holding simultaneous UFC championships than anyone else competing under the Zuffa banner. Recently he fought at UFC 134, where he stopped Yushin Okami with strikes early in the second round. He presently holds a 14-0 mark in the UFC, has defended his championship a record nine times successively, and is easily the most dominant champion in the promotion’s history.

Georges St. Pierre has taken the reigns from Matt Hughes as the planet’s top 170 pound fighter and run with it. Other than a 2007 hiccup against Matt Serra, St. Pierre has steamrolled through the very best the division has to offer and is just a handful of victories away from cementing his status as an all-time great.

he’s considered one of the premier pound for pound competitors in MMA. In front of the biggest live North American mixed martial arts audience in the sport’s history, Aldo went toe to toe with Mark Hominick in a memorable five round affair. Although he didn’t get the stoppage, his dominant performance showed why he’s considered head and shoulders above his peers at 145.

three years of MMA training he’s established himself as the planet’s top light heavyweight, and done so in dominating fashion. The sky truly is the limit for this twenty four year old, who’s well on his way towards making a lasting impression in the sport.

as an elite level fighter. Still, the consensus number one lightweight was deemed too small for the division and entered his New Year’s Day encounter with Gray Maynard as the decided underdog. Putting on an impressive display of speed, technique, and heart, Edgar once again proved he was no fluke.

ladder and shows no signs of slipping back down. He ended 2010 by turning in a dominating performance against Scott Jorgensen and in the process earned the right to call himself the last WEC Bantamweight Champion ever. Though injuries kept him sidelined for the first seven months of this year, Cruz returned in July to take out rival Urijah Faber to up his record to an impressive 18-1. Undoubtedly Cruz is the best 135 pound fighter on the planet.

who trails only Georges St. Pierre in his division. Hell-bent on earning another shot at the UFC title, Fitch will need at least one more victory after fighting to a draw against B.J. Penn in late February.

cemented his spot as the UFC’s top heavyweight fighter. Still less than ten fights into his pro career, Velasquez has the tools at his disposal to keep the title for many years. Currently sidelined as he recovers from major shoulder surgery, Velasquez will try and make his return in the second half of 2011.

pound attack to avenge his 2007 defeat. Rua, whose UFC career has been marred by multiple injuries, is hoping to stay healthy long enough to add to his latest win. Widely regarded as one of the division’s most talented individuals, Rua has now avenged three of his five career losses. If he can stay healthy for an extended period, Rua has a very real shot at rematching Jones soon.

7-0 record in the promotion, dos Santos has established himself as the number two man in the division. He’ll get his chance at UFC gold this November when he squares of against champ Cain Velasquez in the first ever MMA event to be broadcast by the Fox network.

cemented his spot as the UFC’s top heavyweight fighter. Still less than ten fights into his pro career, Velasquez has the tools at his disposal to keep the title for many years. Currently sidelined as he recovers from major shoulder surgery, Velasquez will try and make his return in the second half of 2011.

7-0 record in the promotion, dos Santos has established himself as the number two man in the division. He’ll get his chance at UFC gold this November when he squares of against champ Cain Velasquez in the first ever MMA event to be broadcast by the Fox network.

career. A second bout with diverticulitis forced Lesnar to pull out of a bout with Junior dos Santos, prompting speculation that his career may be in jeopardy. After undergoing a second surgical procedure however, both he and UFC President Dana White denounced those rumours. Lesnar will return to the octagon on December 30th to take on Alistair Overeem in a five round, non-title affair.

the UFC in early September. Arguably the most physically imposing heavyweight in mixed martial arts today, Overeem should get every opportunity to prove his worth within the promotion. Already a K-1, Strikeforce, and DREAM Champion, Overeem will begin his quest for UFC gold when he takes on Brock Lesnar in December.

found North American success competing within the Strikeforce banner. Renowned for his world class jiu jitsu pedigree, Werdum’s talent level and experience speaks for itself. He’s been a top ten mainstay for the past five years, and is just one fight removed from a submission victory that ended the legendary winning streak of Fedor Emelianenko.

one of the most successful heavyweight careers in MMA history. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion recently stamped his ticket to the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament, where a victory could see him make his way back to the promotion he left nearly nine years ago.

