. Takeshi Inoue
10. Hideki Kadowaki


Pound for Pound

1. Anderson Silva
2. Fedor Emelianenko
3. Georges St. Pierre
4. BJ Penn
5. Urijah Faber
6. Miguel Torres (135 lbs.)
7. Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira
8. Forrest Griffin
9. Takanori Gomi
10. Jon Fitch

2009 Big Board

1. Ricky Rubio (6'4'', PG, Spain)
2. Blake Griffin (6'9'', PF, Oklahoma, Soph.)
3. Demar DeRozan (6'6'', SG, USC, Fresh.)
4. BJ Mullens (7'0'', C, Ohio State, Fresh.)
5. James Harden (6'5'', SG, Arizona, Soph.)
6. Earl Clark (6'8'', SF, Louisville, Jr.)
7. Hasheem Thabeet (7‘3‘’, C, UConn, Jr.)
8. Andrew Ogilvy (7'0'', C, Vanderbilt, Soph.)
9. Al-Farouq Aminu (6’9’’, SF, Wake Forest, Fresh.)
10. Chase Budinger (6‘7“, SG, Arizona, Jr.)
11. Brandon Jennings (6'1'', PG, Arizona, Fresh.)
12. Greg Monroe (6'10'', PF, Georgetown, Fresh.)
13. Tywon Lawson (6'0'', PG, North Carolina, Jr.)
14. Patrick Patterson (6‘8“, PF, Kentucky, Soph.)
15. Austin Daye (6'10'', SF, Gonzaga, Soph.)
16. Tyreke Evans (6'4'', SG, Memphis, Fresh.)
17. Gerald Henderson (6'5'', SG, Duke, Jr.)
18. Samardo Samuels (6'8'', PF, Louisville, Fresh.)
19. Jrue Holiday (6'4'', SG, UCLA, Fresh.)
20. Kyle Singler (6'8'', SF, Duke, Soph.)
21. Darren Collison (6’1’’, PG, UCLA, Sr.)
22. Omri Casspi (6’8’’, SF, Israel)
23. Tyler Smith (6’7’’, SF, Tennessee, Jr.)
24. Nick Calathes (6'5'', PG, Florida, Soph.)
25. Damion James (6'8'', SF, Texas, Jr.)
26. James Anderson (6'6'', SG, Oklahoma State, Soph.)
27. Eric Maynor (6'3'', PG, Virginia Commonwealth, Sr.)
28. Stephen Curry (6‘3‘’, SG, Davidson, Jr.)
29. Victor Claver (6'10'', SF, Spain)
30. AJ Price (6’2’’, PG, UConn, Sr.)
31. Lester Hudson (6’3’’, PG, UT-Martin, Sr.)
32. Tyler Hansbrough (6'8'', PF, North Carolina, Sr.)
33. Josh Heytvelt (6'11'', PF, Gonzaga, Sr.)
34. Wayne Ellington (6'4'', SG, North Carolina, Jr.)
35. Devin Ebanks (6'8'', SF, West Virginia, Fresh.)
36. Rodrigue Beaubois (6'3'', PG, France)
37. Jordan Hill (6'10'', PF, Arizona, Jr.)
38. Greivis Vasquez (6’5’’, PG, Maryland, Jr.)
39. Terrence Williams (6'5'', SG, Louisville, Sr.)
40. DaJuan Summers (6'8'', SF, Georgetown, Jr.)
41. Henk Norel (6’11’’, PF, Netherlands)
42. Nando De Colo (6’5’’, SG, France)
43. Sam Young (6'6'', SF, Pittsburgh, Sr.)
44. Jeff Pendergraph (6’10’’, PF, Arizona State, Sr.)
45. Danny Green (6‘5‘’, SG, North Carolina, Sr.)
46. Jeremy Pargo (6’2’’, PG, Gonzaga, Sr.)
47. Alexey Shved (6'6'', PG, Russia)
48. Curtis Jerrells (6'1'', PG, Baylor, Sr.)
49. Alonzo Gee (6'5'', SG, Alabama, Sr.)
50. Brandon Costner (6'8'', SF, North Carolina State, Jr.)
51. Tyrese Rice (6'0'', PG, Boston College, Sr.)
52. Dominic James (6'0'', PG, Marquette, Sr.)
53. Robert Vaden (6'5'', SG, UAB, Sr.)
54. Rudy Mbemba (5'11'', PG, Sweeden)
55. KC Rivers (6‘5‘’, SG, Clemson, Sr.)
56. Josh Carter (6‘7‘’, SF, Texas A&M, Sr.)
57. Stefon Jackson (6’4’’, SG, UTEP, Sr.)
58. Joe Ingles (6’8’’, SF, Australia)
59. Taj Gibson (6’9’’, PF, USC, Jr.)
60. Vyacheslav Kravtsov (7’0’’, C, Ukraine)

