UFC 123 Analysis

After a lackluster UFC 122, the UFC has returned for the second time in two weeks to give the fans a card they can actually enjoy. With knockouts, submissions, and plenty of controversy, UFC 123 delivered in more ways than one. Let's get started with the main card.

Joe Lauzon vs George Sotiropoulos

What Happened: Lauzon got the best of the early exchanges against George, and was able to hold off Sotiropoulos' takedown attempts surprisingly well. It wasn't until close to the end of the first round that George was able to gain dominant North-South position, before transitioning into mount and almost pulling off an armbar in the dying seconds. Lauzon looked noticeably tired in the second round. Sotiropoulos utilized knees and punches from the clinch before taking Lauzon down again. From here Sotiropoulos was able to cinch in an pretty nasty kimura, forcing Lauzon to tap midway through the round.

What Next: Although Sotiropoulos looked tense in the opening minutes of this fight, he was able to keep his cool and take the fight to where he has the definitive advantage: the ground. Another impressive submission for Sotiropoulos moves him further up the LW rankings. It has been announced that Sotiropoulos next bout will be against Dennis Siver at UFC 127 next year.

As for Lauzon, he looked great in the first round, then it looked like his cardio shit the bed in the second round. Surprised to see Lauzon look so drained after just one round. Every time he starts to make his way up the ladder, he ends up getting knocked down a few pegs. Look for him to rebound against incoming WEC fighters or an exciting matchup could come forth in the name of Ross Pearson.

Phil Davis vs Tim Boetsch

What Happened: Both fighters came out throwing kicks early, before Davis clinched up and wrestled Boetsch to the mat. Davis worked primarily from side control, landing punches and elbows on his downed opponent. In the second round, Davis again worked from the clinch before securing a takedown. This time he went for a kimura, which while at first was unsuccessful, Davis continued to torque Boetsch's arm behind his back, eliciting a tap midway through the round.

What Next: Davis continues to impress, as he has demolished pretty much everyone placed in his path. I am also loving the grasp he has on submissions which, like I mentioned in my predictions, is uncommon amongst wrestlers, especially ones this green. I'm hoping UFC finally gives Davis a legit opponent. Someone like Matt Hamill, or Matyushenko.

As for Boetsch, there isn't really much to say. He got a lot of hype around him because of that Heath-slam. Don't expect to be seeing too much out of him from here on out.

Gerald Harris vs Maiquel Falcao

What Happened: Gerald Harris made his UFC main card debut, while Falcao made his organizational debut. The fight started extremely slow, with Harris being the only active fighter. Falcao finally exploded, unleashing some frantic stand up as well as Brock Lesnar-esque ground and pound. Falcao had Harris in a rear naked choke with 10 seconds left in the first round, when suddenly 3 seconds later the buzzer sounds. No one really noted this during the broadcast, but if you watch videos, you can clearly see the clock in the bottom corner at :10 seconds. The clock then disappears, and maybe 3 or 4 seconds later the bell sounds.

http://www.mmalinker.com/videos/view/36490/Gerald-Harris-vs-Maiquel-Falcao-UFC-123-1of2

this video shows the first round, you can just fast forward to the end if you want to watch where the round is cut short.

So anyways, Falcao was robbed of a decision victory, because Harris definitely would have tapped or gone to sleep before the round would have ended. Falcao went on to dominate the 2nd round, before putting on a dismal performance in the third round, merely standing around and refusing to engage with Harris. Falcao won a unanimous decision.

What Next: After building an impressive record, including winning his last three fights in the UFC, Harris come up short when it counted, as he dropped his main card debut. He still remains a promising prospect in the division, and probably just needs a little bit more grooming before he can hang with the elite. Maybe a fight against Aaron Simpson or Alessio Sakara would help.

Falcao on the other hand looked very impressive. Had the fight ended in the first round, when it should have, Falcao would have an impressive decision win over a favored opponent. Needless to say, he went on to win the second round as well, and while he did close to nothing in the third, he has earned himself a spot in the UFC. It'll be interesting to see what the UFC decides to do with Falcao. He just might get an immediate shot at top quality competition, maybe someone like Nate who is coming off of a loss.

BJ Penn vs Matt Hughes

What Happened: In the epic rubber match, Penn came out, pumped a couple of jabs, and then dropped Hughes on his ass with a right hand before putting his lights out with a flurry of follow up punches. Penn went batshit crazy, leaping around and running out of the cage reminiscent of his former days with the organization, before being brought back in for the decision announcement.

What Next: Penn's future was quickly determined by Dana White, and word is that BJ will face Jon Fitch at UFC 127 next year in Sydney. I thought a match up between Penn and Sotiropoulos lined up perfectly, but apparently Penn has decided to remain at welterweight. A win against Fitch is about as hard as it gets, so let's hope BJ knows what he's doing.

As for Hughes, it may be time to hang em up. He doesn't have enough left to make another run at the title. He's had his match with Serra, his trilogy with Penn, choked out a BJJ black belt in Almeida, knocked off a couple Gracie's. The best thing to do now is to just go out while people still remember you as a legend. Don't do what Chuck and Jens Pulver did (Chuck lost 5 of his last 6 fights, while Pulver lost 8 of last 9). Hughes had an amazing career and will be remembered as one of the greatest WW champions of all time.

MAIN EVENT

Quinton Jackson vs Lyoto Machida

What Happened: Rampage came out and looked much more quick and agile than he did in his last fight against Rashad. Machida played his usual game, attacking with kicks and knees while remaining as elusive as possible. The first two rounds were very close, with Rampage holding a slight edge due to Octagon control, aggression, and landing a few uppercuts and counter hooks while scoring a takedown in the second. In the third round, Machida finally opened up, landing a flurry on Rampage, then taking a little return fire before dragging Jackson down to the mat. Machida gained mount and dropped some ground and pound on Rampage til the round ended. Rampage walked away with a split decision victory, winning rounds one and two, while Machida clearly took round three. Rampage appeared shocked following the bout, and went up to Machida saying that he should have won, very similar to when Rampage fought Murilo "Ninja" Rua back in Pride. Rampage offered a rematch to Machida, which was openly accepted.

What Next: A rematch between these two is probably the worst thing the UFC could do right now. The fight was boring as shit, and I don't think anyone really cares all too much about who would win in a rematch. If the UFC had some balls, they would make Rashad stop being a pansy and have him fight Rampage instead of waiting for Shogun to return from injury. The Rampage who fought at UFC 123 looked MUCH better than the slow out of shape A-Team Rampage we say back in May. Rampage - Rashad 2 would sell.

As for Lyoto, a lot of possible matchups are out there. He could take on the winner of Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader, or the winner of Rich Franklin vs Forrest Griffin. It is also very possible that Rashad WILL be a bitch, and insist on waiting for Shogun, in which case Rampage could fight Franklin/Griffin. A lot going on in this division, pretty exciting stuff.

I would also like to give a shout out to Edson Barboza, a LW fighter who made his UFC debut with a third round stoppage of Mike Lullo. Barboza looks like Jose Aldo, boasting lethal leg kicks, quick hands, and a BJJ black belt. While he may not be on the same level as Aldo, Barboza is definitely one to keep an eye on, as the UFC LW division continues to grow.

From top to bottom, UFC 123 delivered. Slick submissions by Sotiropoulos and Davis, a surprise entrance by Falcao, a flash KO by BJ Penn, and a controversial finish to the main event. The UFC returns in December with the TUF 12 Finale on Dec 4 and UFC 124: St Pierre - Koscheck on Dec 11.

UFC 123 Preview and Predictions

Following last weekend's UFC 122 event, featured free on Spike TV, the UFC returns to its more traditional form of broadcasting, the good old Pay-Per-View. Due to the fact that UFC 122 was free, there were very few quality fighters, and the card ended up being pretty craptastic. And thus the phrase "You get what you pay for" was born. With UFC 123, a card which will run you anywhere from $45 to $55, believe it or not, you're going to get your moneys worth.

Now while this card doesn't feature any championship bouts, there are several very intriguing matches set to take place. The main event and co-main event lay host to four former UFC champions in Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, BJ Penn, and Matt Hughes. The rest of the main card is rounded out by extremely exciting prospects who have been barreling through their opposition.

And just in case you're still having trouble deciding whether to purchase or not, there will be free preliminary fights airing live and free on Spike TV at 9pm. I'll cover these fights at the end. Without further ado, the main card...

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205lbs)

Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis vs Tim Boetsch

Davis entered into the UFC in early 2010, boasting a 4-0 record and impressive wrestling credentials (4 time All-American and 2008 National Champion @ 197lbs fighting out of Penn St.). Since his arrival, Davis has notched three wins under his belt and hopes to get his fourth before the end of the year, moving him one step closer to the upper echelon of the division.

Tim Boetsch burst onto the MMA scene in 2008 when he took on David Heath and literally tossed him like a rag doll.

*http://www.mma-core.com/videos/_Tim_Boetsch_vs_David_Heath_UFC_81?vid=10000990* - fast forward to about the 10:00 point of the video to see when Boetsch starts to turn it on. Slam comes with about 18 seconds left in the round.

Boestch went on to lose two of his next three fights in the Octagon, and was given the boot. After collecting four wins since that time, Boetsch is now back in the UFC and ready to prove he belongs there.

Both of these fighters come from strong wrestling backgrounds, with Davis holding the advantage. Phil has shown to be very adept with submissions already, which is a surprise because not too many wrestlers are able to pick up jiu-jitsu right away. While Boetsch may have the better stand up of the two fighters, that just gives Davis more incentive to bring the fight to the mat, where he will most likely pass and work some ground and pound en route to a decision win. Depending on how impressive of a victory this ends up being, we may finally see Davis be thrown in with some legit competition.

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185lbs)

Gerald Harris vs Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao Goncalves

Harris was initially one of the favorites to win Season 7 of the Ultimate Fighter reality series. That was before he ran into soon to be winner Amir Sadollah. Since losing on the show, Harris has gone 9-0, finishing eight of his nine fights, with six finishes coming inside the first round. Harris also comes from a wrestling background, and has proven to be a powerful, explosive middleweight.

Goncalves is making his UFC debut, having accrued a 25-3 record, with 24 wins coming via stoppage (21 TKO/3 Sub). Of those 24 finishes, 22 came inside the first round. Needless to say, this guy has a lot of power.

This fight has fireworks written all over it. Falcao is a monster, normally fighting around 205lbs, if not heavier. He will be cutting a lot of weight to make it to 185, and this could take a serious toll on his cardio. There also lies the fact that Falcao has barely ever been out of the first round, and that could factor into his cardio as well. Look for these fighters to exchange on the feet early as Falcao tries to make quick work of his opponent. If Harris is able to weather the early storm and score a couple of takedowns, it should be an easy night for him, as Goncalves will likely gas out as time goes on, making it easier for Harris to unleash his ground and pound and take home a victory.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (155lbs)

Joe Lauzon vs George Sotiropoulos

I may be looking forward to this fight more than any of the others. Lauzon made a name for himself back in 2006 when he shocked the world with a first round KO over Jens Pulver. He then went on to appear on the Ultimate Fighter, where he trained with BJ Penn. Following the show Lauzon collected impressive submission wins before being stopped by Kenny Florian. Lauzon again picked up two impressive wins, but was slowed up once more, this time dropping a decision to Sam Stout. Following the loss, Lauzon went on to destroy Gabe Ruediger, and is now hungry to climb back up the LW ladder.

Sotiropoulos, also an alumnus of the Ultimate Fighter show, has tallied six wins since joining the promotion, with his last loss coming against ground wizard Shinya Aoki in '06. Sotiropoulos has won three of his last six bouts via submission, and showed incredibly technical Jiu-Jitsu in his bouts against Joe Stevenson and Kurt Pellegrino. Another win here and George could be in line for a shot at the title.

Both of these fighters have very exciting and technical ground games to watch. In past bouts they have made opponents looked foolish on the ground, and it will be great to see how they fare against one another. In the striking department, Lauzon may hold a slight advantage, but the ground aspect seems to favor Sotiropoulos. Let's not forget Lauzon is no slouch on the ground either, as Jiu-Jitsu is his primary discipline. I'm hoping to see these guys go at it on the ground for the full fifteen minutes. A win for Sotiropoulos could very well mean facing BJ Penn in his next bout, considering the LW title is currently up for grabs between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, followed by a UFC-WEC LW Unification match. Lots going on in this division.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170lbs)

Matt Hughes vs BJ "The Prodigy" Penn

This match could be possibly the most legendary rubber match to take place since Chuck - Randy III. Hughes is widely considered the greatest welterweight champion the world has seen, and until GSP notches a few more quality defenses, it seems like it will stay that way for a few years. Penn remains a figure who needs no introduction. Unworldly Jiu-Jitsu and lethal counter boxing have made Penn one of the most feared fighters at any weight.

