As we move closer towards the biggest event that the UFC has put together this year in UFC 148, everyone understands the magnitude of the main event. Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will settle one of the more intriguing and well-promoted rivalries to grace the sport of mixed martial arts. Once the bout is over, we will have either a reigning champion who can solidify his place as perhaps the greatest of all time, or a new titleholder who will gladly tell us why he’s always been the best. Either way, awaiting the winner is a developing list of new contenders that have reinvigorated the once stagnant middleweight division. Here is a look at some of the names, and why they can be considered very close to a title shot:
Mark Munoz
The title shot that Sonnen has this weekend could very well belong to Munoz, had he not suffered the arm injury that forced him out of the January bout between the two of them. The former NCAA wrestling champion has continued to improve as a mixed martial artist, and is currently riding a four-fight win streak. Instead of facing off against Sonnen, he has now healed up after surgery, and is due to face another contenders list newcomer, Chris Weidman, at UFC on Fuel TV 4 later this month. A victory over his unbeaten opponent would create the perfect timing for a matchup against the winner of the UFC 148 main event, and give the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” his first title shot in the UFC.
Bisping’s bout against Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 went a long way towards proving that he is a true contender in the middleweight division. “The Count” has had trouble getting past some of the bigger names that he’s faced, but even in defeat to Sonnen, Bisping looked so good that many people believed he won the fight. An injury has set him back and he’s currently not scheduled for a bout. However, the right victory could easily make him the next fighter in line for a shot. Both a rematch against Sonnen and a fight against Silva are credible and marketable matchups for the UFC.
“The Barbarian” kicked down the door of the middleweight division when he pulled out a come from behind victory against Yushin Okami at UFC 144 in Japan. He was down two rounds to none when he landed stiff uppercuts that put the Japanese fighter away. Before that moment, the former light heavyweight was an afterthought in his new weight class, but by taking advantage of the opportunity after being such a major underdog, he’s now highly ranked across the board at 185. His match against Bisping fell apart due to Bisping’s knee injury. However, he will be called upon to welcome Hector Lombard to the UFC, in what is expected to be an action-packed striking affair. With a win in this fight, Boetsch might still need another victory over a top ten fighter to be considered for a title shot, but it would be very hard to refute the idea that he belongs in this group.
If Rich Franklin is considered the UFC’s company man for stepping in on short notice, then Chris “The All American” Weidman must be his apprentice. The New York native made his UFC debut on just two weeks-notice, and walked out with a victory that sent his stock rising. Since then, he has competed twice more on short notice, including the two week prep time he had to face former title challenger Demian Maia. While his record stands at 8-0, he’s proven to be a hot commodity in the sport. If he can defeat Munoz later this month, Weidman will have placed himself within reach of a title eliminator bout against any of the names on this list — quite an idea for a fighter who hasn’t even reached his tenth professional bout.
Hector Lombard is perhaps the most perplexing individual on this list. The former Bellator champion has created quite the stir since signing a Zuffa contract; however, many question whether he deserves to be thought of as a potential contender. It has been rumored that if he wins his first UFC bout in convincing fashion, his next Octagon appearance will be in a title fight. While it is true that he is riding an undefeated streak that dates back to 2007, the quality of competition over that time leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, if Lombard walks into Canada and dispatches Boetsch in a highlight reel fashion, we may see him leapfrog everyone on this list.
The middleweight division had fallen upon tough times, as Silva has sat upon the throne for the last six years. Domination led to stagnation while other weight classes surged in popularity. However, this weekend will kick off a new period in the weight class, as these new faces are more than ready to challenge for the title in the coming months.
