UFC Title Rankings after February 2011

The shortest month of the year has come and gone like a gust of wind on a clear, sunny day. While the most notable heavyweights sat February out, the rest of the UFC contenders attempted to leave a long-lasting impression in their respective divisions.

It's time to take a gander at where your favorite fighters stand, but remember, this is just one man's opinion. Please chime in with your opinions, but please read the title.

These are UFC title rankings—not power rankings. They are my view on where these respected fighters stand in their title aspirations.

Bantamweight Division

February's Key Fights

Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos (UFC 126)

Many people began complaining about Miguel Torres after his unanimous decision victory over Antonio Banuelos at UFC 126. The old excuse of, "He played it too safe."

Maybe so, but he is fighting the best of the best in the UFC now. This is the big leagues, and if you don't win in the big leagues, you don't last long. Not that this was his excuse but it's true.

Also, Banuelos was riding along in the same boat of safe strategies, so you can't place sole blame on Torres for the lackluster fight. Torres stayed on the outside and established his striking while the shorter Banuelos darted in, before quickly darting back out and landed nothing of significance.

Say what you want about Torres, but it takes two to tango.

Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Demetrious Johnson (UFC 126)

Many stateside fans were ecstatic to learn that Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto would finally be fighting for the UFC. It's funny that many of these stateside fans hadn't even heard of Demetrious Johnson, or at least, it appeared so as Johnson was picked to lose in many MMA forums.

Johnson is one of those fighters that proves cutting weight may not be as much of an advantage as one would think. The smaller Johnson came in with unparalleled speed and had "Kid" uncomfortable throughout the fight with constant movement and takedowns.

The unanimous decision victory came easily to Johnson, who now looks for a top-10 opponent to start his title run.

March's Key Fights

Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page (UFC on Versus 3)

Brian Bowles makes his long-awaited return to the cage after missing nearly a year with various injuries with his hands and feet. In his return, Bowles gets a chance to prove that his first meeting with the savage Damacio Page wasn't a fluke.

Page has evolved somewhat since the first meeting, becoming a more well-rounded fighter as opposed to being a brawler on a head-hunting mission, which cost him the win last time out.

While Page will likely get the cardio doubts due to his last fight, it should be Bowles under the microscope this time around after missing a lot of time from the cage.

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Reuben Duran (UFC on Versus 3)

It's official, Takeya Mizugaki is a zombie. After being choked to death by Urijah Faber, Mizugaki looks to reestablish his spot among the top 10 with a victory over UFC newcomer Reuben Duran. With his opponent's skill set, Mizugaki will likely rock the same plan as always, which is to box until the takedown presents itself.

Pressure, pressure, pressure! Mizugaki is a very calculated opponent, and that's why it's essential for Duran to come in with relentless pressure and make Mizugaki think on the fly. Duran has nothing to lose as he's flying under many radars, so his explosive style may shock many people and catapult him into the mix of blossoming division.

Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland (UFC 128)

Although these rankings currently list Brad Pickett as the No. 1 contender, the UFC 128 co-main event between Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland will likely generate the next contender for Dominic Cruz's belt.

Faber made a big splash in the division by choking out former title contender Mizugaki into a realm of unconsciousness in his very first fight in the bantamweight division. With the division being so shallow, in addition to his name value, Faber is likely one win out from a title shot and rematch with long-time nemesis Cruz.

Wineland is looking to spoil Faber's quest and earn his long-awaited chance to regain what was once his. Having a record of 4-1 in his last five, Wineland is looking to steal Faber's thunder with his highly accurate, yet somehow underrated striking.

He had better hope he is shoring up his submission defense as that is the kink to his armor and the razor sharp edge to Faber's blade.

Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland (UFC 128)

With his two lone losses coming from current UFC champion Dominic Cruz, it's a general consensus that Joseph Benavidez is the No. 2 bantamweight in the world in terms of power ranks. However, since those losses came to the current champ, it's highly unlikely that another title shot will be coming any time soon.

That being said, a win will keep him among the rest of the title contenders, so that if Cruz loses anytime soon, Benavidez will be right there at the top in line for the shot.

Now, as for Ian Loveland, it's your time to shine! Although he already earned his first UFC victory in his debut with quick combinations and relentless ground-and-pound, he's still flying under the radar. However, his balls-to-the-wall style will get him some attention, especially against a high-caliber fighter such as Benavidez.

