Heavyweight
1. Stipe Miocic (17-2)
The top of the heavyweight division is a position inherently intertwined with volatility in this sport, but in his second UFC heavyweight title defense, Miocic managed to avenge his last career loss against Junior dos Santos and do it in brilliant fashion. He needed less than half of a round to knock “Cigano” unconscious with punches at UFC 211 and atone for his December 2014 unanimous decision defeat. Miocic's win gives him two consecutive UFC heavyweight title defenses -- tied for the most in promotional history -- but more importantly, his win over dos Santos gives him yet another knockout over a legendary heavyweight.2. Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1)
If Werdum had his druthers and could choose a loss to avenge, it stands to reason that the former UFC heavyweight champion would want to rematch the man who took his title and humiliated him in front of 45,000 Brazilian fans: Stipe Miocic. However, if “Vai Cavalo” is to get a second crack at Miocic or the heavyweight champion's next challenger -- Junior dos Santos, who shockingly knocked out Werdum in his October 2008 UFC debut -- he will likely have to settle another score first: Werdum faces rival Alistair Overeem in a rubber match at UFC 213 on July 8.3. Cain Velasquez (14-2)
After being forced out of his UFC 207 rematch with Fabricio Werdum over his use of cannabidiol, Velasquez underwent successful back surgery in early January. Following his operation, Velasquez took to social media in March to state that while he was excited to get back into the Octagon, he could not commit to a timeline for his return, stating he was “listening to [his] body.”4. Alistair Overeem (42-15, 1 NC)
In a bout crucial for his career, Overeem successfully rebounded from his knockout loss to UFC champ Stipe Miocic, as he overcame several heavy strikes from 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix winner Mark Hunt at UFC 209 in March. In the third round, the Dutchman crushed Hunt with a salvo of knees, which sets up another major assignment for “The Demolition Man.” He will meet Fabricio Werdum at UFC 213 on July 8 to break their 1-1 deadlock against one another in a rubber match.5. Junior dos Santos (18-5)
Just because you lose a UFC title fight does not mean you get a soft touch next time out, especially in the barren heavyweight division. Even though dos Santos barely lasted two minutes against heavyweight kingpin Stipe Miocic at UFC 211 on May 13, the UFC is already angling for the next Brazilian's fight, seeking to line him up against rising prospect Francis Ngannou.6. Ben Rothwell (36-10)
Rothwell was scheduled to get a major bout in his next outing, as the Wisconsinite was penciled in to face former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas. However, in early March, the UFC announced that Rothwell had been flagged for a banned substance in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency test administered on Feb. 6, putting his immediate future in doubt.7. Josh Barnett (35-8)
Despite an incredibly distinguished career and being one of MMA’s all-time greatest heavyweights, Barnett’s repeated drug test failures have haunted him. Now, it looks like that notorious reputation is going to get more sordid: The United States Anti-Doping Agency has flagged Barnett for an undisclosed banned substance related to a Dec. 9 drug test. If Barnett’s test failure is confirmed, it will be the former UFC champ’s fourth blown test since 2001.8. Francis Ngannou (10-1)
The 30-year-old Ngannou has won nine bouts in a row, dating back to his second fight and only pro loss in December 2013. All nine of those foes have been finished, one way or another. Now, with five straight finishes in the Octagon, the Cameroon native eyes a step up in competition. Given the heavyweight division's stratification, this is no easy task: The UFC is now hoping to line up “The Predator” with former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos next time out.9. Vitaly Minakov (20-0)
Minakov stayed busy on June 2, taking a fight in his native Russia for his home base promotion Fight Nights Global and knocking out a shopworn Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the second round. A seven-year pro, the 32-year-old Minakov is unbeaten in 20 fights, but it remains anyone's best guess if he will end up back in Bellator MMA, where he previously held the heavyweight title, the UFC or stay as a feature attraction for Fight Nights Global.10. Mark Hunt (13-11-1, 1 NC)
You just cannot keep “Mr. Hunto” down. In the middle of a lawsuit against his promoter after the Brock Lesnar debacle last summer and coming off of a brutal knockout loss to Alistair Overeem in March, it was unclear what “The Super Samoan” had left to offer at 43 years old, even in a desperate heavyweight division. Instead, Hunt returned on June 10 and turned in a fourth-round knockout of surging Derrick Lewis. Even better, he got to do it in front of his hometown crowd in Auckland, New Zealand.Other Contenders: Andrei Arlovski, Blagoy Ivanov, Cheick Kongo, Derrick Lewis, Alexander Volkov.
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