Heavyweights

1. Brock Lesnar (5-1) Minnesota Martial Arts

It’s amazing that a fighter with only six pro fights is considered the best in the world but that’s just a testament to the other-worldly athletic ability that Lesnar possesses.  For a few minutes it looked like we’d see a new UFC HW champion when Shane Carwin wobbled Lesnar early in the fight and was throwing bombs from top position.  Lesnar weathered the storm and took Carwin down immediately in the second round and quickly submitted him with an arm triangle choke.  The fight showed that Lesnar truly never quits and he absolutely deserves to be in this spot regardless of his lack of experience.  Next up for Lesnar is Cain Velasquez in October.  

 

2. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) Werdum Combat Team

Werdum has certainly come a long way since his PRIDE days.  He’s really developed into a strategic fighter and it suits him well.  He was able to accomplish what many though was the impossible when he submitted the top HW in the world Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce this past June.  He got dropped early and simply allowed Fedor to over-commit himself and secured a perfect triangle armbar in the first round.  Werdum has had two really big wins in a row and needs to be fighting for a belt.  He’s currently out with an injury until sometime next year. 

 

3. Fedor Emelianenko (31-2,1NC) Red Devil Sport Club

Well it finally happened and Fedor is human after all.  But am I the only one that’s noticed that every fight he’s had for the last few years he’s been increasingly out of shape for each one? I just don’t know if Fedor has the same fire that he’s always had.  Perhaps he doesn’t need it against most people.  Strikeforce can’t make up their mind on what they want to do with their HW division and we all know how hard M1 is to deal with so it’s anybody’s guess as to what’s next for Fedor.

 

4. Cain Velasquez (8-0) American Kickboxing Academy

Velasquez has waited patiently for the title shot he was promised after he knocked out Minotauro Nogueira and he’ll finally get it on 10/23.  I really would have liked to see him with another fight in that time frame not because I feel he doesn’t deserve his title shot, just simply to stay busy.  That’s a long time to go between fights.  I’d hate to see ring rust play a factor.  Still, it’s a very intriguing matchup and it will be interesting to see if Velasquez will be able to actually stop the takedown of Lesnar. 

 

5. Junior dos Santos (12-1) Black House

JDS is coming off of an impressive victory over Roy Nelson.  I was completely amazed at the level of punishment that Nelson was able to withstand.  Ordinarily it would be a situation where you might be inclined to question the power or finishing ability of JDS, but that’s something he’s proven over and over again in previous fights.  This was a case of a guy just being able to take a ridiculous amount of punishment.  Still, JDS looked spectacular in the fight.  Fast, crisp punches continually hit their mark on Nelson’s head.  Dos Santos has tentatively been given a title shot against the winner of Velasquez/Lesnar but time will tell what happens with that scenario.  I must say I’m not a big fan of planning out the next title fight when the current one is still months away.  It just leaves guys on the shelf for a long time.

 

6. Alistair Overeem (33-11,1NC) Golden Glory

Overeem simply demolished Brett Rogers in his title defense in May.  The current problem is that Strikeforce can’t make a decision on what direction they want to take the division.  Overeem isn’t going to wait around forever and will be fighting for K1 later this year. 

 

7. Shane Carwin (12-1) Grudge Training Center

Carwin was on the verge of solving the puzzle that is Brock Lesnar when the two met for the title in July but he just wasn’t able to put the champ away.  Carwin was explosive from the opening bell and buckled the knees of Lesnar and dropped him to the canvas but Lesnar was able to cover up and weather the early storm.  The second round saw an obviously spent Carwin not be able to mount any offense or defense and wilted away under the pressure of Lesnar.  Next up is TBA.

 

8. Frank Mir (13-5) Kobra Kai

Mir was on his way back up the ladder when he was derailed by fast rising Shane Carwin at UFC 111.  Mir was originally slated for a rematch against Nogueira but will instead be going up against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 119. 

 

9. Antonio Silva (14-2) EMF

You’ve got to give credit to Silva for the fact that he wants the big fights.  He lost a tough fight to Werdum where he dominated the first round but saw a determined Werdum come back and control the second and third for a decision.  He came right back and completely dominated Arlovski in the striking department.  Silva is now calling out Emelianenko and Overeem and I think he’s a tough fight for anyone in the division.  Next up is TBA.

 

10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1, 1NC) Black House

Nogueira’s inaction isn’t doing him any favors here.  I also don’t think it does him any favors inside the cage either.  He hasn’t been a regular fighter since 2006 having fought only once in 07, twice in 08, once in 09, and hasn’t fought since February of this year where he was swiftly KO’d by Cain Velasquez.  Nogueira was unable to fight in a rematch with Frank Mir at the upcoming UFC 119 and had to be replaced by Mirko Cro Cop who will actually overtake Nogueira in the rankings should he pull off the upset of Mir.  It’s unclear when Nogueira’s next fight will be.