Bonnar > Jardine > Griffin > Bonnar
Jardine > Liddell > W Silva > Jardine
Griffin > Jackson > Liddell > Ortiz > Griffin
FightLines: FAQ
FightLines: Light Heavyweights Vol. I
FightLines: Light Heavyweights Vol. II
FightLines: Light Heavyweights Vol. III
The power rankings need retooling, so they’re MIA for this entry (and probably for awhile). If anyone’s interested in helping me work out some kinks, hit up my e-mail. I want to punish guys like Eric Schafer who has a losing record against this pool of fighters (he’s 1-2), but benefits immensely because of a fluke Houston Alexander victory over Keith Jardine.
In absence of the power rankings, I tabulated strength of schedules. You can find them here. Only fights used for FightLines are included. And don’t use the sort function because I broke it.
As for the graph, the consensus triumverate of Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, and Quinton Jackson graphically stake their claim to the the throne (in that order). I don’t mind the UFC giving Jackson the first title shot, but objectively I think having Machida/Evans makes more sense, especially with Quinton fighting Keith Jardine.
Speaking of Jackson/Jardine, FightLines suggests it isn’t the turd I first thought it was. Jackson poses tons of problems for the chinny Jardine, but given how the division has played out, it’s pretty defendable matchmaking.
Outside of the UFC, I’d like to see Strikeforce or Affliction put on Renato Sobral/Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. It gives Lil’ Nog a chance to loop out his loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou while arguably being the best matchup at 205 away from Zuffa’s control.
Even with his win over Stephan Bonnar, there’s no one on the graph (that also has a UFC contract) I would put Jon Jones in against. The Bonnar victory is huge, but he still needs seasoning before he gets thrown into the 205 shark tank.