USAT/SBN July MMA Consensus Rankings: Middleweight

Rankings compiled by Richard Wade.

The middleweight division continues to feel cursed. Despite the emergence of a clear-cut, utterly undisputed #1 in UFC champ #1 Anderson Silva, the failure of the UFC to develop a credible pool of challengers still rankles.

The month Silva is taking his second hiatus from the division in as many years. He'll face #4 light heavyweight Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 on the 8th. Despite moving up in weight, Silva is heavily favored. A loss to Griffin could be very damaging to his invincible aura and leave the UFC with an even less marketable middleweight champ.

#2 Dan Henderson came out of his epic KTFO win over #14 Michael Bisping seeming to have a great deal of momentum for an immediate title shot. Naturally the UFC then teased a UFC 103 re-match at 205lbs against #9 light heavy Rich Franklin. (Henderson is #13 on the 205lb charts.) Thankfully they seem to be pulling back from that. I refuse to believe that Zuffa can't market A. Silva vs Henderson II. Dan won the first round of the first fight and his highlight reel KO of Bisping sells the fight on its own.

The latest knight in shining armor to get UFC fans and brass buzzing is #8 Vitor Belfort. Thanks to Affliction: Trilogy imploding, Belfort won't have to face very tough #6 Jorge Santiago before returning to the UFC. And after taking a tune-up fight in Brazil in September, could easily find himself featured in some big money fights in the UFC by winter. Wanderlei Silva vs Vitor Belfort II or direct to a title shot against Anderson? Lots of fun options for fans and the UFC here.

Meanwhile #2 Nate Marquardt and #5 Demian Maia will be meeting in what should be a #1 contender's match at UFC 102. But due to circumstances beyond their control, the winner is not likely to get an immediate title shot unless they somehow win in such devastating and novel fashion that SPIKE TV will be forced to dedicate multiple episodes of UFC Unleashed to the epic miracle win. Sorry hardcores, not happening.

And #3 Yushin Okami will finally return from an injury imposed sabbatical against #11 Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 in October. The two tough wrestlers should make for an entertaining and bruising bout. Cross your fingers. Best case scenario will see the winner of Okami/Sonnen face the winner of Marquardt/Maia in a real #1 contender's match.

#9 Thales Leites has been exiled to the undercard for his UFC 101 fight against the unranked Alessio Sakara. After his dismal guard-flopping performance at his UFC 97 title-shot, Leites truly has a long, hard road ahead of him to do more than serve out the string of fights remaining on his UFC contract before being cut.

The one bright spot in the division, from a promoter's point of view, was #10 Yoshihiro Akiyama's emergence at UFC 100. The Japanese-Korean judoka showed why he is one of the biggest draws in Asia with his Fight of the Night performance over #21 Alan Belcher. Everything Akiyama did, from the dramatic entrance to the Octagon to his willingness to stand and trade to the controversial decision was guaranteed to get the attention of even the most casual of fans. Provided he doesn't decide to cut down to welterweight, the UFC could very well find itself putting on a card in South Korea someday soon and Sexyama will be the headliner.