MMA's Top 10 Heavyweights

There have been some major shake-ups in the heavyweight rankings and I think it is time for an updated Top Ten list.

Everyone loves a headlining heavyweight fight, and we have seen two in the last few weeks. Please leave your comments and opinions, and thanks for reading.

Now, let's get to the rankings.

10.

I believe there are two front-running candidates who are on the brink of breaking into the top ten.

Gabriel Gonzaga (11-5) 6’1, 240 pounds, Age 31

Napao has become the gatekeeper for the elite heavyweights in the UFC. He earned a title shot with one of the most devastating knock out wins over Mirko Cro Cop.

His 7-4 UFC record has proven he is a top fighter, but losses to Randy Couture, Fabricio Werdum, Shane Carwin, and Junior Dos Santos in his last fight has kept him out of the top ten.

Gonzaga needs one big win to bring him into the ten spot, and maybe we will see that in his next fight.

Brett Rogers (10-2) 6’5, 265b pounds, Age 29

The Grim was considered a top ten fighter when he was 10-0 and coming off a first round TKO of Andre Arlovski. Since then, he has dropped his last two fights to Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem.

Rogers needs a big win in Strikeforce before he can reclaim that ten spot. His next fight is rumored to be against Antonio Silva, and that should be a good test to see if he can make a comeback.

Other considerations: Cheick Kongo, Antonio Silva, Josh Barnett

9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) 6’3, 240 pounds, Age 34

A true legend in MMA’s heavyweight history, Minotauro has a long and decorated career. He came from PRIDE as the first heavyweight champion and has gone 3-2 in the UFC since 2007.

He has wins over Tim Sylvia for the interim belt, and one of the biggest of his career over another legend, Randy Couture.

His only recent losses were to Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez in his last fight. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo and is known for being one of the toughest and experienced fighters in the heavyweight division.

8. Fedor Emelianenko (31-2) 6’0, 230 pounds, Age 33

After riding a 27-fight win streak stretching from 2000, The Last Emperor dropped from the No. 1 spot after losing to Fabricio Werdum in his last fight.

He is a legend in the heavyweight division after he dominated in PRIDE and outside of the UFC.

He has beaten a number of former UFC champions and top fighters in the world. Now we will see if he can come back after this loss and regain the top spot in the heavyweight division.

7. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) 6’4, 240lbs, Age 32

Coming off the biggest win of his career over Fedor Emelianenko, Werdum has gone 3-0 since being cut from the UFC in 2008.

His slick submission has earned him a title shot against current Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem.

If he can win that fight, he will undoubtedly be the best heavyweight fighter outside of UFC.

There is a lot of potential for Werdum to climb the heavyweight rankings, and winning the Strikeforce belt is the next step.

6. Alistair Overeem (33-11) 6’5, 265 lbs, Age 30

The Demolition Man is on an eight-fight win streak and is the current defending Strikeforce heavyweight champion.

Since joining the heavyweight division in 2007, he has big wins over Paul Buentello, Kazuyuki Fujita, and Brett Rogers in his last fight.

Overeem’s size and strength has allowed him to truly demolish his heavyweight opponents.

His next fight will be against Fabricio Werdum for his second title defense.

5. Junior Dos Santos (11-1) 6’4, 240 lbs, Age 26

A member of Team Black House, Cigano is 5-0 in the UFC and is climbing the rankings fast. He has notable wins over Fabricio Werdum, Mirko Cro Cop, and Gabriel Gonzaga.

His next fight is against TUF 10 winner, Roy Nelson, at UFC 117.

Dos Santos has finished four of his five UFC opponents in the first round. Don’t be surprised if he is fighting for the heavyweight title within a year or two.

4. Cain Velasquez (8-0) 6’1, 240 pounds, Age 27

Undefeated with six of his wins in the UFC, Brown Pride has earned himself a title shot.

His most notable wins are over Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell, and a first-round knock out of Minotauro Nogueira in his last fight.

Some fans think he is too small, but this two-time all-American and Pac-10 Champion wrestler from Arizona State has silenced all of his critics so far.

He has been the underdog in most of his fights, but that hasn’t stopped him from tearing through the UFC’s heavyweight division.

His next fight against Brock Lesnar will be the biggest test of his career.

3. Frank Mir (13-5) 6’3, 240 lbs, Age 31

This former UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight champion has solidified himself in the top ten.

He is an elite heavyweight fighter with bone breaking submissions and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Pires.

Since making his second official comeback in 2008, he has gone 3-2 in the UFC with wins over Minotauro Nogueira and Cheick Kongo, gone 1-1 against Brock Lesnar, and lost his last fight against Shane Carwin.

He is a tough opponent for anyone in the heavyweight division, and has been a constant threat as a title contender.

2. Shane Carwin (12-1) 6’2, 265 pounds, Age 35

After a win streak where no opponent made it out of the first round, Carwin fell short against Lesnar last night at UFC 116.

He was on a five-fight path of destruction in the UFC with big wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Frank Mir for the interim belt.

He even shocked Lesnar in the first round when he dominated the stand-up and put the champion on his back for the first time of his career.

Carwin was the biggest test to date for Lesnar, and I believe he will come back scarier than ever.

He is a serious threat to anyone in the heavyweight division, and I expect a rematch with Brock sometime in the future.

1. Brock Lesnar (5-1) 6’3, 265lbs, Age 32

With only six fights, Lesnar has become the undisputed No. 1 heavyweight in the world.

He beat Randy Couture to win the heavyweight belt and avenged his only loss in his first title defense against Frank Mir.

After a medical miracle, Lesnar made another comeback when he survived the first round against Carwin, and won the fight in the second round with an arm triangle.

As MMA fans, whether you love or hate him, we have truly witnessed the evolution of Brock Lesnar and the potential to become another dominant champion.

Only time will tell if he can become a heavyweight legend and clear out his weight class like Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre.