UFC Rankings

HEAVYWEIGHT

1. Champ – Brock Lesnar (4-1, 3-1 UFC)

Few men have ever achieved so much by doing so little. With only four victories in his pro MMA career, Brock Lesnar has become the number one heavyweight in the UFC, and most have him ranked as the number two heavyweight in the world, just behind Fedor Emelianenko, a man who holds 31 professional victories. Lesnar arrived in the UFC in Feb. 2008, at UFC 81, with a pro record of 1-0. He lost his UFC debut via first round kneebar submission to Frank Mir. Most people chalked the loss up to inexperience for Lesnar, as he had been dominating the fight. His next fight was in Aug. 2008, and he won a unanimous decision a la ground and pound beat down over Heath Herring. Three months later he knocked out Randy Couture to win the UFC Heavyweight Title. Lesnar’s next bout was eight months later, in July 2009 – he fought Frank Mir, the only man ever to beat him, at UFC 100, the biggest, most highly anticipated event the UFC ever produced. Lesnar knocked Mir out in the second round. Lesnar was diagnosed with diverticulitis in the latter half of 2009 and at one point, it was questionable if he would ever fight again. Now with a clean bill of health, Lesnar’s next title defense is expected to take place almost a year to the day from his last fight. He is set to fight at UFC 116 on July 3, where he will face the winner of Frank Mir and Shane Carwin.

2. Frank Mir (13-4, 11-4 UFC)

All but Frank Mir’s first two fights have been inside the UFC Octagon (his second fight was against Dan Quinn of Youtube/Stevia fame). Although Mir has been in the UFC for many years, nine to be exact, we are just now beginning to see his full potential.He has a win and a loss against champion Brock Lesnar, and if he can get past big Shane Carwin at UFC 111 in March, he will get a rubber match with Lesnar, and the opportunity to hold the UFC Heavyweight Title for the first time since 2004 when he beat Tim Sylvia.

3. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1, 1 NC, 3-1 UFC)

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s first fight inside the Octagon was at UFC 73 in July 2007; he defeated Heath Herring. He then went on to win the UFC interim Heavyweight Title by submitting Tim Sylvia in his next fight. He reportedly had a staph infection leading up to his next fight, and was stopped for the first time in his career by Frank Mir at UFC 92. Nine months later, and fully recovered he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 102. On Feb. 21, he will face undefeated Cain Velasquez at UFC 110.

4. Junior dos Santos (9-1, 4-0 UFC)

5. Cain Velasquez (7-0, 5-0 UFC)

6. Shane Carwin (11-0, 4-0 UFC)

7. Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4, 7-3 UFC)