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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief 1. Anderson Silva
Obviously there's not another fighter in the middleweight division that can hold a candle to The Spider. Until someone steps up to expose even a glimmer of mortality in Silva, he's going to have control of the top of this division until he retires.
2. Robbie Lawler
"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler found himself a new life in MMA following a less than ceremonious end to his UFC tenure. He's got a wealth of experience considering he's still such a young fighter, and he's improved markedly from his original run in the UFC. If ProElite does not get started back up and he becomes a free agent, he might get a second run in the big dance. Lawler's got the skills and power to beat anyone on this list, save for the freak that is Anderson Silva.
3. Yushin Okami
A man who by his record alone should be one of the next in line for Anderson Silva's Title, Yushin Okami just finds ways to win fights. He's not the flashiest or most exciting fighter, but he gets the job done and he does it with immense skill. He's another fighter that could manage a victory over much of this list.
4. Matt Lindland
"The Law" came back in July after a lengthy layoff and picked up a victory over Fabio Negao. He looked a bit sloppy in the win, but that can be attributed to the layoff. The man is just a great fighter, as evidenced by the fact that his only two losses in the last four years have come at the hands of Quinton Jackson and Fedor Emelianenko. Those were also contested in higher weight classes as well.
5. Nate Marquardt
Marquardt's another fighter in the unfortunate "Rich Franklin" category, where he can barrel through the division and continue to pick up victories over everyone he faces, but once he gets to the Champ Silva, that's where the fun stops. This division is so middle heavy because Silva's so far and above the rest of the pack.
6. Gegard Mousasi
The DREAM Middleweight Champion is the best middleweight fighter not competing with a U.S. based promotion. He's got knockout power, very good submission skill, and just an overall good fighting acumen. I can't justify placing him higher until he's tested against better competition.
7. Dan Henderson
There's more of a chance of Hendo coming back down to this division following his bout with Rich Franklin than there is of the latter fighter doing so, and as such I'd set him on this list any day. Again, he's yet another fighter that can defeat many names on this list but can't figure out the Champ.
8. Thales Leites
Despite a win that was in effect handed to him with the questionable point deductions against Nate Marquardt in their tilt, Leites is still on of the more promising fighters in the division. The young fighter continues to pick up victories and he's shown improvement each fight out in the UFC so far.
9. Demian Maia
He has brought more excitement to the ground game aspect of this sport than perhaps any other fighter in recent memory. He may very well be the best BJJ practitioner in this division, and he is a smart fighter who can stand and trade if he needs to. He's simply one of the most exciting young fighters coming up in the game right now, and he's another one who's only getting better. Once he proves his merit against one of the names above him on this list he'll shoot up even quicker.
10. Paulo Filho
The fight at WEC 36 was an anomaly. Paulo Filho was not in that cage that night, and he can't be written off entirely for it. If he's clear headed, he's one of the best fighters in the sport, and I just don't know what caused his performance against Chael Sonnen.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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