MMA: The Top 10 Fighters of 2010

OK, so I know there are still two major MMA events left in the year, but I couldn't help myself. I get pretty excited with this end of the year stuff.

Let's just say this is the list of what has happened so far, and it has a good chance of remaining the same come the new year.

When judging the fighter of the year, two things seem most important to the criteria.

One being accomplishment, of course. Nothing can be more important than actually getting in the cage and winning a major fight.

The second being how much that fighter's stock has risen.

For example, you will notice that Anderson Silva is not included on this list. Yes, he had two title defenses. But, one was a snoozer against an over-matched opponent. And in the other, he took a beating for over four rounds before latching on a triangle choke.

I give him all the credit for that amazing comeback win and his prior defense, but his stock surely didn't rise as a result of either. He falls just short of the top ten.

Georges St. Pierre is also not included on the list because at this point he has only won a single decision that didn't exactly garner him any new esteem. If he finished Koscheck impressively on Saturday, he will likely move into the top ten.

The rest of the criteria will explain itself, so without further a due, here is the top ten fighters of 2010.

Side note: I had a really good intro to this article that got lost upon pressing the publish button. Just believe me that it was really good.

Honorable Mention: Chris Leben

After being choked completely unconscious in his lone fight of 2009, Chris Leben looked on the brink of unemployment going into 2010. But, through the course of the year has turned himself into an actual middleweight contender and a fighter with maybe the best job security in the UFC.

Leben started the year with a unanimous decision over Jay Silva on the untelevised portion of a Fight Night card. Sure, Silva went on to get knocked out in six seconds by Hector Lombard in his next fight, but a win is a win and it got Leben on track.

Leben followed that performance with a second-round TKO over fringe contender Aaron Simpson at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale. Leben was the underdog in that bout, but his punching power, as always, made the difference.

After escaping that bout basically unscathed, Leben was approached by the UFC, asking if he could fill in for an injured Wanderlei Silva in a fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama just two weeks after his win over Simpson.

Leben quickly accepted the fight on short notice and now found himself in the co-main event of one of the biggest pay-per-view shows of the year at UFC 116.

After an absolute war that lead into the third and final round, Leben slapped on a triangle choke, forcing Akiyama to submit in one of the years most entertaining bouts.

It was two upset wins within two weeks of each other, and Leben was back in the conversation of middleweight contenders.

Now, Chris Leben will have a chance to continue that momentum into next year when he takes on Brian Stann on January 1 at UFC 125.

10. Yushin Okami

Say what you want about Yushin Okami's fighting style, but the guy is 10-2 in his UFC career and is now the top contender to challenge for the middleweight championship. And this after going into the year coming off of a dominant loss at the hands of Chael Sonnen.

Okami got back in the win column with an impressive TKO stoppage over unheralded Lucio Linhares on the unseen portion of UFC Fight Night: Florian Vs. Gomi. It was Okami's first stoppage since his knockout of Evan Tanner, two years prior.

His next bout was against Mark Munoz in the co-main event of UFC on Versus 2. Okami shut down Munoz for all three rounds and displayed some decent boxing and much improved takedown defense. Okami won via split decision, but most would agree it should have been a clear unanimous decision.

The win over Munoz set Okami up for a title eliminator against Vitor Belfort to determine who would be the next challenger for the middleweight title. However, due to Chael Sonnen's suspension for high testosterone levels, the middleweight matchups were shuffled around and Okami was instead matched with Nate Marquardt, with the winner still in line for a title shot.

In the main event of UFC 122, Okami outpointed Marquardt over a rather ho-hum three rounds, and secured his spot as the top contender at 185 pounds. Though the fight lacked many exciting moments, or any, Marquardt is one of the most talented middleweights in the world and a win over him should never be under-appreciated.

Okami will challenge the winner of Anderson Silva's defense against Vitor Belfort sometime next year.

9. Carlos Condit

In both of Carlos Condit's bouts this year, he was the underdog. And in both, he came out on the winning side a brutal and eye-catching stoppage.

Not to say he was counted out by anyone going into either fight—not by a long-shot—but he was a slight dog according to the betting odds of each.

In his first UFC appearance of 2010, Condit met rising talent Rory MacDonald at UFC 115. After two exciting back and forth rounds, many had MacDonald ahead on the scorecards going into the final frame. But Condit took fate into his own hands and managed to get MacDonald down and beat his face into a swollen and bloody mess, forcing the ref to stop the fight with just seconds remaining on the clock.

