**MMA World Rankings**

HeavyWeight (Over 205 Pounds)


1) Fedor Emelianenko - People want to see Fedor fight the best. Since six of the top ten Heavyweights are in the UFC, public disappointment towards Fedor not signing is quite understandable. In Strikeforce, a bout with Alistair Overeem for the Strikeforce Heavyweight title remains the most alluring fight. Before a shot at Strikeforce gold, Fedor must first get past 2-time ADCC Champion, Fabricio Werdum.


2) Brock Lesnar - The Budlight advocate and largest Heavyweight in the world is back! Brock Lesnar has been sidelined for about a year with mononucleosis and diverticulitis. It was questionable if he would ever fight again. In January 2010, Lesnar informed the MMA world that he was back to 100% and ready to resume his MMA career. At UFC 116, he will defend his UFC title against Shane Carwin.


3) Cain Velasquez - The only thing scarier about this guy’s fighting skills is his work ethic. Many of Velasquez’s training partners have claimed he “outworks Lightweights in the gym”. There is a myriad of hype surrounding Velasquez. Some say he’s the future UFC Heavyweight Champion. Some even go as far as saying he’s the next pound for pound king. After watching him destroy Minotauro Nogueira, it would be tough to argue his potential.


4) Shane Carwin - There has been plenty of hype surrounding Shane Carwin. It could have all stemmed from the following: He hits like a Mack truck, has finished every opponent in the first round, and his size can be compared to that of an African gorilla. It looked like a street mugging when Carwin KO’d Frank Mir at UFC 111. When Carwin challenges Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, Big John McCarthey better be back in the fray. There is no way Yves Lavigne can control those beasts.


5) Frank Mir - After Frank Mir destroyed Cheick Kongo, Many thought he was on his way to a third meeting with arch nemesis, Brock Lesnar. Shane Carwin’s fists had other plans. It was a tough loss for a resurging Frank Mir. A bout with Gabriel Gonzaga or a rematch with Minotauro Nogueira seems likely for the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.


6) Junior Dos Santos - Remember the name Junior Dos Santos (JDS). You will be seeing a lot of it in the near future. Next to Cain Velasquez, JDS is one of the hottest prospects in the UFC Heavyweight division. He is one big fight away from sending his prospective rampage into full-throttle. After destroying Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC Live, he looks to challenge TUF Season 10 winner, Roy “Big Country” Nelson (UFC 117).


7) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Before UFC 92, Nogueira had never been finished in his illustrious career. KO losses to Mir at 92 and Velasquez at 110 has changed fan perception of Nogueira’s chin. Despite only being 33 years of age, Minotauro has seen plenty of wars. His body is starting to show tremendous wear and tear. Many wonder how much longer he can hold up in a division full of oversized beasts. A rematch with Frank Mir is on Minotauro’s wish list.


8) Alistair Overeem - “The Demolition Man” is dead. “Ubereem” has been born. Alistair Overeem has been on a path of destruction. Despite his recent success, many doubted him at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery against Brett Rogers. The critics were silenced as they watched Overeem toss Rogers around like a toddler being bullied on an elementary school playground. The winner of Fedor/Werdum will get the next crack at the Strikeforce Heavyweight champion.


9) Fabricio Werdum - Fabricio Werdum is one of the best BJJ artists in the world. He has placed in 4 ADCC tournaments. In 2007 and 2009, he took first place at 99kg+. He defeated Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at Strikeforce in November 2009. A bout with the #1 Heavyweight in the world is next for Werdum. He will face Fedor Emelianenko on June 26, 2010.


10) Antonio Silva - Sporting a chin larger than Jay Leno’s, it’s hard to see anyone knocking “Bigfoot” out. Eric Pele did it in 2006, but Silva has become a much more dangerous fighter. At Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery, Silva tamed the “Pitbull” in Andrei Arlovski by out-pointing him en route to a unanimous decision victory. A showdown with Brett Rogers seems to make the most sense.

Light Heavyweight (205 -pound limit)


1) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua - After major knee surgery, Shogun came back to the octagon and racked up wins over Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell. Those victories earned him a title shot against the enigmatic, Lyoto Machida. Lyoto took the victory in one of the most controversial UFC decisions ever. At UFC 113, Shogun was awarded an immediate rematch. The judges could have stayed at home. Shogun KO’d Machida in the first round to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. His first title defense will be against the winner of Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans.


