Fighters of the Week

<![CDATA[Luke Irwin:

t1. Bermaine Stiverne: For the first time ever, I can’t pick a #1 fighter of the week. Stiverne won the WBC heavyweight title vacated by Vitaly Klitschko, and Matt Brown might have punched his ticket to a shot at the UFC welterweight title with a Fight of the Year against Erick Silva. For the first time….I can’t decide.
t1. Matt Brown: See #1.
2. Costa Phillipou: Well, THAT was impressive. Putting Larkin to sleep for the first time and re-establishing yourself in the middleweight division (perhaps against Anderson Silva….?) is a great way to be.
3. Sam Alvey: Smilin’ Sam is still ruling the roost at MFC, keeping his middleweight title with a KO of Wes Swofford. I can’t believe the UFC cannot find a place for him.
4. Daniel Weichel: Submitted Desmond Green for the right to get smoked by Pat Curran.
5. Johnny Eduardo: When you absolutely smoke a fighter of Eddie Wineland’s caliber, a former UFC title challenger, that’s a big deal, and we have a much-needed fresh face in the UFC bantamweight contenders.
6. Caol Uno: The lightweight legend notched his fifth straight win with a UD victory over Taiki Tsuchiya in the main event of Shooto 4th Round,
7. Tom Gallicchio: Came in on weight this time and choked out Kurt Southern for the second time in four months, this time to officially capture the MFC lightweight title.
8. Daron Cruickshank: Welp, took care of business in the striking department oof the UFC’s lightweight division as he often does.
9. Shintaro Ishiwatari: Took home the main event win at Pancrase 258.
10. Brian Rogers: Flying knees FOR DAYS! Hopefully this gets B-Rog back on track towards another title shot.
11. Amir Imam: In the co-main event of ESPN, Imam took a big win over Yordenis Ugas via UD.
12. Jesse Brock: Gets a shot at the MFC bantamweight title with a TKO win over Jerrid Burke.
13. Shane Campbell: The surprise breakout star of K-1 took care of business in an MMA ring with a 2nd-round TKO of Jerrid Burke at MFC 40.
14. Rodney Wallace: Sho ‘Nuff Tha Master took another win home on the indies with a main event win at Schoo of Hard Knocks 36.
15. Rin Nakai: Finally didn’t beat a can! Took home a decision against a tough Invicta veteran in Sarah D’Alelio.

Dan Galvan:

1. Matt Brown
2. Johnny Eduardo
3. Bermane Stiverne
4. Costas Philippou
5. Daron Cruickshank
6. Kyoji Horiguchi
7. Daniel Weichel
8. Daniel Weichel
9. Nik Lentz
10. Justin Salas
11. Zak Cummings
12. Marlon Sandro
13. Glen Jacobs
14. Brian Rogers
15. Albert Tumenov

Josh Hall:

1. Matt Brown- He did not just defeat Erick Silva, he physically broke him in the cage. Brown also showed that if he is hurt and on the ground it is no longer a guaranteed end to the fight. He put on the performance of his career and is possibly one fight from one of the most improbable title shots in UFC history.
2. Bermane Stiverne- Stiverne won the WBC heavyweight championship vacated by Vitali Klitschko in violent fashion with a sixth round KO win over Chris Arreola, becoming the first Haitian born heavyweight champion in boxing history.
3. Darren Cruickshank- If you allow Cruickshank to stay in kicking range terrible things are likely to happen to you. Erik Koch learned this lesson in the most painful way possible and Cruickshank continues to be one of the most entertaining lightweights in the UFC.
4. Johnny Eduardo- If you saw this one coming I salute you. Eduardo came into the cage on a two year layoff due to injuries and past his prime, fighting the fourth ranked BW in the UFC in Eddie Wineland. The striking coach for Nova Unaio showed that he can do more than just teach great strikers would he put Wineland down and out in the first round in a massive upset.
5. Soa Palelei- The Hulk continued his climb in the UFC HW rankings, entering the top 15 for the first time after knocking out Ruan Potts in the first round of their bout after showing beautiful guard passing skills and lethal KO power on the ground.
6. Costas Philippou- Contemplating retirement coming into this fight Phillippou came out with a fire, taking advantage of an opening and quickly dispatching of touted striker Lorenz Larkin in a shocking finish.
7. Daniel Weichel- Weichel continued his march through the Bellator FW division, winning his third straight fight since entering the promotion after submitting Desmond Green via rear naked choke in the second round to with the FW tournament and a shot at champion Pat Curran.
8. Albert Tumenov
9. Kyoji Horiguchi
10. Zak Cummings