In their first bout, Penn entered the ring as a smaller LW moving up to challenge a bigger stronger WW. But, to everyone's surprise, Hughes was unable to score takedowns on this smaller fighter, and found himself having trouble holding on to BJ. Before he knew it, he was on his back taking punches, and eventually was submitted.

In the second fight, Hughes once again had little success trying to take Penn down. BJ, considered to be one of the hardest fighters to get on the mat, was able to keep the fight standing for a majority of the first two rounds, and worked Hughes over with his boxing. That was when BJ's cardio shit the bed. The third round rolled along, and Hughes was finally able to get a takedown. At this point Penn was noticeably worn, and Hughes pounded him out for the win.

Coming into this third fight, not much has changed. Hughes is riding a three fight win streak, all against BJJ black belts (Serra, Renzo Gracie, Almeida). Although BJ is coming off of consecutive losses to Frankie Edgar, he still remains the dangerous fighter he always has been.

This should be a very easy bout for BJ to win. Considering it isn't a title fight, it can only go three rounds. BJ should have no trouble getting his cardio to the point where he can go three rounds easily. Now remember that Hughes had a lot of trouble taking Penn down in their first two fights. If you look at Matt's more recent fights, he has begun to work more on his stand up, due to the fact that he doesn't have that explosive shot anymore. With virtually no chance of taking Penn down, Hughes will have to rely on his stand up. This is Penn's bread and butter. In his fight against Sean Sherk, Penn used his jab to pepper and pick apart Sherk, as well as landing hard counters whenever Sherk tried to get inside. The same thing happened to poor Diego Sanchez. Unless Hughes is somehow able to drag BJ to the floor, he is in for a long night, as Penn will keep that jab in his face for the full 15 minutes.

MAIN EVENT

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205lbs)

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida

As far as style matchups go, this has got to be one of the more interesting bouts we've seen in a while. Ever since his Pride days, Rampage has been known for his rock 'em sock 'em approach. He'll come into the right, throw huge haymakers and uppercuts at you, and without a second thought, pick you up over his hand and slam your ass to the mat. Having always relied on his boxing and power, Rampage seldom adopts any sort of game plan, and instead just goes in and tries to take your head off.

Lyoto Machida on the other hand is the complete opposite. A student of Shotokan karate, Machida's style revolves around being elusive, avoiding any potential damage, while still striking with sharp, accurate blows. It has always been a belief in karate that all you need is one clean shot to the correct part of your opponent's body to neutralize them. This can be seen in the way Machida fights, as he will fire off quick kicks, knees, and counters that seem to always catch his opponent off balance.

On paper, it appears Machida has the much more effective style. Rampage's weakness has shown in many fights to be his inability to block leg kicks (one of the key reasons he lost his title to Forrest Griffin). Against a karate master, Jackson will be taking on a lot of kicks, and unless he tries to check them, they will slow him down tremendously, leaving him as nothing but a punching bag for Machida to unleash upon.

Another problem area for Rampage lies in the sense that he is most effective when either throwing his counter hooks, or coming forward with big upper cuts. Since Machida's style relies on being elusive and keeping his head back and chin tucked, it is unlikely Rampage will be able to get anywhere near close enough to Machida to land those uppercuts. But, and this is an important but, if Rampage is able to land one of his patented counter hooks, as we saw against Chuck and Wanderlei, then it may very well be lights out for Machida. When Shogun knocked out Machida, it was a counter right hand that Shogun landed when Machida was moving in. It is very possible that Quinton can land a counter that will put Machida to bed.

We do still have to keep in mind that Rampage looked slow against Rashad, and unless he has really dedicated himself in the gym, it's likely he could come in to this fight out of shape as well. If that ends up being the case, Machida should have no problem staying outside of Rampage's reach and picking him apart. My mind says Machida by decision, but my heart says Rampage by 2nd round KO. Come on Quinton.

So that's it for the main card. A lot of exciting fights going down. Here's a quick look at the prelims which will air live on Spike TV.

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185lbs)

Aaron Simpson vs Mark Munoz

Aaron Simpson comes in to this bout with a 3-1 record inside the Octagon. This may be a little bit misleading though, as one of his victories came due to his opponent blowing out their knee, and another victory coming via a close split decision. He was then put away by Chris Leben via punches.

Munoz is also 3-1 in his last four fights, but has been much more impressive. Munoz put away Ryan Jensen and Kendall Grove with punches before dropping a very close split decision to Yushin Okami, who just defeated Nate Marquardt.

Both of these fighters are wrestlers, with Munoz probably being the more powerful and more dominant. Expect to see the Philippine Wrecking Machine pick up another TKO victory somewhere around the second round, as Simpson is unable to stop Munoz's takedowns and is pounded out.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170lbs)

Brian Foster vs Matt "Immortal" Brown

So this fight was initially intended to be Matt Brown vs Rory MacDonald. MacDonald, only a 20 year old kid, showed tremendous heart and fought his ass off earlier this year against Carlos Condit. I was really looking forward to seeing him fight again, but he unfortunately was injured during training.

Matt Brown appeared on TUF 7, where he was a quiet guy in the house, but feared by all. Brown comes into the Octagon with every intention of smashing your face in. He comes to fight and he comes hard. Although he is just 4-4 inside the Octagon, the Immortal has put on plenty of exciting fights, and the fans always welcome him back for more.

Brian Foster, training out of the HIT Squad (Hughes Intensive Training) with Matt Hughes, comes into this fight with a wrestling background. Having gone just 2-2 in the UFC since arriving in 2009, Foster will need to put on an impressive performance to ensure that he continues fighting in the UFC.

Should be an exciting matchup, but am still disappointed that MacDonald isn't gonna be fighting.

So that's it. UFC 123, Saturday November 20th, Live on Pay Per View. Make sure to check it out, hope you enjoyed the read.

UFC 122 Analysis

Nearly a month has passed since the last UFC event, which featured Cain Velasquez defeating Brock Lesnar to capture the Heavyweight crown. It had been predetermined that Junior Dos Santos would be next in line, setting up a potential barnburner between Velasquez and "Cigano".

Elsewhere in the UFC, two fighters have arisen amongst the mayhem in the 185lb division. From Chael Sonnen's domination of Anderson Silva, only to lose in the dying seconds, and later be revealed to have taken steroids, to the wars put on by Chris Leben, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Michael Bisping respectively(all three have fought one another), this division is in desperate need of potential championship contenders. Enter Nate Marquardt and Yushin "Thunder" Okami.

