UFC 136 Results: Ranking Chael Sonnen And the Top 10 Middleweights In the UFC
Chael Sonnen made on monster statement on Saturday night.
After Sonnen's second round submission victory over Brian Stann, Sonnen called out Silva—big surprise—and offered a challenge.
If Sonnen wins, Silva leaves the division. If Silva wins, Sonnen leaves the UFC.
Sonnen offered the challenge, and is the clear No. 2 middleweight, but what about Stann?
Where did he fall to?
Don't forget that Demian Maia was in action on Saturday too, as he pulled out a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Santiago.
Check out the updated top 10 rankings to see what's changed.
No. 10: Rousmiar Palhares
1 of 10Having Palhares on a Top 10 list just goes to show how weak this division is.
In his last fight, he won a unanimous decision over Dan Miller.
Does anyone see him as a real threat to the title?
No?
Moving on...
No. 9: Chris Leben
2 of 10Chris Leben probably had the best year of his fighting career in 2010. Unfortunately, 2011 hasn't been the same.
On January 1, Leben lost via first round TKO to Brian Stann, and ended any hopes for a title shot this year.
However at UFC 132, Leben rebounded, knocking out Wanderlei Silva in less than a minute, and putting his name back "in the mix".
Now Leben is set to headline UFC 138 opposite Mark Munoz.
Leben has notable victories over Wanderlei Silva, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Alessio Sakara, Jorge Santiago, Jorge Rivera, Patrick Cote and Mike Swick.
No. 8: Michael Bisping
3 of 10Michael Bisping has not beaten any top guys as of late, but the win over Chris Leben keeps him up there above him on the rankings.
Bisping is currently coaching opposite Jason "Mayhem" Miller on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter and the two are set to fight on December 3 at the finale.
Should Bisping win, he is likely one or two more victories away from a title shot.
Bisping has notable victories over Jorge Rivera, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Chris Leben and Matt Hamill.
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No. 7: Demian Maia
4 of 10Demian Maia rebounded from his last loss to Mark Munoz, as he defeated Jorge Santiago via unanimous decision on Saturday night.
Maia has now gone his last seven fights without a submission victory, and without a fight night bonus.
Hopefully in his next fight he'll be able to pull out something and get back to his submitting ways.
Maia has notable victories over Jorge Santiago, Kendall Grove, Dan Miller, Chael Sonnen, Nate Quarry, Jason MacDonald and Ed Herman.
No. 6: Mark Munoz
5 of 10Mark Munoz has quietly gotten himself very close to a title shot.
In his UFC/ WEC career, Munoz is 8-2, with his only losses being a KO loss to Matt Hamill at light heavyweight, and a split decision loss to Yushin Okami.
In his last fight, Munoz won a unanimous decision over Demian Maia. He is now set to headline UFC 138 opposite Chris Leben.
Munoz has notable victories over Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway, Kendall Grove and Nick Catone.
No. 5: Vitor Belfort
6 of 10Vitor Belfort is the former UFC light heavyweight champion and a one-time contender to the middleweight title.
Belfort is remembered by many for being front kicked in the face at UFC 126, but since then, he has had a resounding win over Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Belfort was supposed to welcome Cung Le to the Octagon at UFC 139, but he was forced out and is now looking to return at UFC 141.
Belfort has notable victories over Yoshihiro Akiyama, Rich Franklin, Matt Lindland, Randy Couture, Gilbert Yvel and Wanderlei Silva.
No. 4: Brian Stann
7 of 10On Saturday night, Chael Sonnen showed that Brian Stann isn't ready for the best of the best, as Sonnen submitted him in the second round, and was never in any danger from Stann.
Stann is now 3-1 at middleweight, with wins over Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago.
He is still an elite middleweight, he's just not ready for the cream of the crop—at least until he works on his wrestling defense.
Stann has notable victories over Steve Cantwell, Mike Massenzio, Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago.
No. 3: Yushin Okami
8 of 10Yushin Okami was last seen in action at UFC 134 where he got TKO'd by Anderson Silva in the second round of their title fight.
Prior to that loss, Okami was on a three fight winning streak over Lucio Linhares, Mark Muñoz and Nate Marquardt.
Okami is an elite middleweight, and the only middleweights he's lost to in the UFC are Silva, Chael Sonnen and Rich Franklin.
Okami has notable victories over Nate Marquardt, Mark Muñoz, Evan Tanner, Mike Swick and Alan Belcher.
No. 2: Chael Sonnen
9 of 10This should be no surprise whatsoever.
Sonnen pushed Silva to the brink, and almost won a decision over the most dominant fighter in MMA history.
Sonnen being at No. 2 is basically a given, and everybody out there likely agrees with me.
Sonnen holds notable victories over Brian Stann, Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami, Paulo Filho, Trevor Prangley and Jason "Mayhem" Miller.
No. 1: Anderson Silva
10 of 10This should come as even less of a surprise than Sonnen at No. 2.
Anderson Silva is the middleweight champion, and the most dominant fighter in MMA history.
His next fight will likely be against Chael Sonnen, in the biggest fight in UFC history.
Silva has notable victories over Yushin Okami, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (2x), Nate Marquardt, Chris Leben, Jorge Rivera and Carlos Newton.
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