Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (26-4)
At UFC 112, Silva turned in another performance that drew the ire of the MMA public, as he danced and sporadically fought his way to a unanimous decision over Demian Maia. More will be expected of “The Spider” at UFC 117 on Aug. 7, when he takes on brash-talking wrestler Chael Sonnen in his seventh title defense.

2. Chael Sonnen (24-10-1)
Sonnen’s combination of stirring trash talk and surprising performances has finally paid dividends. The Republican politician-cum-prizefighter will be the next man to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title when the Octagon hits Oakland, Calif., for UFC 117 on Aug. 7.

3. Jake Shields (25-4-1)
Despite entering his April 17 meeting with Dan Henderson as a considerable underdog -- and taking a first-round beating -- Shields dominated the two-time Olympian for the last four rounds, earning a unanimous decision. The question for the Cesar Gracie product now centers on whether he will remain in Strikeforce or head to the UFC.

4. Nate Marquardt (29-9-2)
Marquardt was upset by an opportunistic Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 in February. In order to get back into the UFC middleweight title race, Marquardt will have to deal with potent Brazilian grappler Rousimar Palhares at UFC 118 on Aug. 28 in Boston.

5. Dan Henderson (25-8)
Henderson looked every bit the heavy favorite in round one of his Strikeforce title fight with Jake Shields. However, for the next four rounds, the former two-division Pride champion was dominated on the ground and lost a unanimous decision in his promotional debut.

6. Demian Maia (12-2)
Maia was embarrassed and badly beaten by Anderson Silva in his April 10 title bout. However, with Silva’s in-cage antics and Maia’s throwing caution to the wind late in the fight in an attempt to win, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu star emerged as the bigger fan favorite after UFC 112.

7. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
Belfort was scheduled to get the next crack at pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva’s middleweight throne. However, a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery has bumped “The Phenom” out of a title shot in an intensifying 185-pound division, with no guarantees he will get another chance to face Silva.

8. Yushin Okami (24-5)
In his March pasting of Lucio Linhares, Okami turned in perhaps his finest Octagon performance to date. Japan’s top middleweight will look to keep that momentum going in August, when he meets former NCAA national wrestling champion Mark Munoz at UFC on Versus 2.

9. Jorge Santiago (22-8)
Santiago was one of MMA’s hottest fighters heading into November, when he was embarrassed in his non-title bout with Mamed Khalidov. However, Santiago put on a champion’s performance in the rematch, winning a well-appointed unanimous decision over five rounds to avenge his humbling defeat to the Chechen.

10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC)
It has been a long road to recovery for Akiyama, who sustained a broken orbital bone in his split decision win over Alan Belcher last July. Now fully recovered, Akiyama will get a high-profile bout with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 116 on July 3.

Other contenders: Alan Belcher, Michael Bisping, Robbie Lawler, Wanderlei Silva, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.

* With his May 7 draw against Ryuta Sakurai, the previously 10th-ranked Mamed Khalidov falls beyond the contenders list.