This month’s UFC Power Rankings has some new faces in different places.
#1 Anderson Silva- UFC Middleweight Champion
A new face has reached the top of the UFC Power Rankings, in a year full of title upsets (three to be exact), only Anderson Silva has yet to lose his title, successfully defending it against Travis Lutter at UFC 67.
Silva also owns a win over Rich Franklin, whom he defeated at UFC 64.
But a new challenge arises for “The Spider,” as Silva looks to continue his title reign by taking on Nate “The Great” Marquardt at UFC 73, in July.
If Silva wins, expect a rematch with Franklin sometime in the fall, or a bout with Yushin Okami.
#2 Randy Couture- UFC Heavyweight Champion
Once again, the slew of upsets has moved Couture up two spots from the last Power Rankings.
Couture became a Heavyweight Champion again when he defeated Tim Sylvia at UFC 68, one of the first big upsets this year.
His next bout will be in August, when he takes on Gabriel Gonzaga. Gonzaga pulled off a huge upset, when he defeated Mirko Cro-Cop at UFC 70.
The ultimate irony behind the victory was that Gonzaga used a devastating kick to knock out Cro Cop.
Couture has fought Brazilians before and has had some success, but this will be the first of many challenges for “Captain America.”
#3 Quinton “Rampage” Jackson- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Who honestly saw that coming? Jackson has already reached the top of the UFC and the Light Heavyweight division after only two matches.
Jackson made quick work of former champ and future UFC Hall-of-Famer, Chuck Liddell at UFC 71.
Anything is possible for Jackson, there are a lot of fighters in the Light Heavyweight division and now that the UFC has Mauricio “Shogun” Rua as well as a ton of other fighters from Pride, the match-ups appear endless.
Jackson does have an opponent and will face Pride FC Welterweight and Middleweight Champ, Dan Henderson.
The match should happen sometime in the fall. No word yet on whether both UFC and Pride Belts will be on the line.
#4 Matt Serra- UFC Welterweight Champ
Nobody has had a better eight months in the UFC than Matt “The Terror” Serra.
First, he won season four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Then in April, he upset Georges St. Pierre to win the UFC Welterweight title.
Things look good for Serra, he will be a coach on the sixth season of TUF. His opposing coach is also his next opponent, Matt Hughes, who will be making his second stint on TUF.
#5 Chuck Liddell
Even though he lost to Jackson at UFC 71, Liddell is still one of the best fighters in the Light Heavyweight division.
Now that the Pride acquisition is official, a wide array of fighters look to step in and take on “The Iceman.”
The most likely challenger is “The Axe Murderer” himself, Wanderlei Silva. Silva has been looking to fight Liddell for some time and could happen in the near future.
