Official Arm Triangle Blog Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Junior Dos Santos (UFC) – Mir never had a shot really.  JDS looked untouchable and reigns as the baddest man in the world.

2. Cain Velasquez (UFC)  – Velasquez was a man possessed against Big Foot Silva, mauling the giant on the way to a quick finish. This guy is clearly the number one contender in my mind.

3. Daniel Cormier (Strikeforce) – Steps into the SF HW tournament and wins the whole thing decisively.  The scary part is we don’t even really know how good he is yet.

4. Alistair Overeem (UFC) – The top of this division has effectively wrecked the bottom so Overeem stays in the top five despite his positive test. 

5. Fabricio Werdum (UFC) – Very solid and very sharp. Will need to keep proving himself if he wants to move up.

6. Josh Barnett (Strikeforce) – Got decisively put away by Cormier but is still a top talent. Will need to remain active to stay in the top 10.

7. Mark Hunt (UFC) – Getting injured let him move up because a lot of guys ahead of him took big losses. Hunt is on a streak and is very dangerous.

8. Mike Russow (UFC) – It may seem strange and it is but this guy has been earning upset wins while the two below him got absolutely wrecked in their last fight.

9. Frank Mir (UFC) – Mir had nothing for JDS and really didn’t even look like the best Mir we have seen lately. Me thinks Mir vs Lesnar III is not that far off in the distance.

10. Antonio Silva (UFC) – I like this guy and I think he has a lot to offer but Velasquez was ruthless and Silva felt the consequences. He needs to get back on the winning track and soon.

Light- Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (UFC) – Jones is good, no doubt about that.  He is the king of the mountain and now we will see if anyone can knock him off.

2. Dan Henderson (UFC) – Henderson is undeniable. He will meat Jones sooner rather than later.

3. Shogun Rua (UFC) – Shogun is climbing his way back up to a title shot but his next match is somewhat out of the way. 

4.  Alexander Gustafsson (UFC) – Gustafsson got a staple win against T. Silva and now he seems to be on his way to a title shot with another win or two at most.

5. Lyoto Machida (UFC) – Machida is in a tough spot. He is undoubtedly one of the best in the world but its hard to say what the future holds for him.  Ryan Bader could be his next knockout though. 

6. Rashad Evans (UFC) – I don’t really know what happened in his fight with Jones but Evans seemed completely and totally outmatched mentally in the cage. He has a long way to go to get back to the top again.

7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC) – I love Little Nog but he really needs to string together some wins if he wants to remain relevant. He is the quietest top 10 fighter in the world right now.

8. Phil Davis (UFC) – I feel like Davis has been trying to take an extended break for a while now and hopefully he is, regrouping and retooling a little to come back better than ever.

9. Ryan Bader (UFC) – Bader has a huge chance to prove he is legit against Machida but he will have to come with his best performance to date. .

10. Quinton Rampage Jackson (UFC) – I am not totally convinced we will ever see Rampage in the UFC again but he is still a top 10 talent. .

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (UFC) – Say what you will but I think Silva has a little something to prove against Sonnen and I for one hope he puts this to rest.

2. Chael Sonnen (UFC) – The talk all ends on July 7^th. Lets see if Sonnen can do what he says he can do… if he is as good as he says he is.

3. Mark Munoz (UFC) – Munoz has been one of the best fighters over the past few years. He has to get past the unbeaten Chris Weidman to get his title shot though.

4. Vitor Belfort (UFC) – Bad break for Vitor as he just had to pull out of his fight with Wandi.  Belfort needs to get back in the cage because this division is shaking up.

5. Michael Bisping (UFC) – Bisping was so impressive in losing that I am moving him up my top 10.  The Brit might have been robbed of a title show by a few judges that prefer takedowns to clinch control.

6. Tim Boetch (UFC) – Boetch has earned the biggest fight of his career as he and Bisping will be a showcase in Canada. This guy is legit. .

7. Yushin Okami (UFC) – Had Boetch dead to rights but couldn’t finish the fight. A two fight skid is not good for him but hopefully it wakes him up.

8. Hector Lombard (UFC) – Finally signs with the UFC but has to fight the man beast that is Brian Stann. Its time to start proving you belong here.

9. Brian Stann (UFC) – Back on track and looking good, Brian Stann welcomes 32-2 Lombard to the UFC this summer

10. Luke Rockhold (Strikeforc) – The SF champion deserves some credit I guess. That division is no joke though and he has some tough competition gunning for him.

Welterweights

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC) – Unless he is out longer than expected there is no reason to be silly and move him from number 1.  

2. Carlos Condit (UFC) – Interim champ has a lot of stiff competition coming a him and looks like he is going to have to defend before GSP returns

3. Jake Ellenberger (UFC) – This guy smashes folks and even though his last win was closer than expected he is maybe one win away from a rematch with Condit.

4. Johnny Hendricks (UFC) – Big Rig has topped two of the most productive WWs of the modern era and has a legit claim to a title shot with Carlos Condit.  

5. Martin Kampmann (UFC) – The third man posturing for a title shot, Kampmann, will get his chance to set himself apart when he fights Ellenberger.

6. Jon Fitch (UFC) – It is somewhat crazy to think he is this far down but a long layoff and his most stunning loss ever put him behind all the big time contenders.

7. Josh Koscheck (UFC) – He fought hard against Hendricks but just didn’t have his number.  Kos’s best days might be behind him, another victim of the GSP era. 

8. Jake Shields (UFC) – There is a big drop off here in the latter half of this list but Shields is at least back to his winning ways.

9. Ben Askren (Bellator) – I have some serious questions about his ability to compete with the UFC crew but he has wins.

10. Rory MacDonald (UFC) – Finally got back in the cage and back to his winning ways. Its tough to say what the future holds for his young man but its bright… that much we know. 

Lightweight

1. Benson Henderson (UFC) – The new king of 155. All the sudden the division is looking like the most competitive in the sport.  Bendo has the tools to stay on top though.

2.  Frankie Edgar (UFC) – The fact of the matter is Frankie Edgar is still the second best at 155. His rematch with Henderson should be fireworks.

3. Gray Maynard (UFC) – Finally falls in my rankings but not far. This guy is still a beast at 155 and I don’t think we have heard the last of him.

4. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce) – Another win, perhaps closer than it should have been, but Melendez will continue to be a great question mark until he gets to the UFC.

5. Anthony Pettis (UFC) – This guy is simply not getting the respect he deserves.  Pettis is a legit contender and should get a lot more title talk.

6. Nate Diaz (UFC) – Nate Diaz has really had a breakout year to this point. He could be next in line for a title shot if the cards fall a certain way.

7. Clay Guida (UFC) – Guida has a really tough challenge in the form of Gray Maynard and I simply don’t like his chances of staying in the top 10.

8. Michael Chandler (Bellator) – This guy is in and out of my top 10 but he has talent and wins so he might find himself going up before down at this point.

9. Jim Miller (UFC) – Miller is quickly slipping into gatekeeper status but his talent is unquestioned.  His lose to Diaz was a total surprise but his inability to get anything going was.

10. Donald Cerrone (UFC) – Cerrone just wont go away. He is young and has a bright future but needs to take that next step if he wants to make waves in this division.

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (UFC) – Aldo is quietly one of the most dominant champions in the sport but the talent in this division is stacking up. 

2. Hatsu Hioki (UFC) – Declining a title shot Hioki will have to win another before he gets called up again but with some of the action in the division he might just lose his shot all together.

3. Chang Sung Jung (UFC) – One of the most impressive performances I have ever seen, The Korean Zombie took a huge stride toward the top against Poirier.

4. Pat Curran (Bellator) – He is on a fantastic win streak that has been impressive and entertaining.  Curran is one of the more interesting non-ufc fighers. 