NBA Draft Grades

1. LA Clippers
Eric Gordon (7)
DeAndre Jordan (35)
Mike Taylor (55)

The Clippers improved themselves more than any team in the league in this draft. Gordon has the ability to come in and start right now if Maggette bails in free agency. DeAndre Jordan has all star upside and was a no brainer at any pick after #20. Mike Taylor is a talented guy who could eventually get minutes as well. The Clippers got the guard depth they desperately needed, and managed to add a talented (but raw) 7 footer as well. Great draft.

2. Miami
Michael Beasley (2)
Mario Chalmers (34)

It certainly looked going into this draft like Miami might be a team near the bottom of this list. Miami toyed with the disastrous idea of passing on a future all star in Michael Beasley in order to take OJ Mayo. Mayo is a talented guy, but he has nothing on Mike Beasley. Beasley might be the most skilled player in this draft, and he also gives Miami to frontcourt depth to be able to move Haslem or Marion for guard help. Picking up a 2nd round pick and taking Mario Chalmers was the icing on the cake for this draft. While Chalmers will likely never be a starter in the NBA, he looks like a surefire rotation player who can really up Miami’s point guard play off the bench.

3. Utah
Kosta Koufos (23)
Ante Tomic (44)
Tadija Tragicomic (53)

Utah managed to get a lottery talent caliber at #23 and a first round caliber player at #44. I’d say that is a pretty good accomplishment. Add to that that both players are over 7 feet tall and you have a really great draft. Kosta Koufos can come in and help out off the bench right away. He is super skilled with a very refined offensive game. Tomic is a long term pick, and will likely stay in Europe. Utah also grabbed another European player in Tadija Tragicomic, who as far as I can tell does not exist. I do a lot of research on European draft prospects, but the first time I heard this name it was when he was drafted. He likely won’t be seeing the NBA ever, but at #53, why not gamble?

4. Portland
Jerryd Bayless (11)
Nicolas Batum (25)
Ike Diogu (trade)

I sometimes think Portland just makes trades in order to stay busy on draft night, but it is hard to argue with the results. Bayless was a top 6 talent in this draft and getting him at #11 was a steal for Indiana. When he was shipped off to Portland in a deal involving Brandon Rush, it was an even bigger steal for Portland. Not only did Portland get the point guard they needed, but he is a perfect compliment to Brandon Roy. I am no fan of Ike Diogu, but he is another big body picked up in the trade for Bayless. In my opinion Bayless was worth Rush and Jack on his own. The Portland trade machine continued later in the draft when they got Nicolas Batum in a deal for Darrell Arthur late in the first round. Batum is a talented player that could develop into a very good player in Europe (where he will most likely stay for now).

5. Chicago
Derrick Rose (1)
Omer Asik (36)

A week ago this would have been my #1 rated draft. Rose is the best talent in this draft and Asik has long been one of my favorite draft steals. But, how much credit can you really give Chicago for lucking their way into the #1 pick? And can I still love the Asik pick even after he signed a huge long term deal in Europe? I still love Derrick Rose and Omer Asik, but I am not sure how highly I can rate the draft on the whole.

