Frank Mir has faced a long and difficult road since returning to the UFC in 2006 after recovering from a gruesome motorcycle accident. Since then, Mir has fought to the top of the Heavyweight division, at one time becoming the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. Since that big win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 92, Mir has gone 2-2 with both losses by (T)KO. Most recently, Mir competed in a horrible three-round snooze-fest against formerly-feared striker Mirko Filipovic that saw Mir pick up the last-minute KO win. After a strong negative reaction towards a possible third encounter with Brock Lesnar, it appears that rising Heavyweight star and former “Ultimate Fighter” cast member Brendan Schaub will be the next man to challenge Frank Mir. Here are all the details. ...

Just three years ago, it looked like Gabriel Gonzaga will tear the UFC's heavyweight division a new limb. Coupled with his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and punch prowess, it looked like the sky was the limit for the 31 year old. But after suffering back-to-back losses to Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in his most recent outings, the UFC decided to cut their losses and sent the Brazilian packing. After vying for the promotion's heavyweight strap in 2007 against then champion Randy Couture (unsuccessfully, Gonzaga suffered a third-round TKO loss) Gabriel would go on to compile an overall record of 3-4 over his next seven fights. ...

ufc 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” was the latest in a long line of super-cards that once again proved why the UFC is the best promotion on the planet. In the main event, Cain Velasquez trounced Brock Lesnar and became the first Mexican champion in UFC history. The event didn’t rest on that laurel, however, as Jake Shields debuted successfully at 121 while Diego Sanchez and Paulo Thiago had a great fight, in addition to the always-controversial Tito Ortiz fighting and losing to Matt Hamill. The list of fighter suspensions as well as salaries have recently been made public, here are all the details. ...

UFC 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” was a great event filled with star-studded fighters and lots of up-and-coming talent, and further proved that the UFC likes to finish strong when it comes to their end-of-year activities. The UFC was more than happy to open their wallets after the event, and awarded their traditional “Of the Night” bonuses after the event, with four men pocketing an extra $70,000 for their spirited performances. Here are all the details, courtesy of Sherdog. ...

ufc 121 “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” is now in the history books, and what an event it was. We saw a new champion, close victories, big victories, and several very entertaining fights. 121 was filled to the brim with fighters that have all spent time at the top of the cards in recent years, but based on their performances at the event, it’s safe to say that some will be keeping that spot for the foreseeable future while others will be tumbling both down the cards and in relevancy. As is customary after every major PPV, here are my thoughts on what’s next for some of the big winners and losers at UFC 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez”. ...

ufc 121 “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” airs today live on Pay-Per-View from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event, Cain Velasquez looks to become the first Mexican UFC champion in promotional history when he takes on current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. The event will also feature the promotional debut of former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields, and the promotional return of former long-reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz. Everyone’s talking about UFC 121, so here are my picks and predictions for the night’s major fights. ...

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 alumni “Big Country” Roy Nelson, Brendan Schaub is gunning for top-level competition following a very dominant win-streak. The lone loss on his professional record was a loss to Nelson, and since then Schaub has been on fire, scoring two first-round TKO’s in dominating fashion. Schaub now stands poised for true Heavyweight relevancy when he meets Gabriel Gonzaga at ufc 121 in October. Recently, Schaub made some very interesting comments that make me believe that he may be biting off more than he can chew. ...

Frank Mir is no stranger to controversy. In fact, his rivalry with current UFC Champion Brock Lesnar may be one of the bitterest rivalries in recent history. From saying that he was thinking of dropping down to Light Heavyweight to saying that he wanted Lesnar to be the first man to die from Octagon-related injuries, Frank Mir knows how to stir the pot. However, it appears that Mir wants no part of a rivalry with his next opponent, famed PRIDE FC wrecking machine Mirko Filipovic, who replaced an injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and will headline the UFC 119 event against Mir. In fact, Mir recently said during an appearance on “The MMA Hour” that he felt that Mirko Cro Cop was still a dangerous opponent even in today’s highly competitive UFC Heavyweight division. I respect Frank Mir for showing a little dignity and humility towards his opponent, but facts are facts: Mirko Cro Cop will never again be anywhere close to championship-level. ...

