UFC 138 Fight Card: Why A Win Should Put Mark Munoz In Line For A Title Shot

In what will become the UFC's first ever non-title five round bout, Mark Munoz will face his toughest challenge yet, against the highly durable, always dangerous Chris Leben.

However, for Munoz, the fight is not only a landmark in UFC history, but also an opportunity to put himself in an undeniable position as a true contender in the middleweight division.  More importantly, with a win, he'll be one fight away from a title shot.

Having won six out of his last seven fights since his drop to middleweight, "The Filipino Wrecking Machine's" sole loss was to the last man to challenge Anderson Silva for the belt, Yushin Okami.

Since his loss to Okami at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko, Munoz has gone 3-0, beating the likes of Aaron Simpson, C.B. Dollaway and most recently, former number one middleweight contender, Demian Maia.

Come UFC 138, Munoz's skills will be put to the test against one of the sport's toughest and most tenacious fighters in "The Crippler".

To make things more difficult, the fight will go into the championship rounds, possibly making it one of the most grueling fights he could possibly have, and it won't even be for the belt.

If anybody can survive this sort of gauntlet it would definitely be Munoz, and should he come out with his hand raised it'll be a lot harder to deny him a title shot.

Here are four reasons why a win should put Mark Munoz in line for a title shot.

Superior Wrestling in the Division

If Chael Sonnen's "almost but not enough" performance against Anderson Silva at UFC 117 taught us anything, it's that the blueprint to defeat Silva is fundamentally comprised of one thing: aggressive wrestling.

Coincidentally, that sort of wrestling is just the skill set Mark Munoz possesses.

As one of the best wrestlers in the all of MMA, let alone the UFC, he's shown a level of aggression when it comes to pushing forward, and that has gotten him this far in the middleweight division.

Much like Sonnen, and unlike some of their fellow wrestlers in the UFC, Munoz's style is active and unyielding.

Add to that the level of power he throws behind some of his punches, already evident in his nasty ground and pound, and more recently in his knockout of C.B. Dollaway, and it becomes clear why he's nicknamed a "Wrecking Machine".

On the ground, Munoz is capable of demolishing opponents, if Sonnen had his kind of power his fight with Silva could have ended differently.

While Munoz has sometimes over-committed to the takedown, he has shown an improvement in the stand up department and is evolving past his wrestling base.

When it comes down to it though, there's a reason why fighters like Junior Dos Santos come to him to improve their wrestling, it's because he's one of the best wrestlers out there.

Endurance and Cardio for Days

If fighting in the first ever five round non-title fight can do anything for Mark Munoz, it can at least give him a chance to show off his cardio.

Mark Munoz kills himself in his workouts, and if you've seen the videos of him training you know it's brutal.

His success in the octagon is a testament to the sort of work he puts in at the gym and it's definitely beginning to show.

Always a tough opponent, we've seen Munoz tested against the likes of Kendall Grove, only to come back from adversity and weather the storm and finish strong.

Those sorts of trials are what separates a champion from the rest of the pack, and Munoz is on the right track.

The UFC couldn't have gone for a better match up for the first five rounder, pitting one of the toughest fighters against one of its most determined.

Wrecking Balls for Fists

If Mark Munoz's bout with C.B. Dollaway at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann showed us anything, it's that "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" has wrecking balls for fists.

Mark Munoz has showcased some of the most devastating ground and pound in the division, dropping bombs from top position and, more recently, in the stand up.

While his wrestling was neutralized against Yushin Okami at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko, unlike fellow wrestler Chael Sonnen, Munoz has proven that even if his high level wrestling can't pull through for him, he has some big time power in his hands that could possibly make his stand up a force to be reckoned with.

He's not on par with a striker like Anderson Silva, but his wrestling base and heavy hands can definitely turn him into a Dan Henderson (of sorts), nothing fancy, but dangerous nonetheless especially against the likes of Brian Stann and Vitor Belfort, who favor standing up.

And much like Henderson, Munoz could develop his striking into that sort of "one punch away from ending the fight" power.

If his stand up and accuracy has continued to improve, his bout with Chris Leben could be the perfect opportunity to expose "The Crippler's" rarely seen chin, especially after Brian Stann did it.

In the middleweight division, which is ruled by the best striker in all of MMA, it surely couldn't hurt to develop your stand up, especially when you have the power to back it up.

Wrestling and ground and pound will probably always be Mark Munoz's strength, but adding that dangerous element of striking to his repertoire can only free up more opportunities for him to utilize that NCAA Division I wrestling. 

Middleweight Pecking Order Almost Set

With Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen battling it out for the number one contender's spot at UFC 136, Mark Munoz has a relatively clear path to the title set out for him.

Coming off a fresh win against former number one contender Demian Maia at UFC 131, Munoz has the opportunity to add one more big feather to his cap in Chris Leben, who himself is coming off a big win over the legendary Wanderlei Silva.

Should he defeat Leben at UFC 138, where would that land him?

Logically speaking, he could face the loser of Stann vs. Sonnen and then, in theory, go on to face the champion.

And unlike the ever-crowded lightweight division, the middleweight division isn't nearly as full, and Munoz has already worked his way to the upper echelon of the division.

Another win over the tough Leben and he'll no doubt be one fight away from a bout for UFC gold.