Condit was then matched up with former title challenger Dan Hardy at UFC 120 in the co-main event. Many analysts suggested that Condit would have to take the fight to the ground if he was to have the advantage, and that standing up with Hardy would be a foolish idea.

Condit stared that notion down and rocked Hardy off his feet with a devastating left hook, before quickly finishing him on the ground.

It was clearly the most impressive performance of Condit's career and he will now further prove his stature in the division against Chris Lytle next year at UFC 127.

8. Chris Lytle

Perennial fight of the night winner Chris Lytle had arguably the best year of his long career in 2010, winning three times and putting himself in the discussion of future contenders for the welterweight title.

Lytle started the year against dangerous brawler Brian Foster at UFC 110. After the two quickly traded punches to start the round, both found themselves on the ground with Lytle scrambling for a kneebar and forcing Foster to tap less than two minutes into the fight.

Lytle followed that up with a tremendous submission over Matt Brown at UFC 116. After surviving a very tight guillotine int he first round, Lytle secured an inverted triangle on top of Brown, then locking in a fight ending straight armbar. Many felt this should have won Submission of the Night, but the bonus was instead given to Brock Lesnar's arm-triangle submission over Shane Carwin.

To finish the year, Lytle exacted revenge on former foe Matt Serra via a brutal unanimous decision. Both fighters threw bombs for the duration of the bout, but frankly, that is a style more suited for Lytle.

Lytle now has a February date with Carlos Condit. With a win, he should be near a top contender matchup.

7. Junior Dos Santos

Junior Dos Santos blazed through the first half of the year by adding two more first-round knockouts to his resume over veteran Gilbert Yvel and former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga. Not only were they spectacular wins, he made them both look like walks in the park.

His continued winning streak set Dos Santos up for a title eliminator match with TUF winner Roy Nelson at UFC 117.

After being badly rocked by Dos Santos in the first round, the rotund Nelson proved his heart and survived 15 minutes of punishment from the Brazilian.

Though some criticized Dos Santos for not being able to put away Nelson, I was more convinced of his worth after seeing him go the distance for the first time in his career—he has only been out of the first round twice. Certainly, it was a much needed experience before tackling the champion.

Dos Santos will get that shot at the title in 2011 against Cain Velasquez. Talk about a fight worth the price tag.

6. George Sotiropoulos

Nobody had a breakout year in 2010 as much as Australia's George Sotiropoulos. Coming into the year with a UFC record of 4-0, Sotiropoulos was ready to move up to the next level, and that's exactly what he did.

At UFC 110 in the UFC's first trip to Australia, Sotiropoulos faced his toughest opponent yet in former title challenger Joe Stevenson, winning every round en route to a unanimous decision. It was a tremendous and energetic display, putting Sotiropoulos on the lightweight map.

Sotiropoulos next faced Kurt Pellegrino, who was on his own impressive UFC win streak, but once again won every round for another unanimous decision. And then followed that up with a second-round submission over talented lightweight Joe Lauzon at UFC 123.

While many feel that Sotiropoulos should be next in line for a shot at the UFC lightweight title, he will have to wait in line a little longer and is already scheduled to face fringe contender Dennis Siver at UFC 127. If he keeps winning, a title shot is only a matter of time.

5. Nick Diaz

Love Nick Diaz or hate him, you can't take away the fact that the man has only lost once in his last 14 fights— that being a semi-bogus cut stoppage that he has now avenged—and is a veteran of the sport at only 27-years-old.

To start 2010, Strikeforce gave Diaz the opportunity to fight for their vacant welterweight title against Dream welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis. After going toe-to-toe for the first four minutes of the fight, Diaz showed off his superior boxing ability and knocked Zaromskis out with a right hook in the first round.

Following Diaz's venture to Japan to submit the great Hayato Sakurai at Dream 14, Strikeforce named K.J. Noons—the last man to beat Diaz—as the first challenger for Diaz's title.

The two waged a gallant and vicious war for five rounds in San Jose, with Diaz winning a clear unanimous decision. Even though Noons is primarily known as a gifted boxer, Diaz out-boxed Noons, beating him at his own game.

Diaz is now part of a select group of fighters that have fought a five round war.

4. Dominick Cruz

Dominick Cruz is the one person on this list that still has a fight left this year, and with a loss it could certainly knock him off altogether.

