We all know that Anderson Silva is the most dominate MW in the world.  Has set the UFC record for longest winning  streak (10), tied for the most consecutive title defenses (5), and has remained unbeaten for over 4 years.  Due to his overwhelming dominance, Silva currently resides at or near the top of every MMA Pound 4 Pound ranking.  But what if A.S. were to suddenly vanish?  The UFC MW landscape would change dramatically.  With that in mind, who would rule the UFC's MW division in a world without the Spider?  Time find out, Tournament style...

We will poll each fight individually, for 1 day, beginning with opening round Match #1.  MMA Mania has the most knowledgeable MMA online community, so please feel free to post your pick in the comments along with your analysis of how you see the fights breaking down.  Hopefully this will give us something to do on slow news days.

Quarter Final #4 Was essentially like watching a fat kid devour a cupcake...  The cupcake had no chance.  Nate absolutely destroyed Belcher in the polls taking 91% of the vote.  The Great now moves on to the semis to face The Phenom in a MMA fan's wet dream match. 

                                                            QF1     1 C. Sonnen

Match #1:    8 Yoshihiro Akiyama                     9 P. Cote

                   9 Patrick Cote                                                                   SF1  1  C. Sonnen

                                                                                                                    5  W. Silva
                                                            QF2      4 D. Maia                                                                           

Match #2:   5 Wanderlei Silva                           5 W. Silva

                12 Chris Leben

                                                            QF3      3 V. Belfort

Match #3:    6 Yushin Okami                             6 Yushin Okami

                 11 Dan Miller                                                                      SF2  3  V. Belfort

                                                            QF4      2  N. Marquardt                   2 N. Marquardt

Match #4:    7 Michael Bisping                          10 A. Belcher

                 10 Alan Belcher

Semi-Final #1 will give us a real taste of Wanderlei's standing within the MW division, as he takes on Tournament fav Chael "I tell it like it is" Sonnen.  Can The Axe Murderer shut Sonnen up via old school knees, or will Chael's wrestling be to much for the well traveled Brazilian?   I'm interested to see how the voting goes in this one.  Will the Maniacs vote based on the current skills and recent performances of the respective combatants, or will they vote with their hearts?   Winner moves on to await the winner of Nate/Vitor for the Tourney Championship...

So lets hear it Maniacs.  Who would rule the day, in a world without Anderson Silva?  Will the favorites move on, or will we see an underdog rise to the top?  You decide.