Check out the top ten fighters in mixed martial arts for the month of October 2010.
10. Brock Lesnar
The UFC heavyweight champ could face his toughest test to date when he defends the belt against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 later this month. If Lesnar gets by Velasquez, he’ll have Junior dos Santos waiting in the wings. There are no shortage of top-shelf opponents for Lesnar in the near future.
Last month: #10
Up next: Cain Velasquez
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9. Dominick Cruz
If Cruz gets by Scott Jorgensen in December, he could find himself face to face with the only man to ever beat him: Urijah Faber. “The California Kid” has to get by Takeya Mizugaki, but if he does, WEC matchmakers are salivating over the idea of Cruz/Faber 2 – and so are we.
Last month: #9
Up next: Scott Jorgensen
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8. Gilbert Melendez
An injury has kept Melendez on the shelf, but he’ll put his radio voice to good use later this month with the debut of SkrapPack Radio on Heavy.com. After that? A co-promotional battle with Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez is a possibility.
Last month: #8
Up next: Unknown
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7. Jake Shields
Shields makes his long-awaited UFC debut against Martin Kampmann later this month at UFC 121. It’s also his return to the welterweight division. An emphatic win would likely place Shields in immediate title contention and afford him plenty of opportunities to stake his claim among the best in the world.
Last month: #7
Up next: Martin Kampmann
6. Mauricio Rua
Shogun says he’s on the shelf until early 2011; Dana White says the UFC light heavyweight champ won’t return until the summer. No matter the timetable, Rua will return to defend his belt against former champ Rashad Evans.
Last month: #6
Up next: Rashad Evans
5. Jon Fitch
Fitch is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He’s undoubtedly the second-best welterweight in the world right now, but teammate Josh Koscheck will be taking on Georges St. Pierre in December. If Koscheck wins, Fitch will likely move to the middleweight division. If he loses, Fitch may still be passed over for Jake Shields.
Last month: #5
Up next: Unknown
4. Frankie Edgar
The UFC lightweight champ bested B.J. Penn a second time and established himself as the best lightweight in the world. He’ll get a chance to prove it against the only man to ever beat him in competition: Gray Maynard.
Last month: #4
Up next: Gray Maynard
3. Anderson Silva
Silva was scheduled to rematch Chael Sonnen on Super Bowl weekend, but Sonnen’s positive steroid test derailed those plans. Silva will instead face Vitor Belfort in an intriguing striker vs. striker battle.
Last month: #2
Up next: Vitor Belfort
2. Georges St. Pierre
St. Pierre can be seen each week on Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” where he’s doing a bang-up job of coaching his team against Team Koscheck. The two rival coaches will settle the score in December.
Last month: #1
Up next: Josh Koscheck
1. Jose Aldo Jr.
The WEC featherweight champion made an emphatic statement at WEC 51 last week, crushing Manny Gamburyan and vaulting himself into the top of our rankings. Never content to simply coast and work his way to a decision, Aldo is the best finisher in mixed martial arts, and he wins fights in dynamic fashion. He’s dangerously close to clearing his division of meaningful competition, although both Josh Grispi and Chad Mendes pose interesting problems for the Brazilian.
Last month: #3
Up next: Josh Grispi, Chad Mendes