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently released the official lineup for their upcoming UFC 121 event, and it should come as no surprise that Brock Lesnar defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship against Cain Velasquez has taken center stage as the show’s main event. Brock Lesnar was last seen pulling off one of the biggest, best comebacks of 2010, absorbing all former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin had to give him for five full minutes, then submitting Carwin via Arm Triangle Choke early in the second round. Cain Velasquez’s last fight saw him demolish the once-unbreakable chin of PRIDE FC legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. UFC 121 will take place October 23 in Anaheim, California, and features a star-studded main card in addition to the big-money main event. ...

In the constantly-improving Heavyweight division of the UFC, big match-ups are starting to become the norm rather than the exception. Recently announced for UFC 121 in Anaheim, California is another very interesting Heavyweight match-up that has the potential to dramatically change the careers of both fighters involved. It’s Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, and it just might be one of the sleeper hits of the year. Here’s why. ...

"I'd rather be fighting for the belt and be done with it," The Ultimate Fighter 10 champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-4) told MMA Weekly Radio after knocking out 6'11" heavyweight prospect “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (23-4) in 39 seconds at UFC’s Ultimate Fight Night 21 in Charlotte March 31. ...

UFC President Dana White called Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (11-1) "the real deal" after dos Santos TKO'd former title challenger “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-5) in the first round at UFC on Versus 1 in Denver Sunday night. ...

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans should prepare to hunker down for what will be a very long night of fights starting tonight at 8 PM EST/ 6 PST. UFC on Versus is the first event followed closely behind by five hours of DREAM 13. ...

This Sunday in Huntington Beach, California is your chance to be a part of a viewing party for UFC on Versus with The Reverend Turk Vangel and "Razor" Rob McCullough (17-6). ...

Following the withdrawal from UFC 108 of “Napão” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4), Fighters.com's seventh-ranked heavyweight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1) has now been matched versus Dutch kickboxer “Hurricane” Gilbert Yvel (33-13-1) in Las Vegas January 2, according to Tatame. ...

Both Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) and ninth-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) won at M-1 Global/Strikeforce in Chicago November 7 and now the top ten heavyweights seem on a collision course for a matchup versus each other.  But will it be for the Strikeforce title or not? ...

A matchup between Fighters.com's seventh-ranked heavyweight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1) and former UFC title challenger “Napão” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4) is in the works, Fighters.com has confirmed with a source close to one of the fighters. ...

Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga’s (10-3) big right hand ended  “Heavy” Josh Hendricks’s (14-5) Octagon debut in 61 seconds at UFC 91 in Las Vegas Saturday night. The heavyweights tapped gloves; and, immediately, the action popped off!  Gonzaga landed a body shot, then a knee. Hendricks marched forward, seeking to lock "Napao" in a clinch; but, then came the straight right as Gonzaga backpedalled.  Hendricks collapsed to his right side. After a quick glance at referee Steve Mazzagatti, Gonzaga nailed another right on his downed opponent's head before Mazzagatti stopped the fight at 1:01 of round one. ...

Fighters.com's eighth-ranked heavyweight “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) will return to the Octagon versus Josh Hendricks (14-4) 15 November in Portland, according to Sam Caplan's Five Ounces of Pain. Gonzaga's manager, Marco Alvan told Fighters.com, "[Gonzaga] did not sign any fight yet but we think he will be on the November card." Hendricks was a wrestling All-American twice at Ashland University and knocked out James Powell (1-6) in Lafayette, northwest of Indianapolis, in his last fight in November 2007. The fight versus Gonzaga will be Hendricks's UFC debut. Gonzaga tapped Justin McCully (8-4-2) in Las Vegas 5 July, his first win in three after suffering consecutive losses to sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) and fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1). Gonzaga's recent UFC match-ups may be telling of the opinion the promotion has of their one-time title challenger. Fighters.com speculated Gonzaga may return to competitive match-ups versus Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) or Brock Lesnar (2-1) after boosting his confidence versus McCully. Alvan said, "Gabriel would love face the top names, but he agrees what ever the UFC propose to him." ...

Elusive Russian Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) breached Fighters.com's Heavyweight Top Ten in September without having fought for a year. Kharitonov TKO'd "Demolition Man" Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since. He was floated as "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic's (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus "Bigfoot" Antonio Silva (11-1). Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches. A spot opened for Kharitonov when "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank. ...

