Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (22-4)
While Yushin Okami 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, on Oct. 25 in Chicago, Silva will headline UFC 90 and look to extend his brutal stranglehold on the 185-pound division against surging contender Patrick Cote.

2. Paulo Filho (16-0)
After suffering through depression, drug dependency and rehab, the Brazilian fireplug was ready to put his World Extreme Cagefighting title on the line in a rematch against Chael Sonnen on Sept. 10. However, the unfinished business between Filho and Sonnen will have to wait until Nov. 5, after the event was postponed when Hurricane Ike threatened the Florida coast.

3. Rich Franklin (24-3, 1 NC)
Rich Franklin's division of choice for the future -- 185 or 205 pounds -- remains up in the air. However, the former UFC middleweight champion is still an elite fighter, as he showed in his Sept. 6 TKO victory over Matt Hamill at UFC 88. With it, he made a strong statement regarding his viability in future marquee fights.

4. Robbie Lawler (16-4, 1 NC)
Lawler handled his unfinished business like a champion, as he finished off part two with Scott Smith on July 26 and stopped the UFC veteran on strikes. The challenge now is on EliteXC, which will need to find top contenders for its middleweight king.

5. Yushin Okami (22-4)
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, albeit in a controversial disqualification, Okami is perhaps the most interesting remaining challenger for the Brazilian -- a role he'll likely fill once he's off the disabled list.

6. Nathan Marquardt (27-8-2)
After point deductions led to a sour split decision loss to Thales Leites in June, the usually passive Marquardt vowed to fight more aggressively and finish his foes. Marquardt made good on his promise with his stirring 82-second destruction of the talented Martin Kampmann at UFC 88.

7. Dan Henderson (23-7)
While choosing 185 over 205 pounds seemed like a wise choice for Henderson, he did himself no favors by accepting the highly regarded but largely unknown Palhares as his Sept. 6 opponent. However, "Hendo" rose to the occasion and, behind barrages of strategically placed right hands, took a well-earned and much-needed unanimous decision over a high-quality fighter.

8. Frank Trigg (17-6)
Trigg did little to inspire in a dry decision victory over Makoto Takimoto in what was his first fight of 2008 at Sengoku IV on Aug. 24. Hopefully, "Twinkle Toes" can secure some more meaningful fights in the months to come.

9. Thales Leites (13-1)
The UFC's 185-pound division needs young talents to step up and out into the spotlight. The once-beaten Leites will have the chance to make his case for a crack at his countryman, Anderson Silva, on Oct. 25 in Chicago when he meets undefeated Croat Goran Reljic at UFC 90.

10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1, 2 NC)
It was a bit tougher than expected, but Akiyama got the job done against reckless professional wrestler Katsuyori Shibata in their July 21 bout at Dream 5. He absorbed some surprising strikes from Shibata before submitting him with an Ezekiel choke.