6. Minnesota
Kevin Love (5)
Nikola Pekovic (31)
Mike Miller (trade)

No team came away from this draft with more talent than the Timberwolves. Love and Pekovic are very good big men and Mike Miller is a proven quality player who fills a need. If only this draft was as good as it looked. Love is a nice player, but I do not see how he fits next to Al Jefferson. Both are power forwards with quickness issues and I think they will find it tough to coexist. Pekovic is actually the better fit (and possibly player) next to big Al, but he is locked up real long term in Europe. He is a very good player, but it is unlikely he ever sees the NBA. The one thing I loved about this draft is Mike Miller. He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and I love his fit next to Randy Foye in the Minnesota backcourt. All in all a nice draft, but a complicated one that will need to be judged a few years down the line. At that point, it may be the best draft from this year, or maybe near the worst.

7. Indiana
Brandon Rush (13)
Roy Hibbert (17)
Jarrett Jack (trade)
Josh McRoberts (trade)

Indian helped themselves a lot next year by adding 2 of the most NBA ready players in this draft. Indy grabbed Brandon Rush along with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts from Portland in exchange for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu. While I think Indy should have just hung on to Bayless, it is hard to argue with the additions here. Indy gets 2 solid defensive guards in Rush and Jack that may very well be Indy’s backup guards next year. Hibbert will immediately be the best big man in Indy and should be starting by the all star break. This draft and the Jermiane O’Neal trade have made Indiana a much better team than they appeared to be a week ago.

8. New Jersey
Brook Lopez (10)
Ryan Anderson (21)
Chris Douglas-Roberts (40)

I have been extremely outspoken about my belief that Brook Lopez is the 3rd best player in this draft. Needless to say, the Nets getting him at #10 was a great get. I also loved the CDR pick at #40. Why he fell this far is beyond me, but this kid will play in the NBA. If not for the Ryan Anderson pick at #21, this draft would be rated a lot higher. I do not really see why so many people are in love with Anderson. Sure, he is tall and can shoot, but he is the model for a bust. A soft college big man overachiever, he is cut from the Christian Laettner bust mold. Maybe he can be a solid backup, but there were many better players on the board (ironically CDR was one of them).

9. Dallas
Shan Foster (51)

Dallas was this drafts anti-Portland, but there is something to be said for just taking the best player. Dallas dealt their 1st rounder away in the putrid Jason Kidd trade earlier this year, so they had to sit and wait until the late second round before making a pick. They made up for the long wait by taking one of my real sleepers in this draft. Shan Foster was one of the best players in college last year. He can shoot the lights out and is underrated athletically. For a team in need of a backup shooting guard like Dallas is, they could not have done better here.

10. Orlando
Courtney Lee (22)

Orlando went with the safe pick (a reoccurring theme in the post-Fran Vazquez era) and took NBA ready shooting guard Courtney Lee. Lee was a guy who came on big time in workouts (including a workout in Orlando that is slowly becoming legendary. It involved sick shooting and a block of DJ White so nasty that you had to see it to believe it) and went from an early 2nd rounder to a guy people were considering moving up to #18 to take. Thankfully for Orlando this did not happen, and they now have their future starting shooting guard. If only Orlando could have also found a way to grab a big man.

11. Golden State
Anthony Randolph (14)
Richard Hendrix (49)

Golden State got great value at both their picks. Randolph and Hendrix both could have easily gone 8 to 10 spots higher if the right situations played out. The only problem I have with this draft is that Golden State just keeps taking big men who are long term projects. The last 3 first round picks for Mullin and the Warriors were Patrick O’Bryant, Branden Wright, and now Anthony Randolph. Noticing a trend?

12. New York
Danilo Gallinari (6)

What a difference a new regime makes. New York made the right, if not unpopular pick by nabbing Danilo Gallinari with the 6th pick. He is a do everything winner with the toughness to excel in New York. Add to that, he is a perfect fit in Mike D’Antoni’s offense. Great first move by Donnie Walsh.

