FanPost

UFC Heavyweight Rankings


The UFC Heavyweight division is as exciting now as it has ever been. The merge of the Strikeforce Heavyweight division has added depth to the top, middle, and bottom of the division.

Alistar Overeem, Antontio Silva, and Fabricio Werdum has joined Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir to give much needed beef to the division's title picture. Last year the top of the division was in disarray. Brendan Schaub was heading into an August 27 fight at UFC 134 against an aging Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who had been on the shelf for nearly a year and half. Many believed that if Schaub won the contest he could be a serious title contender due to the lack of depth at the top of the division. That just goes to show you how far this division has come in a year.

Both Chad Griggs and Shane Del Rosario, who's combine record is 22-1, will help thicken up the middle of the division. They join Matt Mitrione and surging prospect Stripe Miocic near the middle of the pack. Currently, however, I have Del Rosario unranked due an extended layoff caused by the merger.

Shawn Jordan and Lavar Johnson have both made their impact felt, winning their UFC debutes over Oli Thompson and Joey Beltran respectively. They join guys like Phil De Fries and Pat Barry near the bottom of the division.

Of course the division will drastically change with UFC 146 around the corner on May 26.......

Yeah it kinda sucks for fight fans that Junior Dos Santos will most likely not defend his title against Alistar Overeem. The rest of the main card, however, will have a major impact on future Heavyweight rankings. The Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez fight, one which Dana White assures will stay intact, will probally produce the next #1 contender. Antonio Silva makes his debute against Roy Nelson. If Silva wins, he could make a claim for a top 5 ranking. Roy Nelson, who has loss 3 of his last 4, needs a win to stay in the top 10 and among the elite. Both Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve has been surging as of late. A win by either, could move them top 10 and set them up for bigger fights in the future. Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Del Rosario fight for a possible top 15 ranking.

Other schulded fights include:

Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs- 4/21

Ben Rothwell vs. Brendan Schaub- 4/21

Lavar Johnson vs. Pat Barry- 5/5

Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum- 6/16

To understand how I do rankings click http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/4/10/2937178/ufc-ranking-preview

Rankings

1.) Junior Dos Santos
2.) Cain Velasquez
3.) Alistar Overeem
4.) Frank Mir
5.) Fabricio Werdum
6.) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
7.) Antonio Silva
8.) Mike Russow
9.) Travis Browne
10.) Roy Nelson
11.) Stefan Struve
12.) Brendan Schaub
13.) Mark Hunt
14.) Cheick Kongo
15.) Matt Mitrione
16.) Gabriel Gonzaga
17.) Stipe Miocic
18.) Chad Griggs
19.) Dave Herman
20.) Devin Cole
21.) Shawn Jordan
22.) Lavar Johnson
23.) Pat Barry
24.) Phil De Fries
25.) Ben Rothwell


Unranked

Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Rob Broughton
Oli Thompson
Edinaldo Oliveira
Christian Morecraft

Uneligable due to layoff

Chris Mierzwiak
Sergei Kharitonov
Bryan Humes
Shane Carwin
Jon Madsen
Shane Del Rosario
Hershel Walker

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