NBA, boxing and mixed martial arts pound-for-pound rankings (part one)

Who's #1? KB8 or LbJ ?(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

I love basketball. I can't lie. If there was a BA, (Ballaholics Anonymous) I'd never get to step five. But if there was one mistress to my balling obsession, it's my passion for fighting. Yes, I love fight sports. Boxing and MMA in particular. Last week I threw a boxing reference to my piece about Kobe, LeBron and Danny Granger and received a ton of positive responses from readers. I guess there's more of you out there that share my love for both sports.

My aim is to try at least provide a little of the other to fans and readers of each respective sport. Incidentally, most people who like fight sports like basketball anyway just like I do. But being able to keep tabs on both once in a while should encourage more interest for the other. Besides, I just think crossover articles are interesting, don't you?

So on that note, I decided to intertwine the two sports once in a while here in my Pacers columns. And in the spirit of boxing and MMA's pound-for-pound best lists, I have come up with my top 20 NBA pound-for-pound players list in relation to putting up my top 10 pound-for-pound boxers and top 5 MMA fighters in the world list.

For you Pacers fans and hoopheads that are not familiar with the pound-for-pound list, it's the fight game's way of mythically ranking their fighters disregarding weight class and is primarily based on a fighter's record, opposition level, accomplishments and skill among others.

The basis for my NBA list would be individual stats, the player's impact on his team, winning history and overall value outside the court as well.

So here we go, the first ever D Source NBA Top 20 Pound-For-Pound Best List together with the top 5 boxing and MMA lists:

Is GSP the best in MMA? (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

Top 5 MMA

• #5 Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (29-7-0) - Rampage is one of the strongest and hardest-hitting light heavyweights in the business. His sensational KO win against Chuck Liddell almost 2 years ago helped boost his popularity and recently avenged his losses to Wanderlei Silva by knocking Silva out in round 1. A rematch with Forrest Griffin has been something a lot of MMA fans have been wanting to see since their fight ended with a bit of controversy. Rampage lost to Griffin via unanimous decision last year however some felt he should've won.
• #4 Miguel Torres (35-1-0) - The superstar of the lower weight class in the WEC, Torres is one of the sport's best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. He can also strike and can beat his opponents in any way imaginable.
• #3 Georges St-Pierre  (18-2-0) - GSP dominated one of the best mma fighters in the sport for a second time in BJ Penn last month. He is currently the UFC welterweight champ and is highly-regarded because of his all-around skills in jiu-jitsu, wrestling and striking.
• #2 Fedor Emelianenko (29-1-0 1 no contest) - Fedor is considered by fight fans as the greatest heavyweight to have ever fought in mixed martial arts. He held numerous titles in Pride and other martial arts tournaments. He possesses uncanny speed and killer instinct combined with his brute strength and powerful striking. His most recent victory was when he knocked out one of the best heavyweights in the game, Andrei Arlovski.
• #1 Anderson "Spider" Silva (23-4-0) - The Spider is universally considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts. He is both dynamic, versatile and powerful. His striking, Muay Thai and kicks are the best in the business, coupled by his athleticism that enables him to pull off any kind of submission in the book. Silva is simply the best.

Anderson Silva Highlights

 
"Sugar" Shane Mosley (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Top 5 Boxing

• #5 Miguel Cotto 33-1 (26 KOs) - Only loss is now being looked with an asterisk as it came at the hands of Antonio Margarito who is now suspended together with his trainer for alleged cheating tactics with the way they wrap his hands. Cotto bounced back last weekend in emphatic fashion knocking out Michael Jennings for the WBO welterweight championship belt.  
• #4 "Sugar" Shane Mosley 46-5 (39 KOs) - Recently knocked out Antonio Margarito after being written-off by most people. Margarito was regarded as one of the top 3 boxers and the top welterweight at the time.
• #3 Bernard Hopkins 49-5 (32 KOs) - Turned back the hands of time when he beat the then undefeated Kelly Pavlik. Hopkins has been one of this era's true boxing legends. A sure first ballot hall of fame boxer.
• #2 Juan Manuel Marquez 49-4-1 (35 KOs) - Holds the Ring magazine's lightweight belt and is considered one of the best ring tacticians. His 2 closely-contested fights against Manny Pacquiao elevated him as one of the sport's best. Will be fighting Juan Diaz at the end of the month.
• #1 Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao 48-3-2 (37 KOs) - A freak of nature that can blind you with his speed and knock you out with his power. Relentless and overwhelming in the ring, Pacquiao has jumped and succeeded in multiple weight divisions and is compared to one of the all-time boxing greats Henry Armstrong. His most recent conquest was the destruction of boxing legend Oscar De la Hoya who was 20 pounds and about 5 inches naturally bigger than him. Pacquiao will be fighting Ricky Hatton on May 2.

