Sherdog.com's Pound-for-Pound Top 10

At UFC 132, Dominick Cruz joined MMA's pound-for-pound elite. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

It’s been a slow start to the summer for MMA’s elite, but the majority of our top 10 appear to be readying for battle in the second half of 2011.

Reigning pound-for-pound and UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre recently received his next assignment -- a major Oct. 29 defense against incoming ex-Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz -- while close-second Anderson Silva awaits his Aug. 27 rematch with top middleweight contender Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro. Also in Rio, Mauricio Rua is set for a second go at Forrest Griffin, Rua’s first bout since having his UFC light heavyweight strap snatched in March by Jon Jones.

Young “Bones” himself will see action in September, as Jones has been tapped to defend the aforementioned 205-pound belt against veteran Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Denver on Sept. 24. The winner of that matchup could have a contender lying in wait, with former champ Rashad Evans and unbeaten prospect Phil Davis set to square off Aug.6 in Philadelphia.

Other pound-for-pounders rumored for fall returns include Jake Shields, who could meet heavy-handed wrestler Jake Ellenberger on Sept. 17 in New Orleans, and Jon Fitch, who has reportedly been cleared to resume training in September and may rematch B.J. Penn in the fourth quarter. Featherweight dynamo Jose Aldo is also expected to defend his UFC title before the year is through, as is UFC lightweight ace Frankie Edgar.

Georges St. Pierre has been cleaning out the elites of the welterweight division with startling, unprecedented efficiency. Over the last four years, St. Pierre has dominated the most impressive schedule of opponents in MMA, making other pound-for-pounders look ordinary. However, as a result of his dominance as well his style, constantly critiqued for its conservatism, onlookers demanded a new-look opponent for GSP. Dana White complied with fans' wishes, signing former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz to a new UFC contract, paving the way for a major St. Pierre-Diaz showdown at UFC 137 on Oct. 29.

Anderson Silva has just one loss in the last six-and-a-half years, his infamous January 2006 disqualification loss against Yushin Okami. At UFC 134 on Aug. 27, he'll have the chance to avenge the defeat, and in the process, add one of the few remaining outstanding middleweights he hasn't beat to his docket. Though challengers such as Mark Munoz and Brian Stann are developing, if Silva was to best Okami in Rio, the drum would assuredly begin to beat once again for either a much-wanted showdown with welterweight king Georges St. Pierre, or another trek up to 205 pounds.

Few fighters have the dynamism that Jose Aldo possesses, a trait that saw him rocket to the top of the 145-pound division. However, Aldo's ongoing neck issues have slowed the Brazilian's roll. First, Aldo's health stalled discussions of a bout against unbeaten wrestling standout Chad Mendes. Now, it has left his slated bout with former UFC lightweight challenger Kenny Florian -- a win that would be the most outstanding of Aldo's career -- without a set date. On the upside: when he's healthy, Aldo has a quickly expanding pool of opponents, as more fine featherweights emerge and more accomplished lightweights make the cut to 145.

In spite of taking a pair of wins over an all-time great in B.J. Penn, many still view the UFC lightweight champion with skepticism. January's bout with Gray Maynard was Edgar's chance to cement his place in the MMA world, however, the disastrous opening period meant Edgar's heart, not his skills, had to take center stage. An Edgar back injury has postponed a third match with Maynard later this year, and should he win, he'll have no shortage of contenders, as the UFC lightweight division is seemingly overflowing with contenders such as Jim Miller, Melvin Guillard and Clay Guida to name just a few.

The UFC welterweight division’s other dominant wrestler remains on the shelf, but not for long. Fitch and B.J. Penn were set for a July rematch after fighting to a draw in February, but injuries to both men -- and shoulder surgery for Fitch -- prevented the return bout. The 33-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product stated in June that he will resume training in September, in anticipation of possible Nov. 19 scrap with Penn at UFC 138, rumored to take place in Fitch’s adopted hometown of San Jose, Calif.

After some confusion, it’s been settled: the UFC’s youngest champ will defend his 205-pound title this fall, just not against Rashad Evans. Following a remarkable and brutal win over Marucio “Shogun” Rua in March, former training partners Jones and Evans were slated for an August tilt. That bout was scratched after 23-year-old “Bones” was sidelined with a recurring hand injury. As it turns out, Jones’ hand didn’t require surgery, but with Evans already booked for an August clash with Phil Davis, the young star has been booked for a Sept. 24 meeting with ex-champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Jake Shields fell one round short of becoming UFC welterweight champion in April, his loss to Georges St. Pierre ending a six-and-a-half year unbeaten streak where Shields took serious scalps at 170 and 185 pounds. The Cesar Gracie product will have the chance to put another great welterweight on his docket later this year. When the UFC returns to Louisiana for "Battle on the Bayou," Shields will take main event duty against hot up-and-coming prospect Jake Ellenberger in a fight that could further solidify Shields' stature in one of the two divisions in which he's excelled.

Gilbert Melendez has looked absolutely sensational in taking out high-level lightweights in recent memory, including the likes of Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, and most recently, Tatsuya Kawajiri. However, the real question for the Strikeforce lightweight champion is whether or not that pipeline of achieved, outstanding lightweights will continue as Zuffa's stewardship over Strikeforce continues. Next on deck for Melendez figures to be Jorge Masvidal, however, the landscape beyond "Gamebred" is uncertain.

At UFC 132 on July 2, Cruz erased the lone loss of his MMA career, earning a unanimous decision over former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. The victory was Cruz's ninth straight, as "The Dominator" has now taken W's over Faber, his teammate Joseph Benavidez twice, former champion Brian Bowles and Scott Jorgensen. The victory solidifies Cruz as the top bantamweight in the sport and by a fair margin. Cruz's developing resume might have a chance to get even stronger and more diverse in the coming months, should he get a rubber match with Faber or a title defense against the surging Demetrious Johnson.

Returning from nearly a year-long layoff due to surgery on his seemingly ever-injured knee, Rua did not have much to offer young challenger Jon Jones in their March 19 title bout at UFC 128. The third-round stoppage was the first true knockout of the Brazilian’s career, and perhaps the first fight when Rua never looked competitive. The “Shogun” will have a chance to both reclaim his past glory and avenge a stinging loss when he rematches fellow ex-champ Forrest Griffin in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 27.

With the entry of Dominick Cruz, previously 10th-ranked Rashad Evans exits the pound-for-pound top 10.