Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)
1–Brock Lesnar – UFC Champion-By far the most talented fighter in the division. Has the speed and agility of a 205er. After a shaky round one versus Shane Carwin we now he has the chin and the heart to go along with the strap.
2–Cain Velasquez – Outstanding wrestler and a gas tank like nobody else in the division. Has the wrestling to give Lesnar a fight. Can he survive Lesnar’s power and athleticism to get the later rounds….I say no.
3–Fabricio Werdum – Strikeforce Champion-Shocked the mma world by submitting the mighty Fedor….in round one no less. However, there’s a reason the UFC let this guy go. Lets face it Fedor got lazy….and got caught but Werdum deserves credit for capitalizing and having the skill set to pull off the submission.
4–Fedor Emelianko – Still one of the best in business. Look for Fedor to answer the bell and be a champion again but not in the UFC.
5–Junior Dos Santos – Another rising star in the UFC but lacks the size of Lesnar and the explosiveness of Velasquez. Tougher competition is on it’s way Junior and so will be a drop in the rankings.
Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
1–Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – UFC Champion-A healthy and confident Shogun is a huge problem for anybody with title aspirations. I expect Shogun to the man at 205 at least through 2011.
2–Lyoto Machida – Still as tough a puzzle to solve as there is in mma. However, getting knocked out changes a fighter. We’ll find out what kind of heart Machida has. My prediction is Machida will clean out the contenders in this division and earn a third fight with Shogun.
3-Rashad Evans – Went back to his wrestling roots and looks to be a more humble fighter because of it. I don’t think he can handle Shogun or Machida but will have plenty of fights worth watching.
4–Rich Franklin – Recent KO of The Iceman will get Ace of the schnide and provide him with the confidence to make a legit run at the belt. Should be good enough to handle Evans but Machida and Rua are clearly the class of this division.
5–Quinton Jackson – Ring rust got him against Evans. No more movies and more fights will get Rampage a title shot within the year but he won’t be a UFC champion again.
Middleweight (185 pounds)
1–Anderson Silva – UFC Champion-Say what you want about his antics in the ring. Been a while since he’s been pushed and this will be his undoing. Look for a jump to 205….and no super fight with GSP.
2–Chael Sonen – Next champion at 185….yes, Sonen will be beat Anderson Silva. Styles make fights and unlike Dan Henderson, Sonen knows where his bread is buttered…and that’s his wrestling. Look for him to frustrate and grind out the victory of Silva.
3–Nate Marquardt – As skilled a fighter as there is in mma today. Marquardt will back and will be champion after avenging his loss to Sonen….he’s just to good not be a champion.
4–Damien Maia – Somebody has to be ranked fourth. Showed guts against Silva but isn’t well rounded enough to hang with the top three.
5–Dan Henderson – Hendo gets the nod because I’m a big fan of his….get over it.
Welterweight (170 pounds)
1–George St Pierre – UFC Champion-GSP has been champ for what seems like a decade. He’s already beaten everybody ranked below which makes motivation and keeping your title tough….Koschek will prove me right.
2–Josh Koschek – New champion at 170. The only guy at 170 dynamic enough to beat GSP. Already went the distance with GSP and Kos is much better now than he was in that fight. Not sure how long he’ll be champ though….Jon Fitch
3–Jon Fitch – After beating Thiago Alves for the second time comes a shot at Koschek and the title. Koschek was the better wrestler in college but Fitch is one of he best mma wrestlers on the planet.
4–Thiago Alves – All the skill in the world but a little shaky in the head. GSP destroyed him and fighting Fitch at the wrong time doesn’t look good for his title chances this year or next.
5–Jake Shields – Not fighting at 185 will get Shields a couple of big time fights but is he really that good….I don’t think so.
Lightweight (155 pounds)
1–Frankie Edgar – UFC Champion-Can’t take away his victory over BJ Penn. Frankie did more to win the first fight Penn…it won’t happen again.
2–BJ Penn – Rematch with Edgar will go BJ’s way…decisively. Penn is one of the best fighters ever to get in the cage. Look for another cleaning out of the division from The Prodigy.
3–Kenny Florian – Kenny is good but not good enough to Penn….and that’s all that matters at 155.
4–Gray Maynard – Good wrestler but doesn’t have the skill set to get past Florian. I wouldn’t expect a title shot for Maynard anytime soon.
5–Gilbert Melendez – Appears to a legit fighter but who has he fought….needs the UFC in a bad way.
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