Fighting for the chance to take on either Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort in 2011 for the Middleweight Championship, there was a lot at stake for both fighters. Marquardt had already fought Silva once, losing in the first round. Okami on the other hand holds the last win over Anderson Silva, though it came via disqualification due to an illegal upkick thrown by Silva. This occurred in 2006. With a win here, either fight could earn a rematch against the perennial kingpin of the middleweight division. Here we go.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (155lbs)

Duane "Bang" Ludwig vs Nick Osipczak

What Happened: Both fighters came out and exchanged, throwing punches, kicks, elbows, and utilizing a little dirty boxing. Osipczak was able to collect crucial takedowns at the end of the first and second rounds, but was noticeably worn out by the third round, prompting Ludwig to turn it on. Ludwig went on to win via split decision.

What Next: This was a much needed victory for Ludwig. He was always an exciting fighter in Japan in his Pride days, but since coming to the UFC has been pretty disappointing. "Bang" would serve as a great first fight for some of the new incoming fighters from WEC, especially Cerrone or Varner. With three losses in a row, Osipsczak may be on his way out.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205lbs)

Krzysztof Soszynski vs Goran Reljic

What Happened: In possibly the night's most boring fight, Soszynski won a lopsided unanimous decision in which he spent most of the time being pushed up against the fence by Reljic, or trying to be pulled down to the ground. When Reljic was successful in getting the Polish fighter down, it was Krzystof who was the more active fighter, attempting submissions and working hard ground and pound.

What Next: Reljic put on a pathetic performance. Soszynski is rarely in a boring fight, so I think Reljic is the one to fault for this crap fest. With three losses in a row as well, expect to see Reljic on his way out. Soszynski on the other hand needs one more good win before he can start taking on the big name fighters of the division. A potential rubber match with Bonnar, or a match up against Matt Hamill could be exciting.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170lbs)

Amir Sadollah vs Peter Sobotta

What Happened: Sadollah was aggressive the whole fight, working knees from the clinch and firing kicks at Sobotta every round. Amir showed good take down defense early, as well as the ability to get back to his feet later on in the fight. Although Sobotta was able to score a few takedowns, he was unable to inflict any serious damage, as Sadollah walked away with a unanimous decision victory.

What Next: Once again, a fighter with three losses in a row. Sobotta will surely be on his way out of the UFC following this loss, especially considering he's in the deepest division in the organization. While Sadollah looked impressive, he needs to fight a legitimate opponent before he starts turning any heads. I would like to see him take on the winner of Rory MacDonald vs Matt Brown, which takes place this coming weekend at UFC 123.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

Dennis Siver vs Andre Winner

What Happened: Both fighters came out exchanging back and forth on the feet. With Siver using a more power-friendly style, and Winner working a more technical boxer's approach, each fighter was landing. Winner held the upper hand early on due to the number of leg kicks he was able to land. With just about 90 seconds left in the round, Winner put together a three punch combo, only to eat a Siver left hook counter. Winner dropped to his knees, where Siver followed with punches, before taking the Brit's back and sinking in a rear naked choke for the victory.

What Next: Winner has now lost his last two, making that three out of five since entering the UFC. Don't be surprised to see Winner get the boot as Ross Pearson is clearly the better of the British Ultimate Fighter Alumni. Siver, once considered merely a gatekeeper in the division, has now won five of his last six bouts in the UFC. Like Duane, Siver would make a great welcoming mat for some incoming WEC fighters.

MAIN EVENT

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185lbS)

Nate "The Great" Marquardt vs Yushin "Thunder" Okami

What Happened: Both fighters came in with similar backgrounds in wrestling, and respectable stand up. The fight was even through the first two rounds, and the momentum swung between fighters. Whether it was Okami's jab, or Marquardt's countering and timing, each fighter was able to take control. Into the third, it became evident that Okami was controlling the center of the cage, and really using his jab to pepper Nate and also keep him at bay. Both fighters seemed to nullify one another in the clinch and ground departments. After three rounds, Okami took a unanimous decision, earning him the first crack at the winner of Anderson Silva vs Vitor Belfort.

What Next: Once considered to be the one to rule over the MW division once Anderson Silva moves up to LHW, Marquardt is slowly sinking into a gatekeeper role. It has always been said about Nate that he is good at everything, but great at nothing. Against fighters like Okami, Sonnen, and Silva, Marquardt has come up short due to the fact that he was outmatched, and he doesn't have a bread and butter style to fall back on. While many fighters can fall back on their Jiu Jitsu or boxing, Marquardt isn't dominant in any style. You think he would be a better all around wrestler considering he trains with Jackson (St. Pierre, Sanchez, Carwin, Rashad). His next fight will most likely be against one of the Leben/Bisping/Akiyama trio. As for Yushin, his time has finally come. And by god, it has been a long time coming. Since coming to the UFC in 2006, Okami is now 10-2 inside to Octagon. Being the last person to "defeat" Anderson Silva, there has always been speculation of Okami fighting the Spider, but due to his "unexciting" style, the UFC/Joe Silva have not only failed to give Okami a title shot, but hardly ever even put him on the main card. The only problem for Okami is that Anderson Silva is basically his kryptonite. Sure, Okami has pretty solid boxing, but Silva's striking is out of this world. Yea, Okami has good wrestling and decent ground and pound, but nothing close to the smothering style of Chael Sonnen, and that wasn't enough to stop Silva. Okami just doesn't have that smash mouth ground and pound style that's necessary to beat Anderson, and he certainly doesn't have the cardio to push the pace for five rounds like Chael did. Okami has to be praying that Belfort wins, because that would be a much better matchup stylistically for Yushin, as he would be able to work the clinch and ground game more effectively against Vitor. One problem does arise though. In the event that Anderson does lose, it would make a whole lot more sense for there to be a rematch rather than a Belfort-Okami matchup. So any way you look at it, Okami is kinda shit out of luck. Sorry Thunder.

So that about wraps it up. Nothing too exciting, nothing too meaningful. A free card, a decent night of fights, can't complain. Luckily we have UFC 123 to look forward to next weekend, on Saturday, November 23rd. Headlined by former LHW champions Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson, the bout also features a rubber match between Matt Hughes and BJ Penn @ 170lbs, as well as the main card debuts of both Phil Davis and Gerald Harris, two promising up and coming UFC prospects. Throw in a guaranteed ground war between George Sotiropoulos and Joe Lauzon, and you have got yourself one hell of a card. I will be posting later in the week with a more in depth preview and predictions for UFC 123: Machida vs Rampage.

