From Belcher to Lombard, who should face the winner of Silva vs. Sonnen 2?
Posted on May 7, 2012, 12:03 PM by Anton GurevichNot so long ago, UFC Middleweight division was widely considered as the weakest division in the UFC. Today, I'm not afraid to say that 185 is a stacked weight class, with Alan Belcher, Michael Bisping, Mark Munoz, Brian Stann and Hector Lombard all in the mix for a shot at the title.
The long-anticipated rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will take place on July 7th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner of this fight will have his hands full defending the title, not speaking about "cleaning out the division".
Here's a quick look at the current top contenders in the UFC Middleweight division, and what's next for them inside the Octagon.
Alan Belcher:
Belcher was “left behind” due to an eye injury that put him out of fighting for over a year. But when he returned to action, The Talent proved his worth as one of the top contenders in the UFC Middleweight division, with two consecutive victories over Rousimar Palhares and Jason MacDonald. Belcher is currently on a four-fight winning streak, holding a record of 9-4 in the UFC. Victory over Paul Harris (oops, it’s Palhares) is the biggest achievement of Alan Belcher’s MMA career, and it definitely catapulted him into a top contender status. Yet, it looks like Alan Belcher is still at least one fight away from challenging the UFC Middleweight title. I would love to see Belcher fighting a legend, Rich Franklin would be a perfect opponent.
Who’s next? Rich Franklin (if victorious against Cung Le at UFC 148)
Michael Bisping:
“The Count” was very close to defeat Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2. But unfortunately for the Brit, judges’ scored the bout in favor of the Oregonian. Michael Bisping meets Tim Boetsch at UFC 148 (Silva vs. Sonnen), with sights on cementing his status as Top 5 Middleweight contender. Stylistically, Boetsch is a good test for Michael Bisping, but this is clearly not a title shot eliminator. Bisping will have to fight again to prove a point, most likely against Vitor Belfort, who faces Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147. There’s no love lost between Bisping and Belfort, which would make a great number one contender bout. I think Belfort is a clear favorite to beat Wanderlei Silva, so it looks like there’s a good chance to see a strong #1 contender bout between Belfort and Bisping.
Who’s next? Vitor Belfort.
Mark Munoz:
Only three years ago, Mark Munoz was viciously knocked out by Matt Hamill in his Octagon debut at UFC 96. Munoz dropped to Middleweight, and went on an amazing 7-1 run inside the Octagon, losing only to Yushin Okami via Split Decision. The Philippino Wrecking Machine will now face the undefeated Chris Weidman, looking to extend his current winning streak to 5. In fact, if victorious against Weidman, Mark Munoz could easily find himself facing the winner of UFC 148 fight between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva. Despite Dana White’s recent statements, I find it hard to believe that the UFC would give Hector Lombard a title shot after just one victory inside the Octagon, and since Brian Stann was choked out by Chael Sonnen, he’s no less than two fights away from a title shot. Mark Munoz has a good chance to get that title shot, unless Chris Weidman delivers another upset.
Who’s next? Title shot, or the winner of Stann vs. Lombard.
Brian Stann:
Brian Stann’s impressive performance against Alessio Sakara put him back into “the mix” for a shot at the title. Stann will now face the newcomer Hector Lombard, who is well-known for knocking out his opponents senseless. Victory over Hector Lombard would be a huge statement for Brian Stann, but I find it hard to believe that he will get a title so soon after getting submitted by Chael Sonnen. Stann is a force to be reckoned with, and I would pick him to win against Hector Lombard, but his biggest fights are still ahead.
Who’s next? With a “W” over Hector Lombard, Brian Stann could find himself in the cage with Alan Belcher, Rich Franklin, or anyone else with intentions of becoming a top UFC Middleweight.
Hector Lombard:
Former Bellator Middleweight champion will look to prove a point in the UFC, facing Brian Stann at UFC on FOX 4. Lombard is 31-2 in his career, with 17 KO/TKO and 7 Submission victories. Lombard is an extremely dangerous striker, but I’m very skeptical about his abilities to defeat Brian Stann on August 4th. Brian Stann’s style is a bad match-up for Lombard, who tends to struggle against technical strikers. UFC President Dana White recently stated that in case of victory over Brian Stann, giving a title shot to Hector Lombard “would make sense”, however, I think most of you would agree that Mark Munoz, and even Alan Belcher deserve it more.
Who’s next? If Hector Lombard beats Brian Stann, I would love to see him against Alan Belcher. If he loses to Stann, Jason “Mayhem” Miller (fights C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146) would be a great opponent.
Comments
Belcher
Munoz
Lombard
Bisping
Stann
i agree all 5 of these guys should fight Silva at the same time.
Top five or top ten lists are NEVER well received by LowKickers because for every one person who agrees there are 10 who see it differently. Oh well :(
The MW division has never been more interesting...Here's my list.
1- Bisping (should he win convincingly in his next fight). I believe he earned a title shot after his winning streak and a great performance against Sonnen.
2- Munoz (he's also been waiting for his shot at the title for quite some time. He's there with the Count.
3- Belcher (very intriguing and interesting fighter who keeps getting better. He's done what no one else did in beating Paul Harris in his own game...)
4- Lombard / Stann --the winner is definitely in the mix...We haven't much of Lombard to catapult him to top contendership yet...One convincing win will just do that............
