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Middleweight
1. Israel Adesanya (23-1) | UFC [1]
Adesanya was methodical and technical in his latest title defense, a five-round verdict over Jared Cannonier in the UFC 276 headliner, but it wasn’t the type of performance that’s going to make the Nigerian-born Kiwi appointment viewing. Adesanya’s 12-fight winning streak is the second-longest in 185-pound history, but it may take something spectacular to regain favor with the masses. He’ll have that opportunity in a championship clash with former kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.2. Robert Whittaker (24-6) | UFC [2]
While Israel Adesanya may have his number, Whittaker still remains a step above the rest of the UFC’s middleweight division. “The Reaper” proved that once again in the UFC Fight Night 209 co-main event, as he cruised to a clear-cut unanimous verdict over former title challenger Marvin Vettori at Accor Arena in Paris. The ex-champ has teased an eventual move to 205 pounds, but considering how successful he remains at middleweight against opponents not named Adesanya, that transition might not come to fruition just yet.3. Jared Cannonier (15-6) | UFC [3]
Cannonier struggled to solve the puzzle of Israel Adesanya in the UFC 276 main event, losing a unanimous decision on July 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “The Killa Gorilla” had a few moments of aggression in the contest, but he mostly appeared frozen in front of Adesanya, who was largely content to pick him apart at range. Now it’s back to the drawing board for Cannonier, who was slated to return against Sean Strickland in a five-round main event at UFC Fight Night 212 before his opponent pulled out of the fight. Cannonier vs. Strickland has been rebooked for UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17.4. Paulo Costa (14-2) | UFC [4]
Costa returned to the win column for the first time since 2019 at UFC 278, as he captured a unanimous decision against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the evening’s co-main event at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. A victory over a past-his-prime opponent who announced his retirement after the fight won’t propel “Borrachinha” into another title shot right away, but it was nonetheless an encouraging step forward for the Brazilian following back-to-back defeats and issues making weight in his previous Octagon appearance.5. Marvin Vettori (18-6-1) | UFC [5]
Even with a strong Italian contingent in Paris cheering him on, Vettori looked outclassed against Robert Whittaker in the UFC Fight Night 209 co-headliner, losing a clear-cut unanimous decision on Sept. 3. “The Italian Dream” has lost two of his last three in UFC competition, but there’s no shame in falling to the likes of Whittaker and Israel Adesanya. Vettori figures to face another ranked opponent in his next outing.6. Derek Brunson (23-8) | UFC [6]
Brunson’s game plan worked well for a round against Jared Cannonier, but when he failed to secure a finish late in the period, things went downhill in a hurry for the North Carolina native at UFC 271. Unable to implement his wrestling, a fatigued Brunson succumbed to a series of vicious ground-and-pound elbows from Cannonier in the second round of their Feb. 12. On the brink of a possible title shot, Brunson instead had a five-bout winning streak snapped. He’ll attempt to get back on track when he meets Jack Hermansson on Dec. 3.7. Alex Pereira (6-1) | UFC [7]
Pereira delivered on his considerable hype at UFC 276, as he scored a spectacular knockout of Sean Strickland in their featured middleweight encounter at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In addition to ending his opponent’s six-bout UFC winning streak, the former two-division Glory champ set up a showdown at UFC 281 with reigning 185-pound title holder Israel Adesanya, a man he defeated twice in the kickboxing ring.8. Johnny Eblen (12-0) | Bellator [8]
Eblen claimed middleweight gold in surprisingly dominant fashion in the Bellator 282 headliner, as he swept the scorecards with a trio of 50-45 tallies in a unanimous decision triumph against Gegard Mousasi at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The American Top Team product dropped his foe in the first round and controlled the action the rest of the way, landing multiple takedowns in the biggest test of his career to date. The 30-year Eblen is now 8-0 under the Bellator MMA banner and provides a fresh face at the top of the division.9. Sean Strickland (25-4) | UFC [9]
Strickland elected to play to Alex Pereira’s strengths and paid dearly for it at UFC 276, losing via first-round knockout in their featured middleweight showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. That snaps a six-bout winning streak for Strickland, who was gaining attention not only for his exploits in the cage, but for his controversial comments outside of it. Thanks to his latest defeat, a title shot that might have been his went to Pereira instead. An infected finger forced Strickland to withdraw from a headlining matchup against Jared Cannonier at UFC Fight Night 212. That bout has now been rescheduled for Dec. 17.10. Jack Hermansson (23-7) | UFC [10]
Hermansson adapted well to a short-notice opponent at UFC Fight Night 209, as he frustrated Chris Curtis with intelligent movement and a multi-faceted striking arsenal en route to a unanimous decision triumph in their co-main event bout at the O2 Arena in London. “The Joker” rebounds from a split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC Fight Night 200 and continues a stretch where he has alternated wins and losses over his last seven promotional appearances. Up next is a clash with fellow ranked middleweight Derek Brunson on Dec. 3.Other Contenders: Gegard Mousasi, Chris Curtis, Andre Muniz, Darren Till, Nassourdine Imavov.
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