Loops:
Nogueira=Barnett
Overeem=Kharitonov
Filipovic > Barnett > Hunt > Filipovic
Werdum > A Emelianenko > Kharitonov > Werdum
FightLines FAQ
FightLines June HW Graph
A lot has changed since the initial heavyweight graph last month. The Meta-Rankings have expanded to include the top 25 fighters in a given weight class increasing the kernel to branch off from. I’ve introduced a new color scheme to make the graph more readable. The Majority Leaders stat has started to be published.
The results, however, largely remain the same. Fedor Emelianenko, “Minotauro” Nogueira, and Randy Couture remain firmly entrenched at the top. Underneath them, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, and Fabricio Werdum are well established in the pecking order. Like I mentioned in the FAQ, a vertical graph suggests a defined hierachy. What we have here is a skyscraper.
In the future, I’ll discuss fighters who have been added or dropped from the criteria, loops gained or broken, and the like, but considering the qualifying differences between the first two heavyweight attempts, I’ll lay off that for now.
Notes after the break
-I will say that guys like Mirko Filipovic and Josh Barnett look a little better with the increased data points.
-On the topic of shapes, this graph almost looks like a very bottom heavy sand timer. The big 3 at the top funnel into Sylvia/Arlovski, which then branches back out.
-Was Brandon Vera overhyped at 265? Look at his competition.
-With Affliction heading towards Emelianenko/Arlovski, I’m tempted to say I want to see Sylvia/Barnett. The worry, of course, is that a Barnett loss would really mess up his claim to a title shot.
–Cain Velasquez is in an interesting spot. The impressive win over O’Brien would indicate he should be getting similar or slightly better competition coming up. However, I’m not sure who that competition is. Gabriel Gonzaga would be an interesting fight, but is that someone Cain, who only has 4 pro fights, should be fighting at this point of his career?
Majority Leaders
Andrei Arlovski 93.3% (38/4)
Tim Sylvia 93.3% (39/3)
Fedor Emelianenko 91.1% (41/0)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 91.1% (41/0)
Randy Couture 88.9% (40/0)