UFC on Fuel TV 4 Results: Is Francis Carmont Ready for the Best at Middleweight?

Tonight, Francis Carmont passed his biggest test to date when he earned a second-round submission win over fellow middleweight Karlos Vemola.

In Vemola, Carmont faced a larger, stronger wrestler with all sorts of power in his hands. Even with these factors playing against him, Carmont triumphed with technique, skill and power of his own.

Now 3-0 in the UFC with three impressive wins, Carmont has proven to be ready for the best the middleweight division has to offer.

Training at Tristar, Carmont is getting some of the best training with some of the best training partners in the business. As seen in his corner, Carmont is a training partner and friend of Georges St. Pierre, who has helped the Frenchman with his game. It has shown in his Octagon outings, as Carmont has transformed from a striker to a mixed martial artist.

In his first bout, Carmont absolutely dominated a respectable fighter in Chris Camozzi. Then, he submitted a guy seen as a better grappler in Magnus Cedenblad. And tonight, he arguably out-wrestled a Czech national champion en route to a submission stoppage.

With that, I say bring on the best.

Carmont is a dark horse of the middleweight division. A lot of guys aren't completely aware of him, but he has the ability to knock them off. I have suggested that Carmont take on Costa Philippou in his next fight, and this may be warranted.

But wouldn't a showdown with a guy like Brian Stann, Michael Bisping or Cung Le interest you? Carmont is a big, strong, skilled guy who has the ability to make his name off a bigger name like they have.

His run through the Octagon has turned many heads. After tonight, it should have turned enough heads to put him in the running for a top-15, if not top-10 opponent.

This is obviously my view, but take a minute to judge his talent yourself. When all the numbers and factors add up, I am sure you will be impressed as well.