But, if we were to judge him solely on his accomplishments thus far in 2010, it's already been quite a run.

In his first fight of the year, Cruz was given a shot at the WEC bantamweight title against new champion Brian Bowles. After commanding the first two rounds, Cruz forced Bowles to retire on his stool, making him the new champion.

His first defense would be no easy task. The WEC appointed Joseph Benavidez, who was coming off of a second-round submission over former kingpin Miguel Torres, as the top contender for his belt.

The two had already fought once exactly a year before, fighting an entertaining three round battle that went to Cruz. This time there would be five rounds to get the job done, and both fighters used all the time available.

After a five-round back and forth scrap that saw both fighters take some heavy shots, Cruz further cemented his place among the bantamweights by beating one of the best out there by a split-decision that almost everyone thought should have been unanimous.

Next for Cruz, he will take on Scott Jorgenson in the final WEC show before the promotion is absorbed by the UFC. The bout will be for the newly created UFC bantamweight title. I Cruz can win there, he will have won the WEC title and the new UFC title in the same year.

Look for history to be made on December 16.

3. Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez may not have logged in a tone of octagon time, but what he did in those few minutes sure made a lot of noise in the MMA.

After starting the year with an easier than expected knockout of former great Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110, Cain was promised a title shot, but would have to wait til later in the year. Some worried about such a long period of inactivity for the Mexican-American talent, but he never let it bother him.

After Brock Lesnar defended his title against Shane Carwin, Cain was named as the next opponent for the former professional wrestler. The two met in one of the most anticipated events of the year at UFC 121.

In the first round, Lesnar came out strong with a few landed punches and even a takedown. But Velasquez was not going to be held down and immediately got back to his feet. From then on, Velasquez had his way with the champ, rocking him with punches and a massive knee, while opening a large gash across his cheek.

The bout was stopped just over four minutes into the first round and Velasquez was now the champion. It was a star making performance and proved Velasquez to be the top dog at heavyweight.

Next for Cain will likely be an absolute barn-burner as he faces heavy handed striker Junior Dos Santos in 2011.

2. Jose Aldo

Jose Aldo went into 2010 with about as much hype as any fighter in the sport. And he didn't disappoint.

First up would be a huge fight against the former featherweight kingpin Uriah Faber. It would be the WEC's first pay-per-view show—and only—and fans were torn on who would come out on top.

But, over the course of five rounds, Aldo punished Faber with brutal leg kicks that made it hard for the former champ to even remain on his feet. Faber gained some respect for finishing the fight, but Aldo's star had risen. It was a dominant and severe display.

For his next defense, the WEC gave recent Mike Brown conqueror Many Gamburyan a shot at Aldo.

Not many gave Manny a chance in the fight, but he did look good in the first round, landing multiple overhand punches. But, in the second round, Aldo took it up a notch and began connecting with some powerful uppercuts that eventually dropped Gamburyan. Aldo finished with a ferocious attack on the ground that left his man unconscious.

Aldo was scheduled to fight Josh Grispi at UFC 125, but recently pulled out of the fight with a neck injury. Whenever that fight does happen, it will be a war.

1. Frankie Edgar

What more can you say about Frankie Edgar's 2010?

He was the little lightweight that could. He upset all the naysayers.

In April, Edgar met UFC lightweight champion and pound-for-pound great B.J. Penn. Many viewed the fight as a formality, thinking it would be easy work for Penn before he moved on to a bigger fight. But, Edgar is no opponent.

The two waged a five-round striking match that many felt could have gone to Penn, but the fact that he fought such a close fight with the great lightweight had many shocked. Those people were even more surprised when the decision was unanimously awarded to Edgar.

It was only the second time Penn had ever lost at lightweight.

The rematch was scheduled immediately for UFC 118 in August. It would take place at the UFC's first event held in Boston.

Once again, many expected Penn to walk right through Edgar and redeem his close loss. After all, this is B.J Penn we're talking about here!

What happened next was one of the most shocking sights of the year for me.

From the start of the bell, Edgar dominated every minute of the fight, taking Penn down repeatedly in the first round and out-boxing him throughout the five rounds. Never had I seen Penn look so discouraged and beat.

It was a historical performance on the part of Edgar and earned him the bonafide status of the best lightweight in the world.

But, the new champ will get no rest as he defends his title against the one man to beat him in Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on January 1.