2) Lyoto Machida - At UFC 113, The elusive reign of Lyoto Machida came to a violent end courtesy of a Shogun overhand right. Only a fool would write Machida off as a Light Heavyweight contender. Regardless of the controversy, he did beat Shogun in the first fight. Other than Shogun, Machida still remains a strong favorite against any fighter in the Light Heavyweight division. There are intriguing bouts to be had. A fight against the loser of Jackson/Evans or Forrest Griffin seems likely.


3) Rashad Evans - It was an uneventful victory, but Rashad Evans got the job done. After defeating Quinton Jackson, Evans was classy in victory and gave his opponent well-deserved respect. A shot to reclaim his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship came with the victory. It won’t be easy. Barring any unforeseen injuries, Rashad Evans will face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua before the year is out. 


4) Quinton "Rampage" Jackson - A tough loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 114 has caused Rampage to rethink his career choices. Obviously gassed, Rampage had no answer for Rashad’s clinch game. He will have to make a decision. Does he want to be an actor? Or…Does he want to be a fighter? It’s incredibly hard to do both when competing at a world class level. If Rampage chooses fighting, a rematch with Forrest Griffin would be the perfect fight. There is talk of Rampage possibly fighting Lyoto Machida.


5) Forrest Griffin - One of the most beloved fighters in MMA, Forrest Griffin saw his rocky year come to an end with a big victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106. Griffin’s presence was guaranteed to bolster the UFC 114 card. Set to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Griffin was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a shoulder injury.


6) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - At UFC 114, Nogueira survived a potential catastrophic upset courtesy of Jason Brilz. Brilz took the fight on 4 weeks notice. Many saw this fight as somewhat of a tune-up for Nogueira. Brilz didn’t get that memo. He hung tough with one of the best Light Heavyweights in the world. In the end, Nogueira took the split decision. Despite the victory, the fight was a setback for Nogueira’s championship aspirations. What’s next for Lil Nog? A bout with Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, or an immediate rematch with Jason Brilz seems appropriate.


7) Muhammed Lawal “King Mo” - Royalty has finally made its way into the top ten. Fans were reminded of King Mo’s world class wrestling abilities in his last bout with Gegard Mousasi. It wasn’t anywhere near the most exciting fight in the world, but King Mo was able to get a huge victory over a guy many deemed worthy of challenging Anderson Silva. A challenger is not yet known.


8) Gegard Mousasi - Never have I seen a bandwagon derail as fast as Gegard Mousasi’s. It’s quite a shame too. Mousasi is only 24 years old. It’s amazing how much success and experience he has amassed at his young age. In his loss to King Mo, he showed less than stellar takedown defense, cardio issues, and problems getting back to his feet. Considering Strikeforce’s weak Light Heavyweight division, he could be one fight away from a rematch for the title.


9) Thiago Silva - Thiago Silva is an unsavory 1-2 in his last 3 bouts. People are beginning to really question his chances against the upper-echelon Light Heavyweight division. His biggest victory to date is over Keith Jardine. He’ll look to get back on the winning track when he meets Tim Boetsch at UFC 117.


10) Jon Jones - Jon Jones has got to be the most talked about prospect in all of MMA. At 22 years of age, he has showcased a plethora of skills and endless potential. At UFC Live, he dominated Brandon Vera with takedowns and nasty ground and pound for a first round stoppage. It’s obvious the UFC is taking its time in building Jones up. Vladimir Matyushenko is the next roadblock in Jones’s path to superstardom.

MiddleWeight (185 -pound limit)


1) Anderson Silva - After an awkward bout with Demian Maia, some fans are calling for Anderson Silva’s head on a platter. In between turning Maia’s face into hash, Silva mocked him with octagon dancing and various other awkward movements. Silva went on record to say he didn’t mean to mock Maia and that he respects him as a fighter. Despite being the newly crowned villain, Anderson Silva remains one of the greatest fighters this sport has ever seen. You may want his head, but good luck finding someone to fetch it. At UFC 117, Chael Sonnen will take his chances.


2) Chael Sonnen - At UFC 109, Chael Sonnen shocked the world by dominating Nate Marquardt. Many didn’t give him a chance (I’m guilty as well). He proved everyone wrong by repeatedly taking Marquardt down and grinding out a unanimous decision. A Middleweight Title shot against Anderson Silva is next for Sonnen. With Sonnen’s creative verbal assaults and Silva’s last performance, there won’t be any problems selling this fight.


3) Jake Shields - After upsetting Dan Henderson, Jake Shields has become the hottest free agent on the MMA market. Shields is always clamoring for tougher fights. The UFC could present him with tons of intriguing match-ups. Perhaps he goes after the Middleweight title and Anderson Silva? Or…He could drop to his natural weight of 170lbs and make a run at Georges St. Pierre.


4) Nate Marquardt - Nate Marquardt suffered a major setback with his loss to Chael Sonnen. Despite being credited as the superior grappler, Marquardt had no answers for Sonnen’s takedowns and top control. He will have a chance to get back to his winning ways at UFC 118 when he takes on BJJ expert, Rousimar Palhares.


5) Dan Henderson - For the first time in his career, Dan Henderson looked old in his fight against Jake Shields at Strikeforce: Nashville. He was gassed and taken down repeatedly. It was a heartbreaking performance. Dan Henderson, a former Olympic wrestler, was completely dominated in the wrestling department. With Jake Shields most likely UFC bound, a Strikeforce Middleweight tourney could ensue to determine a new champion. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza or Jason “Mayhem” Miller could make for great opponents.


6) Demian Maia - The only thing uglier than Maia’s smashed up dome at UFC 112 was Anderson Silva’s antics…so some say. Maia was outclassed in the bout that highlighted his one-dimensional grappling style. Despite being one of the best BJJ practitioners in MMA, Demian Maia’s wrestling is really lacking. Imagine Maia’s BJJ skills coupled with a fantastic wrestler. Scary….Either a tune-up bout or a fight with Yushin Okami seems like the next logical outing.


7) Vitor Belfort - Vitor Belfort made a huge statement with his first round KO victory over former UFC Middleweight Champion, Rich Franklin (UFC 103). With Anderson Silva terrorizing the division, many hoped for a solid striker to emerge and go toe to toe with him. The Belfort/Silva bout seemed like a superfight to many MMA fans. The bout was scheduled and cancelled 3 times due to injuries on both sides. Will the UFC risk Belfort’s contendership? Or…Will he wait around for the winner of Sonnen/Silva? A warm-up bout could suffice.


8) Yoshihiro Akiyama - It’s been about a year since “Sexyama’s” fight of the night performance against Alan Belcher. Akiyama took the split decision at the UFC’s biggest event of 2009. Dana White has stated that Akiyama wants to fight Wanderlei Silva. He has wanted that fight so bad that he has turned down every other opponent. At UFC 116, he’ll finally get his wish.


9) Yushin Okami - Despite being a top ten Middleweight, Yushin Okami isn’t a known name to casual fans. His case is even more rare because he’s in the UFC. The UFC rarely puts him on the main card or show his undercard bouts. In his last bout, Okami worked Lucio Linhares on the feet to get the 2nd round doctor stoppage. Okami is a great Middleweight who deserves another crack at a top 10 contender. Demian Maia, Nate Marquardt, or perhaps Jake Shields (should he come to the UFC) could prove as suitable opponents.


10) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza - Jacare has shown himself to be a dangerous opponent for any fighter at Middleweight. At Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery, he dominated Joey Villasenor with superior wrestling. Villasenor is known to have solid wrestling abilities. Coupling explosive takedowns with extraordinary BJJ skills, Jacare isn’t your average one-dimensional grappler. A third bout with Jason “Mayhem” Miller or a fight with Dan Henderson could be next.

WelterWeight (170 -pound limit)


1) Georges St. Pierre - As GSP continues to terrorize the UFC Welterweight division, he cements a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. We last saw him outclass Dan Hardy by implementing a technical top game and securing a unanimous decision victory. Despite criticism, GSP looked otherworldly in comparison to Hardy. A coaching position on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter and a showdown with Josh Koscheck looks to lie on the horizon for the Canadian phenom.


2) Jon Fitch - Jon Fitch is 12-1 in the UFC. Guess who that one loss came to. Fitch has been in Georges St. Pierre’s shadow for awhile now at #2 in the rankings. After destroying Ben Saunders at UFC 111, he is determined to get a rematch with St. Pierre. To get that fight, he will have to go through Thiago Alves in a rematch from their 2006 bout at UFC 117.


