UFC 138 Results: Mark Munoz and the 10 Most Underrated Fighters in the UFC

With his victory over Chris Leben at UFC 138, Mark Munoz has moved into title contention. If there was ever a way to be a top five middleweight without anyone knowing who you are, Munoz has accomplished it.

He has to wait for a few fights to play out before the title picture becomes clear, but Munoz could find himself competing for the UFC Middleweight belt in 2012.

Munoz, along with many of the other men on this list find themselves in the middle of a successful career run but without much praise from fans.

10. Evan Dunham

It wasn't long ago that Evan Dunham was considered a top prospect in the UFC.

But two straight losses derailed any momentum Dunham had after his 10-fight win streak. After his victory against Shamar Bailey, Dunham finds himself back on track for another lightweight title run.

Dunham has a solid all-around game but will just need to work on getting better in all areas if he wants to rise from prospect to contender.

9. Tim Boetsch

Tim Boetsch has had a very successful past two years. He's won six out of seven fights, with his only loss coming against top prospect Phil Davis.

Boetsch began his UFC career as a light heavyweight but has since dropped down to middleweight. The drop in weight has only made Boetsch a better fighter. His popular "Redneck Judo Toss" has become a fan favorite move.

Considering his record, Boetsch should be moving up the middleweight ladder fast and should be fighting better competition than Nick Ring.

8. Joe Lauzon

Joe Lauzon, like Evan Dunham, has become lost in the shuffle at lightweight.

After the WEC merger, the already stacked lightweight division became more cutthroat as the depth of talent grew by leaps and bounds. Lauzon seems to be one win away from moving into the upper level of UFC lightweights.

Lauzon is an extremely talented grappler who looks to bring the fight in every bout. Following his destruction of Melvin Guillard, "J-Lau" should be back on his way to the top.

7. Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson has been a victim of the one variable that can never be beaten: time.

Johnson saw his chances at a welterweight title shot fall short after losing to Josh Koscheck at UFC 106. An injury-plagued layoff delayed "Rumble's" return to the Octagon until his fight against Dan Hardy.

For the first time (possibly ever), we saw Johnson use his wrestling background to his advantage. Johnson takes a lot of heat for his weight-cut issues, but when he's on, he's scary.

"Rumble" will look to make a bigger name for himself when he takes on Vitor Belfort at UFC 142.

6. Jason Miller

Jason "Mayhem" Miller has one of the most colorful personalities in MMA. He has his own TV show and is a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter Season 14.

What most people fail to realize is that behind all the antics lies a pretty good fighter. "Mayhem" has fought against some of the best fighters in the world and held his own.

He was a few seconds away from tapping out Jake Shields and winning the Strikeforce Middleweight Title. Miller will look to use British bad boy Michael Bisping as his stepping stone to the UFC Middleweight Title.

5. Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping has become the poster boy for public enemy No. 1 in America. He says and does what he wants without regard for what people think.

Personal opinion often gets in the way when critiquing Bisping's accomplishments. He's ranked in the top 10 middleweights, yet nobody wants to make a case for Bisping and a title shot.

Bisping may not have the big names on his resume, but his performances have been outstanding with two unanimous decisions and a stoppage of Jorge Rivera.

"The Count" will need to bring his A game when it counts (excuse the pun). He needs to beat the bigger-name opponents for fans and analysts to recognize him as a credible middleweight title challenger.

4. Jake Ellenberger

Before his knockout of Jake Shields, the casual fan had no idea who Jake Ellenberger was. He's quietly risen the ranks to the top level of welterweights in the UFC.

Fans have been clamoring for a Condit-Ellenberger rematch, which seems possible given the fallout from UFC 137.

Ellenberger could rightfully be challenging for a title but finds himself being a win or two short due to the lack of a fan base.

3. Carlos Condit

Carlos Condit was scheduled to challenge Georges St-Pierre for the Welterweight Title at UFC 137. After GSP pulled out with an injury, Condit was forced to sit on the sidelines and wait for another opportunity.

That quickly fell to shambles as Nick Diaz went on to steal Condit's thunder and insert himself into the title match.

Condit has seen fans go from backing him as a credible challenger to discrediting him as simply being in the right place at the right time.

What many fans seem to forget is that Condit is still one of the best welterweights in the world.

2. Mark Munoz

Mark Munoz is one of the few on this list that can be considered a fan favorite. His fights are always exciting and he puts everything behind every strike he throws.

And although he's risen to the top of the middleweights, Munoz still can't be seen as a legitimate title contender.

Munoz is coming off the biggest win of his career against Chris Leben and will need to build off this momentum for his future fight. A bout against another big-name middleweight should gain "the Filipino Wrecking Machine" a title shot.

1. Rashad Evans

How can the consensus No. 2 light heavyweight be underrated? Because nobody wants to give "Suga" the respect he deserves.

Evans has one of the most impressive resumes in the 205-pound division outside of Jon Jones. He only has one loss; against Lyoto Machida when many fans felt Machida was the best light heavyweight in the world.

When Evans was on Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter. they said he was too small. Then he went on and won the whole show.

When they said guys like Forrest Griffin and Quinton Jackson were too big for him, he went on to defeat both of them in convincing fashion.

Now fans are saying he's too small to beat champion Jon Jones. Will he prove fans wrong again?