Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

While not the only new face to these rankings, Gegard Mousasi is certainly the most notable.

The Armenian-born, Dutch-bred middleweight was already putting together a solid 2008 campaign with four victories to his credit going into the final rounds of the Dream middleweight grand prix. The 23-year-old's quick finishes of Melvin Manhoef and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza served notice to an increasingly interesting middleweight division that another star had arrived.

Far less expected was the coming-out party of dynamic Shooto product Yuki Shoujou. Shoujou, while entertaining, was not expected to be a flyweight elite. Instead, with a battered and bloodied face and less than 90 seconds to spare, the 27-year-old choked out perennial division stalwart Yasuhiro Urushitani and forced his way into a role as a flyweight power player.

However, the youth movement in these rankings is not all positive.

This edition also marks an exit, albeit perhaps a very temporary one, to Brazilian star Mauricio Rua. “Shogun” hasn't competed in 365 days and has no bout scheduled within the next 30. However, the 26-year-old former Pride grand prix champion will finally get his chance to prove his place in the 205-pound division come Jan. 17, when he looks to avenge his 2006 upset loss to Mark Coleman at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland.