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 off. 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., on Aug. 7 for UFC 117.

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 is whether he will remain in Strikeforce or head to the UFC.

4. Nate Marquardt (29-9-2)
In February, Marquardt was upset by an opportunistic Chael Sonnen. 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)
Though Anderson Silva did his best to embarrass Maia in their April encounter, Maia’s never-say-die attitude in the bout earned him many more supporters. He will look to get back in the middleweight title race on Sept. 15, when he takes on surging 185-pounder Alan Belcher at UFC Fight Night 22.

7. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
A shoulder injury and subsequent surgery did not allow Belfort to fight Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight crown earlier this year. Now, “The Phenom” and his management expect to meet the winner of the Aug. 7 Silva-Chael Sonnen bout in November.

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 into 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)
For a moment, Akiyama fighting at UFC 116 seemed up-in-the-air due to the injury to marquee opponent Wanderlei Silva. However, Silva’s broken ribs and blown knee will not keep Akiyama from fighting, as he will meet late replacement Chris Leben come July 3.

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