3) Thiago Alves - Thiago Alves is arguably the best striker in the Welterweight division. Since his loss to Jon Fitch, his takedown defense has improved drastically. Unfortunately, not drastic enough to stop the best takedown artist in the sport in Georges St. Pierre. Due to a brain irregularity, Alves has been away from the octagon for nearly a year. A simple surgery saved his career and kept him on track to compete in 2010. At UFC 117, Alves looks to avenge his loss to Jon Fitch in what is sure to be one of the biggest fights this year.


4) Josh Koscheck - MMA’s favorite blonde villain was at it again after his dominate victory over Paul Daley at UFC 113. He mocked the Canadian crowd and took a shot at the hometown hero, Georges St. Pierre. With his win over Daley, Josh Koscheck earned a coaching spot opposite of St. Pierre on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. The two will do battle later this year.


5) Paul Daley - How a fighter could go from a #1 contender’s bout to being immediately cut from the UFC is beyond me. Despite dropping a decision to Josh Koscheck, Paul Daley remained very much in the mix at 170lbs. Instead of taking his loss like a man, he chose to clock Koscheck upside his blonde-headed noggin after the final bell. Dana White banished Daley from the UFC immediately after. Will Daley be eventually awarded a second chance?


6) Martin Kampmann - At UFC 115, Kampmann took the biggest victory in his MMA career over a top five Welterweight in Paulo Thiago. Kampmann showed technical boxing skills and an improved ground game. With Georges St. Pierre on a rampage, fresh faces are needed to contend for his Welterweight throne. Kampmann could be one fight away from getting the opportunity of a lifetime.


7) Paulo Thiago - Thiago’s bad defensive style finally caught up with him at UFC 115. He was outclassed by Martin Kampmann all three rounds for a lopsided unanimous decision loss. Despite the loss, Thiago remains a serious threat to any Welterweight out there. He has to get back to the gym and work on his fundamentals (wrestling, boxing, and striking defense).


8) Matt Hughes - Hughes’s sloppy slugfest with Renzo Gracie stole 15 minutes from my life that I will never get back. No one can be sure how much Hughes has left in the tank. We'll get our answer at UFC 117. Hughes will take on Renzo Gracie student, Ricardo Almeida.  


9) Dan Hardy - It is back to reality for Dan Hardy now that his short time of fame is up. He needs to prove that he’s a serious contender before getting another crack at the UFC Welterweight title. A fight against the loser of Alves/Fitch would be perfect for Hardy. If the wait is too long, a rematch with Marcus Davis or a bout with Matt Serra could draw interest.


10) Nick Diaz - The search for competition continues for the Cesar Gracie student. At Dream 14, Nick Diaz made quick work of Japanese MMA legend, Hayato Sakurai. With all indications pointing to Jake Shields signing with the UFC, Diaz could opt to jump to Middleweight. He’ll probably stick around Welterweight to see if K.J. Noons is able to defeat Conor Heun at Strikeforce on June 16. Noons was the last man to beat Diaz. Diaz has been seeking a rematch ever since. 
 

LightWeight (155-pound limit)


1) Frankie Edgar - At UFC 112, Frankie Edgar pulled off a huge upset over former Lightweight champion, B.J. Penn. An aggressive Edgar pushed the pace all 5 rounds to gain the unanimous decision. The win didn’t come without controversy. Many people scored the bout for B.J. Penn. It was controversial enough that Dana White gave the go ahead for an immediate rematch. Good luck Frankie….


2) B.J. Penn - Before UFC 112, people were talking about B.J. moving up to WW to challenge the likes of Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, and GSP. “The Prodigy” met a huge road block in Frankie Edgar. B.J. looks to rebound as he has been granted an immediate rematch against Edgar for the UFC Lightweight title. The fight is rumored to take place at UFC 118 (August 28) in Boston.


3) Kenny Florian - Twice Kenny Florian has challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship, and twice Kenny Florian has failed. Despite tough losses, Florian remains one of the best Lightweights in the world. He just hasn’t quite figured out that championship fighting formula. Gray Maynard is next on Florian’s “to-do” list at UFC 118.


4) Gilbert Melendez - “El Nino” brought the thunder at his Strikeforce: Nashville bout with Shinya Aoki. He retained his Strikeforce Lightweight title and escaped with all his limbs intact. Melendez showed good boxing and poise when trapped in one of the most dangerous guards in MMA. Many would love to see Melendez fight in the UFC. It doesn’t look to be happening anytime soon.


