Mark Munoz is quietly knocking on the door for a UFC title shot.
While the masses snub their noses at the UFC 138 fight card, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” prepares to do battle with Chris Leben in a bout with possible world title implications.
The middleweight division has been left in shambles by UFC champion Anderson Silva, who has defeated every high-profile contender in the entire weight class.
When thinking about the middleweight title picture, only an endless slew of rematches come to mind.
Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson have all been defeated by Silva, but they are all front-runners for another crack at the UFC title.
Munoz, being a fresh face, makes him a welcome addition to the middleweight title picture.
He is coming off three straight wins over tough opposition in former title contender Demian Maia, Aaron Simpson and C.B. Dollaway.
His style makes him a viable threat to any fighter in the entire division.
Along with jarring knockout power, Munoz is a world-class wrestler. He was a two-time All-American and an NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Oklahoma State University.
As long as he remains rooted in his wrestling base, Munoz could make some noise in the 185-pound division.
With that said, a win over Leben won’t sway the masses to believe Munoz is ready for a title shot, but limited contenders and outcomes in future bouts could move him along quicker than expected.
Sonnen will likely get the next shot at the UFC title. What if Belfort and Henderson both lose in their next outings?
It wouldn’t be hard to envision the UFC calling Munoz’s name.
UFC 138 may not be the most exciting card on paper, but fans should definitely pay attention, as the main event has the potential reshape the entire middleweight division.
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