MMA's Top 25 Fighters: Should You Buy, Sell or Hold Their Stock?

While the top fighters in MMA all have incredible ability, many of them are in different stages of their respective careers. Some are still rising to the top, while others may soon decline with age and retire.

At UFC 137, two of the sport's top fighters will meet in a main event that could determine the top contender in the welterweight division. Former champions B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz will square off in a bout that is sure to bring excitement.

Let's take a look at whether or not you should buy, sell or hold the stock of Penn, Diaz and the rest of the top 25 fighters currently competing in the sport.

25. Gilbert Melendez

What to do: Sell

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has been a topic of discussion lately, as UFC president Dana White has expressed interest in bringing Melendez into the UFC's lightweight division.

With five straight victories, many believe Melendez has the ability to contend for the lightweight title. While I believe he can add even more depth to the division's pool of contenders, I don't see him being able to dethrone Edgar, so sell his stock while everyone else is looking to buy.

24. Nick Diaz

What to do: Sell

Like Gilbert Melendez, Nick Diaz has been generating some interest by becoming a dominant champion under the Strikeforce banner. Now, Diaz will be expected to contend for the UFC's welterweight crown.

While I do think he has improved since his last stint with the organization, Diaz's defensive wrestling could prove to be his downfall in a 170-pound division packed with outstanding wrestlers.

23. Jake Ellenberger

What to do: Hold

Hopefully, you bought into Jake Ellenberger's stock prior to his most recent appearance against Jake Shields, who he quickly knocked out in the first round. If not, you might have to throw down your life savings for a share, because Ellenberger's bandwagon is crowded after the big win.

With his strong wrestling background, Ellenberger could be considered a threat to upset Georges St-Pierre. Therefore, if you were smart enough to jump onto the bandwagon before the Shields fight, hold onto that stock and hope for huge returns and a belt around Ellenberger's waist.

22. Carlos Condit

What to do: Hold

Like Jake Ellenberger, Carlos Condit is on a hot streak and looking to take Georges St-Pierre's title. It would be a major upset if Condit was able to beat St-Pierre, but you shouldn't sell his stock prior to his eventual title shot.

Condit has the ground game to cause St-Pierre problems and is certainly capable of finishing the fight in the striking department. A win over St-Pierre would send Condit's stock skyrocketing even more than it has been, which means an even bigger return for those that bought in early.

21. Lyoto Machida

What to do: Hold

I wouldn't advise anyone to buy into a fighter who is preparing for a fight with Jon Jones, but those who already have interest in Lyoto Machida could hit the lottery if "The Dragon" finds a way to win at UFC 140.

Machida's karate style could be the answer for Jones' long reach. While Jones should certainly be considered the favorite in this fight, I wouldn't be overly shocked if Machida pulled off the upset and forced Joe Rogan to poke fun at himself about the coming of a second Machida Era.

20. Quinton Jackson

What to do: Sell

Quinton Jackson showed a renewed focus for his title fight with Jon Jones, but that wasn't enough for Jackson to reclaim his light heavyweight belt.

While that may have been the best Jackson we've seen since he defeated Chuck Liddell to become UFC champion, it's hard to see "Rampage" entering any other fight with that same level of motivation. With an acting career on the horizon, it may be time to unload stock in Jackson before his career spirals out of control.

19. Brock Lesnar

What to do: Sell

Another blockbuster fight involving Brock Lesnar is coming up, which means casual MMA fans will be looking to buy into the UFC 141 headliner's stock.

Now is the perfect time to cut your losses on that Lesnar stock you purchased while he was heavyweight champion. Coming off of another bout with diverticulitis, there are a ton of question marks about how healthy Lesnar will be in his return.

Even if Lesnar beats Alistair Overeem in December, it is unlikely that the UFC's biggest draw would be able to reclaim his heavyweight title.

18. Kenny Florian

What to do: Sell

Although he suffered another loss in a UFC title fight, the third time that has happened in his career, Kenny Florian gave Jose Aldo one of the toughest fights of his career. While a loss is a loss, some may be interested in buying into Florian's stock as he returns to the lightweight division.

However, at 35 years old, Florian's decline is imminent. He may win a fight or two at 155 pounds before calling it quits, but it's hard to see Florian's career moving in an upward trajectory at this point.

17. Brian Bowles

What to do: Hold

Brian Bowles has a tough fight against Urijah Faber coming up, so it might not be a good idea to buy into the fighter's stock right now. However, if you're already holding onto the former WEC bantamweight champion's stock, don't sell yet.

A good wrestler with knockout power, Bowles poses a lot of the same problems for Faber that Mike Brown did. Brown defeated Faber in both meetings he had with "The California Kid," so Bowles is certainly capable of picking up a huge win over Faber at UFC 139.

16. Jon Fitch

What to do: Sell

If you haven't sold Jon Fitch's stock for the entire length of time that he's been the second best welterweight with nowhere to go but down, then there's still time. Some are still holding out hope that Fitch will get another shot at Georges St-Pierre, so his stock is still high.

That being said, Fitch isn't going to get another shot at St-Pierre unless he does something spectacular. Unless Fitch makes a move to middleweight, it's doubtful that his stock would do anything but fall.

15. B.J. Penn

What to do: Hold

A slightly better fighter than Nick Diaz in every area, B.J. Penn should come away with a victory at UFC 137. From there, it's difficult to say what Penn's next move would be.