5) Shinya Aoki - Japan put a lot of hope and faith in Aoki leading up to his American debut against Gilbert Melendez. Aoki was forcibly picked apart on the feet and avoided on the ground. It was an eye-opener to the importance of being a well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist. The question remains if Aoki will return back to Japan or try his luck again on American soil.


6) Eddie Alvarez - As the Bellator Lightweight Champion, casual fans don’t know much about Eddie Alvarez. It points to either the infancy of the sport or the UFC’s dominance as to how world class fighters like Alvarez go unnoticed. At Bellator 17, Alvarez defeated a UFC vet in Josh “The Dentist” Neer. A championship fight against the winner of Pat Curran/Toby Imada seems be the next likely scenario.


7) Tatsuya Kawajiri - Along with Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri is one of Dream’s most prized lightweights. Many wonder if he’ll ever mimic his peers and test his luck in America. I wouldn’t set sail just yet. Dream fans have been dreaming about a possible fight between Kawajiri and Aoki for a awhile now. If Aoki returns, could this be next on Kawajiri’s agenda?


8) Gray Maynard - It’s hard not to feel sorry for Gray Maynard. The guy is undefeated in his MMA career. He has won 7 straight in the UFC. One of those victories was a unanimous decision over current UFC Lightweight Champion, Frankie Edgar. With B.J. getting an immediate rematch, it looks like Maynard has been skipped over again. A victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 118 should guarantee him the ever elusive shot at UFC gold.


9) Sean Sherk - Sean Sherk has indeed fallen on tough times as of late. After losing the Lightweight title to B.J. Penn, he was picked apart by Frankie Edgar. The Edgar fight was about a year ago. Sherk has since pulled out of 3 fights due to injury. With all of the pullouts and steroid accusations, one has to question Sherk’s future in the UFC.


10) Ben Henderson - Ben Henderson has got to be one of the world’s most underappreciated Lightweights. For the record, he’s been in my top 10 since securing WEC gold. Henderson is a slick grappler with decent hands to follow. At WEC 48, the world saw his true potential realized. Henderson submitted Donald Cerrone in the first round via guillotine choke. With the UFC mulling over a Lightweight merger, the future is a bit unclear for Henderson. One thing is for sure. “Smooth” is moving on to bigger and better things.

FeatherWeight (145 -pound limit)


1) Jose Aldo - The meteoric rise of this MMA wrecking ball has taken the fight world by storm. Aldo is making world class Featherweights look like amateur sparring partners at a local dojo. If you don’t believe me, just ask Urijah Faber. He’s probably still limping from his April 24th bout with Aldo.


2) Manny Gamburyan - Manny Gamburyan is a force at his natural weight. Despite coming in a huge underdog, Gamburyan completely torched Mike Brown at WEC 48. It was the 2nd KO loss of Brown’s career. Gamburyan has put himself in position to challenge for the WEC Featherweight Championship. Bring on Jose Aldo!!! Yeah, like that’s ever a good thing.


3) Mike Thomas Brown - The KO loss to Manny Gamburyan was a pretty steep setback for Mike Brown. He is forced to go back to the drawing board and correct his errors. A couple of victories over quality opponents should put him back in the hunt.


4) Urijah Faber - Urijah Faber has a star status like no other in the WEC. Despite being 2-3 in his last 5 bouts, Faber remains a tremendous draw. He is still a world class fighter who puts on great performances. After being dominated by Jose Aldo at WEC 48, Faber’s future remains a mystery. He could drop down to Bantamweight. With Joseph Benavidez (Faber’s training partner) contending, I’m not sure how likely that is. Faber will probably stay at Featherweight and try to earn a rematch against Aldo.


5) Bibiano Fernandez - Fernandez successfully defended his Dream Featherweight Championship at Dream13 against Joachim Hansen. It was the most notable victory of his career. It won’t be long before the masses are crying out for his WEC acquisition.


6) Raphael Assuncao - Assuncao was game in his submission loss to Urijah Faber at WEC 46. Seeing as the bout had title implications, it was to be a tough loss. Assuncao will try to get back on track when he meets Diego Nunes at WEC 49.


