Middleweight
1. Michael Bisping (30-7)
Since he shocked Luke Rockhold for the UFC middleweight title on short notice in June, Bisping’s 185-pound reign has been hard to conceptualize, let alone forecast. However, with Yoel Romero’s sensational knockout of former champ Chris Weidman at UFC 205 and his subsequent call-out of Bisping, “The Count” figures to next defend his title and try to preserve his improbable championship run against the Olympic silver medalist in 2017.2. Luke Rockhold (15-3)
Yoel Romero’s incredible flying knee stoppage of Chris Weidman would have made Rockhold’s path to a rematch with UFC champ Michael Bisping hard anyway, but a knee injury forced the oft-injured American Kickboxing Academy ace to the sidelines, nixing his slated Nov. 27 rematch with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The former UFC and Strikeforce titleholder will need to get healthy before hopping back into the suddenly packed line of contenders at 185 pounds.3. Yoel Romero (12-1)
Romero went into UFC 205 with a potential title shot on the line against former champion Chris Weidman and came through in spades. With his fifth third-round stoppage inside the Octagon, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist showed off his striking prowess, clobbering Weidman with a flying knee before cutting a promo on champion Michael Bisping that seems to have installed the Cuban as the top 185-pound contender.4. Chris Weidman (13-2)
After a grueling title loss to Luke Rockhold in December 2015, Weidman returned 11 months later, only to be crushed by a Yoel Romero flying knee in the third round. The former UFC middleweight champ has now taken his first two career losses consecutively, and the road does not get any easier: “All-American” has signed on to face Gegard Mousasi at UFC 210 on April 8 in Buffalo, New York.5. Ronaldo Souza (23-4, 1 NC)
Souza's hopes for a UFC breakthrough were dashed last year when Luke Rockhold pulled out of their slated headliner in November. Now, “Jacare” has to take the bouts he can get in a 185-pound division in flux. The former Strikeforce middleweight champ will next meet rugged veteran Tim Boetsch at UFC 208 on Feb. 11.6. Gegard Mousasi (41-6-2)
Since going 4-0 on his 2016 Uriah Hall Redemption Tour, Mousasi has been adamant he deserves a bigger fight in the UFC's 185-pound division. The perennial standout will soon get his wish, as he has earned a date with former middleweight champ Chris Weidman at UFC 208 on April 8.7. Robert Whittaker (17-4)
After a knee injury to Luke Rockhold killed a main event rematch with Ronaldo Souza, Whittaker was thrust into a headlining position in Melbourne, Australia, as his major middleweight showdown with Derek Brunson was promoted to the top of the bill. Despite a rocky start, Whittaker quickly recovered and knocked out Brunson in a wild brawl that lasted just over four minutes, earning the biggest win of his career.8. Derek Brunson (16-4)
Brunson had a five-fight winning streak in the UFC snapped in November, when Robert Whittaker laid him out in the first round of their wild brawl. Nonetheless, Brunson will still get a major name his next time out. Come UFC 208 on Feb. 11, Brunson will square off with all-time middleweight king Anderson Silva.9. David Branch (20-3)
As World Series of Fighting closed out 2016, Brooklyn native and two-division WSOF champ Branch got to fight in front of a hometown New York crowd inside The Theatre at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 31. In the third defense of his 185-pound strap, Branch used his positional grappling to wear out Louis Taylor and tap him with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round.10. Vitor Belfort (25-13)
After going 1-3 in his last four bouts and coming off of lopsided stoppage losses to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Gegard Mousasi, many questioned if Belfort would make overtures to retirement after a 20-year career. Perish the thought: “The Phenom” will headline another Brazilian card on March 11, when he takes on Kelvin Gastelum in a UFC Fight Night main event from Fortaleza.Other Contenders: Rafael Carvalho, Uriah Hall, Krzysztof Jotko, Thales Leites, Mamed Khalidov
Continue Reading » Welterweight