Rankings

Noteworthy- Wagnney Fabiano (14-3) & Norifumi Yamamoto (18-4-0-1)

10- Charlie Valencia (12-6)

9- Takeya Mizugaki (13-5-3)

8- Scott Jorgensen (11-4)

7- Demetrious Johnson (9-1)

6- Eddie Wineland (18-6-1)

5- Urijah Faber (24-4)

4- Brian Bowles (8-1)

3- Miguel Torres (38-3)

2- Joseph Benavidez (13-2)

1- Brad Pickett (20-5)

Champion- Dominic Cruz (17-1)

Featherweight Division

February's Key Fights

Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa (UFC 126)

The undefeated Chad Mendes did wonders for his title hopes with his unanimous decision victory over Michihiro Omigawa.

Although he was able to score a few takedowns throughout the affair, Mendes was stuffed by Omigawa several times early in the fight and was forced to find the win with other skill sets. While his striking is still unrefined, he did use it to open up Omigawa's defense and keep the Japanese fighter on his toes.

As the fight progressed, Mendes' cardio began to show as Omigawa began slowing down dramatically. That's when Mendes' takedowns began landing more frequently and secured the victory for him. With the win, Mendes is likely one more victory away from his desired title shot.

March's Key Fights

Raphael Assuncao vs. Eric Koch (UFC 128)

Eric Koch has had a difficult time keeping an opponent as of late. First, he was scheduled to fight Josh Grispi at WEC 52 before Grispi was pulled to fight for the title in a bout that was later scrapped. Then, Koch was set to fight Cub Swanson at UFC on Versus 3, but then, a tooth infection forced Swanson from the fight.

Now an opponent is set, with Koch ready to go to war with Jiu Jitsu black belt Raphael Assuncao, which could make a very good grappling match as Koch has finished several opponents with some difficult submission moves himself.

But even then, Assuncao is very dangerous on the ground, and Koch would be wise to utilize his Duke Roufus striking in this bout.

Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan (UFC Fight Night 24)

After two of the judges robbed Nam Phan in their first fight at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale, the UFC has set up an immediate rematch to give Phan an opportunity to right the judges' wrong.

Phan will likely come in with his same strategy as last time, which is to counter-strike Leonard Garcia's wild style with quick, clean punches. However, those judges will likely still be in Phan's mind on fight night, so expect him to be a little less gun shy.

This may beneficial for Garcia, and he may find an opening that wasn't there last time to land one of his big bombs. It may also be detrimental to him as Phan might see an opening he didn't see last time by being so gun shy.

Let's just hope that if a decision occurs, it isn't as abhorrent as the last one.

Rankings

Noteworthy- Raphael Assuncao (15-3), Mike Brown (24-8), Leonard Garcia (15-6-1), Nam Phan (16-8), Kenny Florian (13-5), & Tyson Griffin (14-5)

10- Rani Yahya (16-6)

9- Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1)

8- Urijah Faber (24-4)

7- Josh Grispi (14-2)

6- Dustin Poirier (9-1)

5- Manny Gamburyan (11-5)

4- Erik Koch (11-1)

3- Diego Nunes (16-1)

2-Chad Mendes (10-0)

1- Mark Hominick (20-8)

Champion- Jose Aldo Jr. (18-1)

Lightweight Division

February's Key Fights

George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver (UFC 127)

He is constantly proving people wrong. How does that feel?

On one hand, it's nice to constantly prove that you're better than others think, but it's got to be annoying when people are constantly doubting your skills.

Heading into their UFC 127 bout in Australia, many fans were claiming that Dennis Siver was brought in as another stepping stone for the Aussie-born fighter George Sotiropoulos. But after clipping Sotiropoulos three times dropping him twice, it was clear that Siver was a lot better than many fanboys had declared.

The fight's pace slowed considerably, but Siver kept the fight standing by shrugging off the Aussie's takedown attempts with ease. On the feet, Sotiropoulos was no match and was easily out pointed by Siver on the scorecards on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

March's Key Fights

Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus (UFC 128)

Winner of his last six fights, Jim Miller is the clear-cut favorite to win heading in to his UFC 128 showdown with Kamal Shalorus. While Miller is dangerous wherever the fight goes, he had better not underestimate Shalorus simply because he's coming over from a weaker lightweight division.

Miller has openly stated that he feels the WEC lightweights are in over their heads, and he plans on being the guy to show the world why. For Miller's sake, hopefully, he isn't underestimating Shalorus, just look at Siver and Sotiropolous for an example on why.

It's not the same, but yet, it is. Many are picking Miller to roll through Shalorus with ease. Many don't realize that Shalorus has severely underestimated strength and grappling abilities. Plus, while his striking isn't world class, he does have some very heavy hands, and all it takes is one shot.

