FIGHT! Rankings: Wagner Finds Redemption At Sylvia's Expense, Riggs Slips Up (VIDEO)

Strikeforce wasn’t the only important event on this weekend’s docket. Read on for a recap of big name fighters who competed on regional cards this weekend and what impact those fights had in our rankings.

At FIGHT! Magazine, we believe there is a need for a completely objective and unbiased ranking system for fighters to replace the myriad subjective rankings that have become skewed, in many instances, by fighter popularity. In an effort to address this issue FIGHT! Magazine brings you its computerized rankings system which takes into account a fighters strength of opponent, strength of performance, and frequency of activity. Go here for a detailed explanation of how FIGHT!’s rankings work.

Tim Sylvia spent 2010 rebuilding his career, notching wins in freak shows, against major league journeymen, and on regional cards. His first fight of 2011 was in place of Todd Duffee, who bowed out of the booking in favor of getting knocked out by Alistair Overeem on New Year’s Eve. Sylvia didn’t fare any better at TFC 16: Sylvia vs. Wagner, where one-time TUF contestant Abe Wagner finished “The Maine-iac” with a flurry of punches at 0:32 of round one. Wagner vaulted from #92 to #59 in FIGHT!’s Heavyweight Rankings with the win, while Sylvia crashes from #21 to #42. It’s important to remember that rankings values are absolute and cumulative, so even with the loss, Sylvia has accumulated a stronger rating than Wagner over the course of his career.

In other televised action, Jason High moved from #61 to #49 in the Welterweight Rankings with his win over regional draw Rudy Bears, who falls from #113 to #139. Also at 170 pounds, Rich Clementi served as a case study in the perils of taking your opponent lightly as he showboated in a dominant position before getting choked out by unranked Aaron Darrow. Clementi falls from #116 to #176. Drew McFedries rounded out the UFC-veteran portion of the card, crawling back from #73 to #61 in the Middleweight poll with a TKO victory over unranked Gary Tapasua. At 155 pounds, Drew Dober maintained his position – #48 – with a win over unranked Bobby Cooper, while Alonzo Martinez climbed from #146 to #120 with his win over unranked Deryck Ripley.

No other ranked fighters appeared on the card.

Across the river from Ottowa in Gatineau, Quebec, Wreck MMA: Strong & Proud hosting a handful of UFC veterans. Recent Bellator signee Joe Riggs loves to stay active, but his new employer probably isn’t excited for him to take a loss on a regional card before the start of season four. Riggs falls from #45 to #89 in the Middleweight Rankings with his loss to unranked Jordan Mein. Also at Middleweight, the much-vilified Kalib Starnes jumped from #81 to #60 with a win over Matt MacGrath, who fell from #140 to #158. And in his final fight before a previously announced retirement, Mark Holst enters the Welterweight Rankings at #155 after his win over Markaile Wedderburn. Wedderburn fell from #186 to #193 with the loss.

No other ranked fighters appeared on the card.

In Vegas, recent M-1 Global signee Vinny Magalhaes submitted Robert Scott at MMA Xplosion: International Team Challenge to move from #76 to #64 in the Light Heavyweight Rankings. Scott enters the Heavyweight Rankings at #97, where he will stay unless he continues to compete at 205 pounds. No other ranked fighters appeared on the card.

And round Utah way, Showdown Fights hosted a featherweight bout between Stephen Siler and Cole Escovedo. Escovedo came out on top and moved from #39 to #34 in the Featherweight Rankings, while Siler entered the rankings at #91 following the loss. No other ranked fighters appeared on the card.