5. Chad Mendes (UFC) – It is back to the drawing board for Mendes but he should turn things around quickly.

6. Erik Koch (UFC) – Honestly, I am not sure I would make him number 6 but he has a title shot in his back pocket and a four fight win streak that isn’t anything to scoff at.

7. Dustin Poirier (UFC) – Poirier was totally shocked by The Korean Zombie’s game and looked to honestly not have any idea what he had gotten himself into at times. This kid is a super athlete though and I think he will be back soon.

8. Denis Siver (UFC) – Drops down in weight and picks up a somewhat lackluster win. All the same Siver COULD make waves in this division.

9. Iuri Alcantara (UFC) – With a 13 fight win streak and a 3-0 UFC run he isn’t someone to sleep on at all. However he benefits from a lulling latter part of this list.

10. Jimmy Hettes (UFC) – I am the only one who seems to be as excited about this kid as I am but I think he has a lot of potential once he returns to health. He is a grappling wizard.

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (UFC) – Cruz has looked unstoppable but he blew his knee out and will now watch someone earn himself an interim title.

2. Urijah Faber (UFC) – Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Cruz gets hurt and now Faber has to fight Barao.  

3. Renan Barao (UFC) – Steps in to fight Faber for the interim title in July.  I think he is the undisputed champion by years end.

4. Michael McDonald (UFC) – I tell ya, I am impressed with this kid.  I think he has tons of potential and just 21 years old he has plenty of time to develop it.

5. Brian Bowles (UFC) – Losing to Faber was big because it kind of leaves him with a big question mark over his head but Bowles is still a top tier fighter.

6. Scott Jorgensen (UFC) – No shame in losing to Barao but its back to the drawing board for Jorgensen. This division has the ability to bury people fast. 

7. Brad Pickett (UFC) – He gets back to his winning ways and is still one of the more exciting fighters in the division. There is still a lot to prove for the Brittish slugger.

8. Eduardo Dantas (Bellator) – Another young prospect breaking into the big time, Dantas has all the tools to make waves in this stacked division

9. Bibiano Fernandes (Dream) – Three fight win streak and 10 of his last 11, Fernandes isn’t a spring chicken but he is a legit threat to just about anyone.

10. Zach Makovsky (Bellator) – Before falling to Dantas Makovsky was wrecking the competition. There is a bit of a drop off at the end of this list but don’t count a guy like this out. 

Flyweight

1. Joseph Benavidez (UFC) – He looked as good or better at Flyweight than at Bantamweight.  He looked like a world-beater really.

2. Ian McCall (UFC) – Was robbed of breakout performance by terrible judging logistics.  I personally think he won the fight but they will run back his semi-finals fight with Mighty Mouse.

3. Demetrious Johnson (UFC) – Had a hectic battle with McCall that should gone to an extra round. This guy has a bright future at 125.

4. Jussier Da Silva (Shooto) – Its only a matter of time before he emerges into the big time I think. He has only lost one fight and that was to McCall.

5. Yasuhiro Urushitani (UFC) – Still considered one of the best despite getting utterly exposed by Benavidez, He needs to get back in the cage and back to winning.

6. Darrell Montague (TPA) – Of his 11 fights he has finished 9 of them. I like the idea of this kid getting in the mix with some of the top flyweights in the world.

7. Jose Tome (Various Brazilian Organizations) – I continue to be the only one I know who is kind of high on this guy.  He added another first found submission to his resume since my last ranking

8. Mamoru Yamaguchi (Shooto) – An experienced fighter coming off a lose, Yamaguchi needs to get back to his winning ways as this division emerges.

9. Louis Gaudinot (UFC) – Didn’t win TUF but looked fantastic in his return to his prime weight.  I expect him to be a real mover in this division. 

10. John Dodson (UFC) – Eeked out a win in his division debut. I have been high on his chances of emerging as a top 5 fighter but I am not a little hesitant.