This week the rankings move back to the middleweight division.
The 185-pound weight class had some interesting developments over the last few months as Chael Sonnen has had his return to the UFC pushed back and one of the top fighters, Nate Marquardt, is moving down to 170 pounds.
Nonetheless, here is what the top 10 in this weight class looks like.
1. Anderson Silva (28-4) – Silva is not only No. 1 on this list, but also on my pound-for-pound list. I think he has a tough test ahead of him in Yushin Okami at UFC 134, as Silva has shown a weakness against big wrestlers. Still, many of Silva’s opponents show him too much respect, which plays right into his hands.
2. Yushin Okami (26-5) – I am moving Okami up to number two because Sonnen’s future is in question and he seems to be losing steam with each passing day. Okami has beaten many of the best in the UFC, but he now has a chance to face the very best in Silva. Okami is a grinder, and that is what will be the most dangerous opponent for Silva to face.
3. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) – Sonnen has a good skill set, but his mouth and his poor choices have caused him to have a questionable future. Despite the fact that he pushed Silva to his limit, Sonnen still was unable to come through with a win. Sonnen has a clear weakness against submission specialists, but he has easily handled some of the top fighters in this division.
4. Vitor Belfort (19-9) – Still with some of the very fastest hands in all of MMA, Belfort is dangerous for anyone. He looks to rebound from his KO loss to Silva by taking on Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133. An impressive win over Akiyama could put Belfort on the fast track to another title fight.
5. Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) – The Axe Murderer ends his long layoff by taking on Chris Leben at UFC 132. Silva is still a fan favorite and a big favorite of UFC President Dana White. His willingness to get into wars in the cage makes him dangerous for any opponent, but it has also led to him having a weak chin over recent fights. He will need a strong chin against Leben in order to win.
6. Michael Bisping (21-3) – Bisping will once again be in the spotlight when he makes his second coaching appearance on The Ultimate Fighter for season 14 opposite Jason Miller. Bisping can move into the top 5 in the division if he is victorious when the two meet in the live season finale.
7. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (14-2) – The Strikeforce Middleweight Champion is set to return to action in September, but it will be against Luke Rockhold, a relative unknown in the MMA world. Souza looks to have the skills to compete with the best in the world, but hasn’t had to opportunity to show it as of yet. Perhaps he will be next in line to make the jump to the UFC.
8. Brian Stann (11-3) – Brian Stann makes his first appearance on this list thanks to his KO of Jorge Santiago last month. Stann is proving that he can go toe-to-toe with almost anyone in the division and come out on top. It will be interesting to see what is next for Stann, who deserves a chance to get into the top-5 picture of the UFC.
9. Mark Munoz (11-2) – Munoz also makes his first appearance on my rankings list as he is coming off a win over former top-10 middleweight, Demian Maia. While the decision was somewhat disputed, Munoz certainly didn’t disappoint in his effort. He has great heart and a tremendous wrestling base. He struggled at times with his striking against Maia, but he still overcame that to pull out a tough win.
10. Alan Belcher (16-6) – Alan Belcher will make his return to action this fall in the Bayou, which will be a nice shot in the arm for the UFC middleweight division, which is in need of some new contenders. Belcher was climbing his way up the 185-pound ladder before suffering a near career-ending eye injury. Hopefully Belcher get back to where he left off when he takes on Jason MacDonald.