Nik Lentz vs. Waylon Lowe (UFC Fight Night 24)

The division is very deep, we know this. The winner between Nik Lentz and Waylon Lowe will NOT find themselves in the top 10 as neither are a big-named opponent. However, if Lentz scores the win, he will keep his name among the noteworthy as he has scored a big victory over Tyson Griffin and is undefeated in 13 fights.

Rankings

Noteworthy-  Evan Dunham (11-2), Nick Lentz (20-3), Ross Pearson (12-4), Takanori Gomi (32-7-0-1), Matt Wiman (13-5), & Ben Henderson (12-2)

10- Melvin Guillard (27-8-2-1)

9- George Sotiropoulos (14-3)

8- Dennis Siver (18-7)

7- Kenny Florian (13-5)

6- Sean Sherk (34-4-1)

5- B.J. Penn (16-7-2)

4- Clay Guida (28-11)

3- Jim Miller (19-2)

2- Anthony Pettis (12-1)

1- Gray Maynard (10-0-1-1)
 
Champion- Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)

Welterweight Division

February's Key Fights

Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (UFC 126)

Although he was set to fight Jon Fitch on the same night, it was pretty clear that Jake Ellenberger wasn't ready to fight competition that high in rank quite yet.

In a back-and-forth fight, both fighters found themselves in several advantageous positions. However, it was Ellenberger who was closer to being finished than Carlos Eduardo Rocha. Even with the adversity, Ellenberger was able to pull ahead on the the majority of the judge's scorecards in the later rounds, squeezing out a split decision victory.

B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch (UFC 127)

B.J. Penn shocked many in the MMA world after initiating the wrestling against a standout wrestler early in the fight. After the takedown, Penn quickly found himself on Jon Fitch's back and nearly completed the rear-naked choke several times, but the gritty Fitch survived like he always does and even reversed positions near the end of the round.

Round 2 began, and this time, it was Fitch who scored the first takedown, although he didn't render many points with it. Once the fight got to the feet again, Fitch tried to get it back to the ground but ate some elbows, cutting him up in the process. Shortly thereafter, it was Penn who got the fight to the ground again, but he was quickly reversed, making the round very difficult to score.

Close fights usually mean one, if not both fighters elevate their game that extra mile in the third round. It was only one as Fitch scored an early takedown and kept the fight on the ground for the majority of the round until the fight ended.

Everyone is in agreement here that Penn won Round 1, and Fitch took round three. Round 2 was so close that it's hard to argue for or against either side. With fights that end in such a fashion, it's hard to complain about a draw, simply because the fight was that close under the current 10-point must system.

March's Key Fights

Martin Kampmann vs. Diego Sanchez (UFC on Versus 3)

After an embarrassing loss to a young prospect that he was suppose to steamroll through, Diego Sanchez regained his welterweight momentum after wilting Paulo Thiago with his relentless pressure and cardio. Known for a non-stop pace, don't expect anything different from Sanchez this time around.

However, Sanchez should be a little bit more careful this time around as Martin Kampmann is known to have above-average cardio as well and won't wilt like Thiago did. Kampmann will also be one of the most well-rounded fighters that Sanchez has faced to date.

A key factor in this fight comes down to Kampmann. He's notorious for fighting his opponent's style of fight. If Sanchez can make it a high-paced fight, Kampmann could be in for a long night. But if Kampmann keeps it slow and methodical, look for Sanchez's emotions to get the best of him.

Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson (UFC Fight Night 24)

Dan Hardy is hoping to rebound from a devastating knockout by delivering one of his own. The former title challenger is in desperate need of a win after losing two straight, and it would be wise of him to come on with a "let's win" strategy over a "crowd pleasing" strategy.

Reason being is that his opponent, Anthony Johnson, is another nasty striker, in addition to being a behemoth of a welterweight. Johnson is continually training with Cung Le to improve his already deadly striking.

Both men are full to the brim with confidence, and sometimes, borderline cockiness. Whoever can keep that cockiness drowned among the other emotions will likely score that knockout of the night bonus.

Rankings

Noteworthy- Matt Hughes (45-8), Dong Hyun Kim (14-0-1-1), Anthony Johnson (8-3) & Paulo Thiago (13-3)

10- Jake Ellenberger (24-5)

9- Diego Sanchez (22-4)

8- Josh Koscheck (15-5)

7- Dan Hardy (23-8)

6- Thiago Alves (17-7)

5- B.J. Penn (16-7-2)

4-Martin Kampmann (17-4)

3- Carlos Condit (26-5)

2- Jake Shields (26-4-1)

1- Jon Fitch (23-3-1)

Champion- Georges St. Pierre (21-2)

Middleweight Division

February's Key Fights

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (Championship Bout at UFC 126)

The enigma that is "The Spider."

