UFC 130: Brian Stann, Anderson Silva and the Top 10 Strikers in the MW Division
The level of competition within the UFC middleweight division grows with each additional pay-per-view.
Ultimately expanding the roster of talent to incorporate the Strikeforce middleweight contenders, the UFC middleweight division is loaded with top-tier strikers.
Most recently, Brian Stann has showcased his striking abilities with two consecutive TKO victories over the hard-hitting Chris "The Crippler" Leben and the former Sengoku middleweight champion, Jorge Santiago.
Stann's consecutive highlight reel knockouts are only the appetizer to the main course of tremendous KO victories executed by technically proficient strikers within one of the deepest weight classes in the UFC.
Please follow along as I provide the top 10 strikers within the UFC middleweight division.
I welcome your comments.
Todd Seyler
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No. 10: Yushin "Thunder" Okami
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Ranked as one of the top three middleweights in the world by both Yahoo! Sports and Sherdog.com, Yushin Okami will challenge the current UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, for the title on August 27th.
Okami is more well-known for his judo background than his striking skills.
The ever evolving stand-up abilities have begun to balance out Okami's overall fight game.
With nine knockouts to his career MMA record, Okami has earned only two knockout victories since signing to the UFC in 2006, which places him as the 10th best middleweight striker in the UFC.
A dangerous grappler with excellent take-downs, this Japanese star will need to balance out his attack to threaten the greatest striker on the planet—Anderson Silva.
No. 9: Jared "The Messenger" Hamman
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Potentially the most unknown fighter on this list, Jared "The Messenger" Hamman is an extremely talented stand-up striker.
Lack of notoriety aside, this middleweight competitor has an overall MMA record of 11-3 with eight knockout victories.
A two-time Fight of the Night honors winner, Hamman is known for standing in the pocket and delivering striking combinations with all eight weapons from various angles and planes.
Diverse in his talents, "The Messenger" will climb up the middleweight ladder.
Challenging C.B. Dollaway on August 14th at UFC on Versus 5, Hamman will be provided the national stage to showcase his talents and introduce himself to the middleweight division as he makes the drop from light heavyweight.
Keep an eye on this rising star.
No. 8: "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Mark Munoz
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"The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Mark Munoz was welcomed into the UFC with a brutal knockout defeat by Matt Hamill in a light heavyweight bout.
Since dropping to middleweight, Munoz has five victories with one defeat including two TKO stoppages.
A ferocious wrestler with savage ground-and-pound, Munoz is constantly developing solid stand-up skills.
Evolving his complete fight game, "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" will rely on his heavy hands and excellent cardiovascular conditioning to exploit weaknesses in his opponents and deliver a knockout strike.
A work in progress with respect to his Muay Thai abilities, keep an eye on this hard-hitting Filipino as he will presumably add to his knockout highlight reel.
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No. 7: Michael "The Count" Bisping
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Whether he's more popular for his trash-talking or for his knockout defeat from the explosive overhand right of Dan Henderson, Michael "The Count" Bisping is a talented stand-up striker nonetheless.
With 13 career knockout victories and three Fight of the Night honors, Bisping is not afraid to trade with anyone inside the Octagon.
Sharpening his striking talents, "The Count" has made great strides in his boxing skills since winning season three of The Ultimate Fighter.
Capable of working striking angles and varying combinations, Bisping will continue to develop his Muay Thai talents, allowing him to ultimately compete with the best in the division.
No. 6: Nate "The Great" Marquardt
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Nate "The Great" Marquardt is a seven-time Pancrase middleweight champion and is currently the No. 4 middleweight competitor on the planet according to Sherdog.com.
Quite possibly the most rounded fighter within the UFC middleweight division, Marquardt is strong at all facets of the fight game, yet is not the best at any one aspect.
With an overall MMA record of 31-10, "The Great" has only eight career knockout victories.
Not to discredit his stand-up skills—because they are technically proficient—but Marquardt lacks the power and precision necessary to knockout the best in the division.
No. 5: Chris "The Crippler" Leben
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A brawler in every sense of the word, Chris "The Crippler" Leben is fortunate to be blessed with an iron jaw and a propensity for violence inside the Octagon.
A three-time Knockout of the Night awards winner, Leben's mission inside the cage is to brutalize his opponent.
Throwing wild combinations with ferocity and intent to damage for a lifetime, Leben is definitely not the most technical striker, but his effect is successful regardless.
Earning 13 career knockout victories, Leben will have his chance to challenge one of the greatest brawlers of all-time on July 2nd—Wanderlei Silva.
Anticipation between Leben and Silva will be at an all-time high as these two savage middleweights will look to knock their opponent's heads into the front row of the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
No. 4: "The All-American" Brian Stann
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The combination of dropping to middleweight and training with Jackson Submission Fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico has helped earn "The All-American" Brian Stann three consecutive victories and two Fight of the Night awards.
Polar opposite of a striker when compared to Chris Leben, Stann decimated "The Crippler" on New Year's Day with a combination of crisp, tactical punches and vicious knee strikes to knock out Leben in a little over three minutes and thirty seconds.
More recently at UFC 130, Stann's momentum continued to roll as he took apart the former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago.
Destroying Santiago with chopping leg kicks and extremely powerful punches, Santiago was defeated by knockout at the 4:22 mark of Round 2.
Potentially deserving of a higher ranking on this list, Brian Stann is No. 4 on my list because the level of competition he has faced is not greater than the top three strikers within the division.
If this former Marine continues to climb up the UFC middleweight division, he will have his chance to showcase his overall talents against the top three middleweight fighters on the planet.
No. 3: "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva
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As the most prolific brawler that has ever stepped foot inside the famed Octagon, "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva has more than earned his nickname.
A savage beast inside the cage, Silva is known for his tenacious punches, kicks and jaw-rattling knee strikes.
Engaging in some of the most memorable stand-up affairs in the history of Ultimate Fighting, Silva has fought one way and one way only throughout his career: full-throttle and with no compassion for his opponent.
Aging gracefully, Silva will have another opportunity to add a highlight reel knockout to his impressive Hall of Fame career footage as he takes on the equally aggressive and next generation brawler, Chris Leben, on July 2nd.
No. 2: "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort
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Even with his knockout defeat to Anderson Silva at UFC 126, "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort is arguably one of the two greatest strikers within the middleweight division.
Possessing explosive hands and lightening fast boxing skills, Belfort has been decimating opponents within the sport of mixed martial arts since 1996.
With 13 career knockout victories, "The Phenom's" abilities as a stand-up striker are always dangerous.
Looking to rebound from the front kick by Silva, Belfort will challenge Yoshihiro Akiyama in Philadelphia on August 6th.
No. 1: Anderson "The Spider" Silva
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Anderson "The Spider" Silva needs no introduction to fight fans worldwide.
The current UFC middleweight champion is also the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet by Sherdog.com.
This fighting champion's Muay Thai skills have pioneered a path within the Octagon that many fighters have attempted, yet failed, to emulate.
Possessing amazing quickness, length, vision and pin-point accuracy for his thunderous strikes, Silva thoroughly annihilates his opponents.
Leaving his competition in a pool of blood as they attempt to gather their senses while looking up at the Octagon physician, Silva has accumulated 16 knockout victories.
Continually adding to his arsenal of offensive talents, there seems to be no ceiling for this Brazilian superstar.
Because of the dynamics of mixed martial arts, I realize that any fighter can lose on any given day. However, with that said, it seems that the only person who can defeat Anderson Silva, is Anderson Silva.
Only time will tell if this king of the middleweight division is knocked off his throne.
Until that day comes, he will continue to bulldoze through his competition one knockout at a time.
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