The UFC middleweight top spot remained in Anderson Silva’s hands for the past seven years, the throne held by the most dominant of champions. Chris Weidman changed that, and the weight class has been ushered into a new era.
Well, sort of.
Following the loss to Weidman at UFC 162, longtime champion—and almost unanimously considered greatest of all time—Anderson Silva expressed no interest in a rematch against the new champion. Less than one week later, his tune has changed. This means the middleweight division will, at least for some time, remain focused on another Silva title fight.
But the middleweight world continues to go ’round.
Several 185-pound fighters seek a shot at the middleweight title—well, once Silva’s and Weidman’s business is resolved. These fighters have shown strong promise lately with an equally threatening skill set.
These fighters make the list of the five middleweights poised to make a run in the middleweight division.
Note: The last five fights listed in each slide represent the last five contests at middleweight for each fighter.