Shane Carwin’s status as a top ten heavyweight remains firmly intact. The former NCAA Division II wrestling star has compiled a 12-2 professional record, with not one of his victories coming by way of decision. Approaching thirty seven years of age, Carwin will be looking to rebound from his latest setback.

three round affair with Roy Nelson. Mir, a ten year eighteen fight UFC veteran, has now earned victories in consecutive bouts for the first time since 2008. He’ll go for his third straight win in December when he rematches PRIDE Fighting legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

in just two years of professional fighting. The AKA trained wrestler’s pedigree had never been in doubt, and as his win over Antonio Silva showed his striking has developed quite nicely. Next up he’ll meet Josh Barnett where a victory could earn him a UFC contract.

a bout that many believed would signify a changing of the old guard, Nogueira knocked out Brendan Schaub further stake his claim as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Nogueira, the only man to hold championships with both PRIDE and the UFC, will now try to avenge an earlier defeat to Frank Mir when the two rematch in December.

three years of MMA training he’s established himself as the planet’s top light heavyweight, and done so in dominating fashion. The sky truly is the limit for this twenty four year old, who’s well on his way towards making a lasting impression in the sport.

pound attack to avenge his 2007 defeat. Rua, whose UFC career has been marred by multiple injuries, is hoping to stay healthy long enough to add to his latest win. Widely regarded as one of the division’s most talented individuals, Rua has now avenged three of his five career losses. If he can stay healthy for an extended period, Rua has a very real shot at rematching Jones soon.

Rashad Evans’ ability to prepare and game plan in his former coach’s absence. If his UFC 133 fight is any indication, those concerns can be put to rest. Evans battered Tito Ortiz over the better part of two rounds, stopping the former champion with a brutal barrage of knees and punches. The TKO victory was Evans’ first finish in over two years, and thrusts him immediately back into the light heavyweight title picture.

Evans. Recent wins over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill have secured him a UFC title shot, and put him within grasp of a rematch with Evans he so desperately wants.

front kick knockout of Randy Couture at UFC 129. After spurning a short notice bout with Rashad Evans, Machida patiently awaits his next opponent. He is likely one significant victory away from title contention.

Most recently he stopped PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko with strikes, cementing his status as one of the best fighters in the sport’s history. Despite his age, Henderson has shown no signs of slowing down. His latest triumph has put him back on the UFC’s radar, and he’s rumoured to be making his return to the octagon very shortly.

UFC Light Heavyweight title in 2008. In that time he’s gone 2-3, and was recently knocked out by Mauricio Rua at UFC 134. Griffin has also admitted he no longer enjoys competing as much as he once did - likely a major contributor to his decline.

fought, three round decision win against consistent veteran Rogerio Nogueira. Davis, who was the sport’s top ranked prospect entering the fight, showed he could hang with an elite opponent in just his ninth pro fight. A future title-contender, Davis is expected to return to the octagon this winter.

(and second straight), falling to Phil Davis at UFC Fight Night 24. Although Nogueira has long been considered a top-ten light heavyweight, the past three fights have shown he can be beaten by strong wrestlers. A win in his next bout will be crucial if he wants to extend his stay in the UFC.

bouncing back nicely from his March loss to Dan Henderson. In fourteen professional fights the Team Nogueira product has yet to go to a decision, with ten of his eleven wins coming by way of knockout.

holding simultaneous UFC championships than anyone else competing under the Zuffa banner. Recently he fought at UFC 134, where he stopped Yushin Okami with strikes early in the second round. He presently holds a 14-0 mark in the UFC, has defended his championship a record nine times successively, and is easily the most dominant champion in the promotion’s history.

to the ground early and often, dominating for nearly four and a half rounds before getting caught in a late fight submission. Though that performance earned him the respect of critics, subsequently failing his post-fight drug test and pleading guilty to money laundering left his future in limbo. With the CSAC recently lifting his suspension, Sonnen returns to battle Brian Stann at UFC 136.

standing remains firmly in tact. Since joining the UFC back in 2007, Okami has been remarkably consistent. He holds a 9-3 mark in the octagon, a 26-6 record overall, and has routinely demonstrated the ability to stifle opposing fighters using his takedowns and positional control.

fights, Nate Marquardt is setting his sights on Europe. Not only will he be competing in a new promotion (BAMMA), but Marquardt also appears poised to take a crack at competing in the welterweight division.