From Russia with gloves, "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko(28-1) stamped his heavyweight dominance on "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia's (24-5) head in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July. His dismantling of "Big" Tim in 36 seconds earned him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, jumping from sixth and dumping Sylvia from third to seventh. The "W" strips naked UFC President Dana White's proclamation that all other promotions are the minor leagues, at least at north of 205-pounds. In fact, Emelianenko's victory makes clear that the Octagon hasn't been the proving grounds for the world's top heavyweights for quite some time. The UFC Champ, second-ranked "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1), took a thrashing from Sylvia in February before tapping the two-time UFC titlist in a guillotine. Nogueira loses his Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, falling into the top contender spot, but a top contender whose register already records two UD losses to the new champ four years ago. Nog' is set to clash with un-ranked former UFC Champ Frank Mir (11-3) after Mir tapped rook' Brock Lesnar (1-1), which tells you all you need to know about the UFC heavyweight class. But, Emelianenko's new promoter, Affliction, is playing the name game too. ...

The heavyweight division paces like a heavyweight slog.  I'm tempted to switch to a semi-annual evaluation...but not until after this weekend. There were a couple of shakers this month, but no movers. In London 7 June, seventh-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) played a samba on "The Truth" Brandon Vera's (8-2) noggin for a first round TKO. Werdum remains the top contender to "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's (31-4-1) UFC Heavyweight Championship. Of course, Big Nog' is pitted versus struggling, but dangerous former UFC Champion Frank Mir (11-3) in a made-for-TUF match-up in October. Werdum will probably draw the winner of 9 August's eighth-ranked "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) versus Brock Lesnar (1-1) fight, maybe on the same October UFC card to build the follow-up versus the winners. Also in action this rankings period, tenth-ranked "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) blew through confidence-booster Justin McCully (8-4-2) in Las Vegas 5 July to break a two-fight losing streak for the man who sentenced "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) down a spiral the Croatian has yet to ascend from. ...

From TUF to top! New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) demoralized and upset former Champ "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) by unanimous decision Saturday night in Las Vegas. "This is the greatest night of my life," Griffin said after toppling the odds. Though Jackson won the first round by staggering Griffin with a left, then dropping the challenger with a right uppercut, Griffin laid the groundwork for his decision victory by whittling away at Jackson's lead leg with low kicks. “He jacked my leg up,” Jackson admitted. In the second round, Griffin buckled the champ with a leg kick and passed to mount on the mat, grinding elbows into Rampage's head, but doing little damage. Rampage limped into round three searching for a knockout, but managed only a combination that Griffin weathered, though he admitted, "Every punch that motherfucker threw hurt.” Jackson scored a fourth-round takedown; but, Griffin wrapped a leg triangle, then transitioned to an omoplata when Jackson freed himself from the triangle. Jackson stood out of the submission and cracked Griffin with a right hand, opening a cut on the challenger's right eyelid, then followed with a left as the bell ended the round. It was back-and-forth and both fighters felt they needed the final round to win; but, Jackson seemed disappointed by the situation, while Griffin was inspired. Griffin got back to game plan in the fifth round, stinging Rampage's lead leg, as Jackson threw desperate haymakers without landing. The judges scored the fight 48-46 twice and 49-46 once for Griffin. Fighters.com scored it 48-46 for Griffin, our new champion. “He whupped my ass,” Jackson admitted after the battle; but, Griffin said, "It was close and I think we’re gonna have to do it again.” ...

"For all you Rampage haters, you might as well get used to me," Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-6) announced to the crowd at the UFC 86 weigh-ins in Las Vegas Friday.  "I'ma be here for a long time," he added, then flashed the peace sign. Rampage weighed in at 205-pounds, as did eighth-ranked title challenger Forrest Griffin (15-4). Xtreme Couture's Griffin said, "It's nice to fight in your hometown.  Thank you, guys." Griffin smirked in the gaze of an intense Rampage stare down. All fighters on Saturday night's card made weight. Only lightweight Gleison Tibau (15-5) missed the mark, but by the allowed one pound at 156-pounds.  Tibau will fight "Daddy" Joe Stevenson (33-8). 6'4" lightweight Corey Hill (2-0) looked absolutely emaciated at 155-pounds. ...

