UFC 126 Results: Top 10 Middleweights in the UFC
UFC 126 is in the history books, and what an event it was. It may not have been the greatest event from top to bottom, but it did feature one of the greatest knockouts in recent memory and a star making performance.
With that in mind, it's time to look at the rankings in the middleweight division. Obviously everyone knows who the top dog in the weight class is, but what about the rest of the top 10?
With Belfort's loss, he will move down the rankings, but how far did he fall?
Here is a look at the top 10 middleweight fighters in UFC after UFC 126.
10. Alan Belcher
1 of 10
Record: 16-6
After a health scare, Belcher has resumed training for his next fight, whenever that might be. His last fight against Patrick Cote at UFC 113 ended with an impressive submission victory for the young man.
He should be back in the octagon sometime in the near future.
9. Wanderlei Silva
2 of 10
Record: 33-10-1
"The Axe Murderer" hasn't fought in a year due to knee surgery last July. His last fight was his middleweight debut, a victory over Michael Bisping at UFC 110.
Dana White says that Silva's return fight will be against the newest star of the middleweight division, Brian Stann, at UFC 130 in May.
8. Michael Bisping
3 of 10
Record: 20-3
Even though Bisping lost to Wanderlei Silva, he gets the nod for the eighth spot on the list because he has two solid victories under his belt since that loss at UFC 110.
Next up for Bisping will be Jorge Rivera at the end of the month at UFC 127.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. Vitor Belfort
4 of 10
Record: 19-9
Another big fight, another disappointing performance from Vitor Belfort. He looked intimidated by the stage that he was on, and he got knocked out with a kick to the face.
It's difficult right now to imagine where he goes from here.
6. Brian Stann
5 of 10
Record: 10-3
Perhaps this is a bit generous since Stann is still in the embryonic stages of his career, but he looks to be one of the fastest rising stars in UFC. He went from prospect to sensation with his knockout of Chris Leben at UFC 125.
Next up is a big fight with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 130.
5. Nate Marquardt
6 of 10
Record: 30-10
Nate Marquardt has a ton of talent, but he has never lived up to expectations. His most recent disappointment was a unanimous decision loss to Yushin Okami at UFC 122.
He will have a chance to turn things around at UFC 128 with a fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama.
4. Chael Sonnen
7 of 10
Record: 25-11-1
You could make an argument for Sonnen as the second best middleweight fighter. However, given his positive steroid test, suspension from competing and all his personal problems, he gets dropped down a couple of pegs.
If, and when, he comes back, he can assert himself into championship contention once again.
3. Demian Maia
8 of 10
Record: 14-2
Maia responded from that embarrassing and humiliating loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 112 with two decision victories over Mario Miranda and Kendall Grove. He put an emphasis on his stand up fighting in the Grove fight and looked decent at times.
2. Yushin Okami
9 of 10
Record: 26-5
Yushin Okami just can't seem to catch a break. He won a No. 1 contender fight with Nate Marquardt at UFC 122, but Vitor Belfort got a title shot at UFC 126. Now if Georges St-Pierre wins at UFC 129, all signs point to the superfight between GSP and Silva. All that leaves Okami in a lurch because he still earned the right to fight for the Middleweight Championship.
1. Anderson Silva
10 of 10
Record: 28-4
What's left to be said of The Spider that hasn't already been said before? He was taunting Vitor Belfort for two minutes before he tried a face kick that he learned from Steven Seagal. The kick landed perfectly, and Silva's UFC winning streak reached 13.
Up next is a potential superfight with Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
