Middleweight
1. Chris Weidman (12-0)
Thirteen has been an unlucky number for 12-0 Weidman, who has been kept out of the cage with multiple injuries since his July 2014 victory over Lyoto Machida. The UFC middleweight champ’s thrice-rescheduled defense against top contender Vitor Belfort is now slated for UFC 187 on May 23, one year after it was originally expected to take place.2. Anderson Silva (34-6)
The now 40-year-old former champion’s victorious comeback was short-lived. Days after he defeated Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 183, it was revealed that Silva tested positive for multiple anabolic steroids in a pre-fight drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Currently on temporary suspension, Silva will go before the NAC at the commission’s next hearing, where it is rumored “The Spider” will admit to using PEDs.3. Vitor Belfort (24-10)
First slated for May 2014 and then September, Belfort’s meeting with Chris Weidman was pushed to February before being nixed just one month out due to the champion suffering a rib injury in training. “The Phenom” is now scheduled to face Weidman on May 23 in the co-main event of UFC 187. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old has not stepped inside the cage since November 2013, when he knocked out Dan Henderson.4. Luke Rockhold (14-2)
In one of his finest showings to date, Rockhold smashed and submitted dangerous former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida in the main event of a nationally televised UFC card on April 18. The decisive win -- Rockhold’s fourth in a row -- shone the spotlight on the American Kickboxing Academy standout and also eliminated a potential contender from the crowded race for the middleweight title.5. Ronaldo Souza (22-3, 1 NC)
A win against Yoel Romero at UFC on Fox 15 might have propelled “Jacare” into the No. 1 contender’s spot for the UFC middleweight title. Unfortunately, Romero withdrew from the fight just one week out, leaving the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace to submit unranked replacement Chris Cammozi on April 18, just as he had in May 2013. Nevertheless, Souza remains unbeaten in the Octagon at 5-0 and currently owns an eight-fight winning streak.6. Lyoto Machida (22-6)
Machida gave reigning middleweight champ Chris Weidman his toughest fight to date in a five-rounder last year, but “The Dragon” failed to make it past the second frame against Luke Rockhold on April 18. The Brazilian karate stylist was roughed up with ground-and-pound before being strangled with a rear-naked choke halfway through round two. Machida now holds a 3-2 record since dropping to middleweight in 2013.7. Yoel Romero (9-1)
While Romero’s apparent inability to answer the bell for round three of his UFC 178 meeting with Tim Kennedy was a controversial topic, what happened when the final round got under way is indisputable. Beaten to within inches of a finish only moments before, Romero clobbered Kennedy with a right hand and drubbed the American on the floor to force a stoppage less than one minute into the last frame. A knee injury forced the former Olympic wrestler to withdraw from an April 18 meeting with Ronaldo Souza just one week out from the bout.8. Tim Kennedy (18-5)
Kennedy’s first Octagon defeat could hardly have come under more controversial circumstances, but it was a defeat nonetheless. After being walloped by Yoel Romero in the first round of their UFC 178 encounter and then coming back to hurt the “Soldier of God” in round two, Kennedy met his end under a hailstorm of punches just 58 seconds into the final frame. The loss derailed the Jackson-Wink MMA product, who began his UFC run with three straight victories.9. Gegard Mousasi (36-5-2)
Mousasi earned one of his most significant victories to date in Stockholm on Jan. 24, becoming just the second man to halt former pound-for-pound great Dan Henderson with strikes. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ has alternated wins and losses since transferring to the UFC, notably finishing Henderson and Mark Munoz while falling to Ronaldo Souza and Lyoto Machida. Next up for “The Dreamcatcher” is a May 16 meeting with Costas Philippou in the Philippines.10. Michael Bisping (26-7)
Nine years into his Octagon career and still chasing a title shot, Bisping continues to hang around the top of the middleweight division. At UFC 186, “The Count” notched a hard-fought unanimous decision over C.B. Dollaway to rebound from his November defeat at the hands of Luke Rockhold. Bisping has now alternated wins and losses in his last eight appearances.Other Contenders: David Branch, C.B. Dollaway, Brandon Halsey, Mamed Khalidov, Thales Leites.
Continue Reading » Welterweight