The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is 4-1 at the weight, and has scored brutal knockout in each of those wins. His only loss has come against Anderson Silva - in what was his first fight back after a seventeen month layoff. Next he’ll tangle with Sanshou expert Cung Le, where a victory could put him back in line for a title shot.

Champion Ronaldo Souza after more than a year and half away, the consensus was he was in over his head. Rockhold however stuck stringently to his game plan and ended up walking away crowned the new champion. Rochold, at twenty seven years of age, has the potential to do big things in the division. With the victory he arrives as a top ten fighter at middleweight.

middleweight. The former NCAA Wrestling Champion’s combination of takedowns and ferocious ground and pound skills has allowed him to build a 6-1 record at that weight, recently defeating heralded jiu jitsu artist Demian Maia. Next he’ll square off against the always scrappy Chris Leben, where a victory could potentially put him in line for a shot at the title.

outside the UFC prior to dropping a close decision to Luke Rockhold. World renowned for his jiu jitsu pedigree, Souza had cemented his top ten status with consecutive wins over Matt Lindland, Joey Villasenor, Tim Kennedy, and Robbie Lawler. At thirty one, Souza is a strong candidate to bounce back well in his next bout.

victories. Since then however, opponents’ have avoided the Brazilian’s vaunted ground game and his record over the last six has dropped to 3-3. Maia will need to recoup from his latest setback, a loss to Mark Munoz, in order to work his way back to UFC title contention

himself as a middleweight contender. Thus far he’s been perfect at 185 pounds, stopping all three of the men put in front of him. His latest effort was a brilliant knockout victory over top ten foe Jorge Santiago, putting him just a win away from title contention.

asserted his status as the greatest welterweight in the sport’s history. What’s most impressive is that St. Pierre has torn through the division’s elite without so much as losing a round. While St. Pierre’s ultimate future may be at 185 pounds, his next title defense will come in October when he locks horns with former WEC standout Carlos Condit.

who trails only Georges St. Pierre in his division. Hell-bent on earning another shot at the UFC title, Fitch will need at least one more victory after fighting to a draw against B.J. Penn in late February.

bona fide superstar in the world of mixed martial arts. Even so, he’s continued seeking out the best matchups and frequently campaigned for a shot at top fighters. Now with a newly minted eight-fight contract under his belt, Diaz will get his chance. He’s scheduled to take on B.J. Penn in October.

at UFC 124. Koscheck was bruised, battered and thoroughly outclassed in the five round drubbing that left the contender humbled in defeat. 100 percent recovered from an orbital injury, Koscheck will return to the octagon this September to square off against Matt Hughes.

contender. After dropping his debut bout in the UFC, Ellenberger has reeled off five consecutive victories including a recent knockout of Jake Shields. A strong wrestler with dynamite punching power, Ellenberger is likely just a win away from a UFC title shot.

eight years without losing a single match. The Cesar Gracie product has long been a mainstay in the division, and before returning to 170 pounds was universally ranked as a top five fighter at middleweight. With the latest setback Shields will need regroup and go back to the drawing board.

two separate weight divisions. In his first two bouts since returning to welterweight Penn’s shown both his ability to dominate, and his frustrating lack of consistency. In his latest showing, Penn looked brilliant in the early stages before fading in the late going and splitting a draw with Jon Fitch. With this likely being his last run as a contender, his next performance will be closely monitored.

the UFC; earning only a close split decision win, and a last second, come from behind TKO victory through his first three bouts in the promotion. However, If his last two fights are any indication, Condit has finally arrived as a contender. He followed up a first round knockout of Dan Hardy by absolutely shellacking Dong Hyun Kim in highlight reel fashion. Those performances earned him a title shot as he’s scheduled to square off against Georges St. Pierre in October.

