After showing improved stand up against Dan Miller, and by improved I mean not getting cartwheeled by a right hand, he now steps in for the injured Vitor Belfort for a title shot. While Maia stands a 99 percent of getting KOed inside a minute his BJJ, which is the best in the UFC, gives him possibly the best chance of any of the Top Five middleweight to beat Anderson Silva.
6. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
Forced to drop out of his match up with Anderson Silva due to injury, Belfort's future in the UFC is cloudy. Possibly a matchup with Nate the Great?
7. Yushin Okami (24-5)
Okami rededicated himself to training after his loss to Sonnen, came to the US and trained with Sonnen at Team Quest and at UFN 21 he looked like a completely different fighter. Crisp on the feet and dominate on the ground, Okami finished a fighter for the first time in two years.
8. Jorge Santiago (22-8)
Largely an after thought to US fans, this American Top Team product has been on a tear since his short run with the UFC in 2006 and looks set to return to the US with either the UFC or Strikeforce sometime this year.
9. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
I really like Jake Shields, at welterweight. I don't think he is a great fighter at middleweight and I think Dan Henderson is going to give him a beating. Shields has a great ground game, but not enough to control Hendo and doesn't have the striking to hand with him on the feet.
10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1)
An accomplished Judo player, Akiyama is looking to make a statement in his second UFC bout and just signed with Wanderlei Silva in the ultimate "Hey Japan! Pay Attention to the UFC!" match up.
Honorable Mentions: Mamed Khalidov, Wanderlei Silva
6. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
Forced to drop out of his match up with Anderson Silva due to injury, Belfort's future in the UFC is cloudy. Possibly a matchup with Nate the Great?
7. Yushin Okami (24-5)
Okami rededicated himself to training after his loss to Sonnen, came to the US and trained with Sonnen at Team Quest and at UFN 21 he looked like a completely different fighter. Crisp on the feet and dominate on the ground, Okami finished a fighter for the first time in two years.
8. Jorge Santiago (22-8)
Largely an after thought to US fans, this American Top Team product has been on a tear since his short run with the UFC in 2006 and looks set to return to the US with either the UFC or Strikeforce sometime this year.
9. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
I really like Jake Shields, at welterweight. I don't think he is a great fighter at middleweight and I think Dan Henderson is going to give him a beating. Shields has a great ground game, but not enough to control Hendo and doesn't have the striking to hand with him on the feet.
10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1)
An accomplished Judo player, Akiyama is looking to make a statement in his second UFC bout and just signed with Wanderlei Silva in the ultimate "Hey Japan! Pay Attention to the UFC!" match up.
Honorable Mentions: Mamed Khalidov, Wanderlei Silva
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