After considerable clamor over which division and which opponent Silva would tackle in his next bout, it is near official that “The Spider” will main event April’s UFC 97 in Montreal against fellow Brazilian Thales Leites. The bout will mark Silva’s fifth UFC middleweight title defense.
2. Rich Franklin (24-3, 1 NC)
Franklin was dominant in his return to light heavyweight against Matt Hamill in September. Now, the former UFC middleweight champion will look to take a leap into 205-pound contention when he meets Dan Henderson in a light heavyweight headliner at UFC 93 on Jan. 17 in Dublin, Ireland.
3. Yushin Okami (23-4)
The 185-pound elephant in the room for the UFC, Okami racked up his seventh win in the Octagon with an easy -- albeit awful -- unanimous decision victory over Dean Lister at UFC 92. The question now is whether the UFC will match Okami with a worthwhile opponent who will come to fight and whether Okami can be stirring enough to earn himself a title shot against Silva.
4. Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1)
It may not have been an MMA bout, but the 23-year-old Mousasi completely destroyed respected K-1 veteran Musashi at K-1 “Premium 2008 Dynamite.” The fight brilliantly displayed why Mousasi has emerged as one of the sport's most enthralling young fighters.
5. Robbie Lawler (16-4, 1 NC)
Slated to defend his EliteXC middleweight title against Joey Villasenor, Lawler was left in no man’s land after EliteXC ceased operations. Now attention turns to where the “Ruthless” middleweight will land in a post-EliteXC world.
6. Nate Marquardt (27-8-2)
After an outstanding demolition of Martin Kampmann at UFC 88 in September, Marquardt will look to continue his march to another middleweight title bid when he takes on Wilson Gouveia at UFC 95 in London on Feb. 21.
7. Dan Henderson (23-7)
Henderson announced his return to middleweight triumphantly in September with a well-appointed decision over a tough Rousimar Palhares. Now the former Pride 205-pound champion will make an unexpected return to 205 pounds to meet Franklin in a high-stakes headliner at UFC 93 on Jan. 17.
8. Jorge Santiago (21-7)
Flunking out of the UFC is now a distant memory for Santiago. The American Top Team product has ripped off nine straight victories, all stoppages, including two tournament victories. With his Jan. 4 come-from-behind choke-out of Kazuo Misaki, he captured Sengoku’s middleweight title.
9. Thales Leites (14-1)
Luck smiled upon Leites, as the Nova Uniao product appears to be the winner in the Silva sweepstakes. Barring any changes of heart for Zuffa, the gifted grappler will challenge “The Spider” for his middleweight title at UFC 97 on April 18 in Montreal.
10. Chael Sonnen (21-9-1)
After emerging victorious in a truly bizarre November rematch with Paulo Filho, Sonnen will face a much more serious challenge in his next bout. The former U.S. Olympic wrestling team alternate will lock horns with undefeated prospect Demian Maia at UFC 95 on Feb. 21 in London.
* Formerly third-ranked Robbie Lawler falls to fifth due to his recent inactivity in the active middleweight division.