B/R Official MMA Rankings for May: The Top 10 Heavyweights in MMA

If there was ever a month to be excited about the heavyweight division, this may be it.

The stacked UFC 146 event features an all heavyweight main card, with big-name fighters like Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez all throwing down in Las Vegas on May 26.

With so much heavyweight talent being featured later this month, it may seem odd that the rankings have suffered a major shake up, but the recent suspension of Alistair Overeem has caused the former No. 1 contender to relinquish his spot as the No. 2 heavyweight in the world.

With the division losing two of its biggest stars in the past few months (Overeem, Brock Lesnar) let's take a look at the top guys remaining in the ever-changing heavyweight rankings.

These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web.

10. Mark Hunt

Promotion: UFC

Record: 8-7

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Cheick Kongo at UFC 144

Next Scheduled Fight: Stefan Struve at UFC 146

Previous Ranking: N/A

The Rally for Mark Hunt may have failed, but as a consolation prize we have decided to award Hunt the No. 10 spot in the heavyweight rankings.

All kidding aside, Hunt has earned his spot among the division's elite over the last year, knocking out Cheick Kongo and beating up an exhausted Ben Rothwell in his last two fights.

Hunt is set to fight Stefan Struve at UFC 146, in what should be an extremely exciting battle.

9. Antonio Silva

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-3

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Daniel Cormier at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov

Next Scheduled Fight: Cain Velasquez at UFC 146

Previous Ranking: 10

Later this month, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva is set to make his UFC debut against Cain Velasquez.

Bigfoot earned himself a lot of hype when he dominated Fedor Emelianenko last year, but he has since been brought back down to earth after being knocked out by Daniel Cormier.

His Octagon debut is going to be a tough one, as Cain Velasquez is one of the best fighters in the world. If Bigfoot can pull off the win he might find himself fighting for the title soon after.

8. Minotauro Nogueira

Promotion: UFC

Record: 33-7-1 (1 NC)

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140

Next Scheduled Fight: Cheick Kongo at UFC 149

Previous Ranking: 9

After getting his arm almost ripped off by Frank Mir at UFC 140, fans thought it may be quite a while before they saw Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira back in the UFC.

Now it’s been announced that “Big Nog” is ready to return to action in July and he’ll be fighting Cheick Kongo at UFC 149.

This is a huge fight for Nogueira, and if he is unable to defeat Kongo his chances at remaining relevant in the heavyweight division will drop dramatically.

7. Josh Barnett

Promotion: Strikeforce

Record: 31-5

Most Recent Fight: Sergei Kharitonov at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov

Next Scheduled Fight: Daniel Cormier at Strikeforce 40

Previous Ranking: 8

The former UFC and Pride veteran has gone from one of the top fighters in the division, to falling out of the top 10 and now regaining his spot, all in the last three years.

Josh Barnett may have angered a lot of the MMA community after his failed drug test caused the Affliction Promotion to fold, but he has since won them over with high quality performances in Strikeforce’s heavyweight division.

Barnett has even mended fences with UFC president Dana White, and it looks like we could see both Barnett and his next opponent, Daniel Cormier, in the UFC by the end of 2012.

6. Daniel Cormier

Promotion: Strikeforce

Record: 9-0

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Antonio Silva at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov

Next Scheduled Fight: Josh Barnett at Strikeforce 40

Previous Ranking: 7

He may have entered the Strikeforce Grand Prix as a late replacement, but Daniel Cormier proved he belongs among the best in the world when he knocked out Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

Mostly known for his outstanding wrestling pedigree, Cormier’s quick finish of Bigfoot showed that he is a threat everywhere the fight goes. That’s the reason fans are so excited for his upcoming fight against Josh Barnett.

5. Fabricio Werdum

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-5-1

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Roy Nelson at UFC 143

Next Scheduled Fight: Mike Russow at UFC 147

Previous Ranking: 6

The man who proved Fedor Emelianenko could be beaten is looking to earn a shot at the UFC heavyweight title.

Fabricio Werdum returned to the heavyweight division earlier this year and he made sure his presence was known immediately when he thrashed Roy Nelson at UFC 143.

Werdum is now a win or two away from a UFC title shot, and he will look to get a step closer when he takes on Mike Russow at UFC 147.

4. Shane Carwin

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-2

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC 131

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 5

It’s been almost a year since we last saw Carwin compete in the UFC’s heavyweight division, losing a decision to then-No. 1 contender, now UFC champion, Junior dos Santos.

The heavy-hitting Carwin is one of the toughest fighters in the division, and is known for knocking guys out with his hands.

Carwin has since been out of action with an injury, but when he makes his return later this year he will desperately need a victory, as he’s lost his last two bouts.

3. Frank Mir

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-5

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140

Next Scheduled Fight: Junior dos Santos at UFC 146

Previous Ranking: 4

Now that Frank Mir has been given an opportunity at Junior dos Santos and the heavyweight title, this month’s UFC 146 main event may be the last time we see Mir in a title fight.

Mir has been around for years and held the UFC title on two separate occasions, but his time in the sport is slowly running out and if he is unable to take the belt off of Dos Santos it will take a miracle for him to get back into title contention.

2. Cain Velasquez

Promotion: UFC

Record: 9-1

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1

Next Scheduled Fight: Antonio Silva at UFC 146

Previous Ranking: 3

The former UFC champion is set to make his return at UFC 146 this month, fighting former Strikeforce heavyweight contender Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the co-main event.

When Velasquez was set to fight Frank Mir on the card, the bout was viewed as a No. 1 contenders fight. Now that Velasquez has been given a new opponent, it is unclear whether or not a win will earn him a chance to get another shot at his UFC belt back.

1. Junior dos Santos

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-1

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1

Next Scheduled Fight: Frank Mir at UFC 146

Previous Ranking: 1

There’s no doubt who the top heavyweight is in the world.

After watching Junior dos Santos dispatch former title holder Cain Velasquez in just 63 seconds at UFC on Fox 1 last November, it was obvious that Dos Santos was the best heavyweight in the sport.

The consensus No. 2 fighter in the world, Alistair Overeem, was pulled from the upcoming UFC 146 card against Dos Santos, leaving Frank Mir to enter the bout as a late replacement. Now Dos Santos will go from fighting the biggest stand-up threat in his career to the biggest submission threat.

If Dos Santos is able to take out Mir it will add another huge name to his resume, and force every fighter in the division to recognize that Dos Santos is one of the most dangerous men in the UFC.