Middleweight
1. Chris Weidman (11-0)
Weidman cemented his spot atop the middleweight division with a second consecutive triumph over Anderson Silva in the UFC 168 main event. After nearly finishing “The Spider” in the opening frame, the Serra-Longo Fight Team standout checked a kick that resulted in a gruesomely fractured leg for Silva, ending the bout 1:16 into the second round. Originally expected to face Vitor Belfort, Weidman will instead meet former 205-pound champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 175.2. Anderson Silva (33-6)
Nobody wanted to see Anderson Silva’s night end the way it did at UFC 168, as the longtime pound-for-pound king suffered a broken left leg when Chris Weidman checked a kick during the second round of their headlining matchup. The Brazilian underwent emergency surgery following the bout and is expected to make a full recovery. “The Spider” recently took a major step towards a return to the Octagon, as he was cleared to spar for the first time since the injury.3. Vitor Belfort (24-10)
A trio of dazzling head-kick knockouts made Vitor Belfort an obvious choice for top middleweight contender. However, with the Nevada Athletic Commission’s newly instituted ban on testosterone replacement therapy, “The Phenom” withdrew from his scheduled meeting with champion Chris Weidman and announced he was willing to cease using TRT for another title shot. Belfort recently admitted to failing a random NAC drug test in February due to elevated testosterone and then saw a fight with Chael Sonnen fall through when the trash-talking Oregonian did the same.4. Ronaldo Souza (20-3, 1 NC)
Souza captured his third consecutive victory inside the Octagon at UFC Fight Night “Machida vs. Mousasi” on Feb. 15, taking a unanimous verdict over massive Tristar Gym standout Francis Carmont. While “Jacare” was unable to finish Carmont, the Brazilian’s renowned grappling skills were nonetheless on display in yet another impressive triumph. Up next for Souza is a rematch with 2008 Dream middleweight grand prix foe Gegard Mousasi in the UFC 176 co-headliner.5. Lyoto Machida (21-4)
Machida continued to establish himself as a force at middleweight by taking a dominant decision victory over Gegard Mousasi in a UFC Fight Night headliner in February. The former 205-pound king displayed his trademark movement while landing the more meaningful strikes throughout the contest. With Vitor Belfort withdrawing from his title shot against Chris Weidman, “The Dragon” will step in to challenge for 185-pound gold on July 5.6. Luke Rockhold (12-2)
Rockhold was the biggest betting favorite at UFC 172, and he did not disappoint. The American Kickboxing Academy product easily outgrappled Tim Boetsch before submitting his opponent with a kimura a little more than two minutes into the first round of their middleweight clash. The former Strikeforce champion still believes he has unfinished business with Vitor Belfort, who knocked out Rockhold in May 2013.7. Tim Kennedy (18-4)
Kennedy delivered the most impressive performance of his brief UFC tenure at “The Ultimate Fighter Nations” Finale, as he neutralized perennial villain Michael Bisping for the better part of five rounds to capture a unanimous verdict in Canada. Unbeaten in three Octagon outings, Kennedy’s relentless wrestling and grappling skills make him a difficult matchup for most anyone in the division.8. Gegard Mousasi (35-4-2)
Mousasi earned his first UFC win at 185 pounds with a fast and decisive rear-naked choke on Mark Munoz in Berlin on May 31. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion has won three of his four bouts under Zuffa employ, with the only defeat coming in a five-round decision with Lyoto Machida. “The Dreamcatcher” will look to get back into the middleweight title picture when he locks horns with Ronaldo Souza at UFC 176.9. Yushin Okami (30-8)
Okami’s debut with the World Series of Fighting went about as one might expect. Matched with the relatively unknown Svetlozar Savov at WSOF 9, Okami dominated his overmatched foe before finishing the contest with an arm-triangle choke in the second round. The Japanese standout is expected to return to the WSOF cage in August.10. Michael Bisping (24-6)
After nearly a year on the sidelines due to a detached retina, Bisping returned to the Octagon against Tim Kennedy at “The Ultimate Fighter Nations” Finale. The two middleweights engaged in a heated feud on social media leading up to the bout, but it was Kennedy who had the final word, grinding out a hard-fought unanimous verdict over the outspoken Brit. Bisping will return to the cage on Aug. 23, when he meets former Strikeforce champion Cung Le in a UFC Fight Night main event in China.Other Contenders: C.B. Dollaway, Mamed Khalidov, Costas Philippou, Yoel Romero, Alexander Shlemenko.
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