UFC 128: Mike Pyle and 25 Great Fighters Not in the Top 10 of Their Division
Mike Pyle is just a name among many. Plenty of high-level fighters currently find themselves outside of their division's top 10 rankings.
At times, a top 10 list doesn't do the sport justice. MMA is filled with a multitude of talent waiting on an opportunity to break into the spotlight.
Some of these names were once considered the best in the world, but as we all know, nothing lasts forever. These individuals may have fallen down the ranks over the years, but they are still high-level fighters in their respective divisions.
The other names on this list have yet to reach the apex of their careers.
Today, we honor the names that are often forgotten. These are 25 great fighters that aren't in the top 10 of their division.
**In No Particular Order**
1 of 26
This list is in no particular order.
Mike Pyle
2 of 26
Casual fans may not recognize him, but long-time fans know Mike Pyle to be a seasoned MMA vet. The big win has eluded him throughout his career, but he got back on the right track with a win over John Hathaway at UFC 120.
Randy Couture
3 of 26
It's hard not to be envious of Randy Couture. At 47 years of age, the guy is in phenomenal shape and competing against the best light heavyweights in the world.
Josh Barnett
4 of 26
When you think of Josh Barnett, it's hard to block out the fact that he's the only fighter in MMA history to test positive for steroids three times.
Hopefully, those things are behind him. Barnett remains one of the best heavyweights in the world, and he'll have the chance to prove it in Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Gegard Mousasi
5 of 26
Before dropping a unanimous decision to Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, fans were talking about Gegard Mousasi being the man to dethrone Anderson Silva. He's only 25 years old, and he's already compiled a record of 30-3. The future is bright for Mousasi.
Matt Hamill
6 of 26
As the light heavyweight division heats up, Matt Hamill is flying under the radar and amassing quite a streak. Minus the bout with Jon Jones, he has won five straight, including victories over Keith Jardine, Mark Munoz and former mentor Tito Ortiz.
Thiago Silva
7 of 26
American Top Team Muay Thai and BJJ specialist Thiago Silva was well on his way to bouncing back from a loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 125 against Brandon Vera, but a possibly failed drug test could turn his unanimous decision win into a no contest.
Alan Belcher
8 of 26
Alan Belcher hasn't shied away from calling out UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. As fresh middleweight challengers continue to dwindle, Belcher could be a fight or two away from his dream becoming a reality.
Hector Lombard
9 of 26
Currently riding a 20-fight win streak, Hector Lombard is one of the most imposing fighters in the middleweight division. He doesn't consistently compete against high-level competition, but fans are surely enamored by his aggressive fighting style.
Ben Askren
10 of 26
Two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion Ben Askren has made a smooth transition into the world of MMA. After his decision win over Lyman Good at Bellator 33, he now boasts a welterweight title to go along with his spotless record.
Dennis Siver
11 of 26
People weren't giving Dennis Siver much of a chance in his UFC 127 bout with George Sotiropoulos. To the surprise of fans, Siver shut down Sotiropoulos' ground game and out-pointed him on the feet to earn the unanimous decision.
Wanderlei Silva
12 of 26
Despite winning only one fight in the middleweight division, MMA legend and former Pride Champion Wanderlei Silva is actually ranked on some lists. Many believe his win over Michael Bisping at UFC 110 was more than enough to prove his placement.
Phil Davis
13 of 26
Phil Davis has taken the Jon Jones route to MMA stardom. The UFC has done a great job of getting him experience and building his credibility as a future star in the light heavyweight division.
Rich Franklin
14 of 26
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin is 4-4 in his last eight bouts, but his level of competition is through the roof. In six of those bouts, he competed against former world champions.
Sergei Kharitonov
15 of 26
Currently on a two-fight win streak, Sergei Kharitonov could be the dark horse of Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament. It didn't take him long to knock off former UFC Champion Andrei Arlovski in the quarterfinals.
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
16 of 26
Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante learned that age really was just a number after losing his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title to Dan Henderson. With Anderson Silva and the Nogueira brothers in his corner, he should bounce back stronger from this minor hiccup.
Clay Guida
17 of 26
Fan-favorite and wild-man Clay Guida lives on the bubble of the top 10 lightweight rankings. He seems to always come up short in big fights, but his luck could be turning around.
At UFC 125, Guida submitted Takanori Gomi to earn his third consecutive victory. A win over Anthony Pettis in June could put "The Carpenter" closer than he's ever been to a UFC title shot.
Melvin Guillard
18 of 26
Since joining Greg Jackson's gym, fans have seen a major improvement in Melvin Guillard. With four straight wins under his belt, he is quickly becoming the top-tier fighter most knew he could be.
Matt Hughes
19 of 26
Before getting blasted into another universe by B.J. Penn, Hughes was coming off convincing wins over Matt Serra, Ricardo Almeida and Renzo Gracie. Despite talk of retirement, "Country Breakfast" has shown that he still has enough juice to compete against the young lions of the welterweight division.
Martin Kampmann
20 of 26
It's been a rough few months for Martin Kampmann, who is coming off back-to-back controversial decisions to Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez. He has to prove that he's better than his recent performances. Many still consider him a world-class welterweight.
George Sotiropoulos
21 of 26
George Sotiropoulos' UFC 127 loss to Dennis Siver marked the end of an eight-fight win streak and possibility of a lightweight title shot. It was a bitter defeat, but fans should look forward to seeing a refocused and invigorated Sotiropoulos in the future.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
22 of 26
Former Pride and UFC Interim Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's exit from most top 10 lists was mostly due to inactivity. It's been over a year since he's last competed. Luckily for fans, he is scheduled to make a late summer UFC return, possibly competing on the August card in Brazil.
Josh Grispi
23 of 26
It probably wasn't the wisest decision for Josh Grispi to take a fight in between his promised title shot with UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo.
At UFC 125, he lost a unanimous decision to Dustin Poirier. The future is still full of promise for the 22-year-old, who was riding a 10-fight win streak before the loss.
Mark Hominick
24 of 26
Like Wanderlei Silva, some rankings have Mark Hominick listed in the top 10. The featherweight division is quickly becoming one of the most stacked in the sport.
Hominick's recent level of competition could be questioned, but he'll have an opportunity to put those questions to rest when he faces UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo in April.
Jake Ellenberger
25 of 26
Jake Ellenberger is another name that has managed to fly under the radar. With a 3-1 UFC record, Ellenberger is consistently proving that he's every bit as tough as his peers. He is coming off major wins over Mike Pyle, John Howard and Carlos Eduardo Rocha.
Tito Ortiz
26 of 26
This is a name most of you didn't expect to see. Ortiz is a guy that people love to hate, and he probably wouldn't have it any other way.
It's been a long time since we saw "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy's" hand raised in victory, but people tend to overlook his level of competition.
In Ortiz's last four losses, three came to former world champions. Guys like Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans are far from being considered "washed-up." Ortiz would've defeated Evans in particular, if not for a fence grab, and he drew even with Forrest Griffin.
He may be a long way from being considered a top-10 light heavyweight, but Ortiz is far from being the washed-up fighter some claim him to be.
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