MMA Rankings

So here is the end of my list of current MMA rankings. Seeing as how there only ranked fighters fighting this weekend at UFC 122 are Marquardt and Okami, I probably won't have to change too much around. Without further ado, the LHW and HW rankings.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205 lbs)

1. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua - UFC LHW Champion

-If you are not familiar with Shogun, he trains out of Chute Boxe Academy where he has mastered Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, and has been a top level LHW since 2005, when he won the Pride Middle Weight Grand Prix against Ricardo Arona. After amassing an 11-1 record with Pride (only loss due to suffering a broken arm against Mark Coleman), Rua made his UFC debut against Forrest Griffin, tapping out in the 3rd round due to rear naked choke. The MMA community was flipped on it's head as the renowned #1 light heavyweight at the time had been choked out by a product of The Ultimate Fighter reality series. After a couple of knee surgeries, Shogun knocked off Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell en route to a title shot against Lyoto Machida. Although Shogun dropped a decision in which many fans thought he had won, Rua earned himself a rematch, and promptly KO'd Machida in the first round to become LHW champ. Once the king of the LHW division, Shogun has reclaimed that honor nearly five years later.

2. Lyoto Machida - UFC

-Former UFC LHW champion, Machida is a practitioner of Shotokan Karate, a style very rarely seen in MMA. Machida uses this to his advantage, employing an elusive style which opponents are not used to seeing. Machida is very good at avoiding shots, stuffing takedowns, and landing powerful counter punches and knees. Machida holds wins over Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, and Mauricio Rua, with his only career loss coming to Shogun in their second meeting. His next challenge comes at UFC 123 against Quinton Jackson.

3. Rashad Evans - UFC

-An alumni of the second season of the Ultimate Fighter, Evans is best known for his brutal knockout of Chuck Liddell. Rashad used the momentum from this fight to defeat then champion Forrest Griffin. He was quickly removed from his throne by Lyoto Machida who finished Evans via KO in the 2nd round of Rashad's first title defense. Evans has since rebounded with decision wins over Thiago Silva and Quinton Jackson. Evans is currently awaiting a shot at UFC champion Shogun Rua sometime in 2011.

4. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson - UFC

-Rampage, a perennial top 5 ranked LHW, currently finds himself on the brink of becoming obsolete in the UFC. Jackson made a name for himself in Pride due to his ridiculous power and willingness to exchange. He defeated everyone he fought, excluding Wanderlei Silva (2x) and Shogun. Rampage then came to the UFC and knocked off kingpin Chuck Liddell. Rampage has since avenged his losses to Wanderlei Silva with a KO in their 3rd meeting, but has also lost to Forrest Griffin and Rashad. Let's not forget that Rampage also appeared in The A-Team movie last summer. Rampage has always been a fighter who doesn't like to train and would rather rely on brute force and ability. In this sport, that can only get you so far. With the piss poor performance Quinton put on in his last fight against Rashad, it doesn't look good for him against Machida. Another loss here and Rampage could fight himself on the fast track out of the UFC and into Hollywood.

5. Jon "Bones" Jones - UFC

-Yea, this might be a little high, but Bones has run through everyone he has faced. It's hard to even describe his style because it is so unique and he is able to transition like only Fedor seemed able to. Jones was a JuCo wrestling champion, and has shown a series of clinches, trips, throws, and takedowns that have just boggled people's minds. It should also be mentioned he has an 84.5" reach, the longest of any fighter currently in the UFC. Jones first true test comes next February against fellow up and comer Ryan Bader.

6. Ryan "Darth" Bader - UFC

-It's only fair to have Bader right below Jones in these rankings. Like Jones, Bader hasn't had much trouble against his opposition in the UFC so far, and that includes the likes of Keith Jardine and Rogerio Nogueira. Utilizing a dominant wrestling game courtesy of Arizona State Univ, where he trained with Cain Velasquez and CB Dollaway, Bader is able to dictate where most of his fights take place. It will be very interesting to see if Bader has an advantage over Jon Jones in the wrestling department when the two meet.

7. Gegard Mousasi - Strikeforce/Dream

-Although he lost a disappointing bout to King Mo earlier this year, Mousasi has proven to be a very unique striker with the ability to exchange with anyone on the feet. Mousasi has made quick work of all of his opponents in Japan, while it is still to be determined who he will face next for Strikeforce. The one weakness is Gegard game has been his takedown defense, which was exploited by King Mo Lawal. Aside from that, Mousasi is one of the most lethal fighters in the division when it comes to striking.

8. Thiago Silva - UFC

-Although Thiago has lost 2 of his last 3 bouts, they have come against former champions (Evans and Machida). He still remains very dangerous on the feet with an equally dangerous BJJ game. Silva is a threat to any fighter in the division and with a couple of quality wins could find himself mixing it up with the elite of the division soon enough. His next bout will be against Brandon Vera early next year.

9. Forrest Griffin - UFC

-Former TUF winner and UFC champion, Griffin finds himself settling into a gatekeeper role in the division. After shocking Shogun and Rampage in consecutive fights, Forrest was TKO'd by Rashad, absolutely humiliated by Anderson Silva, and then earned a very close split decision victory against the aging Tito Ortiz. Griffin is desperately in need of a win in order to stay relevant in this division. If Forrest wins and Rampage loses, don't be surprised to see a rematch between the two in a very winnable fight for Griffin.

10. Rich "Ace" Franklin - UFC

-This may be a little high for Rich, but he has always been one of my favorite fighters, and in my opinion would still be dominating the MW division if Anderson Silva had never come around. After fighting a few times at a 190-195lb catch-weight, Franklin has officially made the move the 205lbs, solidified by his knockout of Chuck Liddell in June. Franklin's next bout comes against Forrest Griffin early next year. That sadly means Rich will have fought only once in 2010, but a win against Griffin will move Ace up the ladder and into contention with the elite of the division.

This division continues to be very deep, with guys like Phil Davis, Matt Hamill, and Stephan Bonnar knocking on the door to get in to the top 10. Biggest disappointment is having to wait for Shogun and Rashad to fight next year.

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (265 lbs)

1. Cain Velasquez - UFC HW Champion

-After romping through the division and building up a formidable hype train, Velasquez silenced his critics by demolishing Brock Lesnar in the first round of their October bout. Next up? Junior Dos Santos. Cain has a sick wrestling game as well as impressive standup, making him a tough match up for almost everyone in the division. In my opinion he may be the most complete HW fighter we've seen since Fedor.