Manny Pacquiao Highlights

AND NOW FOR THE TOP 20 NBA POUND 4 POUND PLAYERS IN THE GAME

Honorable mention: Yao Ming, Ron Artest, Carmelo Anthony, Nate Robinson (can you imagine if this dude was at least 6'6"?), Joe Johnson

• #20 Pau Gasol (18.3 points 9.5 rebounds) - Instantly made the Lakers a favorite to win it all upon his arrival to the Lakers. Gasol has a nice balance of finesse and power for a big man. Gasol is also an intelligent player and fits the Lakers triangle offense like a glove because of his passing ability, mobility and high basketball IQ.
• #19 Danny Granger (25 points rebounds 1.5 blocks 1 steal) - Indiana's all-around guy. Granger is the Pacers' best offensive and defensive weapon. Was voted in to his first All-Star appearance this season, Granger is a throwback old-school type of player. He makes the game look so easy with his subtle moves yet his athleticism gives him the option to overpower his defender. Has already shown he is clutch in multiple ocassions.
• #18 Chris Bosh (22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists 1 block) - Bosh when healthy is a tough cover at the 4 position. He is too quick for big power forwards and is too long and skilled for the smaller ones.
• #17 Brandon Roy (22.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists) - Roy plays well beyond his age. As soon as he came in to the league, he already played like a veteran. Roy is also deceptively athletic and a cold-blooded killer in the clutch. 
• #16 Allen Iverson (18.3 points, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals) - If this list was made in 2000, AI would be number one hands down. Though he has come up in age, he is still doing his thing every night. A ring and a return to the Finals has eluded him though. Definitely one of the best little men of all time.
• #15 Paul Pierce (19.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, ring/ finals MVP) - Pierce won MVP honors in the NBA Finals last season and deservedly so. Pierce doesn't back down from anyone or any moment. He has a plethora of mid-range moves and goes to the line as much as anyone in the league. 
• #14 Dirk Nowitzki (25.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 90% FT) - Dirk has been quietly leading the Mavericks back to the top of the West. Nowitzki is your modern day Larry Bird but has to show more toughness especially during the playoffs. Dirk's range is off the charts and is a tough cover due to his height and versatily for his size. His step back fadeaway jump shot is almost unguardable.
• #13 Deron Williams (19.2 points, 10.2 assists) - Deron has worked hard to learn the NBA game since his rookie season and has has benefitted under the watch of legendary Utah coach Jerry Sloan with the help of John Stockton. Williams is one of the best point guards in the league and can take you to the hoop with his variety of moves, or dish out and pull up for the 3 with ease. A member of the "Redeem Team" in the Beijing Olympics, Williams is one of the league's premier floor generals.
• #12 Steve Nash (13.8 points, 9.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 2 MVPs) - No too long ago Steve Nash was the NBA MVP- back to back! This year he wasn't even voted to the All-Star game held in Phoenix. Nash is getting up with age too and with the style he plays, you know sooner or later that body will break down. However, he is still one of the best point guards in the league.
• #11 Tony Parker (20 points, 6.5 assists, 3 rings) - Parker, with the exception of  Devin Harris and TJ Ford, might very well be the fastest players in the league with the ball. He has already won 3 NBA championships and was the 2007 Finals MVP. For a guy his size, Parker shoots a high percentage as he uses his speed to get high percentage shots in the lane.

 

TO BE CONTINUED: Watch out this week for the second part of this article and find out who #1 is. DWade? Kobe? LeBron? CP3? Let me know your thoughts and let the debates begin. 

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