7) Michihiro Omigawa - Omigawa is coming off a tough unanimous decision victory over Micah Miller. If he stays in Japan, a rematch with Masanori Kanehara or Hatsu Hioki is possible. If not, it’s about time Omigawa comes to the WEC.


8) Hatsu Hioki - At "The Way of Shooto 3", Hioki endured a three round war with Shooto Lightweight Champion, Takeshi Inoue. Hioki took the split decision and became the new Shooto Lightweight Champion. Could a rematch with Michihiro Omigawa be around the corner


9) Masanori Kanehara - Fresh off his upset victory over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, Kanehara will finally get the opportunity to defend his Sengoku title. He will defend against Marlon Sandro at Sengoku 13.


10) Josh Grispi - At WEC 41, Grispi joined the long line of Featherweights cashing in on a victory over Jens Pulver. An ankle injury has kept him sidelined for about a year now. He’ll be returning at WEC 49 to take on L.C. Davis.

BantamWeight (135 -pound limit)


1) Dominick Cruz - Other than a 2007 hiccup to Urijah Faber, Dominick Cruz has been on a tear throughout his entire MMA career. At WEC 47, he picked Brian Bowles apart to become the new WEC Bantamweight Champion. Cruz shows good hands, great cardio, and an aggressive style. Could he be the one to provide the next form of stability in the Bantamweight division? A rematch with Joseph Benavidez may give us a glimpse of an answer.


2) Brian Bowles - Brian Bowles’s reign as champion seemed like a weekend vacation. After stopping the “then” seemingly unstoppable Miguel Torres, He went on to get outclassed by Dominick Cruz in his first title defense. Bowles apparently broke his hand early in the fight. He couldn’t continue, and the bout was stopped in the 2nd round. Bowles will have to prove that he’s more than just another flash in the pan. He could be out awhile with the hand injury.


3) Joseph Benavidez - People have overlooked Joseph Benavidez for awhile in the Bantamweight division. He has consistently put on great fights and defeated tough opponents. His biggest victory came over Miguel Torres at WEC 47. Benavidez battered the former champion and locked in a guillotine choke to cement his status as the #1 contender for the WEC Bantamweight Championship.


4) Miguel Torres - The past few months have been very disappointing for Miguel Torres. Before losing back to back bouts, he was considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. It goes to show how fast a fighter’s stock can change in this sport. Despite dropping consecutive losses, Miguel Torres remains one of the fiercest Bantamweights in the world. A rematch with Brian Bowles or a catch weight bout with Urijah Faber could be interesting.


5) Scott Jorgensen - While the Bantamweight division has been enthralled with the top four, Scott Jorgensen has been steadily making a case for himself. Currently on a 4 fight win streak, Jorgensen has possibly positioned himself as the next challenger for the WEC Bantamweight title. A rematch with Damacio Page could be in the works to solidify the next #1 contender.


6) Damacio Page - The injury plagued Damacio Page has been forced to withdraw from consecutive scheduled bouts. As the Bantamweight division heats up, Page’s career hangs in limbo. If medically cleared, a rematch with Scott Jorgensen seems like a tough but necessary return bout.


7) Takeya Mizugaki - Mizugaki’s path in the WEC has been a tedious one. Currently 2-2 (WEC), all of his WEC bouts have ended in decision. At WEC 48, Mizugaki defeated fellow top ten Bantamweight, Rani Yahya.


8) Rani Yahya - After losing a unanimous decision to Takeya Mizugaki, Rani Yahya finds himself at the bottom of the top WEC Bantamweight herd scraping for relevancy. With the other 7 moving onto bigger and better things, Yahya finds himself in a rebuilding phase. He desperately needs a win or two before he even thinks about climbing the Bantamweight hierarchy again.


9) Shuichiro Katsumura - Katsumura will be fighting off the critics when he defends his Shooto Featherweight (132 lbs in Japan) title for the first time. It was quite a shocker when he defeated Masakatsu Ueda for the coveted championship. Has Katsumura found his stride, or did lightning strike at “The Way of Shooto 2”?


10) Masakatsu Ueda - After losing the Shooto Featherweight Championship, Ueda rebounded at The Way of Shooto 3 by taking a unanimous decision over Akitoshi Tamura. Ueda reigned as a champion for nearly 2 years in the Shooto Featherweight division. One solid victory may have been enough to get him back into title contention.