2. Junior dos Santos - UFC

-The current #1 contender, dos Santos came out of seemingly nowhere with an impressive knockout of Fabricio Werdum. He then dismantled Cro Cop for three rounds before Mirko tapped to strikes. Throw in a couple of knockouts against Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga, along with a thorough beating of Roy Nelson, and JDS has earned himself a title shot. He easily has the best stand up in the UFC HW division, and his bout against Velasquez is a dream come true for all die hard fans. That fight is going to be BATSHIT CRAZY!

3. Alistair Overeem - Strikeforce HW Champion

-I hate putting Overeem here because I still think he's a bit overrated and untested against elite HWs. That being said, he's still a K-1 level striker who is the size of a fucking dump truck. He was able to toss Brett Rogers around with ease, and put his striking on display at the most recent K-1 Grand Prix. The one problem remains that in MMA, the takedown is always a threat, and this limits Overeems ability to let his hands and legs go. Either way, people are dying to see him fight again, and until he's stopped, he will remain in the top 5.

4. Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko - Strikeforce

-It finally happened. Fedor finally got caught. Fabricio Werdum caught Fedor in a triangle early in the first round of their bout, causing the legend to tap for the first time in his career. We will have to wait and see how Fedor performs in his next bout, but win or lose he will most likely remain in the top 5 and will forever be considered one of the greatest fighters of all time.

5. Fabricio Werdum - Strikeforce

-After floating around the top 10 for the past couple of years, Werdum shocked the world with his submission of Fedor earlier this year, and has elevated himself to an elite status. Always dangerous on the ground, Werdum boasts some sick BJJ accompanied by a mid level striking game. It has been rumored that his next bout will come against Overeem, where Werdum would need to take the fight to the mat if he stands any chance of winning.

6. Brock Lesnar - UFC

-It's hard to pick whether Brock's recent spell of poor performances is due to his bout with diverticulitis or whether he is in fact overrated. Brock looked beaten after the first round of his fight with Shane Carwin, only to rebound in the 2nd and win via decision. He wasn't as lucky in his fight against Cain Velasquez, as Cain was able to compose himself and put a systematic beat down on the champ. Brock's weakness has proven to be that he has trouble composing himself when he is pressured or rushed. Still, his size and power are enough to beat most guys in the division.

7. Shane Carwin - UFC

-Carwin should have been the one fighting Cain Velasquez in October. He dominated the entire first round against Lesnar before completely gassing out in the 2nd. Whether it was a cardio issue or that Carwin just blew his wad, he showed he has the ability to take people out. He has good enough wrestling and crazy power in his hands, making him a threat to most anyone in the division.

8. Frank Mir - UFC

-Mir is lucky to find himself in the top 10 after a very poor showing in his most recent bout against Mirko Cro Cop. Aside from the big knee at the end of the fight, Mir showed almost nothing of significance throughout the fight. Mir has also come up short against top level opposition, being brutally finished by both Carwin and Lesnar. Being the cerebral fighter he is, Frank has usually been able to put away less talented opponents, which is why he is in the top 10.

9. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira - UFC

Big Nog has only fought four times in the past threes, and seems to be aging in dog years. He looked slow against both Mir and Velasquez, but claimed to have staph infections during those fights. Whatever the truth may be, Nogueira is definitely past his prime and is on his way out in a division being taken over by stronger, younger fighters.

10. Roy "Big Country" Nelson - UFC

-Nelson most likely doesn't belong to be in here. With guys still out there like Aleks Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, and Antonio Silva, it seems a bit far fetched that Roy be in here. But god damn, who wasn't impressed by this guy when he fought JDS. After appearing on TUF, and receiving some scrutiny from Dana White for not finishing his opponents, Nelson KO'd Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve. He then went toe to toe with possibly the best striker in the division for three rounds. dos Santos laid a beating on Nelson, but Roy kept coming forward and wouldn't back down. A heart like that deserves some praise, so until Roy loses again, he will sit snug at #10.

So there it is, the end of the rankings. 5 weight classes worth of top quality fighters to become familiar with and look forward to watching. Unfortunately there aren't many HW bouts coming up soon because most of them have either just fought or are injured. As for LHWs, there is plenty in store. Here's what to look out for

UFC 123

-Main Event: #2 Lyoto Machida vs #4 Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

-Also keep an eye on up and comer Phil Davis as he takes on Tim Boetsch.

UFC 125

-#8 Thiago Silva vs Brandon Vera

UFC 126

- #5 Jon Jones vs #6 Ryan Bader

- #9 Forrest Griffin vs #10 Rich Franklin

TBD

-#1 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Rashad Evans for LHW Championship

MMA Rankings

So now that we have lightweights out of the way, let's move on to welterweight and middleweight.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170lbs)

1. Georges "Rush" St. Pierre - UFC WW Champion

-Obvious number one selection, has been dominating this weight class for the past few years using his stifling wrestling game paired with great kickboxing. GSP is a freak athlete and possibly the best wrestler in the division. His next bout is a rematch against Josh Koscheck on Dec. 11. Each fighter appeared as a coach on the most recent season of TUF.

2. Jon Fitch - UFC

-Fitch has run through every single opponent he has faced. Except for St. Pierre. Fitch also relies on his dominant wrestling game to really grind out his opponents. He'll push you against the fence, work dirty boxing, take you down, and beat you up. Fitch does just about everything except finish his opponents. He has amassed a 13-1 record in the Octagon, with that only loss being to St. Pierre. Fitch is rumored to be facing Jake Ellenberger sometime in 2011, and is in line for a title shot if he wins.

3. Jake Shields - UFC

-The former Strikeforce MW champion, Shields has recently joined the UFC and after a win over Martin Kampmann, finds himself as a top contender for St. Pierre's belt. Shields has an incredible blend of wrestling and jiu-jitsu which has made him one of the best grapplers in the division. Unfortunately his stand up game is still light years behind, meaning that if he is unable to get his opponent to the ground, he's in trouble. But there has yet to be a fight when he has been unable to secure a TD. Shields must still adjust to the weight cut and fighting at 170lbs, as he was clearly winded early on in his last bout. Jake finds himself in line for the next shot at GSP/Koscheck.