@ Brucelee I hope you didnt mean Belcher was most deserving lol.... guy showed solid BJJ defense and good GnP, but otherwise Palhares is kind of a buffoon, he gets lost in his own world when he cant get a leg lock, and leaves himself to be killed in the world he no longer inhibits....(but its not Belcher's fault that Palhares is so dumb haha)
(List is not in order, but depending on how[if] they win)
It should go Bisping/Lombard/Vitor/Munoz only
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Belcher should fight Stann if he upsets Lombard, or fight Weidman/Munoz winner
[MW is such a mess....]
I say Silva deserves a rematch!
Seperating contenders for each guy:
-If Chael wins: Bisping because of their history, and seling point. Franklin if he beats Le. Vitor if he beats Wanderlei. Then Lombard if he beats Stann, or Munoz if he beats Weidman.
-If Anderson wins: Lombard if he looks impressive against Stann. Bisping if he beats Boestch. Then Munoz if he beats Weidman.
Belcher still needs one more impressive performance IMO.
I agree Evan, but I think UFC will go with Silva-Belfort 2 if they both win.
Bisping looking well in that pic..
he looks like a lamborghini
munoz or lombard should get the next titleshot. stann and bisping just lost one of their last fights und belcher should fight at least one other before he gets a shot at the title.
Lets be real Bisping didnt lose his last fight. Plus who wouldnt love seeing him get ko'd by the spider H-bomb style.
Sonnen is only going in on a 2 fight win streak. That would be the same for Bisping an Stann should they win their fights
Sorry not for Bisping
sonnen got his shot. but he sucks anyway and will loose! look at this douche. hes writing a book before his most important fight ever! hes just a ****ing showman. i hope anderson beat him his stupid brain out!
I am just really suprised that you are giving Lombard such a slim chance against stann. The match up suits Lombard, they both have heavy hands granted, n both can KO the other, maybe stann has the slight edge in the striking department. However Lombards Judo is some of the best in mma and he wrestling is pretty decent. Watching what sonnen did to stann it would not suprise me if Lombard rags stann around and subs him.....
Lombard. If they did if for Shields, they can do it for Hector.
lets get things straight ....we all know Bisping beat Sonnen but the pay per view predictions and earning potential of Silva Sonnen 2 meant that if there was no ko then the fight was going to be awarded to Sonnen.
Lombard will blast through Stann no worries.
I agree on the Bisping winning part but I don't agree that it was fixed or that Lombard is walking through Stann.
Assuming they win their upcoming fights I have it as: Vitor, Belcher (if he gets another win), Munoz, Bisping, Lombard.
Bisping I would probably put Bisping first if he had a win since the lost to Chael but getting he needs another win after Boetsch.
once again, using stats, how the **** is Vitor Belfort even mentioned
Because he has looked very impressive in his last two bouts and also has finished his opponents.
I still put Belcher at the bottom of that list, one impressive win over a mid tier guy does not put you in line for a title.
Alan Belcher
Wassup Low Kickers!!! Thought I'd chime in. I'd say Bisping if he beats Boetsch because Tim just beat Okami (right in front of my own eyes) who'd just come off a title errr shot in the dark. We have to take his loss to Sonnen as it is, a loss, but just like dominant performances get quicker progress, so too do losses with a great showing.
Then Munoz should be on a par with Bisping after his success, but a win over wiedman, a great fighter nevertheless, doesn't really put him in contention.
Belcher blew me away against Paulhares, really good, but who had Paulhares beat before that? Belcher's fantastic but he needs to beat a top 5 guy first.
Vitor, again love the guy, a true legend but he's only beaten Akiyama and Johnson in the last 3 years or something? And he lost a fairly recent title shot. So again, beat Silva, then a top 5 guy, then he's in line.
So after Bisping, I have to give the next shot to the winner of Stann vs Lombard because Stann beat some top guys before his loss to Chael. P and Lombard may not be big in the UFC, may not have beaten many well known guys but he's carrying huge momentum from Belator, he's feared all over. If he beats Stann, it will be in style and he'll look formidable. If Stann beats him, he'll have slayed a dragon and it'll set up a great title fight.
Respect all these guys and they're all worthy of consideration, I just think Bisping's performance against Sonnen coupled with a win over Boetsch would put him slightly ahead.
Rousimar Palhares is only Mark Munoz in disguise....
Bisping
Lombard will demonstrate against Stann why he should be fighting Silva.
PS: Are they desperate to make out the MW division is now stacked all of a sudden? Belcher? Munoz? Decent fighters but nothing special. Lombard will wear UFC gold if he stays with the UFC for some time.
I think it will probably be Munoz...unless he loses, which he might. Weidman is a beast.
So then it will be Bisping...unless he loses. I think Boetsch is tough match up for him, since the Count doesn't do so well against guys with heavy hands and hard chins.
I think Belcher is the best pure striker on that list and also the one who would be the biggest puzzle to Silva.
1. Bisping (just needs to win in my eyes)
2. Lombard (as long as he has an impressive debut)
3. Munoz
4. Stann (needs to win big against lombard)
5. Belcher (needs another big winover a top 5 guy)
6. Vitor (needs another win after silva)
7. Weidman (on a roll and another win would put him right up there)
8. Silva (again needs another few wins)
9. Franklin (needs a few more wins)
10. Le (needs a big win)
There my top to fight but one or two could change slightly in the next few fights depending on who wins etc.