Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Middleweight
Aug 13, 2008
Middleweight
1. Anderson Silva (Pictures) (22-4-0)
While Yushin Okami (Pictures) was the preferred opponent for the next UFC middleweight title defense of the "Spider," the Japanese fighter’s hand injury will keep Silva from getting revenge on the last man to beat him. However, Oct. 25 in Chicago, Silva will look to further his brutal stranglehold on the 185-pound division when he headlines UFC 90 against surging contender Patrick Cote (Pictures).
2. Paulo Filho (Pictures) (16-0-0)
After going through depression, drug dependency and rehab, the Brazilian fireplug will be back to rematch Chael Sonnen (Pictures) on Sept. 10 with his WEC middleweight title on the line. Filho took a comeback victory over Sonnen last December, escaping with the win after a controversial armbar stoppage.
3. Rich
Franklin (Pictures) (23-3-0, 1 NC)
It seems Franklin has been trading notes with nemesis Anderson Silva (Pictures). The former UFC middleweight champ will return to the 205-pound division for a one-off bout with Matt Hamill (Pictures) on the Sept. 6 UFC 88 card in Atlanta, after which "Ace" is expected to return to 185 pounds.
4. Robbie Lawler (Pictures) (16-4-0, 1 NC)
Lawler handled his unfinished business like a champ, finishing off part two with Scott Smith (Pictures) on July 26 with a rugged stoppage. The real challenge now is on EliteXC, which will need to find premier challengers for its middleweight king.
Hand issues are on Okami's agenda right now, as Japan's top middleweight seeks to heal his broken fist so he can get back into the Octagon. The last man to beat Anderson Silva (Pictures), albeit in a controversial disqualification, Okami is perhaps the most interesting remaining challenger for the Brazilian -- a role he'll likely fill when he's off the disabled list.
6. Frank Trigg (Pictures) (16-6-0)
After spending most of his recent time in the commentators' booth, Trigg will get back into action Aug. 24 on the fourth offering from World Victory Road's Sengoku. The bout figures to be a softer touch for "Twinkle Toes," as the two-time UFC title challenger will take on former Olympic judo gold medalist Makoto Takimoto (Pictures) in a middleweight tilt.
7. Thales Leites (Pictures) (13-1-0)
The UFC's 185-pound division needs young talent to step into the spotlight, and the once-beaten Thales Leites (Pictures) will have the chance to take another leap forward on Oct. 25 in Chicago. The Brazilian will fight undefeated Croat Goran Reljic (Pictures) at UFC 90 and hope to make his case for a crack at countryman Anderson Silva (Pictures).
8. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-8-2)
In June some iffy point deductions by referee Herb Dean (Pictures) put a twist in the comeback road of Nathan Marquardt (Pictures), who dropped a split decision to up-and-comer Thales Leites (Pictures). Now Marquardt will be forced to deal with another young middleweight prospect, Denmark's Martin Kampmann (Pictures), on the main card of UFC 88 on Sept. 6 in Atlanta.
9. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) (11-1-0, 2 NC)
It was a bit tougher than expected, but Akiyama got the job done against reckless pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures) in their July 21 bout. He absorbed some surprising strikes from Shibata before choking him out with an Ezekiel choke. Akiyama may next see duty on Dream's forthcoming Sept. 23 show.
10. Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) (20-8-2, 1 NC)
Strikeforce will return to the Playboy Mansion on Sept. 19 for its second card from the home of Heffner. On the bill, Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) will look to make a better impression on the stateside audience than he made in his February 2007 American debut, when he was dominated by Frank Trigg (Pictures) in an awful performance. This time he takes on the well-traveled Joe Riggs (Pictures).
1. Anderson Silva (Pictures) (22-4-0)
While Yushin Okami (Pictures) was the preferred opponent for the next UFC middleweight title defense of the "Spider," the Japanese fighter’s hand injury will keep Silva from getting revenge on the last man to beat him. However, Oct. 25 in Chicago, Silva will look to further his brutal stranglehold on the 185-pound division when he headlines UFC 90 against surging contender Patrick Cote (Pictures).
2. Paulo Filho (Pictures) (16-0-0)
After going through depression, drug dependency and rehab, the Brazilian fireplug will be back to rematch Chael Sonnen (Pictures) on Sept. 10 with his WEC middleweight title on the line. Filho took a comeback victory over Sonnen last December, escaping with the win after a controversial armbar stoppage.
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It seems Franklin has been trading notes with nemesis Anderson Silva (Pictures). The former UFC middleweight champ will return to the 205-pound division for a one-off bout with Matt Hamill (Pictures) on the Sept. 6 UFC 88 card in Atlanta, after which "Ace" is expected to return to 185 pounds.
4. Robbie Lawler (Pictures) (16-4-0, 1 NC)
Lawler handled his unfinished business like a champ, finishing off part two with Scott Smith (Pictures) on July 26 with a rugged stoppage. The real challenge now is on EliteXC, which will need to find premier challengers for its middleweight king.
5. Yushin Okami
(Pictures) (22-4-0)
Hand issues are on Okami's agenda right now, as Japan's top middleweight seeks to heal his broken fist so he can get back into the Octagon. The last man to beat Anderson Silva (Pictures), albeit in a controversial disqualification, Okami is perhaps the most interesting remaining challenger for the Brazilian -- a role he'll likely fill when he's off the disabled list.
6. Frank Trigg (Pictures) (16-6-0)
After spending most of his recent time in the commentators' booth, Trigg will get back into action Aug. 24 on the fourth offering from World Victory Road's Sengoku. The bout figures to be a softer touch for "Twinkle Toes," as the two-time UFC title challenger will take on former Olympic judo gold medalist Makoto Takimoto (Pictures) in a middleweight tilt.
7. Thales Leites (Pictures) (13-1-0)
The UFC's 185-pound division needs young talent to step into the spotlight, and the once-beaten Thales Leites (Pictures) will have the chance to take another leap forward on Oct. 25 in Chicago. The Brazilian will fight undefeated Croat Goran Reljic (Pictures) at UFC 90 and hope to make his case for a crack at countryman Anderson Silva (Pictures).
8. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-8-2)
In June some iffy point deductions by referee Herb Dean (Pictures) put a twist in the comeback road of Nathan Marquardt (Pictures), who dropped a split decision to up-and-comer Thales Leites (Pictures). Now Marquardt will be forced to deal with another young middleweight prospect, Denmark's Martin Kampmann (Pictures), on the main card of UFC 88 on Sept. 6 in Atlanta.
9. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) (11-1-0, 2 NC)
It was a bit tougher than expected, but Akiyama got the job done against reckless pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata (Pictures) in their July 21 bout. He absorbed some surprising strikes from Shibata before choking him out with an Ezekiel choke. Akiyama may next see duty on Dream's forthcoming Sept. 23 show.
10. Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) (20-8-2, 1 NC)
Strikeforce will return to the Playboy Mansion on Sept. 19 for its second card from the home of Heffner. On the bill, Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) will look to make a better impression on the stateside audience than he made in his February 2007 American debut, when he was dominated by Frank Trigg (Pictures) in an awful performance. This time he takes on the well-traveled Joe Riggs (Pictures).
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