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So begrudgingly, I give you my first Rohoman’s Rankings.

Heavyweight (265lbs Limit)

1. Junior dos Santos
2. Cain Velasquez
3. Frank Mir
4. Josh Barnett
5. Shane Carwin
6. Daniel Cormier
7. Fabricio Werdum
8. Antonio Silva
9. Travis Browne
10. Mark Hunt

Note: Alistair Overeem would have been in the top-5 if he didn’t fail a random drug test

Light-Heavyweight (205lbs limit)

1. Jon Jones
2. Rashad Evans
3. Dan Henderson
4. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Ryan Bader
7. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
8. Phil Davis
9. Alexander Gustafsson
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Note: Gegard Mousasi is on a lot of people’s top 10 lists. But due to the lack of top-level competition he’s faced and a draw against Keith Jardine, he does not crack my list.

Middleweight (185lbs limit)

1. Anderson Silva
2. Chael Sonnen
3. Michael Bisping
4. Vitor Belfort
5. Mark Munoz
6. Brian Stann
7. Tim Hague
8. Chris Weidman
9. Yushin Okami
10. Luke Rockhold

Honourable mention: Rousimar Palhares

Welterweight (170lbs limit)

1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Carlos Condit
3. Jake Ellenberger
4. Josh Koscheck
5. Johnny Hendricks
6. Jake Shields
7. Jon Fitch
8. Diego Sanchez
9. Martin Kampmann
10. Nick Diaz

Note: I keep Nick Diaz in my top-10 because his positive drug test for marijuana following his loss to Carlos Condit is still being debated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A suspension drops him out of the rankings. A ruling in Diaz’ favour will bring him back up them.

Even though I think Rory Macdonald beats most of the guys on this list, he hasn’t fought top-10 competition yet. So he doesn’t make my top-10 quite yet.

Lightweight (155lbs limit)

1. Ben Henderson
2. Frankie Edgar
3. Gilbert Melendez
4. Gray Maynard
5. Anthony Pettis
6. Jim Miller
7. Eddie Alvarez
8. Clay Guida
9. Michael Chandler
10. Nate Diaz

Note: I feel Gilbert Melendez is the best 155 pounder in the world, but until he makes the jump to the UFC and takes out Edgar and Bendo, he stays at 3.

Featherweight (145lbs limit)

1. Jose Aldo
2. Hatsu Hioki
3. Chad Mendes
4. Dustin Poirier
5. Eric Koch
6. Pat Curran
7. Chan Sun Jung
8. Kenny Florian
9. Dennis Siver
10. Marlon Sandro

Note: Six of the top-10 will compete in the next three months.

Bantamweight (135lbs limit)

1. Dominck Cruz
2. Urijah Faber
3. Renan Barao
4. Brian Bowles
5. Michael Mcdonald
6. Bibiano Fernandes
7. Scott Jorgensen
8. Brad Pickett
9. Eduardo Dantas
10. Miguel Torres

Note: I have a soft spot for Dream Champ Bibiano Fernandes… because he fights out of Vancouver (my old stomping grounds). Plus he’s awesome.

Flyweight (125lbs limit)

1. Ian McCall
2. Demetrious Johnson
3. Joseph Benavidez
4. Jussiero da Silva
5. Yasuhiro Urushitani
6. Shinichi “BJ” Kojima
7. Darrell Montague
8. Mitsuhisa Sunabe
9. Mamoru Yamaguchi
10. Dustin Ortiz

So there you have it… agree? Disagree? Hit me up on Twitter.

Silva vs. Sonnen II Moved to Vegas

Dana White and Chael Sonnen headed down to Rio de Janeiro to hold a news conference, where we all knew some sort of change was coming to UFC 147 which was scheduled for an 80,000 seat soccer stadium, in June.
Most of us thought the stadium was going to be too big and the event would be moved to a smaller venue. That’s when Dana dropped the bombshell… yes… the event would likely be moving to a smaller arena… but it would be moving without Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II as the main event.
The UFC Prez said pressure from government officials, not to clog up hotels and whatnot during the United Nations’ Rio +20 meeting.
So the event will still happen, June 23rd in Brazil… where is not sure yet, but what we did find out is Jose Aldo will headline the show now. With Sonnen vs. Silva moved to July’s UFC 148 show in Las Vegas.
While the company can cite the United Nations meeting all it wants to (and it’s a genuine concern), whether that’s the reason this fight is being moved to the US is up for debate.
The UFC is still putting a show on in Brazil. The arena in Brazil will likely be bigger than the MGM Grand Garden Arena… the new host for perhaps the biggest fight in UFC history.
What remains a fact is Chael Sonnen has openly insulted Brazil and Brazilians for two years now. Props to him for making it to the newser and out of it alive… but me thinks the fight was moved State-side for his safety as much as it was moved because of the UN.

Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber now UFC 148 Co-headliner

With Silva vs. Sonnen II now heading for UFC 148 in Las Vegas… we learned that the original main event of that show would get bumped into co-main event status.
The trilogy bout between Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and former Featherweight champ Urijah Faber will go on second last… despite all the hype and build the current season of The Ultimate Fighter is providing.
This makes the July 7th show one of the best cards the UFC has ever put together – Right up there with UFC 129 which was held in Toronto.
Two title fights will take place at UFC 148; With Silva and Sonnen in the main event and Cruz and Faber in the co-main event. And the following fights on the main and under card:
Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin, Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch, Renan Barao vs. Ivan Menjivar, Damien Maia vs. Dong Hyun Kim – A damn good show.

Jose Aldo moved from Calgary to Brazil

Without a Brazilian in the main event for UFC 147, in Brazil, the decision was made to pull Jose Aldo’s Featherweight title defense from UFC 149 in Calgary, and into the main event slot, in June.
We still don’t know who Aldo’s opponent will be, with speculation it would be the winner between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung, but with that fight happening in the middle of May, the winner likely won’t be ready for the biggest fight of his career.
That leads me to believe Hatsu Hioki will be announced as the number one contender for Aldo’s belt.
The undercard of UFC 147 will stay the same. Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva will take co-main event status and guys like Fabricio Werdum and the TUF Brazil finals will still take place.

Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson could headline Calgary

One final nugget from today’s newser was Dana White hinting, if Jon Jones is recovered from his five round decision win over Rashad Evans, then he could be put into the main-event of UFC 149 in Calgary against Dan Henderson.
The timing works out nicely and Hendo is definitely itching to get this title fight on, with father time definitely not on his side.

What does this mean for UFC 152 in Toronto?

Nothing concrete yet…. But if you do the math and figure out timing… it could work out nicely for a Heavyweight Title main event… between the winner of Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir… against Cain Velasquez (If he gets by Bigfoot Silva) or Alistair Overeem (if he can get a fight license in Toronto).

Make sure you follow me on Twitter for the latest MMA news: @roho590

Mir who was supposed to fight former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in the co-main event now gets an opportunity to regain the championship he has held on two prior occasions. No word on who will replace Mir against Velasquez but Roy Nelson who was also supposed to fight on the card and has been vocal on why Velasquez is involved in a number one contenders bout after just losing the title would be the obvious choice.

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According to Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Keith Keizer, Overeem had elevated testosterone levels of 10:1. The NSAC allows a fighter’s testosterone level to be 6:1.

As with any random drug test, a “B” sample was taken, and the Dutch fighter has the right for it to be tested. An option “The Demolition Man” will no doubt exercise.

Is it time to panic and start playing fantasy match-maker for Junior Dos Santos first defense as UFC Heavyweight Champion? Not yet.

First, let’s clear this up. Overeem FAILED his drug test – he DID NOT test positive for anything; Big difference.

Overeem ran into some trouble with the NSAC back in December when he didn’t submit the proper drug tests, on time, leading into his fight with Brock Lesnar.

He submitted a drug test and subsequently passed, but part of his penalties for the late sample was a pair of random tests, further performed by the Commission. Tuesday’s test was one of those.

Overeem will not be suspended should the “B” sample fail as well, as he currently doesn’t have a license. All that will happen is he will not be granted a license to fight May 26th, at the MGM Grand.

UFC President Dana White was doing an interview with our partners Sportsnet when he heard about the failed test and was reportedly livid with the news.
This does not bode well for the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion should his second sample return the same results.

Let’s be clear, the fight between Overeem and Dos Santos is still ON… as of right now, but it is very much in danger if the second sample comes back positive and Overeem isn’t given a license to fight.

Already names are popping up as potential replacements against Dos Santos. A lot of people are picking Frank Mir to step in and try to reclaim the Heavyweight title, but to me, the fight that makes the most sense is an immediate rematch with a healthy Cain Velasquez.

Either way, I sure hope Overeem gets past this obstacle and gets his license. I was pumped to see him fight for the title.

Remember to follow me on twitter @roho590

10: Benson Henderson

MMA record: 16-2

Lightweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: Rematch with Frankie Edgar

One only needs to look at his lightweight title winning performance against Frankie Edgar to get a glimpse of the outstanding ability of the former WEC champion. Blessed with great quickness and a solid ground game, Henderson looks like a marketable star in the UFC for years to come but will have to prove that his victory over Edgar was no aberration. Avenging his WEC loss to Anthony Pettis in the near future wouldn’t hurt either.

