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Middleweight
1. Israel Adesanya (23-1) | UFC [1]
Adesanya was methodical and technical in his latest title defense, a five-round verdict over Jared Cannonier in the UFC 276 headliner, but it wasn’t the type of performance that’s going to make the Nigerian-born Kiwi appointment viewing. Adesanya’s 12-fight winning streak is the second-longest in 185-pound history, but it may take something spectacular to regain favor with the masses. He’ll have that opportunity in a future championship clash with former kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281.2. Robert Whittaker (23-6) | UFC [2]
After relinquishing the middleweight crown via second-round KO at UFC 243, Whittaker adopted a much more measured approach in his rematch against Israel Adesanya in the UFC 271 headliner. While he was more competitive, “The Reaper” still dropped a unanimous verdict to Adesanya at the Toyota Center in Houston on Feb. 12. Whittaker sees a three-fight winning streak come to an end in defeat and could find the road another title shot difficult as long as Adesanya remains champ. An injury forced Whittaker to withdraw from a proposed clash against Marvin Vettori at UFC 275, but that bout has been rescheduled for UFC Paris on Sept. 3.3. Jared Cannonier (15-6) | UFC [3]
Cannonier struggled to solve the puzzle of Israel Adesanya in the UFC 276 main event, losing a unanimous decision on July 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “The Killa Gorilla” had a few moments of aggression in the contest, but he mostly appeared frozen in front of Adesanya, who was largely content to pick him apart at range. Now it’s back to the drawing board for Cannonier, who had been victorious in five of his previous six Octagon appearances prior to UFC 276.4. Paulo Costa (13-2) | UFC [4]
Costa was unable to make weight for his UFC Fight Night 196 headlining bout against Marvin Vettori, and even with the matchup moved to 205 pounds, “Borrachinha” still dropped a five-round verdict to his Italian rival at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. After the defeat, UFC president Dana White said that Costa’s future in the promotion will remain at light heavyweight. As it stands, the powerfully-built Brazilian hasn’t won a fight at 185 pounds since a decision over Yoel Romero at UFC 241 in August 2019. A matchup with Luke Rockhold is on tap for UFC 278.5. Marvin Vettori (18-5-1) | UFC [5]
Despite his opponent’s admission that he wouldn’t be making weight just a few days prior to the UFC Fight Night 196 main event, Vettori nonetheless agreed to face Paulo Costa a weight class above at 205 pounds. The gamble paid off, as “The Italian Dream” scored a five-round verdict over his fellow former title challenger and had Dana White sing his praises at the event’s post-fight press conference. Vettori has won six of his last seven Octagon appearances, with his lone defeat coming to Israel Adesanya in a title tilt at UFC 253. Vettori will next square off against ex-champ Robert Whittaker at UFC Paris on Sept. 3.6. Derek Brunson (23-8) | UFC [6]
Brunson’s game plan worked well for a round against Jared Cannonier, but when he failed to secure a finish late in the period, things went downhill in a hurry for the North Carolina native at UFC 271. Unable to implement his wrestling, a fatigued Brunson succumbed to a series of vicious ground-and-pound elbows from Cannonier in the second round of their Feb. 12. On the brink of a possible title shot, Brunson instead has a five-bout winning streak snapped.7. Alex Pereira (6-1) | UFC [7]
Pereira delivered on his considerable hype at UFC 276, as he scored a spectacular knockout of Sean Strickland in their featured middleweight encounter at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In addition to ending his opponent’s six-bout UFC winning streak, the former two-division Glory champ set up a showdown at UFC 281 with reigning 185-pound title holder Israel Adesanya, a man he defeated twice in the kickboxing ring.8. Johnny Eblen (12-0) | Bellator [8]
Eblen claimed middleweight gold in surprisingly dominant fashion in the Bellator 282 headliner, as he swept the scorecards with a trio of 50-45 tallies in a unanimous decision triumph against Gegard Mousasi at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The American Top Team product dropped his foe in the first round and controlled the action the rest of the way, landing multiple takedowns in the biggest test of his career to date. The 30-year Eblen is now 8-0 under the Bellator MMA banner and provides a fresh face at the top of the division.9. Sean Strickland (25-4) | UFC [9]
Strickland elected to play to Alex Pereira’s strengths and paid dearly for it, losing via first-round knockout in their featured middleweight showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. That snaps a six-bout winning streak for Strickland, who was gaining attention not only for his exploits in the cage, but for his controversial comments outside of it. Thanks to his latest defeat, a title shot that might have been his will likely go to Pereira instead.10. Jack Hermansson (23-7) | UFC [10]
Hermansson adapted well to a short-notice opponent at UFC Fight Night 209, as he frustrated Chris Curtis with intelligent movement and a multi-faceted striking arsenal en route to a unanimous decision triumph in their co-main event bout at he O2 Arena in London. “The Joker” rebounds from a split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC Fight Night 200 and continues a stretch where he has alternated wins and losses over his last seven promotional appearances. Perhaps a rebooked matchup with originally scheduled UFC London foe Darren Till could be next.Other Contenders: Gegard Mousasi, Chris Curtis, Andre Muniz, Darren Till, Kevin Holland.
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