up taking home a decision victory against Rick Story in late June. Prior to that the most significant victory of Brenneman’s career came during his octagon debut, when he defeated journeyman Jason High in a closely contested three round affair. Brenneman will need to build off the biggest win of his career in order to prove he’s for real.

was decisioned by Charlie Brenneman in June. Story, who had been riding a six fight winning streak entering the fight, will attempt to work his way back up the ladder when he returns to action this November to square off against Martin Kampmann.

as an elite level fighter. Still, the consensus number one lightweight was deemed too small for the division and entered his New Year’s Day encounter with Gray Maynard as the decided underdog. Putting on an impressive display of speed, technique, and heart, Edgar once again proved he was no fluke despite the draw.

with Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard had his opponent badly hurt and appeared on the verge of capturing the title. After taking a lopsided first round however, Edgar battled back and sent the fight to the judges’ scorecards. Although the bout was scored a draw, Maynard showed he could hang with the best lightweight in the world.

ranks by avenging his only two losses and dominating Japanese superstar’s Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Melendez’s performances have caught the eyes of Zuffa brass, whose recent purchase of Strikeforce could allow Melendez to test himself on the biggest stage in the sport shortly.

DREAM Lightweight Champion. Though 2010 was somewhat of an up and down year for the “Tobikan Judan”, Aoki has gotten back on track in 2011. Victories over Lyle Beerbohm (Aoki’s first in the United States), and Rich Clementi keep his status as a top five lightweight in order.

2008 Lightweight Grand Prix, and he hasn’t looked back since. He’s become the face of Bellator FC where he’s consistently put on exciting performances against quality opposition. He’s next scheduled to square off against Season Four Lightweight Tournament Champion Michael Chandler in October.

decision to Anthony Pettis. His most recent victory was a one sided dismantling of lightweight mainstay Jim Miller, who himself was on the verge of a UFC title shot before losing. Henderson’s incredible work ethic has allowed him to progress at a fantastic rate, and if he’s able to get past Clay Guida in December he may be next in line for a UFC lightweight title shot.

off seven consecutive victories and appeared to be on the verge of a title shot. After losing to Ben Henderson in August however, those plans have been put on hold. Miller has long been considered too small for the division and with his latest setback will need to determine whether to continue fighting at lightweight, or make the drop to 145 pounds.

Clay Guida has risen to prominence since joining Greg Jackson’s MMA camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, he’s learned to apply his wrestling and relentless pace in a more co-ordinated attack that has seen him defeat the likes of Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi. A victory against Ben Henderson in December could see him earn the next crack at the UFC’s lightweight champion.

UFC. His mental game finally appears to have caught up to his natural, God given talents and the results have been fantastic. Guillard has gone 7-1 since rejoining the promotion, and recently earned two high profile knockouts of Evan Dunham and Shane Roller respectively.

including Ben Henderson to capture the WEC Lightweight Championship. Pettis, who comes equipped with highlight reel striking abilities and a savvy submission game, will be looking to rebound from his loss to Clay Guida when he steps in against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136

he’s considered one of the premier pound for pound competitors in MMA. In front of the biggest live North American mixed martial arts audience in the sport’s history, Aldo went toe to toe with Mark Hominick in a memorable five round affair. Although he didn’t get the stoppage, his dominant performance further cemented his status as the sport’s top featherweight.

the Shooto Lightweight Championship and then capped off the campaign by turning in a brilliant effort against Marlon Sandro to take Sengoku’s featherweight crown. Quite possibly the best submission grappler in the division, Hioki has arrived as an elite level featherweight. He’ll now get a chance to prove himself against the best in the division as a member of the UFC.

he must be considered one of the more versatile fighters in the division. Still less than three years into his fighting career, Mendes has already scored wins against notables Cub Swanson, Javier Vazquez, and most recently Michihiro Omigawa. Only a win or two away from a title shot; Mendes has arrived as a legitimate top ten force.

into the cage against Jose Aldo at UFC 136. Earlier this year, the former lightweight mainstay had made a successful debut at featherweight when he defeated Diego Nunes. At thirty five years of age, losing another title bout would leave the sixteen time UFC veteran at a crossroads in his career.