4. Josh Koscheck - UFC

-Once a member of the first season of Ultimate Fighter, Koscheck is now a coach on the show alongside Georges St Pierre and will be challenging for the title on Dec. 11th. Koscheck is a collegiate wrestling powerhouse who has developed a solid boxing game, especially with the big power he has in his right hand. Koscheck has lost to GSP before, but still remains the only person in the division to take St. Pierre down.

5. Nick Diaz - Strikeforce WW Champion

-Diaz has accrued an impressive record since joining Strikeforce. The only problem is that his opposition has been somewhat suspect. A disciple of Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Diaz has a great ground game as well as a very unique boxing game in which he paws and jabs his opponent with a multitude of shots rather than searching for one big power punch. Watch his fight against Frank Shamrock and you'll see how these small shots slowly wear his opponent down. Diaz's only problem has been his inability to negate superior wrestlers, and the UFC is full of those. That's why Diaz finds himself at the tip of the top 5.

6. Thiago "Pitbull" Alves - UFC

-He has fallen from grace a little bit since losing to GSP and then coming in over weight against Fitch before losing that bout as well. Alves is one of the better Muay Thai fighters in the division and has great take down defense, resulting in him keeping most of his fights on the feet where he holds the advantage. Alves desperately needs a win in his next bout against John Howard in order to remain relevant in this ever growing division.

7. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann - UFC

-This guy is slowly becoming one of my favorite fighters. He has a great stand up game as well as a strong enough jiu jitsu game to turn the fight in his favor even when taken down. He showed a lot of heart in his fight against Shields, but ultimately lost a split decision. Kampmann seldom disappoints when he steps into the Octagon, and expect him to take on a top contender in his next bout.

8. Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit - UFC

-Condit has put on nothing but impressive performances since joining the UFC. The former WEC WW Champion, Condit is a ferocious fighter who has good stand up, and a dangerous, though sometimes wreckless, ground game. Condit really propelled himself up the rankings with his recent KO victory over Brit Dan Hardy. This kid loves to scrap, so expect the UFC to keep putting him in there with guys who will mix it up.

9. Mike Pierce - UFC

-I had a lot of trouble filling this spot. With up and comers like Pierce, Rick Story, and John Hathaway, along with Diego Sanchez who just scored a big win, it was tough to determine who's been the most promising. I had to go with Pierce, for now at least, due to his recent victories and impressive performance against Jon Fitch. Rick Story has a fight coming up soon which could easily launch him into this spot depending on the outcome.

10. Ben Askren - Bellator FC WW Champion

-Now I'm sure you're thinking, why not put Story/Hathaway/Sanchez in this spot? To be honest, I hate Ben Askren, but as a former Olympic wrestler, this kid needs to be acknowledged. In a division dominated by wrestlers, Askren finds himself right at home, and there's no reason to think he won't be able to hang with any one of these guys on the mats. Once his stand up game begins to improve, we will surely see him move up these rankings.

That's it for the welterweights. A very talented division through and through, with each fight truly being make or break for these fighters careers. Shit, Dan Hardy used to be a top 5 challenger, but after two losses he's not even close to top 10 anymore. All it takes is one fight to turn everything upside down. Anywho, on to the middleweights.

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185lbs)

1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva - UFC MW Champion

-Silva has run rough shed on the UFC's middleweight division ever since joining the organization back in 2006, having gone 12-0, with 10 title defenses. Silva has some of the best stand up in all of MMA, and a crafty enough ground game to pull submissions out of nowhere. After a 5th round come from behind submission victory over Chael Sonnen, Silva's next bout comes in the form of Brazilian striker Vitor Belfort. After that he can expect the winner of Nate Marquardt - Yushin Okami.

2. Chael Sonnen (R) - UFC

-While Sonnen may be one of the most hated people in MMA right now, as well as being found guilty of steroid use, he remains the only fighter in the UFC who has come anywhere close to defeating Silva. He has shown what it takes to defeat Silva, and was literally less than a minute away from being the UFC Champion. Now he must serve out his suspension and lay himself at the mercy of Dana White and the UFC brass.

3. Nate "The Great" Marquardt - UFC

-Nate seems to be one of the few guys in this division to consistently hover around the top of the division. With a strong wrestling background, diverse striking, and Greg Jackson in his corner, Marquardt always poses a threat to any opposition. His only true losses in the Octagon have come against Sonnen and Silva, so it makes sense that they be the only two people ranked above him. His next fight comes against Japanese fighter Yushin Okami, with the next shot at Anderson Silva on the line.

4. Jorge Santiago - Sengoku MW Champion

-Coming off of a potential Fight of the Year bout against Kazuo Misaki, Santiago has gone 11-1 in his 12 bouts since leaving the UFC in 2006. After being KO'd by Chris Leben and Alan Belcher, Santiago left the UFC and found success fighting in Japan. Of his 23 total victories, 9 have come from TKO while 12 have come via submission, showing that Santiago is dangerous wherever the fight goes. Hopefully he can continue to fight tough opposition in Japan

5. Yushin "Thunder" Okami - UFC

-Okami is a large MW who has surprisingly good wrestling for a Japanese fighter. Paired with a very efficient boxing game, Okami has been a perennial contender in the division, but has been snubbed several times by the UFC due to his inability to finish fights, or put on exciting fights.After going 9-2 in the UFC, Okami finally finds himself on the verge of a title shot. All he needs to do is pick up a win against Marquardt at UFC 122.

6. Dan "Hollywood" Henderson - Strikeforce

-Hendo is getting old. There's no doubt about it. A lot of people expected him to destroy Jake Shields in their April bout earlier this year. Shields was able to take Henderson down and hold him down for 4 of the 5 rounds, picking up a decision victory. The fact remains that Henderson is a former Olympic athlete with tremendous wrestling and cinder blocks for hands. I already showed the right hand he dropped on Bisping, but he has just as lethal of a left hand which he laid on Wanderlei Silva back in their Pride days. Hendo will try to rebound in his next bout, a rematch 10 years in the making against Babalu Sobral.

7. Hector Lombard - Bellator FC MW Champion

-I know this may be a little high for a guy who hasn't really fought any sort of legitimate competition, but god damn has he been impressive in his fights. He has shown that his stand up is on another level than most at this weight class, and that he has the endurance to go five rounds. But until Lombard faces some stiffer competition, he will remain outside of the top 5.

8. Demian Maia - UFC

-Boasting one of the most lethal jiu jitsu games in all of MMA, Maia came up short in his championship bout against Anderson Silva, a fight which received much criticism from the MMA community. Maia entered the UFC with 5 consecutive submission victories before being KO'd by Nate Marquardt. Since then, he has gone 2-1, with all three fights going to decision. Maia is still lethal, but it seems like he may have lost some of his aura.

9. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza - Strikeforce MW Champion

-It has to be mentioned that Jake Shields was the former Strikeforce MW champ, but vacated his title in order to join the UFC. Jacare won a little mini tournament to become champ. Boasting a very lethal ground game similar to that of Maia's, Jacare fights himself one spot lower on the charts due to the fact that his opposition has been slightly easier. If he defends his title a couple of times or moves to a different org, expect to see his stock rise.

10. Michael "The Count" Bisping / Chris "The Crippler" Leben - Both UFC

-Each of these guys deserves recognition, although at the same time it is questionable that either of them be considered in the top 10. Leben pulled off 2 victories in the span of 14 days, over Aaron Simpson and Akiyama, with the latter being a come-from-behind submission victory in the 3rd round and definite Fight of the Year candidate. This is an extremely impressive feat, unseen since the days of Pride Grand Prix's or early early UFC events. Leben's next fight comes at UFC 125 in the form of ex-Marine Brian Stann. As for Bisping, the Count has gone 3-1 inside the Octagon since having his head knocked clean off by Dan Henderson in 2009. With wins over Denis Kang, Dan Miller, and Akiyama, Bisping now finds himself one or two fights away from once again being a contender for the middleweight belt.

So that's it folks. Two more weight classes to become familiar with. If you want to see these guys in action, upcoming events featuring them are as follows

UFC 122 - November 13th on Spike TV

Main Event

-Nate Marquardt vs Yushin Okami - #1 Contender Match

UFC 123 Prelims - November 20th free on Spike TV

-Mark Munoz (8-2) vs Aaron Simpson (7-1) @ 185lbs

Each of these guys are promising up and comers in the MW division. Munoz just dropped a split decision to Okami, but has proven that he can hang with the best at 185lbs.

Strikeforce: Henderson vs Babalu 2 - December 4th on Showtime

Main Event

-Dan Henderson vs Renato Sobral

UFC 124 - December 11th on PPV

-Champion Georges St. Pierre vs Josh Koscheck

-Thiago Alves vs John Howard

MMA Rankings

So I decided I'd start doing rankings every couple of weeks or once a month or something depending on how many events take place. At first I was going to keep it to just UFC, but I figure by incorporating all promotions, it will allow my readers to recognize a broader range of fighters and realize that UFC is necessarily the home of all the best fighters in the world. I'll give the list and a short shpeel about each fighter. Since each division will be long, I'll only do a couple divisions each day. Here we go.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (155lbs)

1. Frankie "The Answer" Edgar - UFC LW Champion

-Just did the impossible, beat BJ Penn in consecutive fights. Edgar has a strong wrestling background and utilizes a very effective boxing style in which he is able to move in, land strikes, and get out of his opponents range before being countered. His next fight comes in January against Gray Maynard, the only person to ever defeat Edgar.

2. Gray "The Bully" Maynard - UFC

-Has earned a shot at the title after 8 consecutive wins inside the Octagon, most recently defeating Kenny Florian. Unfortunately all those wins have come via decision, as Maynard is a powerful wrestler who relies on his top game to smother his opponents. Next fight against Edgar who he already holds a victory over.

3. Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez - Strikeforce LW Champion

-Coming off of two impressive victories over Josh Thomson and Shinya Aoki, Melendez finds himself short of competition in the Strikeforce LW division. A disciple of Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu, El Nino has a great ground game as well as very technical stand up which he put on display against both Thomson and Aoki. Possible superfight against Eddie Alvarez is in this works

4. BJ "The Prodigy" Penn - UFC

-Once considered one of the most talented and gifted fighters in the world, Penn is coming off back to back losses. Penn has a ground game unlike any other fighter we've ever seen, except for maybe Shinya Aoki. Penn has amazing dexterity and flexibility, allowing him to control and submit opponents from any position. Pair this with a dominant boxing game in which Penn scores using counter punches, and it's easy to see why the Hawaiian fighter was once considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Next bout is at welterweight against former foe Matt Hughes.

5. Eddie Alvarez - Bellator FC LW Champion

-Coming off of a very impressive stoppage of Roger Huerta, Alvarez has solidified himself as one of the elite in the division. A very scrappy fighter, Alvarez has very technical boxing, possibly the best in the division, to go along with a strong wrestling background. A fight between Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez is in the works for 2011.

6. Kenny Florian - UFC

-Just lost a tough decision to Gray Maynard in a number one contender's match. Sporting great Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, Florian has unfortunately found himself as a gatekeeper in the LW division. He has finished almost all of his opponents in the UFC, with his only losses coming to either champions(Sherk and Penn) or championship contenders (Sanchez and Maynard). Florian will serve his role well as he takes on up and comer Evan Dunham in early 2011.

7. Shinya Aoki - DREAM LW Champion

-Aoki is the proud owner of some of the most impressive submissions victories over the past five years. A dominant fighter in Japan, Aoki was outclasses in his overseas debut as he was trumped in a five round decision against Gilbert Melendez. While Aoki's ground game is out of this world, his stand up is nothing to write home about. Unless he can get his opponent to the ground, Aoki doesn't have much more to offer, which is why he falls this low in the rankings.

8. George Sotiropoulos - UFC

-After stringing together six wins since joining the UFC, the Australian finds himself on the verge of a title shot, needing only to get past Joe Lauzon in his next bout. Sotiropoulos has proven to be a very crafty and exciting fighter on the ground and could pose threats to the wrestlers of the division.

9. Evan Dunham - UFC

-Should probably be higher on this list, but after a hard fought split decision loss to Sean Sherk, Dunham didn't receive any sort of free-bee rebound fight as he takes on Kenny Florian in his next bout. This may be a dreaded case of the UFC bringing their prospects along too quick, and another loss at the hands of Florian could be crushing for a very promising fighter in Dunham. Either way, this kid is still young so expect big things from him in the future.

10. Ben Henderson - WEC LW Champion

-The guy deserves to be in here due to the fact that he is a champion, and also that no other fighters have really been consistently impressive. Henderson will make his Octagon debut against Anthony Pettis in their upcoming LW bout, with the winner slated to face the victor of Edgar-Maynard. This will be Bendo's chance to prove that he belongs up here with the big boys.

So that's all for now, I will post again in the near future with the rest of my rankings, welterweight through heavyweight. Thanks