9: Cain Velasquez

MMA record: 9-1

Heavyweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: May 26, 2012 vs Frank Mir

The former collegiate wrestler began his MMA career compiling nine straight victories including an impressive seven victories in a row to start his UFC career. A dominant force,Velasquez made quick work of then UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar to capture the heavyweight crown in October of 2010 but his reign would be a short lived one. After being out over a year with a rotator cuff injury suffered in the Lesnar fight, Velasquez was promptly knocked out by Junior dos Santos in the first round in his first title defence.

Whether the layoff affected Velasquez or if he was simply beaten by a better fighter has been a debated point amongst many MMA pundits, but undoubtedly Velasquez has a ton of talent and also quite a bit to prove when he takes on Frank Mir at UFC 146 with the winner being next in line for a UFC Heavyweight Championship opportunity.

8: Rashad Evans

MMA record: 17-1-1

Light Heavyweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: April 21,2012 vs. Jon Jones

In terms of frustration, few fighters have gone through the hurdles that Rashad Evans has had over the last few years. After losing his UFC Light Heavyweight title to Lyoto Machida, his only loss to date, Evans has had his share of injury problems but is finally back to a level where he can be considered one of the best in the world. With wins over Phil Davis, Rampage Jackson and Tito Ortiz in his last three bouts, Evans is set for a grudge match against former training partner Jon Jones in order to recapture the Light Heavyweight title, a win that will be tough to come by considering Jones recent domination of the division.

7: Alistair Overeem

MMA record: 36-11-1

Heavyweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: May 26,2012 vs. Junior dos Santos

Arguably the best striker in the heavyweight ranks, Overeem has been a champion throughout several promotions and made an impact in his UFC debut sending Brock Lesnar into retirement with a first round TKO. While he may lack his experience in the UFC, the Dutch fighter hasn’t lost a fight in over four years and could very well be the next UFC Heavyweight Champion.

6: Dominick Cruz

MMA record: 19-1

Bantamweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: July 7,2012 vs. Urijah Faber

The class of the bantamweight division, Cruz has appropriately been dubbed the dominator and dismantled several high end contenders in the WEC. His first bout in the UFC saw him avenge his only professional loss to date as he won a unanimous decision over Urijah Faber in the summer of 2011. With the contest winning fight of the night honours and the record square at a win a piece between the pair, a victory in the third bout will go a long way into cementing Cruz’s legacy.

5: Junior dos Santos

MMA record: 14-1

Heavyweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: May 26,2012 vs. Alistair Overeem

Has run roughshod over the UFC heavyweight division holding wins over Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson, Shane Carwin, Fabricio Werdum and Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic. The impact of his first round KO victory over the previously unbeaten Velasquez for the Heavyweight Championship sent shockwaves through the division but will face a tough test next in Overeem.

4: Georges St-Pierre

MMA record 22-2

Welterweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: Undetermined

While his talent has never been in question the future of Canada’s greatest martial artist is very much up in the air at the moment. While St-Pierre is currently recovering from an ACL tear he suffered during training, one can only wonder if St-Pierre will once again reach the dominating heights that were seen early in his career. Based on pure ability however, he is still one of the best in the world but needs to show more of a killer instinct upon return.

3: Jose Aldo

MMA record 21-1

Featherweight

Affiliation:UFC

Next fight: Undetermined

The Brazilian is a mixed martial arts specimen and hasn’t tasted defeat in almost seven years. Aldo’s quickness and agility may very well be the best in the MMA world and he has devastating power for a featherweight. A potential bout with former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has been discussed and considering Aldo’s dominance over the division thus far, a challenge like Edgar might just be what the weight class needs.

2: Jon Jones

MMA record: 15-1

Light Heavyweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: April 21,2012 vs Rashad Evans

The UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has dominated all competitors that have been put in his path. With a DQ loss to Matt Hamill as the only blemish on his record(Jones pummeled Hamill and controlled the fight), the New York native has yet to be really tested which is impressive considering he has fought the likes of Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua who have all been world champions at one point or another. With an unorthodox fighting style and a significant reach advantage over many of his opponents, the supremely talented Jones has already reached the pinnacle heights of the MMA world and at only 24 years of age is indeed the future of the business.

1: Anderson Silva

MMA record: 35-4

Middleweight

Affiliation: UFC

Next fight: June 16,2012 vs Chael Sonnen

Considered the best mixed martial artist of all time by UFC president Dana White, Anderson “The Spider” Silva has been the class of the sport for the last several years. With remarkable striking and ground abilities, Silva holds a UFC record 14 straight victories and nine consecutive title defences of his middleweight championship with many ending in spectacular fashion either by submission or knockout. A second victory against Chael Sonnen(the only man to really push Silva to the limit in his UFC career thus far) in Brazil would cement Silva as the greatest fighter in the world.

Honourable mentions: Dan Henderson(UFC, Light Heavyweight), Gilbert Melendez(Lightweight, Strikeforce) Frankie Edgar(Lightweight, UFC).

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