In boxing rankings, champions have mandatory defenses versus the number one challenger and voluntary defenses versus a top-fifteen challenger. Through no fault of his own of course, Fighters.com's Heavyweight Champion "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) won't meet either threshold when he defends his UFC title versus Frank Mir (11-3). So, what's Fighters.com to do?  Second-ranked "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) admitted this week to Canada's Globe and Mail, "I'm also OK with the idea that [I may not fight again].  I may get a bad [court] ruling and I can't really see myself at this point going back and fighting two more times for the UFC if that's what the state says I have to do." Should 19 July's more competitive match-up between third-ranked "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and sixth-ranked "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) be for Fighters.com's Heavyweight Championship? Both Sylvia and fourth-ranked "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) climbed two spots on fifth-ranked "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett's (22-5) inability to put away "The Snowman" Jeff Monson in Tokyo last month coupled with Barnett's submission of ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) falling off his two-year record. Of course, Arlovski officially announced today that he'll fight top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) 19 July.  Rothwell steps-in well-hyped from the IFL and Arlovski looks to shake out of his funk. Barnett returns on the same undercard to seek revenge from a 2001 KO loss versus now largely irrelevant "The Rock" Pedro Rizzo (16-7) and Aleksander Emelianenko fights "The Headhunter" Paul Buentello (25-10) in my pick for fight of the night in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles. This weekend in London, seventh-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and returning prospect "The Truth" Brandon Vera (8-1) will battle for the UFC's top contender spot. Eighth-ranked "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) will fill-in for injured "Hammer" Mark Coleman (15-9) versus the UFC's version of market-friendly "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (3-0), former pro-wrestler Brock Lesnar (1-1), in a fight that shouldn't even be sanctioned, but only a big lug like Herring could find a way to lose. In July, tenth-ranked "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) has a lot to prove versus Justin McCully (8-3-2); and, McCully might be thinking the same thing. ...

Is there any real wonder why the UFC is divesting in the heavyweight division?  It's dead! The only April action was a first round TKO of Silvao Santos (1-1) by tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3).  It might as well have been a Monday morning sparring session. So, why did "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) sink a spot respectively?  Sylvia's stoppage of "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) in 2006 fell off their two-year records, which is the time span Fighters.com considers when ranking fighters. The division's future is just as bleak as the recent past. Adrenaline MMA still insists Emelianenko's claim of an official fight with Sylvia in June is false.  To boot, the promotion that promotes Sylvia and rising heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5) claims Emelianenko's delinquent repayment of a $500,000 signing bonus left over from the M-1 Global era is also holding up a fight for Rothwell on the same card.  Though Rothwell insists it ain't happenin', he's been rumored to have been matched versus Arlovski. All four fighters and the entire division need those two fights. Unfortunately, third-ranked "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett's (21-5) rise will be short-lived because his submission of tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will fall off his two-year record next month.  He's scheduled to grapple with always competitive "The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) at Sengoku this month; but, even the expected "W" can't replace the submission of Emelianenko. The UFC has scheduled a contender match-up between seventh-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and "The Truth" Brandon Vera (8-1) for London in June.  A win for Vera will launch him into the division's top ten; a win for "Vai Cavalo" will prove that he belongs. First-ranked "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) is rumored to be mauling a UFC title defense against Frank Mir (11-3).  For the love of God!  Mir is a gentleman, a technician on the mat, and a fine fighter.  He is not the top heavyweight contender in the UFC. So goes a division where “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (2-0) and Brock Lesnar (1-1) make bank at the box office. May Heavyweight Rankings 1. "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) It ain't pretty! Nogueira has turned "blocking punches with your face" into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com's first ranking at heavyweight. 2. "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6'8" riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC's title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO. 3. "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5) "The Babyface Assassin" returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years. 4. "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) The oft maligned "Maine-iac" has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson. 5. "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) “Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire. 6. "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn't fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months.   He'll take sixth and like it, or take first in a real fight.  It's his decision. 7. "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) "Vai Cavalo" spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE. 8. "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold. 9. "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, "Napao" risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart? 10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) Fedor's li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of "The Last Emporer". In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov. ...

Sure to appall, enrage, offend, and shake-up the MMA world, Fighters.com has released it's April heavyweight rankings. 1. "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) It ain't pretty! Nogueira has turned "blocking punches with your face" into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com's first ranking at heavyweight. 2. "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6'8" riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC's title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO. 3. "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) The oft maligned "Maine-iac" has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson. 4. "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5) "The Babyface Assassin" returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years. 5. "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn't fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months. He'll take fifth and like it, or take first in a real fight. It's his decision. 6. "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) “Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07. Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire. 7. "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) "Vai Cavalo" spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins. He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE. 8. "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March. Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold. 9. "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, "Napao" risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum. The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart? 10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) Fedor's li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of "The Last Emporer". In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov. ...