Having loss to the current welterweight and lightweight champions twice, it's unlikely that Penn will receive a title shot against Georges St-Pierre or Frankie Edgar. However, if either of those champions fall, Penn could easily be one of the first in line to get one last crack at another UFC title.

14. Rashad Evans

What to do: Hold

Rashad Evans is one of the biggest threats to Jon Jones' light heavyweight title. However, injuries have kept Evans from getting a title shot that he has been waiting quite some time for.

It's hard to say how Evans will look after another long layoff, but it is definitely worth hanging onto his stock in hopes of a big return.

13. Mauricio Rua

What to do: Hold

After a brutal defeat at the hands of Jon Jones, Mauricio Rua's stock bounced back with an impressive victory in a rematch with Forrest Griffin.

Mauricio Rua is probably capable of beating any light heavyweight in the world except Jones, so it's too early to sell, but there is definitely no incentive to buy.

12. Joseph Benavidez

What to do: Buy

By now, you probably have figured out that I'm a conservative investor. With all of these fighters being so close to the top, there is little incentive to buy into their stock.

However, Joseph Benavidez is one fighter that everyone should definitely consider buying into. With the upcoming addition of a flyweight division in the UFC, Benavidez could become a champion in the near future.

Size has always been a problem for Benavidez, who would be one of the top contenders for a title at 125 pounds.

11. Chael Sonnen

What to do: Sell

Plain and simple, Chael Sonnen's stock will never be higher than it is right now. A fight with a healthy Anderson Silva will play out much differently than Sonnen's first bout with the middleweight champion did.

With another loss to Silva, fans will lose interest in Sonnen's trash talk. The best option is to sell stock in Sonnen in the days leading up to his eventual rematch with the pound-for-pound king.

10. Gray Maynard

What to do: Sell

His trilogy with Frankie Edgar in the rear-view mirror, Gray Maynard is now stuck in a similar position to that of Jon Fitch. Maynard will need some luck in order to earn another title shot.

At 32 years old, Maynard doesn't have loads of time to wait around in hopes that someone beats Edgar. For that reason, the best advice here is to sell stock in Maynard and invest elsewhere.

9. Urijah Faber

What to do: Hold

At this point, it is too late to buy into stock in Urijah Faber. That doesn't mean it's time to sell, though.

With a win over Brian Bowles, Faber would likely earn another shot at UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, who Faber has defeated in the past and is capable of beating again.

8. Junior Dos Santos

What to do: Buy

Junior dos Santos is the biggest threat to Cain Velasquez's heavyweight title. Quite possibly the best striker in the heavyweight division, dos Santos has excellent takedown defense and is continuing to improve.

Competing on the UFC's first event to be aired on Fox, dos Santos' popularity is bound to explode if he beats Velasquez, who will have been out of action for more than on year due to injury.

7. Cain Velasquez

What to do: Hold

After recovering from a shoulder injury for more than a year, Cain Velasquez returns to the Octagon for a tough matchup against Junior dos Santos.

There is a strong possibility that Velasquez could lose his title in that fight, but his stock shouldn't take too much of a hit in that case, as he will be given a partial pass for the long layoff. For now, hold onto Velasquez's stock and hope for the best.

6. Jon Jones

What to do: Buy

Given the fact that he has already become one of the most well-known fighters in the UFC, it might seem impossible for Jones' stock to continue rising. However, Jones' physical attributes make him a candidate to become one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in the Octagon.

Jones still has a long way to get to that point, so there is still room for growth. Don't expect huge returns here, but buying into stock in Jones will promise the same slow growth as buying into a major company would.

5. Frankie Edgar

What to do: Hold

After an impressive knockout victory over Gray Maynard, one's first instinct would be to buy into Edgar's stock immediately. The lightweight division is stacked with talent, though, and Edgar has plenty of tough tests in front of him.

Buying into Edgar at this point would be a risky investment decision. There are much better options out there that have much more room for growth.

4. Dominick Cruz

What to do: Buy

For some reason, many continue to sleep on bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. At some point, all dominant champions receive the recognition they deserve, so it might be a good idea to buy into Cruz's stock before that time comes.

The 26-year-old Cruz has already defended his belt in four straight fights and still has room to continue improving. With no new faces rising to the top of the bantamweight division, Cruz could be holding onto his belt for quite some time.

3. Jose Aldo

What to do: Hold

Chad Mendes is closing in fast, and his wrestling could be the ingredient needed to dethrone Jose Aldo as UFC featherweight champion. It would be unwise to sell the stock of a 25-year-old fighter capable of so much, so the best move is to hold onto Aldo's stock and ride out the storm.

Even if Aldo does lose his title to an up-and-coming fighter like Mendes, there would still be plenty of time for Aldo to rebound and recover the value he might have lost.

2. Georges St-Pierre

What to do: Hold

Obiously, there isn't much growing for Georges St-Pierre to do, but a potential superfight with Anderson Silva would provide an opportunity for huge gains.

Even if St-Pierre lost to Silva, he would likely continue to be considered the second best fighter in the world, so it would be a win-win situation for investors in St-Pierre.

1. Anderson Silva

What to do: Sell

Many are jumping on board with calling Anderson Silva the greatest fighter to ever walk the earth.

How can a fighter with those credentials generate any more gain? A more decisive win over Chael Sonnen or a victory over Georges St-Pierre would only generate minimal gains compared to the value Silva has already given his stockholders.

The 36-year-old has to decline or retire at some point. Now is the time to cash in.