Anderson Silva started the fight in his usual, find-their-timing strategy. As per usual, many of the fans were expecting and hoping to see him foolishly rush and attack Vitor Belfort from the start. So, after a slight moment, the boo birds were out, chirping to their heart's content.

The boos were silenced once Belfort took the boo bird's bait. In vintage Belfort fashion, Vitor closed the distance quickly and had Silva back-pedaling like never before. The boo birds were suddenly silent as they had gotten their wish.

After the pace had slowed a little bit, both fighters were cocked and loaded in their counter mode. It was a matter of who was quicker to the punch, and many believed Belfort held that speed advantage.

Both fighters made a slight move, causing both to react. However, it was Silva who proved to be faster and landed a perfectly-executed front kick to the jaw of Belfort. A couple of strikes later and all of Silva's boo birds were suddenly cheering for the man they love to hate.

Ah, don't you love how fickle people can be?

Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera (UFC 127)

Jorge Rivera had completed several of his goals when it came down to his smack talk. First, he talked Michael Bisping into taking an opponent he wasn't thrilled about fighting. Then, he talked his way into the co-main event status at UFC 127. All he had to do was back up the talk and hand Bisping his fourth loss.

It was evident that the trash talk had quickly crawled under Bisping's skin. The question was, how was it going to affect his fighting style?

Apparently, it threw a couple of logs into Bisping's fire. Although he ate some shots, the Brit was quicker to the punch and had Rivera out of his rhythm for most of the fight. Bisping was also able to score takedowns with ease.

Additionally, he scored some controversy with several incidents that included: blatantly grabbing the cage while Rivera went for a sweep, an illegal knee that seemed very intentional and spitting in the general direction of Rivera's corner men.

Now, whether any of this had a key in the fight remains to be seen, but it was clear before the incidents that Rivera was out of his class and likely on his way to defeat.

March's Key Fights

C.B. Dollaway vs. Mark Munoz (UFC on Versus 3)

After controlling fellow wrestler, Aaron Simpson for a clear-cut decision victory, Mark Munoz is ready to take on Simpson's Power MMA teammate C.B. Dollaway. While Munoz is facing off with another Arizona State University wrestler, his plate will be much more full during this venture into the cage.

Dollaway has proven to be much more well-rounded than his training partner Simpson and much better during scrambles for positioning, which will be key against the savage ground game of Munoz.

Both fighters are 4-1 in their last five fights, and the winner will likely find himself "in the mix," as UFC president Dana White loves to say. Well, maybe not in the mix, but they'll find a big step-up in competition though.

Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman (UFC on Versus 3)

Alessio Sakara is riding a three-fight win streak but has lost some steam in his title efforts after pulling out of a proposed bout with Jorge Rivera at the last minute. He was then scheduled to fight Maiquel Falcao before an injury occurred to Falcao and forced him from the fight.

Sakara is now expected to face UFC newcomer Chris Weidman. While a victory over Weidman won't propel Sakara into anything higher, it will keep his name near the top 10. Weidman on the other hand can disrupt the UFC's middleweight division in only his fifth professional bout.

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Nate Marquardt (UFC 128)

With both fighters heading in to this contest coming off a loss, it is pertinent that they do everything in their power to get the win.

With Yoshihiro Akiyama, it is in this writer's opinion that he fights his own fight and not let his opponent goad him into anything other than a striking affair. Akiyama's power and striking experience gives him a serious advantage against anyone who can't get the fight to the ground.

Nate Marquardt seems to have the same problem in his recent bouts, finding a comfortable zone in an area of the fight where he shouldn't be comfortable. Although he is very well-rounded, Marquardt seems to give his opponent too much to work with in their strengths.

Whoever comes in with a cleaner, more-refined game-plan can get their name back in the mix.

Rankings

Noteworthy- Chris Leben (21-7), Maiquel Falcao (26-3), Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3), Alessio Sakara (15-7-1) & C.B. Dolloway (11-2)

10- Mark Munoz (9-2)

9- Brian Stann (10-3)

8- Alan Belcher (16-6)

7- Vitor Belfort (19-9)

6- Demian Maia (13-2)

5- Nate Marquardt (30-10-2)

4- Michael Bisping (21-3)

3- Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1-1)

2- Chael Sonnen (24-11-1)

1- Yushin Okami (26-5)

Champion- Anderson Silva (28-4)

Light Heavyweight Division

February's Key Fights

Rich Franklin vs. Forrest Griffin (UFC 126)

While this fight was hyped to be a fight of similar styles, it was Forrest Griffin who came in and proved the hype to be wrong. While it's true that they are somewhat similar, Griffin came in with the better game plan and utilized his superior size to nullify Rich Franklin's plan of attack.