a smooth transition to mixed martial arts. He’s earned victories against seven extremely worthy adversaries, including a recent win over BJJ World Champion Marcos Galvao. A true showman and character in the sport, Warren is itching for a chance to prove himself in the UFC where he could develop into a Chael Sonnen-esque combatant.

class. He recently captured his second consecutive Bellator tournament when he knocked out divisional stalwart Marlon Sandro with a spectacular highlight reel high kick. Just twenty four years of age, Curran has progressed at a phenomenal rate over the past eighteen months. His future at featherweight appears to be very bright.

the cage and battered George Roop en route to a first round TKO victory. In his following title bout with Jose Aldo at UFC 129, Hominick showed the same resolve in going five rounds with the best the division has to offer. Though he dropped the decision, Hominick held his own and actually got the better of the champ on several occasions.

Marlon Sandro brought his game to North America as a member Bellator FC. In his three bouts since he’s had marginal success; earning two decisions and making the featherweight tournament finals only to be knocked out by Pat Curran. Approaching thirty five years of age, Sandro will need to rebound from his latest defeat.

The past twelve months have been particularly impressive, as he’s secured victories against both Mike Brown and Raphael Assuncao. As he’s gained experience Nunes has continued rounding out his game, and he now boasts a competent wrestling/ground game to compliment his dangerous standup.

home state of Iowa, to WEC regular, to top ten UFC featherweight in just under five years as a pro fighter. The twenty three year old recently defeated TUF winner Jonathan Brookins to up his record to 13-1, and in the process solidified his status as a top ten fighter. Koch’s future appears very bright and he’s likely a future title contender.

ladder and shows no signs of slipping back down. He ended 2010 by turning in a dominating performance against Scott Jorgensen and in the process earned the right to call himself the last WEC Bantamweight Champion ever. Though injuries kept him sidelined for the first seven months of this year, Cruz returned in July to take out rival Urijah Faber to up his record to an impressive 18-1. Undoubtedly Cruz is the best 135 pound fighter on the planet.

to be an elite talent and consensus top five fighter at 135 pounds. Making his UFC debut in March, Benavidez took a three round decision over Ian Loveland, and followed that by outpointing former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland in early August.

of injuries, Brian Bowles returned to fighting in early March and promptly submitted Damacio Page in his UFC debut. He followed that win by outpointing Takeya Mizugaki, and doesn’t appear to be any worse for wear despite the long layoff. The former WEC stalwart appears to be back on track and could make his way back into the title picture very shortly.

beating Brian Bowles at UFC 139 will be enough to get him a second crack at the championship. The long-time WEC standout has had a fantastic career thus far, but capturing a UFC title would seal his status as one of the true legends in the sport.

WEC. In his very first bout with the promotion, “Young Guns” turned in a vintage performance when he took down Ken Stone and knocked him out with a vicious ground and pound attack. He returns at UFC 137 to take on Jeff Curran.

when he defeated Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Torres consecutively to begin his UFC career. Johnson, known for his speed, power and aggressive style, now holds a sparkling professional record of 9-1. He’s taken three straight over ranked opponents and will challenge Dominick Cruz for UFC’s Championship this fall.

(including fifteen stoppages), before being finished consecutively against Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles. Re-inventing his training in Montreal under the watchful eye of Firas Zahabi, Torres reeled off two straight wins before dropping a controversial decision against Demetrious Johnson. Although he’s coming off that loss, Torres appeared to be the winner in the eyes of many and at the very least looks to be back on track.

on the British circuit where he was very well respected. As with all imports, his arrival in the WEC was met with subdued optimism as many observers chose to reserve judgment until seeing him compete. If anything, Pickett has surpassed expectations in compiling a 3-1 record stateside, including notable wins over Demetrious Johnson and Ivan Menjivar.

seven bouts, Takeya Mizugaki has turned in impressive performances in his victories. The long time Cage Force and Shooto veteran continues transitioning well to North America, and is coming off a closely contested decision loss against standout Brian Bowles.

got back in the win column with victories against veterans Akitoshi Tamura and Ralph Acosta. The thirty three year old has spent his entire career fighting in Shooto, where he is a former four-time champion and promotional stalwart.