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Josh Thompson Takes Shots At Ben Henderson...

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Here’s one thing we bet you didn’t see coming at Thursday’s Strikeforce press conference: Former lightweight champion Josh Thomson took some time out of his busy schedule getting ready to fight Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante on Saturday to kick a little sand in the totally undeserving face of WEC champ Ben Henderson.

"I think it's a joke that you guys have guys like Ben Henderson ranked above guys like JZ," Thomson said. "You guys got to be freaking kidding me. This kid (JZ) is a beast. The guy's a great fighter … Are you kidding me? Really? You guys have a guy named Ben Henderson ranked above this guy? You guys are out of your mind. This guy's a savage.”

OK first, it's great that Thomson and Cavalcante respect each other and all that. Second, let’s be clear about our semantics here, Thomson appears to be calling out the mavens of various MMA rankings, not Henderson himself. Still, if you've got beef with the rankings, why mention Bendo at all? For a vet like Thomson to take a shot at an up-and-comer like Henderson feels weird and frankly, a little unseemly.

At this point it’s hard for me to view Henderson as anything other than 26-year-old kid who’s done nothing but beat everybody the WEC has put in front of him, a kid who hasn’t lost since 2006. It’s not his fault he hasn't gotten the call up to the UFC and it's certainly not his fault that a few MMA writers think he’s pretty good at what he does. At this point the only halfway legitimate criticism that can be leveled at Henderson is that he fights in an organization that doesn’t offer much top competition. Oddly, that same criticism can be leveled at Thomson, a dude whose last two wins are over Pat Healy and Ashe Bowman.

Does Henderson deserve to be ranked in the Top 10? Probably not. But wait, is he?

A quick look around the major rankings reveals Henderson only appears in the Top 10 on one of them. He’s No. 9 over at MMA Weekly, a spot ahead of Jim Miller (Ed. Note: OK, that actually is a crime, but whatevs). Reportedly, he used to be ranked by Sherdog too, but the Dog bumped him to make room for Sean Sherk after UFC 119. According to the more lengthy USA Today/SB Nation consensus rankings Henderson is No. 14, Cavalcante is No. 19 and Thomson is No. 21. That actually seems about right, considering a point Thomson himself mentioned at the presser.

“Here’s the deal, the only reason JZ is not in the top three or four is because of the inactivity, and it goes the same for me,” Thomson said. “I was ranked like three or four and so was he, and then we ended up being hurt; both of us did. That’s the only reason we’re out of the Top 10, to be honest. I lost to Gilbert Melendez but Gilbert is ranked No. 2 now.”

Inactivity, sure. Thomson’s fought just twice since the summer of 2008 (going 1-1) and Cavalcante just four times in the last three years. Oh, also JZ is 1-2-1 in those last four bouts, including a no contest against Shinya Aoki in the Dream lightweight grand prix.

My opinion: Essentially, none of these guys should be ranked in the Top 10. And they’re not, except by one website. So wait, what are we talking about again?

“It’s a crappy situation that we’re in,” Thomson said. “We both feel like we should probably be ranked in the Top 10, but we’re not because of our inactivity. That’s really what it comes down to.”

Good thing for both Thomson and Cavalcante they have the chance to be plenty active this weekend. After this stern talking-to, it’s a good bet the winner magically finds his way back into a lot of writers’ Top 10s.

source....http://www.cagepotato.com/disrespect...-ben-henderson

lol @ josh thinking he should be ranked in the top 10.

He comes off as an arrogant douche in this article, no doubt. However, I think Josh Thompson is in the top ten LW, however, as #10 exactly.

As for Cavalcante? top ten? Not now not ever. A NC and loss against Aoki, loss to Kawajiri, and a split decision over Kikuno does not qualify you for top ten status. It qualifies you for barely-within-top-twenty status.

As for Ben Henderson, I have reservations about putting him very high, solely because he has faced very weak competition his whole career. I want to rank him higher because he showed amazing submission defense, stamina, and game planning his last few fights, but against Cerrone and Varner? Get him out of the WEC and into the UFC so we can see what he's actually worth. I would like to see him against an opponent like Sam Stout or someone of similar strength.

Bendo would beat JZ. He gets ranked in the top 15 because he has been winning fights.

I think Benderson would lay a beating on Thompson, actually I would love to see Bendo vs Melendez.

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Originally Posted by Toxic (Post 1280604)

I think Benderson would lay a beating on Thompson, actually I would love to see Bendo vs Melendez.

Gilbert Melendez would smash Ben Henderson. Gil does everything better.

Beating Varner and Cerrone doesn't put Henderson in the same catagory as GIlbert Melendez.

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Originally Posted by _RIVAL_ (Post 1280610)

Gilbert Melendez would smash Ben Henderson. Gil does everything better.

Beating Varner and Cerrone doesn't put Henderson in the same catagory as GIlbert Melendez.

Melendez striking is nothing to write home about. It only has looked good because he fought Aoki who has the stand up of a 12 year old girl and Thompson who is a glorified brawler. I think it would be a lot better fight than your giving Bendo credit for.

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Originally Posted by Toxic (Post 1280615)

He also smashed Crusher Kawajiri, Beat Clay Guida, and avenged Ishida. And he also outgrappled Rodrigo Damm. And Thompson is a glorified brawler? lol you're reaching... Josh Thompson is very well rounded, solid striking, wrestling, tdd, scrambles dude is a beast. You're just not giving Gilbert his due.

Melendez may not be exciting to you, but he's world class. Make no mistake.

Benson has only beat Cerrone, and Jaime Varner both of whom will probably reach carreer high stardom with their fued. Its a complete joke to put him on Melendez's level.

Let's get CB Dollaway against John Fitch next while we're making matches...

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Originally Posted by _RIVAL_ (Post 1280617)

Melendez BARELY beat Guida and honestly Clay Guida is about the same level I see Melendez being at and also about the same level I see Bendo at. I realize Bendo has yet to really fight a guy who would even be a gatekeeper in the UFC but he has looked impressive beating solid opponents. I honestly think that as much as your dumping on Varner and Cerrone they are on the same level as a guy like Josh Thompson.

Here is my (American) LW hierarchy

Frankie Edgar/BJ Penn

Gray Maynard/Kenny Florian

Sherk/Dunham/Melendez/Bendo/Guida/Sanchez

Joe Stevenson/Thompson/Varner/Cerrone

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Originally Posted by Toxic (Post 1280654)

I disagree on almost every count. And Melendez has shown heavy improvent where Guida has proven to not develop all around skills as effective. In fact I'd take Thompson over Clay Guida in a rematch anyday.

My Heiarchy for American LWs would go....

Edgar/Penn
Melendez/Maynard/Sherk
Florian/Alvarez/Miller/Sotty/Dunham
Guida/Thompson/Noons/Bendo