13. Memphis
OJ Mayo (3)
Darrell Arthur (27)

What a hard draft for me to grade. On one hand, Mayo fits no need in Memphis and they gave up Mike Miller to get him. This trade made no sense for them…as usual. But, there is no way around the fact that Mayo was a top 4 player in this draft and Arthur was a top 14 player. So, despite the dumb trade, they did get great value out of their picks. If only they did not give up Mike Miller to get it done. The real question is what is Memphis going to do with all these guards?

14. Phoenix
Robin Lopez (15)
Goran Dragic (45)

I personally think #15 is a bit of a reach for Robin Lopez, a guy with very limited offensive skills. That said, Phoenix clearly wants to get tougher and Lopez fills that need. Dragic is a tall point guard who is ready to play now, and he may end up being a steal in this draft. Solid, but not spectacular, draft for the new look Suns. Nice to see they did not pawn their pick off for cash this year.

15. Toronto
Nathan Jawai (41)

Toronto managed to add Jermaine O’Neal without giving up a starter. That’s the good news. The bad news (which speaks to how far his stock has fallen) is that they still overpaid. Toronto is gambling that JO can stay healthy and put them over the hump. If he stays healthy, that is possible. Having traded the #17 pick for JO, Toronto had only this 2nd round pick to use. As usual, they used it on a foreign player. Jawai is an upside pick. He is still learning the game, but he is a big skilled center who can become a player down the line. You really can’t ask for more at pick #41.

16. Houston
Donte Greene (28)
Joey Dorsey (33)
Maarty Leunen (54)

The good…Donte Greene was great value this late in the draft. He can become a lottery level talent if he pans out. The bad…Dorsey and Leunen will be playing in Greece this time next year. You win some, you lose some.

17. Milwaukee
Joe Alexander (8)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (37)

How many small forwards does one team need? I have no problems with these picks, as both guys are solid values where they went. I do have a problem with trading Yi for Jefferson earlier in the day and then ignoring your giant gap at power forward to take 2 more small forward. With Brook Lopez still on the board, Alexander does not make much sense. Now Milwaukee has 2 solid small forward and who knows who at power forward. Williams/Redd/Jefferson/Lopez/Bogut >>> Williams/Redd/Jefferson/Alexander/Bogut.

18. Charlotte
DJ Augustin (9)
Alexis Ajinca (20)
Kyle Weaver (38)

I love DJ Augustin, but this pick made no sense. I guess if the rumored Felton for Lee trade goes through, we can reevaluate here. Charlotte needed a big who could play right away. Brook Lopez is a big who can play right away. Hello, wake up Larry Brown. Ajinca is a skilled guy, but he is going to live in Larry Brown’s doghouse like every other soft Euro big man who is far from ready to contribute. See also Darko Milicic. Kyle Weaver is a great pick at $38, he should immediately see time because of his defense. Good draft from a player standpoint, bad draft from a fit standpoint.

19. Boston
JR Giddens (30)
Bill Walker (47)

Boston gambled on a couple of big upside guys. They risked very little to do so, so you certainly can’t fault it. Giddens and Walker are world class athletes, if they can put it together this may go down as a great draft.

20. Philadelphia
Marreese Sleights (16)

This seems like a reach to me. Speights has the skills to be a very good NBA player, but a questionable motor and work ethic. There were a handful of better bigs available. If Speights lives up to his talent, Philly will have the last laugh, if not, they wasted a pick.

21. Washington
JaVale McGee (18)

It is hard to fault a team for gambling on a skilled 7 footer this late in the draft. McGee looks like the next Patrick O’Bryant to me, but it may just be worth the risk. If Washington is going to resign Arenas and Jamision, then they could afford to roll the dice here on a talented project.

22. Denver
Sonny Weems (39)

Denver sold their first round pick when they should have stayed put and taken Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, or Kosta Koufos. Then they traded back into the 2ns round and grabbed Sonny Weems, a big time athlete who could make their team. Hard to fault the pick, but easy to fault the dumping of a 1st round pick when you are a team with needs and no cap space.

