Sherdog’s Top 10: Middleweights of All-Time

1. Anderson Silva

Silva was already a force to be reckoned with when he touched down in the UFC in June 2006 and began an assault on the middleweight division that might never be equaled. “The Spider” laid waste to everyone in his path, as he captured the 185-pound championship and defended it a record 10 times during a historic seven-year reign. Precise and powerful striking was Silva’s hallmark. When he drubbed Chris Leben with punches and knees in his UFC debut, commentator Joe Rogan said, “This is a different kind of striker.” He could not have been more accurate in his assessment. Jaw-dropping finishes of Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort followed, along with a submission victories over Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson. Silva’s reign came to an end against Chris Weidman at UFC 162, and he lost the rematch some six months later when he broke his leg while throwing a low kick against the “All-American.” He bounced back from the career-threatening injury and faced Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31, 2015. Silva won a unanimous decision, though the result was later changed to a no-contest when it was revealed he had tested positive for two anabolic steroids. Now 41, “The Spider” has made three subsequent appearances, losing to Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier before beating Derek Brunson by unanimous decision at UFC 208 on Feb. 11.

The Sherdog Top 10 series is voted upon by a panel of Sherdog.com staff members: Jordan Breen, Tristen Critchfield, Mike Fridley, Brian Knapp and Mike Sloan.