Franklin's best bet to win was on the feet where the fight was a little bit more even, but Griffin took the fight to the mat early and often to stay ahead on the score sheets. Unable to finish the always-game Franklin, Griffin walked away with a unanimous decision victory.

Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 126)

The division's two hottest prospects clashed during Super Bowl weekend in an attempt to throw their name into the hat of title contenders. Both brought in their raw talents and the will to impose their game until the other broke.

From the start, it was Jon Jones who appeared to be calm and collected while Ryan Bader seemed tense and rattled. The nerves likely kept Bader out of the fight from the get-go, and Jones capitalized and controlled every aspect of the fight before securing a tight guillotine choke to score the win.

The big winner was then offered to replace his injured teammate's spot in an upcoming championship fight with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, in which Jones gladly and enthusiastically accepted.

March's Key Fights

Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones (Championship Bout at UFC 128)

Although he is still in prime condition with a quick victory over Bader, one would have to wonder how prepared Jones will be for Rua after only a month and a half in between fights. With that being said, there isn't too much of an advantage for Rua either, as he was steadily preparing for Rashad Evans prior to the new opponent.

However, the advantages will come in terms of experience. This will undoubtedly be Jones' biggest fight to date, not so much for Rua. Shogun has been in plenty of huge fights throughout his career and has seemingly mastered his nerves in the process.

While Jones may not be as experienced, he likely outshines his opponent with his crafty techniques and game plans. A Greg Jackson product, Jones always seems ready for whatever the other fighter brings and always utilizes his superior reach to the fullest.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Phil Davis (UFC Fight Night 24)

Antonio Nogueira was originally scheduled to face off with Tito Ortiz on the same night, but the usual injury occurred and forced Ortiz from the bout. In comes Phil Davis to fill the role and likely give Nogueira more headaches than originally expected.

Not to knock Ortiz, but Davis is with the new breed of smothering ground-and-pound fighters, and many believe that he's yet to even reach his prime. His world-class wrestling could potentially give Nogueira even more trouble than he had in his previous fight with Ryan Bader. Throw in evolving submission skills and Nogueira has a handful to deal with.

Nogueira will most likely prefer to keep the fight standing where he'll hold a monstrous advantage over Davis. The former amateur boxer has been improving dramatically with his take-down defense. Although he is a Nogueira black belt in Jiu Jitsu, his submission skills will likely be put on hold with the smothering style that Davis brings.

Rankings

Noteworthy: Randy Couture (19-10) & Matt Hamill (10-2)

10- Rich Franklin (27-6-0-1)

9- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-4)

8- Ryan Bader (12-1)

7- Forrest Griffin (18-6)

6- Anderson Silva (28-4)

5- Thiago Silva (15-2)

4- Lyoto Machida (16-2)

3- Quinton Jackson (30-7)

2- Rashad Evans (19-1-1)

1- Jon Jones (12-1)

Champion- Mauricio Rua (19-4)

Heavyweight Division

February's Key Fights

None

March's Key Fights

Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub (UFC 128)

After tasting defeat for the first time in his career, Brendan Schaub has rattled off three straight victories against much larger, as well as slower, opponents inside the octagon. Wanting to challenge himself beyond the "fatties," as Schaub has labeled them, he began pushing for a step up in competition early in the year.

He may or may not have received the challenge he has been waiting for. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic was once considered one of the best heavyweight fighters in the game, but those years are long gone and many feel he is just a ghost trapped in his shell.

Which "Cro Cop" will show up at UFC 128?

Will it be the warrior that we all love and adore, or will it be the man that needs to hang up the gloves?

Rankings

Noteworthy: Ben Rothwell (31-7) & Travis Browne (10-0-1)

10- Brendan Schaub (7-1)

9- Mirko Filipovic (27-8-2)

8- Stefan Struve (21-4)

7- Cheick Kongo (15-6-2)

6- Roy Nelson (15-5)

5- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1)

4- Frank Mir (14-5)

3- Shane Carwin (12-1)

2- Brock Lesnar (5-2)

1- Junior dos Santos (12-1)

Champion- Cain Velasquez (9-0)