23. Seattle
Russell Westbrook (4)
Serge Ibaka (24)
DJ White (29)
DeVon Hardin (5)

Seattle managed to take 2 of my biggest bust and a guy who may never see the NBA. It is pretty hard to fathom how a team could both such a great draft opportunity. Seattle had 6 picks, including 2 1st round picks and came away with very little to show for it. Westbrook is a good, but not great player who will do well defensively but is a giant reach at #4. Seattle had a chance to really set themselves up nicely by adding a guy like Lopez or Bayless, but instead took a career role player. They then wasted their other 1st rounder on a guy who pretty much told every NBA GM he was not interested in playing in the NBA for the foreseeable future. Ibaka is a talent, but Seattle could have really used a guy like Arthur, Chalmers, or Jordan here. DJ White is a nice player, but not a difference maker at the NBA level. Another spot where they should have gambled on a guy like DeAndre Jordan. Hardin is a stiff who will be little more than a bunch filler in a suit. Seattle had a lot of picks, but they didn’t do much with it. Sam Presti is supposedly a draft genius, but I don’t see it here.

24. Sacramento
James Thompson (12)
Sean Singletary (42)
Patrick Ewing Jr. (43)

Nothing but giant reaches, as far as the eyes can see. Thompson is a guy I actually like, but he had no business being picked anywhere near this early. This is a guy most every team thought would go in the mid 20’s. Good player, but taken way way too early. Singletary and Ewing Jr. are both guys I like, but neither were going to be drafted by any other team. Might as well have taken 2 Euros to stash and just signed these 2 after the draft.

25. Cleveland
JJ Hickson (19)
Darnell Jackson (52)
Sasha Kaun (56)

It almost seems like Cleveland is doing everything in their power to push LeBron out the door. Instead of showing him they want to compete by grabbing NBA ready players, Cleveland continues to grab projects. Don’t get me wrong, I like Hickson and think he will be a solid pick down the line. But, he will do nothing for them next year. Unless Cleveland finds a money fairy, I see no way they become a title contender in the next few years. They should consider the bold idea of trying to improve via the draft. Crazy idea I know. They then way overpaid for Jackson and Kaun, both of whom likely will not make their team considering how many bigs they have already under contract and the fact that Kaun just signed a big contract overseas.

26. LA Lakers
Joe Crawford (58)

Crawford is not an NBA player, but LA doesn’t really need a 2nd rounder and did not really have many better choices here. All in all this may be more of an N/A than a failing grade.

27. San Antonio
George Hill (26)
Malik Hairston (48)
James Gist (57)

I hate to bash the Spurs because they are very good at evaluating talent, but this draft looks awful to me. Hill was a guy I really liked as a 2nd rounder but this is a giant reach. He has done nothing to prove he is worth guaranteed money. Hairston and Gist are guys who were not even top players in college, so I see little chance they ever do anything in the NBA. It almost seems like the Spurs were sure they would get Batum, and when that happened they had no backup plan. Maybe they will prove me wrong here, they certainly have a track record to fall back on.

28. Detroit
Walter Sharpe (32)
Trent Plaisted (46)
Deron Washington (59)

I find it terribly ironic that the majority of the negative commented I received from my mock drafts coming into the draft was that I was dumb enough to think Detroit would take a power forward. It looks like all those Piston insiders were wrong, as their first pick was not only a power forward, but one about a third as good as the guy I had them taking to being with. Irony at it’s best. Sharpe is a headcase with a lot of upside, but to a team contending now that is not getting any younger, I think a more proven player would have been better. Plaisted and Washington are ok picks. They have a chance to stick around the NBA for a while but won’t do anything meaningful. If this is the backup center and small forward I was promised Detroit would be taking, then I hope they do better in free agency.


Neither Atlanta or New Orleans had picks in this draft. Though they can probably just have one of Detroit’s once they are cut in training camp.