FULL VERSION
MARQUARDT > KAMPMANN > LEITES > MARQUARDT
LEBEN > MARTIN > RIVERA > GROVE > DAY > BELCHER > STARNES > LEBEN
If you’ve ever doubted the UFC and Joe Silva’s ability to make matches and set up timelines, I need only point you to the beauty of what they’ve done with the middleweight division over the past couple months. Just two months ago, the middleweight division looked in shambles. Champion Anderson Silva fought two lackluster title fights, and there was no immediate challenger for the title. Fans clamored for Silva to make a permanent move to 205.
Flash forward to mid-July and the entire scene has changed. Silva’s next foray at light heavyweights gives the middleweight division time to sort itself out. Dan Henderson has staked his claim to a rematch with the champ after three straight wins, including an absolute firebombing of Brit Michael Bisping. Less than a month after Silva battles Forrest Griffin, Demian Maia and Nate Marquardt square off in a fight that will manufacture another credible challenger to the throne.
All that without including the Asian contingent. Yushin Okami might have to continue his search for the holy grail just a little longer, but represents a rematch that many hardcore fans have wanted for the past couple years. While his UFC 100 win wasn’t as impressed as some had hoped, Yoshihiro Akiyama might only be a fight or two away from a title shot of his own.
Speaking of Sexyama, I’m interested to see who he gets matched up with in his sophomore UFC fight. Maybe he gets Mr. Thirty Seconds Drew McFedries? Chael Sonnen? The winner of Thales Leites–Alessio Sakara? The winner of Ricardo Almeida–Kendall Grove?