Don't mess with tradition.
The "official" Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rankings (see them here) have expanded to the top 15 fighters in each weight class, but ain't nobody at SB Nation got time for dat.
Top 10 ... forever and always.
Not a lot has changed in the wake of UFC 168, which took place last Saturday night (Dec. 28, 2013) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (results). At least not in the middleweight division, which still boasts Chris Weidman as its champion.
With Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort in hot pursuit.
In fact, the "All American" has four Brazilians chasing his title, according to the SB Nation rankings panel -- compiled by MMA Mania, MMA Fighting and Bloody Elbow -- who recently reshuffled the top middleweight mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters for UFC and beyond.
See for yourself:
1. Chris Weidman (11-0, 60 points)
2. (tie) Vitor Belfort (24-10, 51 points)
2. (tie) Anderson Silva (33-6, 51 points)
4. Ronaldo Souza (19-3, 1 NC, 37 points)
5. Lyoto Machida (20-4, 34 points)
6. Michael Bisping (24-5, 33 points)
7. Luke Rockhold (10-2, 20 points)
8. Yushin Okami (29-8, 14 points)
9. Mark Munoz (13-4, 10 points)
10. Tim Kennedy (17-4, 8 points)
Honorable mention: Francis Carmont (6 points), Gegard Mousasi (4 points), Tim Boetsch (2 points).
Expect this list to change sooner rather than later. Machida fights Mousasi next month in Brazil, on the same card that has "Jacare" fighting Carmont. And Bisping is expected to fight Kennedy right around the same time Weidman defends his title against Belfort.
Shuffle it up!
You've heard from us, Maniacs, now let's hear from you. Top 10 middleweight fighters are ...