New TOP TEN is now up...

[fightsport.com]

This month's http://www.fightsport.com TOP TEN media/coaches poll is now up...

http://www.fightsport.com/fightsport/top10/top10.htm

fightsport.com staff

[Zhoozhitsu]

WTF??? How can Mario Sperry be #10 when Igor Vovchanchin, which he mandhandled is rated #7? They even mentioned that in Sperry's profile.

Pedro Rizzo and Ricco Rodriguez are rated higher than Sperry, both of whom he should be able to handle w/ ease.

[Pancrase]

I agree that he is probably better than the above-mentioned fighters. My guess is that he has not been active enough and has not defeated enough top guys in Vale Tudo. Certainly Vov has fought a lot more than Sperry.
In this respect I agree with the ratings until Mario fights a little more in Pride, then he can move up. I'm a big fan of Sperry's and would like to see him compete more in Pride.

[Zhoozhitsu]

Your point would be valid, Pancrase, only if Sperry hadn't fought Vovchanchin. If he fights and destroys him, then Vovchanchin should not be rated higher.

Basically, what you're saying is that experience is as much a factor as wins or losses against a top 10 opponent. Again, this is true provided that Sperry had not fought and beat Vovchanchin handily. If Sperry fights once and beats the #1 rated Minotauro, then he should be rated #1, even if that was his only professional fight.

Rating fighters is very subjective and shouldn't be mechanical. What is the purpose of rating fighters anyway? I believe ratings should have the following implication:

Highly rated fighters should continue to win professional fights against lower rated fighters in the foreseeable future, i.e. 6 months or so.

Based on that definition, fightsport is saying Sperry will lose to Vovchanchin.

[Pancrase]

I still stick by my post. Sperry has fought so little. I don't know that Vov wouldn't knock him out next time(even though Sperry dominated him).
I think he deserves to crack the top ten, as any fighter should who defeats a rated fighter.
What do you other guys think?

[sccr06]

Yeah I gotta agree with Pancrase. You can't give an accurate rating if a fighter hasn't had too many fights. Taking one result too heavily does not always gauge the true ability.....look at Couture v Rizzo 1 and 2.

[Zhoozhitsu]

Like I said, ratings are subjective. If you guys don't think Sperry can handle Vovchanchin more times than Vovchanchin can beat Sperry, then you're right. Sperry should be rated lower. I happen to think Sperry can beat Vovchanchin an overwhelming majority of the time.

I definitely think Sperry can beat Ricco Rodriguez, and possibly a few other fighters in the top 10.

There is a bias against lesser experienced fighters when it comes to ratings. So I can understand why Sperry is rated so low. To me, ratings should be considered predictors of future performance, and I just don't see Sperry in the bottom of the top 10 pile.

[Pancrase]

Obviously you are a very bright guy sccr06, I was worried I was going to have to post another non-linear regression chart for Zhoozhitsu We had previous statistical postings on this forum.
(just kidding)

[Zhoozhitsu]

Pancrase, in this case it's not feasible to construct a non-linear regression model to prove a point. There's not enough historical data on Sperry fighting top 10 guys to warrant such an attempt. Sperry's rating is purely subjective because he has not fought a highly rated fighter in a long time before Vovchanchin.

Sperry should win against some of the fighters rated higher than he in the top 10. Barring a fluke, he should win an overwhelming majority of his fights against Vovchanchin given the chance. His style fits well w/ Vovchanchin's. Igor is not a threat on his back, and Sperry will probably put him there most of the time. Unlike Kerr who had a stamina problem, Sperry would not let Igor get away.

[Pancrase]

I knew that already, I was just joking around.