Middleweight
1. Michael Bisping (30-7)
If you thought Bisping's UFC middleweight title run was going to peak in its unpredictability with his win over Dan Henderson in October, you thought wrong. After it seemed like Yoel Romero was a lock to challenge for the title next, Georges St. Pierre un-retired; however, it turned out GSP was not interested in fighting until November. Then the UFC tried to change tack and get Bisping-Romero on the books for July, but “The Count” was not keen on the idea. As a result, we have an interim title bout in the meantime.2. Luke Rockhold (15-3)
Rockhold has been on the shelf since an injury forced him out of a rematch with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in November. More recently, Rockhold has spent some time training with Henri Hooft at Combat Club in Florida, but the former Strikeforce middleweight champion has really kept his name in the headlines by advocating for his fellow UFC fighters to “stand up” and not be afraid to tell their promotion to “[expletive] off.”3. Yoel Romero (12-1)
Romero probably should have been the next contender when then-UFC champ Luke Rockhold was upset by Michael Bisping a year ago. When Bisping rematched faded legend Dan Henderson in October, it should have been “The Soldier of God's” title shot. With Romero carrying an 8-0 UFC record and being systematically excluded, the MMA world began to scream for the Olympic silver medalist to get his title shot, and now he will -- sort of. Romero will face hot prospect Robert Whittaker for the UFC interim middleweight strap on July 8 at UFC 213.4. Robert Whittaker (18-4)
After his February 2014 stoppage loss to Stephen Thompson, Whittaker opted to move up to 185 pounds, and the decision immediately paid rich dividends. Whittaker, the best combat sports athlete ever out of New Zealand not named Mark Hunt, has gone 7-0 in the Octagon at middleweight, his wins over Uriah Hall, Rafael Natal, Derek Brunson and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza thrusting him into title contention. At UFC 213 on July 8, “The Reaper” meets Yoel Romero for the UFC's interim middleweight strap, which is simultaneously the biggest moment of Whittaker's career and also the chance to earn a meaningless, golden trinket.5. Ronaldo Souza (24-5, 1 NC)
“Jacare” had been outspoken in recent months about how the UFC has conducted the middleweight division, from Michael Bisping's championship win and "The Count" defending against an aged Dan Henderson to a returning Georges St. Pierre being granted a title shot. Unfortunately for Souza, after repeatedly stating his case for crack at UFC gold, he met red-hot contender at Robert Whittaker at UFC on Fox 24 and was knocked out in the second round.6. Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2)
Chris Weidman's appeal to the New York State Athletic Commission regarding his second-round TKO loss to Mousasi at UFC 210 in April seems fruitless, so “The Dreamcatcher” maintains his controversial victory, his fifth straight in the UFC's middleweight division. Now a free agent, Mousasi is fielding offers from both the UFC and his former promoter under the Strikeforce banner, Scott Coker, now the CEO of Bellator MMA. The Iranian-born, Dutch-trained fighter has been characteristically outspoken and droll regarding his contract negotiations, calling the UFC's initial contract offer “not good” while giving his customary awkward chuckle.7. Chris Weidman (13-3)
Weidman has suffered three straight defeats after starting his career 13-0, and following his debacle of a TKO loss to Gegard Mousasi at UFC 210 in April, “All-American” lobbied for a rematch. However, Mousasi has become a free agent, and Weidman could not pass up the chance to fight in front of a partisan crowd in Long Island, New York. The former UFC 185-pound king is due to headline UFC on Fox 25, where he takes on Kelvin Gastelum on July 22.8. David Branch (21-3)
It was not a pretty affair, but Branch earned his 11th win in a row at UFC 211 on May 13 and remained unbeaten since a 2012 loss to Anthony Johnson by taking a split decision over Krzysztof Jotko. Even if his performance was not exactly enthusing, it gave the Bronx, New York, native a win to cement his top-10 status and saw his hand raised inside the Octagon for the first time since December 2010.9. Anderson Silva (34-8, 1 NC)
Silva's slated June 3 pairing with Kelvin Gastelum went to hell in a hand basket when the latter tested positive for cannabinoid metabolites and was pulled from the bout. Following Gastelum's removal, Silva lobbied for an interim UFC middleweight title bout against Yoel Romero. After his demands went unmet, “The Spider” shut down his training camp entirely and removed himself from the UFC 212 bill in Rio de Janeiro.10. Kelvin Gastelum (14-2)
Coming off of his March 11 stoppage of Vitor Belfort, Gastelum was penciled in to face former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 212 on June 3. Instead, Gastelum tested positive for cannabinoid metabolites in a post-fight drug sample, forcing him out of the bout. Instead, “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner will get a different former middleweight champ next time out: Gastelum is scheduled to meet Chris Weidman in the UFC on Fox 25 headliner on July 22 in Long Island, New York.Other Contenders: Derek Brunson, Rafael Carvalho, Krzysztof Jotko, Daniel Kelly, Thales Leites.
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